| Changes:
As a result of Danielle's
case, changes have been introduced by Highland Council regarding the transfer
of pupils from one school to another.
A "trigger point" of 10 school
days has been set when a school will contact social work services if they
receive no confirmation of a pupil transfer.
The transfer issue is also
one which is being examined by the Scottish Executive and Westminster so
children moving between schools can be tracked more closely.
Highland Council convener,
Alison Magee, said:
"The council will work
closely with partner agencies
to minimize the likelihood
of a tragedy of this kind happening again.The community as a whole must
be
vigilant and play their
part in this process"
All Scots State Pupils to Get ID Number in
Bid to Boost Safety Posted on: Thursday, 23 February 2006, 18:01 CST
By ALAN MCEWEN
EVERY state school pupil in Scotland is to be issued
with an identity number to allow them to be traced if they go missing.
The scheme is being introduced by the Scottish Executive
for primary and secondary schools as part of child protection measures
following the murder of a pupil.
Five-year-old Danielle Reid was killed by her mother's
partner three years ago. Her body was placed in a suitcase which was thrown
into the Caledonian Canal at Inverness.
Her mother had withdrawn her from school and lied
to teachers, telling them the family had moved to Manchester.
Ministers said schools and councils would be able
to share information about missing pupils much more quickly in future using
the child's unique Scottish Candidate Number. The scheme will not apply
to private schools.
The system will also eliminate confusion over children
with the same name. The numbers will be used when pupils change schools
or move between different local authorities to enable academic records
to be updated in a move believed to be the first in the UK.
Thousands of children change schools every year
and, in some cases, do not arrive in their new schools as expected.
Deputy Education Minister Robert Brown said: "In
today's society, child protection is of the utmost importance, so it is
vital that key pupil information can be shared quickly and effectively
between authorities."
Education Minister Peter Peacock added: "Following
the tragic death of Danielle Reid, authorities in Scotland were asked if
communication across Scotland and with other parts of the UK could be improved.
This project will ensure school and authorities take follow-up action and
mean that every effort will be made to satisfy authorities that children
are safe and well.
"It will also increase co- operation between schools,
education authorities, social workers, the police, and others involved
to help better protect our children."
Numbers were originally given to pupils in third
year of secondary as a unique identifier for exams, but the practice will
be rolled out to include all state school pupils.
The Executive's Children Missing Education scheme
will also benefit from ID numbers as it seeks to find pupils who have disappeared
from the education system. Since its launch in August, the Children Missing
Education project has traced 114 children referred to it by councils.
Judith Gillespie, policy officer with the Scottish
Parent Teacher Council, said: "This is not a punitive approach. It is a
caring approach to make sure that no-one slips through the net."
"With the current mobility of families these days,
as well as the fact there are now more travelling children and asylum children,
it is important we keep track of them so teachers can monitor their progress."
Meanwhile, West Lothian Council is expected to introduce
extra child protection measures in schools in the wake of Rory Blackhall's
death. The 11-year-old went missing after being dropped off at his primary
school in Livingston on August 18 last year.
Councillors will consider plans to introduce playground
supervisors and an early-warning text messaging system for parents at a
meeting next week.
The alarm was only raised when Rory's grandfather
arrived to collect him at the end of the school day. The youngster was
found dead in woods three days later.
Source: Evening News; Edinburgh (UK)
Return
To Danielle's Story
For information about preventing
child abuse in the state of Scotland, click the links below. If they can't
help you, ask for someone who can. NEVER give up looking for help
for an abused child!
Call this number to report
child abuse ANY WHERE in the United States!
1-800-4-A-Child
1-800-422-4453
  
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