Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy For The Students To Have A Carefree Environment To Study

In the words of Javier Perez de Cuellar, “We need to ensure that all children, without any exception whatsoever, enjoy special protection.”All children deserve to feel safe, secure, loved, special and happy. As per Maslow’s theory of learning, the second basic need on the journey of learning is to feel safe. At GEMS Modern academy paramount importance is given to the safety and wellbeing of the students. The safeguarding policy along with child protection policy, behavior policy, staff code of conduct, social media policy for parents, internet safety policy helps ensure that the students have a carefree environment to study at.

Safeguarding Policy

GEMS, the governing body has made sure that there is a designated safety lead (DSL) at all schools who is responsible for implementing the Safeguarding policy, in this case, the assistant principal, Ms Apoorva Saini. There is also the deputy DSL, Dr. Kshama Lal who shares the responsibility. All staffs have an induction to make sure they are aware of the school policies and the approach in case of any incidents. All staffs are mandated to know the Staff Code of Conduct and to follow them. It includes leading by example, treating every one with respect and paying heed to the surrounding and being vigilant at all times.

For e.g., on the first day of on boarding, I was instructed by the Head of the Primary, Grade Supervisor that I should be vigilant and report anything to the Class teacher/Supervisor. I was also informed, not to make any physical touch/contact with any child in any case (unwanted Patting, etc should be avoided, go near the child to draw attention if need be). Attendance also plays a major role in the well being of a child. So absenteeism is closely monitored by the school and the parents are contacted and made aware of the same and a record is kept on the child’s file. School also keeps a record of all safeguarding/child protection issues reported , and details like observations on what happened(exact citation whenever possible), when, where and what action was taken; separate from the pupils file and has citation in the pupils file.

Children are equally involved in keeping themselves safe. So they are educated to look out for themselves as a part of the curriculum, through Personal Social Health Education in the moral education program and life skills classes. Children are also told to know who their helping hands are, by means of posters in the classes and corridors and how to approach any adult/seniors they feel comfortable with about what bothers them and then it is taken to the class teacher/grade supervisor.

There is also a complaints procedure for the parents/pupil to highlight any issues the child has faced when in school by a member of the staff and appropriate action is taken by the Head teacher, other members of the senior leadership team and the governors. All staffs are also supposed to notice and report any other staff not adhering to the code of conduct to the head teacher, so that necessary amends are made. Anybody can raise a complaint while being anonymous. The procedure to record any incident is to record information and pass it on to the DSL. The DSL will then inform the parents concerned/ UAE agencies. All these concerns are also logged in REVO, the GEMS data management system.

Bullying Behavior

Any form of bullying isn’t tolerated in the school and severe actions are taken against those who involve in it. Bullying includes teasing, intimidating, humiliation, spreading rumors etc. If a bullying incident is reported or suspected, the staff will note down details and hand it over to the vice principal, who then interviews the people concerned and take necessary actions. There is also means for support provided to the children involved in the incident and are helped to cope up with it by the counseling team. All children are made aware of what bullying is by posters put up on the corridors, regular assemblies, moral education program, life skills classes etc.

Child protection policy

At GMA, the staff, nurses and class teachers are given various roles and responsibilities. The school management makes sure that all the staffs recruited have a good conduct certificate. Color coded lanyards are issued to everyone for easy identification. All visitors are allowed within the school premises with visible visitor tags after submitting some form of identification only and are asked to record the purpose of the visit. Visitors are always helped when lost for direction etc by staff and students. All classes and corridors have a display of the emergency evacuation plan (Appendix 5) and children and staffs are educated about the same.

During break times, and dispersal a staff wearing high visibility safety vest is positioned in every part of the school including corridor, playgrounds, bus bay etc. To ensure safe movement of students. For minor injuries, there are clinics in each block. Teachers are advised not to treat any injuries by themselves. The children are taken to the clinic and the nurse takes care of the necessary procedure. The nurse also shares a Clinic visit slip with the student.

Social media policy – parents

The school also requests that parents use the social media with due diligence while posting anything on social media. Not to post untrue facts, circulate picture/videos of students, and confidential information.

Student internet safety policy

Being in a tech savvy world, all children are entitled to use devices and internet during school hours. This is solely for helping with research. At GEMS Modern Academy, children are provided with secure internet access with filters according to the age of the student. The IT department of the school takes care of these. Students are taught what is acceptable and what not and to adhere to the school rules. Students are asked to put away the devices when not needed. All staffs supervise the children in their class on the usage of internet and content accessed.

In all classrooms

In all classes, children are also taught to be well behaved on all occasion inside and outside the school campus. Showing mutual respect, helping others are a few ways to do them. The prefects, house captains, primary and middle school leaders are responsible for maintaining the standards at school. All aspects of student wellbeing are practiced through different acts in our class. As a part of the curriculum during life skills classes the children are taught about socio emotional learning and well being.

My mentor makes sure that the class is never left unattended at any time and stays vigilant to sight any difference in behavior or dullness in her students. She also maintains a positive relationship with all the students so that they feel comfortable to come to her and share discomfort if any. She always makes sure she has ample time to listen to even the pettiest of complaints from the students, for one might never know what is an actual concern.

I feel that all children feel safe when they are comfortable, listened to; when rules are effectively reinforced in classroom through talks, included as a part of the curriculum and by having them visible along the corridors as a persistent reminder. Discussing with the students on various safety aspects and questioning them on their proposed actions and what they might have done differently gives them a reason to ponder and act upon. Moreover it is always best to lead by example.