POLICY STATEMENT
NIS is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its entire Staff and particularly to children. NIS Policy & Procedures aims to reduce the risk of abuse occurring, and to ensure that a caring and appropriate response is taken should abuse occur. NIS follows the Egyptian child law no.12 for the year 1996 revised and amended in the 2014 Egyptian constitution, article 80.
PURPOSE OF POLICY
The purpose of the Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy is to provide a secure framework for the workforce in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of those pupils who attend our school. The policy aims to ensure that:
All our pupils are safe and protected from harm;
Other elements of provision and policies are in place to enable pupils to feel safe and adopt safe practices; and
Staff, pupils, governors, visitors, volunteers and parents are aware of the expected behaviors and the school’s legal responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our pupils.
CHILD SAFEGUARDING MANAGEMENT TEAM
This management team is to help ensure that the necessary preparatory steps are taken in response to any allegation. (According to the 2018 protocol for international schools on child abuse)
This team includes:
The school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), also known as Child
Protection Officer (School Counselor Dr. Ola El Abany)
The School Principal (Mrs. Inas Imam)
A representative from the school’s governing body (Mrs. Rania Allam)
A human resource professional (Mrs. Randa Acar)
A legal advisor (Mr. Ramy Abdel Rahman)
A representative from the local community (Mrs. Hala Abu Khatwa)
DEFINITIONS:
CHILD : Any person under the age of 18.
1) ABUSE: Can consist of one or more of but is not restricted to the following:
A) PHYSICAL ABUSE: Any non-accidental physical injury resulting from practices such as: Hitting, punching, kicking (marks from belt buckles, fingers). Burning (irons, cigarettes), biting, pulling out hair.
B) SEXUAL ABUSE: Any sexual act or threat to perform such upon another person. It occurs when a person uses their power and authority to take advantage of another’s trust to involve them in sexual activity. It does not necessarily involve genital contact but is any act which erodes the sexual boundary between two persons. It may appear consensual but the validity of consent is negated by the power differential.
C) EMOTIONAL ABUSE: The chronic attitude or behavior of one person which is directed at another person, or, the creation of an emotional environment which erodes a child’s development, self-esteem and social confidence over time. Behaviors may include: Devaluing, ignoring, rejecting, corrupting, isolating, terrorizing or chronic and extreme domestic violence in the child’s presence.
D) NEGLECT: Characterized by the failure to provide for the child’s basic needs which jeopardizes or impairs a person’s development.
2) BULLYING
Bullying is the repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal, or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at a target that:
Causes physical or emotional harm to the targeted student or damage to the targeted student’s property.
Places the targeted student in reasonable fear of harm
Creates a hostile environment at school for the student
CYBER BULLYING : is bullying through the use of technology or electronic devices such as telephones, computers, and internet.
PROCEDURES TO KEEP A SAFE ENVIRONMENT
Establishing and maintaining an ethos, understood by all staff, which enables children to feel secure and encourages them to talk, knowing that they will be listened to.
Liaising and working together with all other support services and those agencies involved in the safeguarding of children. ( SAFE)
Performing regular assemblies to talk to about bullying and reinforcing positive behavior. Ant- bullying themes and workshops and campaigns are regularly conducted.
Following a rigorous drop off and pick up routine to facilitate safety.
Fixed cameras CCTV in all floors in order to investigate any allegations.
The presence of support staff consisting of nannies in front of every bathroom, a minimum of 3 matrons on each floor as well as coordinators.
Staff should limit wherever possible never to be alone with a child with closed doors.
Physical contact of any kind is not encouraged.
Adults and Children are expected to respect each other’s privacy during activities that require undressing, dressing or changing
Students are accompanied by bus matron both in the morning trip and the afternoon trip.
Teachers are given different duties ranging from break, bus and gate shifts to monitor students.
Students are taught to understand and manage risk through our citizenship lessons and through all aspects of school life. Children are taught how to conduct themselves and how to behave in a responsible manner. Children are reminded regularly about e-safety and tackling bullying procedures
REPORTING PROCEDURES ALLEGATIONS:
Student Allegation:
1) Student reporting student
2) Student reporting teacher/staff
3) Student reporting external adult or family
Teacher Staff Allegation:
1) Teacher reporting possible student abuse
2) Teacher reporting a student
3) Teacher reporting a colleague
Parent Allegation:
1) Parent reporting student
2) Parent reporting staff
THE TEACHER SHOULD:
stay calm and listen carefully; reassure the child that s/he has done the right thing in telling you;
Do not investigate or ask leading questions yourself but inform the school counselor as soon as possible.
Do not promise to keep what they have been told a secret.
Write the record as soon as possible whilst information is still fresh in your mind.
Write exactly what the child told you – be precise and accurate.
Quote the actual words used by the child – show these as “direct speech”.
Headmistress should be informed.
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL SHOULD:
Contact the parents of the child/young person if advised to do so by the counselor.
Consider the rights of all parties for a fair and equal process of investigation.
Ensure that the appropriate disciplinary and preventive procedure is followed, based on the outcome of the investigation.
MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIALITY:
Any disclosures by a Child, reports of suspected abuse and all details of the subsequent investigation will be documented promptly and the documents will be held in a secure location where a breach of privacy cannot occur.