Child Protection Policy-DSB International School in India

Rationale

Child protection is a vital role of the school and this policy seeks to ensure all stakeholders are clear regarding the expectations of the school and how the school works to ensure child protection. It also seeks to clarify the definitions and responsibilities therein.

Child protection and safeguarding

These terms are frequently used interchangeably. They are not interchangeable.

Safeguarding is the provision for all aspects of student safety and wellbeing and should be woven through all institutional policies and procedures. The areas under the safeguarding umbrella are outlined by the Safeguarding Alliance and referenced in each of the relevant school policies in the ‘Principles’ section.

Child Protection refers to the measures taken by the school to prevent and respond to the abuse of students: sexual, physical, emotional or neglect. It of course comes under the safeguarding umbrella.

Principles

Child protection is one of the pillars of the work done by the CIS in school improvement and is the first priority for COBIS compliance and membership. DSB seeks to meet the expectations of these two organisations as guidance for ensuring the best quality child protection possible.

The DSB Child protection policy is updated based upon information learnt from the COBIS Designated Lead Training, November 2018. The Designated Child Protection Lead (DCPL) for 2026 - 27 is Ms. Ailin Gomez based at Euro Campus. The other members of the Child Protection Team are:

Payal Dhanak and Siya Lund at Garden Campus;
Shadrach Quainoo and Shivani Patel at Euro Campus.

Rachel Waters the Director of Wellbeing is the Designated Safeguarding lead.

Ensuring that students do not come to harm through abuse is a priority of all schools. DSB International has two designated child protection leads who have received appropriate training from COBIS and CIS who work with the school leadership to ensure practices and procedures at the school. Two additional team members are trained to support them.

Every child at DSB International School has the right to:

Be healthy,
Stay safe,
Enjoy and achieve,
Make a positive contribution to school life,
Achieve personal, social, academic and economic well being.

These five outcomes are universal ambitions for every child and young person, whatever their background or circumstances and align with the school’s guiding statements.

Child Protection in DSB is considered everyone’s responsibility and our school’s policies and procedures in this area are designed to ensure protection of our students from harm.

It is crucial that DSB provides the environment in which all pupils know what to do and feel that they will be listened to, and appropriate action will be taken if they are experiencing abuse or have concerns for others. It is vital that all policies and procedures are regularly reviewed in light of best practice internationally.

Pro-active intervention to prevent abuse/harm;
Active intervention in the case of suspicion of or identified harm;
Recruitment policy and staff management that protects children from potential harm by staff of the school;
Prevention of child abuse in school;
Ensuring all stakeholders understand what child abuse is and how to respond to it;
Ensuring that all our pupils are safe and protected from harm through ensuring there are trained designated leads for child protection in both campuses;
All staff are trained in child protection;
That child protection matters are regularly reviewed with school leadership and practices reviewed accordingly;
Committee oversight of the child protection practices;
Ensuring that teaching and ancillary staff are regularly updated on child protection practices;
Ensuring that the education of students means that they are knowledgeable and empowered, feel safe, adopt safe practices and know who to approach to get help;
Ensuring that the pastoral care of students means that they have people to speak with and the confidence to raise concerns about themselves or others;
Ensuring that the teaching and ancillary staff know how to raise concerns and are confident that these will be acted upon with no prejudicial outcomes to them (assuming that allegations were not based in malice);
Ensuring that all people working in the school community or visiting the school, are aware of the expected behaviours and the school’s responsibilities in relation to child protection;
Ensuring that criminal background checks are made on all employees;
Ensuring procedures are robust by identifying responsible parties;
Ensuring record keeping is secure;
Ensuring appropriate resourcing;
Ensuring all stakeholders i.e. staff, parents, students and committee members are fully aware of the school’s commitment to child protection and are fully informed of the procedures included in this policy through a planned schedule of training opportunities for all stakeholders.

Staff must understand how to keep themselves safe from allegations of wrongdoing.

School practices comply with the Indian law (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act).

Objectives

The aim of the DSB International School Child Protection Policy is to provide a secure framework for our community to ensure:

The safe recruitment of all staff;
All staff including non English speaking support staff, interns and extra-curricular providers are trained in child protection;
That all stakeholders (parents, students and staff) are trained to be aware of our policies and practices and to understand what to do in event of suspicions or disclosures;
Policies and practices are regularly reviewed in line with best practice as identified by the International Centre for missing and exploited children;
We are in compliance with national legislation;
That visitors to the building are aware of practices and expectations;
That secure processes are in place that guarantee privacy and prevent undue interference in the case of reported concerns or accusations.

Procedures

Child Protection team

The school has one Designated Child Protection Lead (DCPL). This role is applied for by interested candidates. The applications are assessed against knowledge of policy and procedures of the UK, standard practice of International Schools, governance within the Indian context (both Nationally and Mumbai-specific).

The school has four deputy Child protection officers.

The Principal of the school, the Head of Primary and Secondary are not eligible to take on the role of DCPL.

The Child Protection Lead DSL and deputies meet monthly to review policy, procedures and practice. These meetings are minuted. Where relevant these meetings may be attended by members of the SLT or Safeguarding Subcommittee. It is the responsibility of the DCPL to ensure that all Child Protection issues raised in school are effectively responded to, recorded and referred for further action.

The Child Protection Team and their roles comprise:

Ailin Gomez - Designated Child Protection Lead - overall responsibility for ensuring DSB meets its responsibility for Child Protection and leads on Child Protection incidents at Garden Campus and training for non English speaking staff.
Payal Dhanak and Siya Lund - Child Protection Officers at Garden Campus.
Shadrach Quainoo and Shivani Patel - Child Protection officers at Euro Campus.

The team works closely with the staff responsible for HR: Ritesh Sarkar, the DSL and the designated members of the school Governors, Christopher Pedra, Paolo Marri, Tanja Wurr and the Principal.

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