Child Safeguarding

Policy Statement

In keeping with our mission and values, United World College South East Asia (UWCSEA) is committed to safeguarding and protecting students from harm. Our definition of ‘safeguarding’ goes beyond protecting students from deliberate harm; it involves the process of protecting children from abuse and neglect, preventing harm to children’s health or development, ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and supportive care and taking action to enable all children to have optimal life chances and enter adulthood successfully. At UWCSEA, safeguarding encompasses: student health and safety, bullying, racist abuse, harassment and discrimination, use of physical intervention / safe handling, meeting the needs of students with medical conditions, providing first aid, drug and substance misuse, educational visits, sex and relationship education, internet safety, and the welfare of learners staying with host families or on school trips.

Policy Rationale

The United World College of South East Asia’s Child Safeguarding Policy is  aligned with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Singapore’s Child Protective Service and the recommendations of the International Task Force on Child Protection. 

This policy is binding for all who have contact with the school community, including staff, service and activity partners, volunteers, associated agencies, interns, contractors, guests and visitors. Applicants for positions at the College must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers. UWCSEA expects all individuals and group affiliated with the school community to act with integrity and to take responsibility for keeping students safe.

Definitions and Clarifications

Child

While the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as persons under the age of 18 years,  at UWCSEA, we define child as any student of the school.  We recognise that some members of our school community are more vulnerable than others due to their learning needs or individual status.  

Safeguarding

‘Safeguarding’, is not just about protecting students from deliberate harm. It is linked to welfare and is what we do for all children.   Safeguarding involves; the process of protecting children from abuse and neglect, preventing harm to children’s health or development,  ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care and taking action to enable all children to have optimal life chances and enter adulthood successfully. 

Safeguarding encompasses many issues for the college including:

• Student health and safety

• Bullying

• Racist abuse

• Harassment and discrimination

• Use of physical intervention / safe handling

• Meeting the needs of students with medical conditions

• Providing first aid

• Drug and substance misuse

• Educational visits

• Sex and relationship education

• Internet safety

• The welfare of learners staying with host families

Child Protection

Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children where there are concerns about abuse or neglect.  This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.