Al Mishkah Arabic School

Legal

Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

How Al-Mishkah Arabic School prevents harm, responds to concerns and protects children.

Our priority: Every child has the right to learn in a safe environment. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Any concern about a child's safety or wellbeing must be taken seriously and passed through the school's safeguarding route.

Key points at a glance

  • Immediate danger? Contact emergency services first, then the DSL.
  • A child tells you something — listen calmly, don't promise secrecy, report to the DSL.
  • The school has a named Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for every concern.
  • Safeguarding information is only shared with people who need it to protect a child.

Purpose

This policy sets out how Al-Mishkah Arabic School aims to prevent harm, respond to concerns and maintain safe professional boundaries for children, staff and volunteers.

Safeguarding leadership

The school will designate a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and, where appropriate, a Deputy DSL. Their names and contact details should be displayed to staff and parents and kept current.

Ask the School Lead for current DSL contact details.

Recognising concerns

Concerns may relate to abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying, inappropriate behaviour, online safety, domestic circumstances or anything else that indicates a child may be at risk. Staff should report concerns even where they are unsure whether the concern meets a particular threshold.

If a child tells you something

  • Listen calmly and take the child seriously.
  • Do not promise to keep the information secret.
  • Do not investigate or ask leading questions.
  • Record the child's words and the relevant facts as soon as possible.
  • Report the concern to the DSL promptly.

Immediate danger

If there is an immediate risk of serious harm, contact the emergency services as appropriate and inform the DSL/school management as soon as it is safe to do so.

Professional boundaries

  • No physical punishment or humiliating treatment.
  • Maintain appropriate adult-child boundaries.
  • Avoid inappropriate private messaging or social-media contact with pupils.
  • Use school-approved communication routes.
  • Do not work outside your role or investigate safeguarding concerns yourself.

Safer recruitment and training

The school will apply appropriate safer recruitment checks for the role, including determining the legally appropriate DBS level where applicable. Staff and volunteers should receive safeguarding induction and know how to report concerns.

Confidentiality and records

Safeguarding information must be shared only with people who need it to protect the child or manage the concern. Records should be factual, secure and handled in line with the school's data protection arrangements.

Review

This policy should be reviewed regularly and whenever safeguarding arrangements, guidance or the school's operating model materially change.