Student Wellbeing Policy

Definition(s)

For the purposes of this policy, students’ protection is defined as all those measures, steps, and actions that must be taken to avoid subjecting students while at School or outside it, during any School activities, and during their transportation to any danger or harm, be it exploitation, violence, physical harm, sexual abuse, any verbal insult, moral threat or harm of any kind. It is every student’s right to be in a safe school environment that is free of any form of abuse and that continuously offers care, support, and protection to all students without discrimination. 

Purpose(s)

• To emphasize the protection of students as a core principle, which stems from the moral obligation, and to safeguard them from abuse or harm and to ensure their security and welfare, as required pursuant to applicable laws in force in the UAE. 
•  To guide Private Schools in the Emirate to prepare comprehensive School policies and procedures to: 

- Protect students and prevent exploitation, bullying, physical and/or sexual abuse, insult or harm of any other kind which students may face, and identify those who may have suffered harm. 

- Promote students’ cultural, social, and mental growth to enable them to become strong, self-confident members of society. 

Policy

AAS is fully responsible for the care and protection of students whilst they are in the school’s care, or traveling to and from the school using School-provided transportation means, and while moving between all activities organized by the school. Schools must take all possible measures to protect students from any form of exploitation, abuse, oppression, insult, and/or any other physical, sexual, or emotional threat, danger, or harm. AAS exercises the utmost care over the security of students in their care. The School’s Principal shall accept in loco parentis (in the position of a Parent/Guardian) responsibility for all students whilst they are in the school’s care, including traveling to and from the school using School-provided transportation means, and while moving between, waiting for, and taking part in all activities organized by the school. 

AAS management must also ensure the supervision of students 45 minutes before the start of the school day and 90 minutes after school hours and must notify Parents/Guardians of their responsibility toward their children outside of these two periods. AAS has developed a child/student protection policy that follows, adheres to, and aligns with all the relevant laws and regulations issued by ADEK and the relevant authorities in the 22 UAE. 

This policy shall act as a reference in respect of all measures and procedures taken by Schools to protect students from any form of abuse or harm. This policy shall include, for example, the following: 

• The safety of school buildings, transportation, and School activities. 
• Students’ health, welfare, and well-being. 
• Conduct and discipline of students. 
• Confidentiality of students’ personal data. 
• Security of school IT systems. 
• Supervising students at all times during school day hours and related School activities. 
• Counselling and School support services, enable students to have access to a trusted professional counselor, a social worker, or someone in an equivalent position. 
•  Conducting the necessary background checks on all School personnel in association with the relevant authorities. 
• Reporting procedures in respect of any incident affecting the security of students within the School to Parents/Guardians, ADEC, and other related government entities.
• Confidentiality of reports and investigations related to any kind of student abuse and communications when dealing with the Council and relevant government entities. 
•  Provision of ongoing First Aid training, and dissemination of knowledge regarding all health, safety, and prevention matters so that all School staff know what is expected of them and what to look out for with respect to the protection and safety of students (e.g. First Aid, CPR). 
• Communicating with students and their Parents/Guardians to hear their opinion through a variety of means, which may include surveys, group discussions, and opportunities for them to express their views while ensuring their privacy. 

Additionally, Parents/Guardians shall be continuously informed of and given clarification regarding the roles and responsibilities they share with the school to protect their children. The policy is not only concerned with prevention, reporting, and investigation. It should also foster a safe and positive environment inclusive of the school’s care system as well as the accommodation of the personal and learning needs of the students, and their rights and responsibilities, together with the School’s expectations of students’ behavior. 

Effective student protection is based on support and encouragement, as students need (above all else) to feel a well-placed sense of trust and confidence in those they work with, without fear of exploitation or abuse. Reporting of incidents it is mandatory, to thoroughly investigate and report immediately to ADEK all incidents of abuse that students may face including exploitation, violence, and/or any 23 other physical harm, sexual abuse, or any emotional threat, or harm of any kind, all of which will be referred to as “abuse of students”. 

If any such incident is proven or suspected, it is the responsibility of the School Principal (or in the case of the abuse being carried out by the School’s Principal, the Chair of the Board of Trustees/School Owner) to: 

• Take immediate steps to safeguard all those involved, such as reporting incidents to the relevant official entities, taking into account other laws that may be related to the incident. 
•  Immediately inform the PSQA Sector, Licensing and Accreditation Division, of the incident by telephone, and in writing within 24 hours of the incident. 
•  Report the incident immediately to concerned Parents/Guardians. 
•  Immediately suspend any member of staff who is accused of an offense involving student abuse if the alleged staff abuse involves a crime according to the provisions of prevailing UAE Laws, as per article 112 of the Labor Law (including notifying the relevant authorities), until an investigation in this matter is completed and a decision is made concerning this member of staff’s fitness to continue to work at the school. 
• Carry out a formal investigation obtaining written statements from those involved; 
•  Provide the PSQA Sector, Licensing and Accreditation Division, with a written report within 24 hours of the incident via the official email account ([email protected]). 
•  Immediately terminate the employment of anyone found guilty by a competent authority of an offense of student abuse, in accordance with the provisions of United Arab Emirates Federal Law No. (8) of 1980 Labor Law and its amendments. ADEC shall require Schools, when handling cases of student abuse, to conduct an investigation, and to maintain clear and scrupulous communications and actions when dealing with relevant government entities such as the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (“HAAD”), the social welfare institutions, and police departments. Schools should keep relevant records and inform ADEC of such communications if so requested. 

When the School uncovers a case of severe abuse to a student outside of school, it must take the matter seriously and follow up on the case with the social worker. Schools shall take the necessary steps to protect the student, including by communicating with the parent/guardian to discuss the matter, or by forwarding the case to the relevant official entities in the UAE (social support institutions). AAS prepares a detailed report concerning the incident and procedures taken in this regard. The report is kept in the student’s folder. If the abuse is a crime, the school is required to notify the relevant official entities. 

Failure to Comply with this Policy:

Anyone who fails to comply with this policy shall be subject to legal accountability and the penalties stipulated in accordance with the Council’s regulations, policies, and 24 requirements, notwithstanding any other penalties imposed by the Penal Code or any other relevant law.