Contact Us

Child Safeguarding

Schools have a vital role in safeguarding children, ensuring they grow in a safe and secure environment. Educators, through ongoing interactions, are uniquely positioned to identify, prevent, and support children in need. They have a professional and ethical duty to intervene when a child's well-being is at risk, helping families access necessary services. This commitment reflects AES’s core value that everyone deserves safety, trust, and respect.

AES Values Statement on Child Rights

At AES, we are collectively committed to nurturing the intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development of each student. We all have a duty of care to protect children and prevent them from harm, and to act with appropriate urgency if a child is at risk of harm. Our school community is committed to keeping children safe and promoting the well-being of children.  To that end, we believe that:

  • All children have equal rights to be protected from harm and abuse. 
  • Everyone has a responsibility to support the protection of children.  
  • We have a responsibility to build a community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion for each child. 
  • We have a duty of care to children enrolled in the school and those who are affected by the operations of the school. 
  • All actions on child safeguarding are taken in the best interests of the child, which are paramount.

Indian and US Law prohibit child abuse and neglect, which are obstacles to a child’s education as well as their physical, emotional, and spiritual development.  

Child Safeguarding at AES is informed by the following principles:

  • Prevention through the creation of a positive school atmosphere, the teaching and pastoral support offered to all students, and safe hiring practices of faculty and staff.
  • Protection by following agreed policy and procedures, ensuring all employees are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to child safeguarding concerns.
  • Support for all students who may have been abused and the adults who are within the child’s immediate network.

At AES, a Child Safeguarding Leadership Team is responsible for ensuring that AES has an up-to-date and comprehensive, proactive approach to child safeguarding that includes:

  • Defined roles and responsibilities for child safeguarding.
  • Comprehensive screening program for employees and visitors.
  • Contractual agreements and commitments with service providers.
  • Comprehensive training for AES  stakeholders.
  • Clear and comprehensive policies and procedures relating to all aspects of child safeguarding, including reporting, recording, and responding to reports of concern.
  • Commitment to ensuring a safe physical and digital environment.
  • Implementation of a child protection curriculum across all grades. 
  • Establishment of community partnerships to provide additional resources and support.
  • Process of measurement, self-monitoring, and audit.

Further details can be found in the Board Policy Manual -cross-reference Students Chapter 8.3.1 (Last updated SY2324)

As per the World Health Organization: “Child maltreatment is defined as:  all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.” 

Child abuse and neglect are harmful to the child’s education, as well as to his or her physical, emotional, and social development. If employees at the American Embassy School suspect that a child at the school has been abused or neglected, employees must make a report to the Administration. All AES employees are mandatory reporters of concerns, disclosures, and suspected harm. Reporting and follow-up of all suspected incidents of this nature will proceed in accordance with administrative procedures, keeping the safety of the child as the highest priority. Furthermore, such cases may be reported to the appropriate child protection agency in the home country, to the employer of parents or guardians about whom there are concerns, and/or to diplomatic and local authorities.

Cross-reference the AES Child Safeguarding Handbook for definitions.

CHILD PROTECTION AT AES WORKS FOR THE CHILD, THE FAMILY, AND THE COMMUNITY.

Research indicates that international communities are just as vulnerable to child abuse as others. Child abuse is a complex issue involving the child, family, and community, and AES addresses safeguarding at all three levels.

  • Children – AES teaches personal safety skills, encourages healthy relationships, provides interventions, and promotes respect.
  • Families – AES supports parents in understanding appropriate discipline, educates them on child protection practices, and connects them with community and health services.
  • Community – AES strictly implements its Child Safeguarding Policy by training teachers to recognize abuse, equipping counselors to support families, educating parents on safeguarding behaviors, and collaborating with local authorities and health services for holistic support.

 

The American Embassy School seeks to be a safe haven for all members of our community. We feel a particular responsibility to protect children from child abuse and neglect. To meet this responsibility, the American Embassy School will:

  • Implement age-appropriate educational programs for students. 
  • Ensure child protection training for employees regarding personal safety, child abuse and neglect, and appropriate adult conduct with children. 
  • Provide parent education and training.
  • Implement and regularly review procedures, including hiring, security, and training practices, to ensure the safety of the children in its care. 
  • Communicate safeguarding policies, appropriate guidelines, and educational resources to students, employees, parents, guardians, and applicants.

Reporting a concern: “Doing nothing is not an option.”

All adults at AES have a duty to act if they have a concern about a child’s welfare. When an AES employee or community member suspects that a child has been abused or neglected, or may be unsafe due to self-harm or suicide risk, they are required to make a report to a Child Safeguarding Officer. Whatever the nature of the concern, adults will be expected to:

  • Recognize their concern.
  • Communicate their concern to a Child Safeguarding Officer as soon as possible (within 24 hours). 

 

A specific disclosure by a student must be reported before the close of the school day. Concerns may be the result of:

  • Observed student behavior change (physical or emotional).
  • Third-party disclosure.
  • Disclosure (specific report made by a student directly or by a trusted adult).
  • Observed adult behavior. 

 

HIERARCHY OF REPORTING

Under typical circumstances, a Report of Concern can be given to any designated Child Safeguarding Officer, preferably one from the same division as the student about whom there is a concern. 

Under certain circumstances, however, the report must be made to a person with the appropriate level of authority as follows:

  • If the concern involves any AES student, the Report of Concern should be made to a Child Safeguarding Officer. 
  • If the concern involves a member of the faculty or staff, the Report of Concern should be made to the School Director. Where necessary, the identity of the person making a report about another member of staff will remain confidential.

Below is a list of the Safeguarding Team at AES: 


 

 

 

 

Child Safeguarding Handbook