Child Safeguarding Policy

Purpose and scope

This policy sets the safeguarding standard for AYTAS programs, school activities, hub sessions, events, communications and visits. It applies to staff, volunteers, advisors, partner-school staff and visitors while they are involved in an AYTAS activity.

This policy describes the standard AYTAS will follow for future activities and ongoing operations. It is not a certification of how every past activity was managed.

Safe conduct and supervision

• Adults with direct contact with children are screened for identity, references and suitability and receive safeguarding orientation before taking on that responsibility.
• Sessions take place in observable, supervised group settings. Private, unsupervised one-to-one contact between an adult and a child is not permitted.
• Supervision is set according to the children's ages, the activity and the level of risk. AYTAS will not run a session without enough approved adults to supervise it safely.
• Adults must use respectful language, maintain appropriate boundaries and never use humiliating, threatening, sexual or discriminatory behaviour.

Pickup and transport

A child may be released only to a parent, guardian or another adult whom the guardian has authorized. AYTAS will not arrange transport for a child without advance written permission from the guardian and a named responsible adult for the journey.

Photography and children's images

AYTAS must obtain separate, documented permission from a child's guardian before publishing a photo or video in which the child can be identified. A guardian may withdraw that permission by contacting AYTAS. After AYTAS receives a withdrawal, the image will not be used in new publications.

Reporting a concern

If a child may be in immediate danger, protect the child first and contact emergency services or the appropriate local authority.

AYTAS will take a report seriously, document it and escalate it according to the level of risk. A guardian will be informed unless doing so could place the child at greater risk or conflict with instructions from the appropriate authority. Emergency services or local authorities will be contacted where required.

An internal report to AYTAS does not replace reporting required by law. A person who knows of or reasonably apprehends a sexual offence against a child must report it to the Special Juvenile Police Unit or local police under Section 19 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (opens in a new tab). AYTAS will not promise confidentiality where information must be shared to protect a child or meet a reporting duty.

No child or adult will face retaliation for raising a genuine concern in good faith.

How AYTAS responds

1. Listen calmly and do not promise secrecy.
2. Act immediately when needed to protect the child.
3. Record what was reported using the person's own words where possible.
4. Send the report promptly to the safeguarding lead and limit access to people who need it to respond.
5. Inform the guardian and the appropriate authorities when required, taking account of the child's immediate safety.

Questions about this policy

Contact AYTAS at future@aytasassociation.org or WhatsApp +91 81212 25627.