'112 Safeguarding' for Expatriate Communities

Toilets, Washrooms & Changing Rooms (i)

  • Safeguarding & Child Protection Action Plans and Audits within International Schools should include a review of all onsite Toilets, Washrooms and Changing Room facilities. When did you review last?

This is a common issue in my International Schools’ work. Legislation and guidance exists for UK based schools for ‘toilet and washing facilities’. Requirements are governed by the Department of Education as detailed in ‘Advice on Standards for School Premises’ (March 2015).

 Independent School Standards Regulation 23A stipulates:

  1. Suitable toilet/washing facilities are provided for the sole use of pupils;
  2. Separate toilet facilities for boys and girls aged 8 years or over are provided except where the toilet facility is provided in a room that can be secured from the inside; and
  3. Suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils aged 11 years or over who receive physical education.
'112 Safeguarding' for Expatriate Communities

Online Learning

For those of you still actively involved in the delivery of online learning please note that back in April 2020 the Safer Recruitment Consortium (UK) published an addendum to their ‘Guidance for a Safer Working Practices’ document.

The Safer Recruitment Consortium is a partnership between four organisations with the safety and wellbeing of children at their heart:

The addendum was written to help schools consider the safeguarding issues around remote online learning, with changes and additions highlighted in yellow. The addendum should be read alongside the full guidance, ‘Guidance for safer working practice for those working with children and young people in education settings – May 2019’.

'112 Safeguarding' for Expatriate Communities

Recruitment (iv): Sentry for Safer Recruitment

How do you manage recruitment processes within your International School? Do you have an integrated safer recruitment program incorporating child protection measures relevant to all staffing levels including teacher, contractor, and volunteer engagement?

Sentry is a safeguarding software tool that can effectively manage your integrated safer recruitment processes whilst acting as your Single Central Record. 

Benefits include:

  • Easy recording of all recruitment checks;
  • System guides you through the recruitment process;
  • Enables progress monitoring of outstanding checks;
  • Ensures recruitment processes are robust;
  • Critical first line of defence against those presenting as a risk to children and young people;
  • Quick reference dashboards;
  • Automated workflows; and
  • Up-to-date guidance, advice and best practice.

Consider reviewing now!