{"id":2274,"date":"2020-05-14T07:53:04","date_gmt":"2020-05-14T07:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/virginiaschool.ae\/en\/?page_id=2274"},"modified":"2022-01-04T05:20:58","modified_gmt":"2022-01-04T05:20:58","slug":"vdl-safeguarding-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.virginiaschool.ae\/en\/distance-learning\/vdl-safeguarding-guidelines\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0VDL Safeguarding Guidelines\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Overview:<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The updated Safeguarding Guidelines have been developed to further ensure and promote online safety for the VIPS learning community.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Key Points:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"mailto:staysafe@virginiaschool.ae\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">staysafe@virginiaschool.ae<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the designated email address to be used by parents and students to report any safeguarding or well-being concern.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The previously developed <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1TRQplZ67dxVuJaUb6HM7gk27ty0iqJ9vtcyPAKOQmOM\/edit#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VDL Roles &amp; Responsibilities<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1TRQplZ67dxVuJaUb6HM7gk27ty0iqJ9vtcyPAKOQmOM\/edit#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VDL Student Behavior<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> policies serve as additional components of VDL safeguarding efforts\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Safeguarding guidelines are subject to change in order to meet the needs of our learning community &#8211; especially in light of the rapidly changing DL landscape.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Pastoral Care:<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designated members of VIPS Pastoral Teams have been identified to follow up on safeguarding concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\">\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\">KG Pastoral Team<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nRaghda Abdelaal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supervisor<\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nraghda.ali@virginiaschool.ae<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\">\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\">Elementary Pastoral Team<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nHanaa Fadel<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Head of PE<\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nhanaa.fadel@virginiaschool.ae<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nAdel Abdelrazek<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SENCO<\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nadel.abdelrazek@virginiaschool.ae<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nNesma Abdulrahman<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supervisor<\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nnesma.a@virginiaschool.ae<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\">\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\">Secondary Pastoral Team<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nHussam Bani Jaber<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\">Secondary Boys Supervisor<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">hussam.jaber@virginiaschool.ae<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nRabah Aysh<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social Worker<\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nrabah.aysh@virginiaschool.ae\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Communication<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students are encouraged to report any safeguarding concerns directly to their parents or teacher<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parents and guarding are encouraged to report any safeguarding concerns directly to their child\u2019s teacher<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teachers are encouraged to report any safeguarding concerns directly to their line manager<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The VIPS learning community can also report any safeguarding concern directly to the following email: <\/span><a href=\"mailto:staysafe@virginiaschool.ae\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">staysafe@virginiaschool.ae<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Students:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember, \u2018Stranger Danger\u2019 &#8211; You should never communicate with a stranger. If a stranger tries to communicate with you, report this immediately.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any online worries or concerns must be immediately forwarded to your parents or teacher.\u00a0 You Should also use the email <\/span><a href=\"mailto:staysafe@virginiaschool.ae\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">staysafe@virginiaschool.ae<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to report any online concerns.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should never give out any of your personal information including passwords.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should always use kind, courteous, and respectful language when communicating online<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should not post or write anything which would be deemed negative to the school\u2019s reputation, or deemed inappropriate or illegal by UAE law.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should only be using the suggested platforms as guided by the school for completing work, communicating with teachers, and participating in live sessions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should not record, share or comment on public forums (social media) about individual teachers, the school or your peers (not personal messaging services, etc&#8230;).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should only communicate with teachers using the school platforms and school email.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When participating in live streaming classes you should be dressed appropriately and ensure that you are in an open\/shared space in your home.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When your camera is turned on, it is important that your background is \u2018neutral\u2019 and does not include any personal or identifiable items.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only VIPS teachers will share videos, teaching and learning materials, and activities with you<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If students are communicating inappropriately in any online forum (live, email, discussion thread, etc..) the conversation will be terminated immediately and reported.\u00a0 Your parents will also be informed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Parents:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please ensure that you and your child(ren) have reviewed and understand the \u2018Student Guidelines\u2019.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any concern which you feel is a well-being or safeguarding concern should be immediately forwarded to your child\u2019s teacher for further investigation.\u00a0 You can also use the email address <\/span><a href=\"mailto:staysafe@virginiaschool.ae\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">staysafe@virginiaschool.ae<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to report any online concerns.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please ensure that face-to-face communication is only between teachers and students.\u00a0 Any parent to teacher communication should be in the usual manner, via email unless discussed beforehand.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the communication is live and there are wellbeing or safeguarding concerns the conversation\/video must be immediately terminated and reported directly to the child\u2019s teacher who will inform the relevant pastoral leads.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your child must be on time for live lessons, tutorials, or activities.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your child should not be taking part in any live teaching and learning sessions with just themselves and the teacher.\u00a0 An adult from home or another VIPS staff member should be present for any session being conducted with just one student.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parents and children must not record any online interactions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">*<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Should parents encounter any point of contention, they are encouraged and expected to address their point of contention directly with the staff member involved (in keeping with our <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1PTGw7e5HTw1bcXM11hC9ZfJC0Opr2OsGjyV7opoBTnA\/edit?ts=5e5ba1fa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parent Engagement Policy &#8211; Partnerships and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Voice<\/span><\/a> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Should the issue remain unresolved, parents are encouraged to follow-up with a member of the school&#8217;s senior leadership team (SLT), or submit an official complaint via email (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"mailto:complaints@virginiaschool.ae\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">complaints@virginiaschool.ae<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) as per Policy 21 of the Private Schools Policy and Guidance Manual. All written complaints will be acknowledged within 24hrs of receipt and the School Complaints Committee shall review and respond to all complaints within ten working days.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2>Teachers:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All set work is shared on the VDL platform and is appropriate to the age\/ability and is culturally sensitive (in line with Policy 30: Professional Code of Ethics of ADEK\u2019s Private Schools Policy and Guidance Manual).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not send any form of communication to students or parents from your personal accounts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any well-being or safeguarding concern must be immediately forwarded to Pastoral Teams or <\/span><a href=\"mailto:staysafe@virginiaschool.ae\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">staysafe@virginiaschool.ae<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students who are not engaging with distance learning must be reported as per the agreed communication channels.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not communicate with students and parents via social media or messaging services<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not use platforms other than the ones authorized by the school.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Professional dress is required when creating video tutorials or hosting live classes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The environment of which the video is being recorded or streamed must be appropriate ensuring nothing is personally identifiable or culturally inappropriate.\u00a0 It should look like a professional space..<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Never conduct any form of live communication with only one student (unless a parent or another staff member is also present).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teachers are expected to record and archive all live sessions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If students are communicating inappropriately via any online forum the conversation must be immediately terminated and reported to the pastoral team (<\/span><a href=\"mailto:staysafe@virginiaschool.ae\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">staysafe@virginiaschool.ae<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If students are dressed inappropriately during a video stream or in a picture that they\u2019ve posted onto platforms, such should be reported to the pastoral team.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">*Should a staff member encounter any point of contention, they are encouraged to address their point of contention directly with their line manager (and, if deemed appropriate, Head of Section). Should the issue remain unresolved, the staff member is encouraged to follow-up with a member of the school&#8217;s senior leadership team (SLT), or submit an official complaint via email (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"mailto:complaints@virginiaschool.ae\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">complaints@virginiaschool.ae<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) as per Policy 21 of the Private Schools Policy and Guidance Manual. All written complaints will be acknowledged within 24hrs of receipt and the School Complaints Committee shall review and respond to all complaints within ten working days.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Overview: The updated Safeguarding Guidelines have been developed to further ensure and promote online safety for the VIPS learning community. Key Points: staysafe@virginiaschool.ae is the designated email address to be &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.virginiaschool.ae\/en\/distance-learning\/vdl-safeguarding-guidelines\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8221;\u00a0VDL Safeguarding Guidelines\u00a0&#8220;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":2023,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-2274","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.virginiaschool.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.virginiaschool.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.virginiaschool.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.virginiaschool.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.virginiaschool.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2274"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.virginiaschool.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4248,"href":"https:\/\/www.virginiaschool.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2274\/revisions\/4248"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.virginiaschool.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.virginiaschool.ae\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}