Child Protection and Safety Policy
CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFEGUARDING POLICY
Visitor Notice
Dear Visitors,
Welcome to Acıbadem Schools! We kindly ask you to follow the rules outlined below in
accordance with our "Well-being" and "Child Protection" Policies.
- Entry and exit to our schools are subject to security checks.
- Our campuses and their surroundings are monitored 24/7 by security cameras.
- All visitors must present a valid identification card upon entry.
- Visitors must wear the visitor badges provided by security throughout their visit.
- Visitors should not move around the school unaccompanied by school staff.
- Students will only be released to their parents or individuals previously authorized in writing by their parents.
- The school administration strictly supervises visitor access to student areas.
- Visitors, parents, and staff are not allowed to take photographs or videos of students without prior consent.
- Smoking, tobacco products, and electronic cigarettes are strictly prohibited on school premises.
- Outside food is not permitted on school grounds.
- Vehicle access to the school is restricted; only school buses and authorized vehicles are allowed.
- Security screenings for maintenance personnel, suppliers, and subcontractors are conducted in advance of their scheduled visit.
- In the event of a drill, disaster, or emergency during your visit, please proceed immediately to the designated emergency assembly area.
OUR CHILD PROTECTION STATEMENT
At Acıbadem Schools, ensuring the safety, rights, and well-being of all children is our top
priority. We are committed to protecting children from all forms of abuse, neglect,
mistreatment, and harm, always acting in their best interests. To create a safe, respectful, and
supportive educational environment, we operate in accordance with children's rights,
protection policies, responsibilities, education and awareness initiatives, reporting and
intervention processes, and monitoring and oversight mechanisms. Our commitment to child
protection is not merely an institutional policy but also a reflection of our ethical and moral
responsibility to society.
We are committed to treating all children fairly and respectfully, without discrimination. We
provide a safe environment where violence, bullying, and abuse are not tolerated by
establishing effective procedures to prevent all forms of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse
and neglect of children. As Acıbadem Schools, we are committed to continuously reviewing
and improving our policies and taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our
children.
We work closely with both our staff and parents to improve the effectiveness and sustainability
of our child protection policies. As an institution, we believe that everyone must work together
to ensure the well-being and safety of our students. Our primary goal is for our children to
grow up in a healthy, happy, and safe environment.
This statement will be strengthened by the contributions and support of all our staff, parents,
and community.
What is the Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy?
To ensure the physical, emotional, psychological, and abuse protection of children and to
maintain their well-being and safety at the highest level. This policy aims to create an
environment where children feel safe, their rights are respected, and their needs are met. It
also provides a framework for minimizing risks to children, identifying these risks early, and
intervening when necessary. Additionally, it encourages adults to be aware of their
responsibilities toward children and to develop awareness of potential situations of
mistreatment.
What is the objective of the policy document?
The purpose of this policy document is to provide guidance on the measures necessary to
ensure the safety of children and protect them from abuse, neglect, or mistreatment. This
document establishes a clear framework for all staff and volunteers working with children
within the organization and outlines the rules, responsibilities, and procedures that everyone
must follow. It also includes guidelines on how to respond in the event of potential neglect or
abuse and emphasizes the obligations of those responsible toward children. At its core, it aims
to create a safe and supportive environment by safeguarding children's rights. Our Child
Protection Statement emphasizes our organization's commitment to respecting children's
rights, protecting them, and providing a safe environment. This statement commits to ensuring
the protection of children from all forms of harm and to acting in alignment with children’s
rights. At its core, it aims to create a safe and supportive environment by safeguarding
children's rights.
What are the goals of the policy?
● Ensuring Children's Safety: Protecting children from physical, emotional, sexual abuse,
and neglect risks and providing them with a safe environment.
● Raising Awareness: Ensuring that the entire school community is informed about their
responsibilities regarding child protection.
● Preventing Risks: Identifying potential abuse or mistreatment situations in advance and
taking preventive measures against these risks.
● Establishing Appropriate Intervention Processes: Implementing procedures to ensure
a prompt, appropriate, and effective response in the event of potential abuse or neglect.
● Safeguarding Children's Rights: Creating an environment where children's rights are
respected, they can express themselves, and their needs are taken into account.
● Sharing Responsibility: Clarifying the responsibilities of the entire school community in
child protection and ensuring that roles and responsibilities are defined.
CODE OF CONDUCT
All staff members and other individuals associated with Acıbadem Schools must adhere to the
following code of conduct:
- To act in accordance with the vision and mission of Acıbadem Schools.
- To uphold the principle of confidentiality in all practices.
- To ensure that every child is safe at all times.
- To treat all children equally and fairly.
- To be available and accessible to children at all times.
- To be aware of children's personal boundaries during all interactions.
- To be alert and attentive to any risks that may endanger children's safety and use non-
- discriminatory and non-abusive language.
- To consistently and consciously create a safe physical and emotional space for children to express themselves.
- To ensure that children are aware of their rights.
- To use positive and encouraging language to reinforce children's good behavior and
- expressions.
- To immediately inform those responsible if any incident occurs.
- To notify the relevant person if a child appears to be out of their normal state.
The following behaviors are unacceptable under any circumstances:
- To engage in any inappropriate physical contact that is abusive, humiliating, or could be interpreted as sexual or aggressive in any way.
- To engage in any situation or behavior that could be considered inappropriate or abusive or that could create a risk of abuse.
- To interact with children in an inappropriate tone of voice.
- To use inappropriate, aggressive, or profane language around children.
- To raise a child's hopes in situations where they are unlikely to be fulfilled or to make promises that cannot be kept.
- To physically touch, hit, or push a child with the intent to harm or punish them.
- To attempt to establish a non-professional relationship with a child.
- To engage in any behavior that could be considered discriminatory.
- To share information about a child's personal life without the parent's permission.
- To attempt to cover up or fail to report any incident that should be reported according to procedure.
- To leave a child unsupervised and alone in any situation.
What Should You Do If You Notice a Concerning Situation?
If you have any concerns about a child's safety, it is essential to trust your instincts and report the matter without delay. Initially, you should share your observations with the Child Protection Officer on your campus. If the Officer is unavailable, you may contact the school principal, vice principal, or a member of the Child Protection Team. What matters most is that your concern reaches the appropriate individuals to ensure the child’s well-being.
The primary aim of this process is not to assign blame, but to safeguard the child and promote their overall welfare. Any information you provide can help the child receive the support they need. Ensuring that the child feels safe and that all necessary steps are taken with care and sensitivity should always be the top priority.