Safeguarding at WSF

Safeguarding at GEMS WSF

At GEMS WSF, the health and safety of our students is our most important priority. We take our safeguarding responsibilities very seriously, ensuring that every individual working in our school has successfully completed all necessary clearances to work with children.

Our robust recruitment processes include thorough reference checks for all staff before appointments. Additionally, all leaders involved in recruitment must complete GEMS Safer Recruitment training, ensuring the highest standards of safety and compliance. Adult volunteers at our school, including our LAB members, have also undertaken the necessary safeguarding training and clearance checks.

Our Whole School Vice Principal is the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). She leads a dedicated team of Level 3-trained Deputy DSLs. This team works closely with the safeguarding team to investigate any concerns raised and to prioritise student welfare in every department. The WSF safeguarding team is further supported by the GEMS Central Safeguarding Team, which operates within the Education Department at the School Support Centre.

All staff at GEMS WSF undertake comprehensive Safeguarding and Child Protection training. Our trained school counsellor also provides regular counselling sessions for students and provides opportunities for work with parents and external agencies to further support our community of staff, children and parents.

A Proactive Approach to Safeguarding

At WSF, we are proactive in raising awareness of safeguarding themes throughout the school community. Safeguarding is embedded across the curriculum and celebrated through event days designed to educate and engage students on key topics. These events develop a shared understanding of safety and well-being. To further support our parents, we host parent information sessions to provide detailed insights into important safeguarding themes. These sessions are designed to equip parents with valuable knowledge and strategies to help keep their children safe, both in and out of school. In addition, we provide a monthly safeguarding spotlight for staff, which focuses on relevant safeguarding themes and keeps the community informed about ongoing initiatives and events. This spotlight helps ensure we are all equipped with the knowledge and resources to contribute to creating a secure environment for their children. By working together as a community, we strengthen our commitment to safeguarding and build a foundation of trust, safety, and awareness for all.

Commitment to Children’s Rights

GEMS WSF is fully committed to promoting children’s rights, particularly their right to be protected from harm, abuse, and exploitation. We strive to develop an understanding of rights and responsibilities in our students, aligning with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the UAE is a signatory.

We encourage you to review our safeguarding policies and reach out to the school if you have any questions or concerns. These can be found in our Policies section of our website.