Child Protection Policy

NHS is committed to protecting every learner's safety, dignity, privacy and best interests. Safeguarding applies to staff, teachers, contractors, volunteers, learners, parents, partner providers and anyone interacting through NHS programmes or activities.

Decisions involving a minor should prioritise the child's welfare and be proportionate to the situation. NHS seeks to align its practice with applicable Kenyan child-protection law and recognised online-safety principles.

Teachers and staff must maintain professional boundaries. Communication with learners should relate to education, wellbeing, administration or safeguarding and should use NHS-approved channels wherever reasonably possible. Grooming, exploitative relationships, sexualised communication, humiliation, requests for secrecy and attempts to move a child into concealed private communication are prohibited.

Role-based messaging keeps communication connected to school oversight. Student-to-student direct messaging is restricted or disabled by default. Live teaching should take place in an appropriate environment, and one-to-one lessons should follow the agreed timetable with parent/guardian awareness.

Families should provide a suitable teaching space. A parent, guardian or responsible adult should know when the tutor is present and remain reasonably accessible. Tutors must observe professional boundaries and the agreed schedule.

Where NHS uses an external sports club, coach, academy, community organisation, venue or activity provider, the arrangement should be confirmed for the relevant programme and subject to appropriate professional and safeguarding expectations. NHS does not treat an unconfirmed or informal relationship as a standing partnership.

Parents should receive the activity details, supervision arrangements and any separate provider terms before participation.

Optional parent–teacher–student trips, educational visits and social events may require separate written consent, emergency contacts, health information, transport arrangements and activity-specific instructions. Staff and providers should use age-appropriate supervision and clear handover arrangements.

Lessons may be recorded for approved educational or safeguarding purposes. Recordings are not to be redistributed without authorisation. Images, testimonials or identifiable learner work used publicly should be handled with appropriate parent/guardian permission and respect for the learner's dignity.

Cyberbullying, discriminatory abuse, sexual content directed at another learner, threats, doxxing, impersonation, unauthorised image sharing and deliberate exposure to harmful or exploitative content are prohibited and may result in disciplinary action or referral to appropriate authorities.

A concern may arise from something a child says, a change in behaviour, inappropriate communication, suspected abuse, exploitation, neglect, self-harm risk or unsafe activity. Staff should not promise secrecy where safety is at stake.

Concerns should be reported promptly to info@homeschool.co.ke with the subject “Safeguarding”. Where there is immediate danger, emergency protection and referral to the appropriate authority take priority.

Information about a safeguarding report should be restricted to people who need it for protection, investigation, support or legal compliance. Records should be factual, dated and stored with appropriate access controls.

Parents and guardians are safeguarding partners. They should maintain accurate contact information, monitor device use appropriately, disclose relevant safety information for activities and raise concerns promptly.

This policy will be reviewed as NHS services, technology, partnerships and safeguarding guidance evolve.