Port Prosperity Academy (“PPA”, “we”, “our”, “us”) is committed to ensuring the safety, protection, and wellbeing of all children who participate in our tutoring programs. This Child Safeguarding Policy outlines the principles, standards, and procedures that guide our efforts to create a safe learning environment for every student. It applies to all tutors, staff, contractors, volunteers, parents/guardians, and any individual who interacts with children through PPA’s services.
The purpose of this Policy is to establish clear expectations and procedures for preventing, identifying, and responding to any form of harm, abuse, exploitation, or misconduct involving children. PPA recognizes its duty of care and is committed to upholding the highest standards of child protection in all aspects of our operations.
This Policy applies to: • All students under the age of 18 enrolled in PPA programs • All tutors, staff, contractors, and volunteers • All online and inperson interactions facilitated by PPA • All digital platforms, communication channels, and learning environments used by PPA
PPA’s safeguarding practices are guided by the following principles: a. Best Interests of the Child: All decisions and actions must prioritize the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of the child. b. Zero Tolerance for Abuse: PPA maintains a strict zerotolerance stance toward any form of abuse, exploitation, neglect, or inappropriate conduct. c. Shared Responsibility: Child protection is a collective responsibility. All tutors, staff, and parents must actively contribute to safeguarding efforts. d. Confidentiality and Respect: Information related to child protection concerns will be handled sensitively and shared only with authorized individuals. e. Compliance with Applicable Laws: PPA adheres to relevant child protection laws and regulations in Nigeria and other jurisdictions where our services are accessed.
For the purposes of this Policy, “abuse” includes but is not limited to: • Physical Abuse: Any act causing physical harm or injury. • Emotional/Psychological Abuse: Behaviors that harm a child’s emotional wellbeing, including threats, humiliation, or intimidation. • Sexual Abuse: Any sexual activity involving a child, including inappropriate communication or exposure. • Neglect: Failure to provide adequate supervision, care, or support. • Online Abuse: Cyberbullying, inappropriate digital communication, grooming, or exposure to harmful content.
All tutors and staff must: • Maintain professional boundaries at all times • Use only approved communication channels for interacting with students • Ensure that online sessions are conducted in safe, supervised digital environments • Report any safeguarding concerns immediately • Complete required child protection training • Avoid private, unsupervised communication with students outside approved platforms • Refrain from sharing personal contact information with students • Avoid physical contact or inappropriate personal discussions Tutors must conduct sessions in a manner that ensures visibility, accountability, and transparency.
Parents and guardians play a critical role in safeguarding and are expected to: • Provide accurate information during enrollment • Ensure that students attend sessions in a safe, supervised environment • Monitor student use of digital devices during tutoring • Report any concerns or incidents to PPA promptly • Support PPA’s safeguarding procedures and guidelines
PPA is committed to maintaining a secure digital learning environment. To ensure safety: • All sessions are conducted through approved platforms with appropriate security settings • Tutors must begin each session by confirming the presence of a parent/guardian or ensuring the student is in a safe environment • Recording of sessions is prohibited unless explicitly authorized by PPA and the parent/guardian • Tutors must avoid sharing external links or materials not vetted by PPA
Tutors must adhere to the following conduct standards: • Treat all students with respect and dignity • Avoid favoritism, inappropriate jokes, or personal comments • Maintain professional language and behavior at all times • Avoid discussing personal matters unrelated to tutoring • Never request or encourage secrecy from a child • Never engage in private messaging outside approved channels • Never meet a student in person without explicit authorization from PPA and the parent/guardian
Any tutor, staff member, parent, or student who becomes aware of a safeguarding concern must report it immediately to PPA’s Safeguarding Officer at: 📧 portprosperityacademy@gmail.com Reports may include concerns about: • Inappropriate tutor behavior • Signs of physical or emotional distress • Suspicious communication or grooming behavior • Cyberbullying or harassment • Any incident that compromises a child’s safety Reports will be handled promptly, confidentially, and in accordance with legal requirements.
When a safeguarding concern is reported, PPA will: • Acknowledge receipt of the report • Conduct an initial assessment of the concern • Take immediate steps to protect the child • Suspend or restrict tutor access if necessary • Notify parents/guardians when appropriate • Escalate the matter to relevant authorities if required by law • Document all actions taken PPA will cooperate fully with law enforcement or child protection agencies when necessary.
To ensure child safety, PPA implements strict recruitment procedures: • Verification of identity and qualifications • Review of professional references • Background checks where legally permissible • Mandatory acceptance of PPA’s Safeguarding Policy • Completion of child protection training before assignment Tutors who fail to meet safeguarding standards will not be engaged.
All tutors and staff must complete safeguarding training covering: • Recognizing signs of abuse • Maintaining professional boundaries • Safe online teaching practices • Reporting procedures • Legal obligations related to child protection Training is refreshed periodically to ensure ongoing compliance.
Safeguarding reports and related documentation will be stored securely and accessed only by authorized personnel. Information will be shared strictly on a needtoknow basis and in accordance with privacy laws.
PPA will review this Policy annually or when significant changes occur in legislation, operations, or safeguarding best practices. Updated versions will be published on our website.
For safeguarding concerns, questions, or clarifications, please contact: Port Prosperity Academy (PPA) Safeguarding Office Email: portprosperityacademy@gmail.com Safeguarding Desk: portprosperityacademy@gmail.com Website: www.portprosperityacademy.org