Child Safety & Safeguarding
Protecting every child's right to learn in a safe and supportive environment.
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🛡️Our Commitment to Child Safety
Every child has the right to be safe. At Unreal Nova Academy, safeguarding is our highest priority. We are committed to:
- ✓Protecting children and vulnerable students from harm, abuse, and exploitation
- ✓Creating safe learning environments both online and in-person
- ✓Training staff to recognize and respond to safeguarding concerns
- ✓Partnering with parents and authorities to ensure student welfare
- ✓Continuously reviewing and improving our safeguarding practices
📖Key Definitions
Child / Minor
Any person under the age of 18 years.
Safeguarding
Actions taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm, including preventing impairment of health and development, ensuring safe and effective care, and taking action when abuse or neglect is suspected.
Abuse
Physical, emotional, sexual abuse, neglect, or exploitation that causes harm to a child's health, development, or dignity.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
The staff member responsible for coordinating safeguarding efforts, receiving reports, and liaising with external agencies.
🔐Prevention Measures
Staff Screening & Training
- Background checks: All instructors and staff undergo thorough background checks before working with children
- Reference verification: Professional references are required and verified
- Safeguarding training: Mandatory training on recognizing and reporting abuse for all staff
- Ongoing education: Regular updates on best practices and emerging risks
- Code of conduct: All staff sign and adhere to our professional conduct policies
Safe Environment Policies
- Two-adult rule: No one-on-one unsupervised contact between adults and minors whenever possible
- Open-door policy: In-person sessions occur in visible, accessible spaces
- Video recording: Online sessions may be recorded for safety and quality assurance (with notice)
- Communication protocols: All student-staff communication uses official academy channels (no personal social media)
- Physical safety: In-person facilities meet safety standards with clear emergency procedures
Parental Consent & Involvement
- Written consent required for enrollment, media use, and field trips
- Parents receive regular updates on program activities and student progress
- Open communication channels for parents to raise concerns
- Parents are informed of safeguarding policies and encouraged to reinforce safety at home
👨🏫Staff Responsibilities
All Unreal Nova Academy staff must:
- Be vigilant: Watch for signs of abuse, neglect, or concerning behavior
- Report concerns: Immediately report any safeguarding concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Maintain boundaries: Follow professional boundaries in all interactions with students
- Respect privacy: Handle sensitive information confidentially and appropriately
- Model behavior: Demonstrate respectful, appropriate behavior at all times
- Stay informed: Participate in safeguarding training and stay current on policies
- Document incidents: Keep accurate, objective records of any concerns or incidents
⚠️ What Staff Must NOT Do
- Contact students via personal phone/social media
- Share personal contact information with students
- Meet students outside of official program activities without parental knowledge
- Engage in physical contact beyond appropriate safety measures (e.g., no hugging, sitting on laps)
- Make inappropriate jokes, comments, or show favoritism
- Ignore or dismiss safeguarding concerns
👁️Recognizing Signs of Abuse
Staff, parents, and students should be aware of potential warning signs of abuse or neglect. These may include physical, behavioral, or emotional indicators.
🩹 Physical Signs
- • Unexplained injuries or bruises
- • Frequent injuries or pattern of injuries
- • Poor hygiene or inappropriate clothing
- • Signs of malnutrition or fatigue
- • Flinching when approached
😢 Emotional/Behavioral Signs
- • Sudden changes in behavior or mood
- • Withdrawn, anxious, or fearful behavior
- • Regression (e.g., bedwetting, thumb-sucking)
- • Low self-esteem or self-harm
- • Aggressive or disruptive behavior
🗣️ Verbal Indicators
- • Disclosure of abuse or inappropriate experiences
- • Age-inappropriate sexual knowledge
- • Fear of going home or mentioning specific people
- • Hints or indirect references to problems
📚 Academic/Social Signs
- • Sudden drop in performance
- • Difficulty concentrating
- • Frequent absences or lateness
- • Isolation from peers
- • Inappropriate relationships with adults
Note: These signs do not automatically indicate abuse—they may have other explanations. However, any concerns should be reported to allow for proper assessment.
📢Reporting Procedures
🚨 If You Suspect Child Abuse or Have Safeguarding Concerns
1. Immediate Action (Staff)
- Ensure the child is safe from immediate harm
- Do not investigate yourself or ask leading questions
- Listen carefully if a child discloses information; reassure but do not promise confidentiality
- Document what you observed or heard (facts, not interpretations)
2. Report to Designated Safeguarding Lead
Contact our DSL immediately:
Email: safeguarding@unrealnovaacademy.com
Emergency Phone: +995 55 753 6341
3. DSL Assessment & Action
- DSL reviews the concern and assesses risk
- DSL contacts relevant authorities if necessary (child protection services, police)
- DSL informs parents/guardians (unless doing so would place the child at greater risk)
- DSL maintains confidential records and follows up
⚠️ For Parents & Students
If your child (or you, as a student) experiences or witnesses concerning behavior:
- Tell a trusted adult: Parent, instructor, school counselor, or DSL
- Contact our safeguarding team: safeguarding@unrealnovaacademy.com
- Emergency services: If immediate danger, call local police/emergency services first
External Reporting Resources (Georgia)
- Child Helpline 111: Free, 24/7 hotline for children in Georgia
📞 111 - Social Service Agency: Report child abuse to local authorities
🌐 ssa.gov.ge - Police (Emergency): For immediate danger
🚨 112
💻Online Safety Guidelines
For online and hybrid programs, we implement additional safeguards to protect students in digital environments.
Platform Safety Features
- Secure platforms: Use of reputable, encrypted video conferencing and communication tools
- Waiting rooms: All participants vetted before entering online sessions
- Screen sharing controls: Students can only share screens with instructor permission
- Chat monitoring: Instructors monitor all chat activity during sessions
- Recording notifications: Clear notice when sessions are recorded
Student Online Safety Tips
- ✓ Never share personal information (address, phone, school name) in public chats
- ✓ Use a neutral background or blur your background in video calls
- ✓ Tell a parent or instructor immediately if someone makes you uncomfortable
- ✓ Do not accept friend requests or messages from unknown people
- ✓ Keep your login credentials private; do not share your account
- ✓ Report cyberbullying, inappropriate content, or suspicious behavior
Parental Controls & Guidance
We encourage parents to:
- Be aware of what platforms your child is using for classes
- Review privacy settings on devices and applications
- Check in periodically during online sessions (especially for younger students)
- Have open conversations about online safety and appropriate behavior
- Report any concerns about online interactions to our safeguarding team
👨👩👧👦Parental Involvement & Communication
Parents and guardians are essential partners in safeguarding. We encourage active involvement and open communication.
✅ What We Provide
- • Clear safeguarding policies and procedures
- • Regular updates on program activities
- • Open channels for questions and concerns
- • Prompt notification of any incidents
- • Resources for online safety and child protection
🙏 What We Ask of Parents
- • Read and understand our safeguarding policies
- • Provide accurate emergency contact information
- • Inform us of any concerns about your child's welfare
- • Reinforce safety rules and appropriate behavior at home
- • Respond promptly to communication from staff
💬 Starting the Conversation at Home
Talk to your child about:
- What to do if someone makes them uncomfortable
- The difference between safe secrets (surprise parties) and unsafe secrets (someone telling them not to tell)
- Online safety—privacy, appropriate content, reporting concerns
- That they can always come to you with questions or worries, and you will listen without judgment
📞Emergency & Safeguarding Contacts
If a child is in immediate danger, call emergency services first (112 in Georgia), then notify us.
🛡️ Unreal Nova Academy Safeguarding Team
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Email: safeguarding@unrealnovaacademy.com
Emergency Phone: +995 55 753 6341
General Contact
🇬🇪 Georgia External Resources
Child Helpline 111: Free, confidential support for children (24/7)
📞 111
Emergency Services (Police, Ambulance, Fire):
🚨 112
Social Service Agency (Child Protection):
🌐 ssa.gov.ge
Public Defender's Office (Child Rights):
🌐 ombudsman.ge
🤝 We're Here to Help
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. If you ever have concerns about a child's safety or well-being—whether it's something you've seen, heard, or just a feeling that something isn't right—please speak up.
It is always better to report a concern and be wrong than to stay silent and allow harm to continue. We take every concern seriously and will handle it with care, confidentiality, and professionalism.