Spring of Life and Fountain of Wisdom Schools

1. Our Commitment

Spring of Life and Fountain of Wisdom Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child in our care. We believe that the safety of our pupils is the highest priority and that all children have the right to be protected from harm. This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, contractors, and visitors on our campus.

2. Designated Safeguarding Lead

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is responsible for coordinating all child protection activity within the school. All concerns, allegations, or disclosures relating to the welfare of a child must be reported immediately to the DSL. Contact details are available from the school's front desk or by calling +234 704 839 3605.

3. Safer Recruitment

All staff and volunteers working with children undergo thorough background checks before appointment, including identity verification, reference checks, and criminal record screening where applicable under Nigerian law. No adult is permitted unsupervised access to children without clearance from the school's HR department.

4. What Constitutes Abuse

The school recognises four main categories of abuse: physical abuse (including corporal punishment, which is strictly prohibited on our campus), emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Staff are trained to identify indicators of each category and are obligated to act upon any reasonable concern without delay.

5. Reporting a Concern

Any member of staff, parent, or visitor who has a concern about the welfare of a child must report it to the Designated Safeguarding Lead without waiting for certainty. It is not the responsibility of individuals to investigate; their responsibility is to report. Concerns may also be referred directly to the appropriate child protection authority.

6. Confidentiality

All safeguarding information is handled with appropriate confidentiality. Information will be shared on a need-to-know basis only, and always with the child's welfare as the primary consideration. Staff must never promise a child that they will keep a safeguarding disclosure secret.

7. Online Safety

The school provides supervised internet access through filtered and monitored networks. Students are educated in responsible digital citizenship as part of the curriculum. Staff are prohibited from communicating with current or former students via personal social media accounts or private messaging platforms.

8. Anti-Bullying

Bullying in any form — including cyberbullying, verbal, physical, and relational aggression — is not tolerated. The school has a clear anti-bullying procedure, and all reported incidents are investigated promptly. Parents are notified in all cases where a formal investigation is opened.

9. Training and Review

All staff receive safeguarding induction training before working with pupils and attend refresher training at least annually. This policy is reviewed every twelve months by senior leadership and updated to reflect changes in best practice or regulation.

10. Concerns or Complaints

If you have a concern about the welfare of a child at our school, or about the conduct of a member of staff, please contact the school immediately. You may also contact the appropriate state social welfare authority if you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm.

Safeguarding Policy.