DocumentNot applicable2 of 3 opportunities in this document openPolicy
SAFEGUARDING POLICY
Official source
Source domain: steyncityschool.co.za
Collected on 6 August 2026
Always confirm details on the official source before acting.
What this means
This document is the “Safeguarding Policy” of Steyn City School. It sets out principles and procedures to protect children and young people in the school’s care, including roles for staff, reporting obligations to statutory authorities where required, and steps for investigating allegations or concerns. It also describes safeguarding standards such as recruitment checks, safe use of technology (including WhatsApp and CCTV), pastoral care reporting routes, designated safeguarding leaders, and mechanisms for confidential record-keeping and support for affected persons.
What this document offers
Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.
pastoral care and counselling supportOngoing
Pastoral care, counselling, and support follow-up for those who may have suffered abuse
The policy provides for compassionate and appropriate follow-up for those who may have suffered abuse, including pastoral care, counselling, and support.
- Who it is for
- those who may have suffered abuse
- How to act on it
- The policy indicates follow-up is provided as part of the safeguarding response, including pastoral care, counselling, and support.
Show the line this came from
• follow up with those who may have suffered abuse in a compassionate and appropriate manner, providing appropriate pastoral care, counselling, and support;
safe recruitment and employment screeningClosing date not stated
Safe recruitment and employment screening for people working with children (including service providers)
The policy states that Steyn City School will prevent unsuitable people from working with children and young people through rigorous recruitment processes at the point of employment, including staff for service providers.
- Who it is for
- people employed as full-time or part-time staff and staff for service providers who work with children and young people
- How to act on it
- Through the school’s recruitment process at the point of employment (including for service providers), using diligent and comprehensive recruitment processes.
- Closes
- Closing date not stated in the circular
Show the line this came from
• prevent unsuitable people from working with children and young people through a rigorous process at the point of employment—this applies to all who are employed as full-time or part-time staff or as staff for service providers.
safeguarding reporting and investigation routeOngoing
Safeguarding reporting and investigation process for safeguarding concerns or allegations
If you work at Steyn City School and have concerns about a child’s welfare, the policy requires you to take prompt action, share information appropriately, and ensure concerns are handled sensitively and in a timely manner, including investigation and reporting where required.
- Who it is for
- everyone working in the school (members of the Board, school management, teachers, administrative staff, support staff, and children)
- How to act on it
- Identify concerns, share information appropriately, and take prompt action; the policy also sets out an investigation process and guidelines for reporting requirements to Child Protection authorities and other law enforcement agencies and professional bodies.
Show the line this came from
• ensure that suspicions in the area of safeguarding, concerns, or allegations are dealt with sensitively, actively, respectfully, and in a timely manner in the knowledge that we have a duty to notify the statutory authorities of concerns or allegations, where such duty arises; • set out the process for an investigation where there are allegations and/or concerns regarding such behaviour;
Facts
Places
Gauteng
Key Takeaways
- Document title: SAFEGUARDING POLICY
- Organisation: Steyn City School (committed to safeguarding children and young people)
- Four safeguarding principles: everyone has a role; take concerns seriously; attitude of “it could happen here”; act in best interests of the child
- Purpose includes: protect/safeguard children; educate community on abuse/inappropriate behaviour; ensure timely sensitive handling and duty to notify statutory authorities where required; set investigation and reporting processes; prevent unsuitable people via rigorous recruitment
- Safeguarding standards include: diligent recruitment, police clearance checks, membership/exclusion evidence related to South African Council of Educators
- Pastoral care reporting routes: Preparatory School (form teacher → Director of Pastoral Care → counsellor); College (mentor/teacher/counsellor → Deputy Head/Head of College/Executive Head/external psychologist); any staff member must refer concerns appropriately
- Designated safeguarding leader named: Ms van der Merwe, Deputy Head: Pastoral Care and Wellness
- Other designated safeguarding contacts named: Mr Abbott (Director of Pastoral Care in Senior Preparatory), Ms Akbar (School Counsellor in College), Ms Javu (School Counsellor in Preparatory School)
- Investigation process: Executive Head/Head of College/Head of Preparatory appoints information gatherer; student report is evidence; counselling support; interviews with statements; investigator report submitted for further action and disciplinary/reporting decisions
- Legal framework referenced: Child Protection Act and Sexual Offences Amendment Act
- Technology safeguards: ground rules for adult one-to-one contact; includes WhatsApp; strict safety standards for internet/text/email/Teams/WhatsApp/photography/CCTV/social media; CCTV use where possible
- Record-keeping: incident files and investigation records retained and securely stored; documentation retained even if decision not to report
- Steyn City School
- Ms van der Merwe
- Mr Abbott
- Ms Akbar
- Ms Javu
- Executive Head
- Head of College
- Head of Preparatory
- Deputy Head: Pastoral Care and Wellness
- School counsellor
- External psychologist
- South African Council of Educators
- Child Protection authorities
- Sexual Offences Amendment Act
- Child Protection Act
- Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA)
- Southern African Heads of Independent Schools Association (SAHISA)
- Independent Examinations Board (IEB)