Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

Aiantas Paphos Academy is committed to promoting the welfare, dignity and best interests of every child who attends our Football, Taekwon-Do, Basketball, Dance, Kickboxing, Saturday Club and Summer Camp activities.

We believe that every child has the right to participate in sport and activity in a safe, respectful, inclusive and supportive environment free from harm, intimidation, neglect, abuse or inappropriate behaviour.

The academy aims to provide a safe environment through appropriate supervision, clear behavioural expectations, age-appropriate session planning, practical risk management, respectful communication and a culture that encourages children to speak up when something feels wrong.

Safeguarding is not a single action. It is part of how the academy communicates, organises activities, manages spaces, works with families and responds to concerns.

All staff, coaches, volunteers and representatives of the academy are expected to act professionally, respectfully and in a manner that protects children at all times.

This includes maintaining appropriate boundaries, using suitable language and behaviour, avoiding favouritism, avoiding private or secretive contact with children, respecting privacy and following academy safeguarding and reporting procedures.

Parents and guardians are expected to support a safe and respectful environment by communicating relevant welfare information, following drop-off and collection arrangements, behaving respectfully toward children and staff and raising concerns appropriately.

Parents and guardians should help children understand that they can talk to a trusted adult if something makes them feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried.

Children should be treated with dignity, patience and fairness, and should be encouraged to treat others in the same way. Bullying, intimidation, degrading behaviour, discrimination and unsafe conduct are not accepted.

Where concerns arise about behaviour, the academy will seek to respond proportionately, fairly and with child welfare in mind, while also protecting other children and staff.

Photography and video should only be used in a way that respects child dignity, privacy and safety. Images should never be used in a way that is exploitative, inappropriate or likely to place a child at risk.

The academy may apply consent procedures, practical restrictions and content review processes for photography or video. Parents and guardians should inform the academy promptly of any consent limitations or safeguarding concerns relating to image use.

The academy asks parents and guardians to provide relevant medical, behavioural or support information that may affect safe participation. This helps staff provide more appropriate supervision and safer activity planning.

We aim to support children in a way that is inclusive, proportionate and sensitive to age, development stage, confidence and individual needs.

Any safeguarding, welfare or child protection concern should be reported to the academy as soon as possible. Concerns may relate to a child's safety, staff behaviour, peer behaviour, injury patterns, inappropriate communication, emotional distress or any situation that raises concern.

The academy will take concerns seriously, record them appropriately, respond proportionately and escalate them where necessary in line with legal obligations, safeguarding good practice and the welfare needs of the child.

When a concern is raised, the academy will aim to listen carefully, avoid dismissing concerns, avoid unnecessary delay and take appropriate next steps based on the seriousness and nature of the issue.

This may include internal review, contact with parents or guardians where appropriate, safety planning, temporary restrictions, referral to relevant professionals or authorities, or other reasonable protective action.

This Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy should be reviewed periodically to reflect operational needs, legal obligations and best practice for children participating in sport and activity.

Safeguarding questions or welfare concerns should be raised with the academy promptly using the academy contact details below.

Aiantas Paphos Academy

Alexandrou Ypsilanti 10, Paphos, Cyprus

Phone: +357 97 682375

Website: https://www.aiantaspaphou.com