Child Safeguarding at UAS

At the Uruguayan American School (UAS), the safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority. We are committed to providing a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where all students can learn and grow with confidence.

Child safeguarding at UAS is grounded in our responsibility to protect children from harm and to promote their physical, emotional, and social wellbeing in all aspects of school life.

Our Commitment

UAS is dedicated to:

  • Ensuring a safe and secure environment for all students
  • Promoting a culture of respect, inclusion, and care
  • Acting promptly and responsibly when concerns arise
  • Working in partnership with families to support student wellbeing

Safeguarding applies to all interactions within our community, including student-to-student, adult-to-student, and all school-related activities on and off campus.

How We Keep Students Safe

Safe Environments & Supervision

We maintain strong systems to ensure student safety across all school settings:

  • Continuous adult supervision during the school day and activities
  • Secure campus procedures and monitored access
  • Clear safety protocols for transportation and off-campus experiences

All school programs – including field trips, athletics, and extracurricular activities – are carefully planned and supervised to prioritize student wellbeing.

Safe Programs & Clear Expectations

We foster a culture where every child feels safe, respected, and included:

  • Clear expectations for behavior and respectful interactions
  • Strong anti-bullying practices and consistent responses
  • Emphasis on empathy, global citizenship, and responsible decision-making

Harassment, bullying, or unsafe behavior is not tolerated in any form.

Safe Recruitment & Professional Conduct

UAS maintains high standards for all adults working with students:

  • Careful recruitment and background checks for all staff
  • A strict Professional Code of Conduct outlining appropriate boundaries
  • Ongoing training to ensure staff uphold safeguarding expectations

All staff are expected to model integrity, respect, and professionalism at all times.

Education & Prevention

We believe that education is essential to prevention. Students are supported through a developmentally appropriate safeguarding and social-emotional learning program that helps them:

  • Understand personal safety and boundaries
  • Build healthy relationships
  • Recognize when to seek help

We also partner with families by offering guidance and resources to support conversations about safety and wellbeing at home.

Responding to Concerns

UAS takes all safeguarding concerns seriously. When a concern is raised:

  • It is reviewed promptly by the Child Safeguarding Team
  • Appropriate steps are taken to ensure student safety
  • Follow-up actions are guided by established procedures and best practice

Our approach prioritizes the wellbeing of the child while ensuring concerns are handled with care, professionalism, and confidentiality.

A Shared Responsibility

Child safeguarding is a shared responsibility between the school, families, and the wider community. We encourage all members of our community to:

  • Promote respectful and safe behavior
  • Communicate openly about concerns
  • Partner with the school in supporting student wellbeing

Contact & Further Information

For questions, concerns, or to request access to the full Child Safeguarding Policy, please contact:

A safe school environment is the foundation for learning, growth, and belonging. At UAS, this responsibility guides everything we do as we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of child safeguarding to ensure every student feels safe, supported, and valued.