Every child has the right to feel safe, respected and supported
At SIS, safeguarding is a shared responsibility. We are committed to a supportive, healthy and secure environment in which every student can learn, develop and thrive.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
At Shinagawa International School, the safety, protection and well-being of every child are fundamental to our responsibility as an educational institution. As a school entrusted with the care of children, SIS has legal obligations under Japanese law, including the Child Abuse Prevention Act, as well as responsibilities aligned with the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), to protect children from harm and promote their safety and well-being. Our safeguarding approach is therefore designed to prevent harm, identify concerns at the earliest opportunity, respond appropriately and consistently, and continually strengthen our practices to ensure that every child in our care is safe, respected and supported.
Prevent
We use safer recruitment, staff training, professional boundaries, visitor procedures and clear expectations to reduce risks before they arise.
Recognise
Staff are trained to notice signs of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, peer-on-peer abuse and online harm.
Respond
Concerns are taken seriously, reported promptly and handled confidentially through established safeguarding procedures.
Strength
Honesty
Adaptability
Respect
Kindness
What Safeguarding Means at SIS
Safeguarding recognises students’ experiences and considers context in prevention, identification, assessment and intervention. Our responsibilities extend across the school environment, online spaces, off-campus learning, trips and activities.
Safe relationships
Adults maintain appropriate professional boundaries and respect students’ dignity, privacy and personal boundaries.
Student voice
We listen carefully when students raise concerns and provide support while following our reporting and documentation procedures.
Whole-community responsibility
Employees, contractors, volunteers and other adults working with students are expected to understand and follow SIS safeguarding expectations.
If You Have a Concern
You do not need to be certain that abuse has occurred before raising a concern. If something worries you about a student’s safety or wellbeing, please speak to a member of the SIS safeguarding team.
For SIS staff: suspected abuse or neglect must be reported immediately to a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Staff should also complete a Cause for Concern Form as soon as practicable and contact a designated safeguarding lead.
1. Listen calmly
If a student speaks to you, listen and allow them to explain in their own words.
2. Prioritise safety
If there is immediate danger or significant risk, seek help from the Safeguarding Lead or a senior administrator immediately.
3. Report
Share the concern with the appropriate safeguarding lead. Do not promise secrecy.
4. Document
Complete the relevant Cause for Concern documentation and record information accurately.
Students and parents: concerns can be raised with a class teacher, counsellor, member of the Senior Leadership Team or a Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Our Designated Safeguarding Leads
Each SIS campus has designated safeguarding leadership, supported by the school’s Senior Leadership Team and wellbeing provision.
Aoyoko Campus
Tom Broadbent
Jasmine Costello
Seaside Campus
Tom Broadbent
Sara Baum
Samezu Campus
Tom Broadbent
Gaida Erlano
School Counsellors: Aarti Bakshi & Zisan Orak
Head of School: Gamze Abis
School Board Designated Safeguarding Lead: Kenan Ulu
For safeguarding enquiries/concerns, please email
✉ safeguarding@sistokyo.jp
Safeguarding Policies & Related Documents
Safeguarding is embedded across SIS policies and procedures. The documents below should be read together with the SIS Safeguarding: Child Protection Policy.
Policy review: The SIS Safeguarding: Child Protection Policy was ratified in June 2026 and is scheduled for review in June 2027. The policy is reviewed annually as a minimum.
Working With Our Community
SIS recognises that safeguarding is strengthened when students, families, staff and visitors understand their responsibilities. We aim to foster a culture where concerns can be raised openly and respectfully, without fear of negative consequences when raised in good faith.
Our safeguarding framework also includes expectations around online safety, social media and images, off-campus learning, peer-on-peer abuse, intimate care, physical touch in Early Years, safer recruitment and visitor management.
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