Child Safeguarding Standards

English translation. This version is provided for convenience. The Polish version adopted by Conversa Language Centre is the reference version.

1. Purpose and legal basis

These Child Safeguarding Standards set out the rules and procedures used by Conversa Language Centre to protect children and young people from harm during lessons, contact with staff and collaborators, and the use of online tools.

The Standards reflect the requirements applicable to organisations providing educational activities for minors in Poland and are adapted to Conversa Language Centre’s primarily online, individual and small-group language courses.

2. Scope and safeguarding lead

The Standards apply to all persons permitted by Conversa Language Centre to carry out educational activities or otherwise have contact with minors, regardless of the legal basis of their cooperation.

The person responsible for receiving safeguarding reports, coordinating responses, supporting the minor, preparing staff to apply the Standards and reviewing them is Kamila Bajgier — owner of Conversa Language Centre. She can be contacted through the official Conversa Language Centre contact details or at .

3. Staff checks and preparation

Before a person is permitted to carry out activities involving minors, Conversa Language Centre performs the checks required by applicable Polish law. Staff and collaborators are familiarised with these Standards and are required to follow them and keep information concerning minors confidential.

4. Safe adult–minor relationships

Anyone teaching or communicating with a minor must act respectfully, patiently and with regard to the learner’s age, maturity, boundaries and individual needs.

Prohibited conduct includes physical, psychological or sexual violence, threats, humiliation or intimidation; sexual comments or proposals; romantic or sexual relationships with minors; unwanted or unjustified physical contact; offering alcohol, nicotine or drugs; creating secret private channels of communication; and providing content inappropriate to the learner’s age.

Communication about lessons must remain professional. For younger learners and contractual or organisational matters, communication with the parent or legal guardian is preferred.

5. Relationships between minors

Learners must treat one another with respect. Violence, humiliation, threats, harassment, exclusion, sexual boundary violations, cyberbullying and distribution of compromising materials are not acceptable.

6. Online lessons and Internet safety

Online lessons are primarily delivered through Microsoft Teams and other tools approved by Conversa Language Centre. Meeting links must not be shared with unauthorised persons. Participants must not record or distribute another person’s image, voice or statements without an appropriate basis and prior information.

Private social-media contact is not used as the normal channel for the teacher–learner relationship. Cyberbullying, impersonation, non-consensual publication of materials and other online threats trigger the safeguarding response procedure.

7. Safeguarding response procedure

Anyone working with Conversa Language Centre who suspects that a minor is being harmed or learns of a possible threat must promptly report it to the safeguarding lead.

Immediate danger to life or health is dealt with first, including calling emergency services on 112 where necessary. Depending on the circumstances, Conversa Language Centre may contact the parent or guardian unless that person may be the source of the threat, and may notify the Police, prosecution service or guardianship court where required.

8. Reports and support

A report may be made by the minor, a parent or guardian, teacher, collaborator or any other person with relevant information. Reports are received by Kamila Bajgier through Conversa Language Centre’s official contact channels.

Information is shared only with persons who need it to protect the child or comply with legal obligations.

9. Support plan

Where harm or a serious threat is identified, Conversa Language Centre prepares a support plan within the limits of its educational role. It may include arrangements for safe participation in lessons, parent/guardian contact, restricting contact with a person creating a risk, and signposting to appropriate specialist services.

10. Documentation and confidentiality

Reports and safeguarding actions are documented to the extent necessary to record the response and protect the minor. Safeguarding records are access-restricted and handled in accordance with data-protection requirements.

11. Children with additional needs

The Standards are applied with regard to children with disabilities and special educational needs, including reasonable adjustments to communication, pace, support and the involvement of a parent, guardian or support person.

12. Staff preparation

The safeguarding lead ensures that persons working with minors are familiar with safe-relationship rules, the response procedure, reporting channels and their duties under the Standards, and that this preparation is documented.

13. Review

The Standards are reviewed at least once every two years and earlier where required by legal changes, changes to activities, safeguarding experience or new risks. Conclusions from the review are documented in writing.

14. Availability

The full Standards and the short version for young people are published on the official Conversa Language Centre website.

15. Urgent help

• 112 — immediate danger to life or health.
• 116 111 — Polish helpline for children and young people, free and available 24/7.
• 800 12 12 12 — Children’s Ombudsman helpline in Poland.