Introduction
Heritage International School (HIS) is committed to providing a safe, supportive and enriching online learning environment for all students. Our welfare policy outlines our duty of care, child protection measures, and guidelines to ensure the well-being of our students in the online learning context. As we implement these policies, we are guided by biblical principles that emphasize love, protection, and care for one another.

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Duty of Care
1. Safe Learning Environment: HIS is dedicated to ensuring that all online platforms used for instruction are secure and reliable. All staff members are trained in online safety and are required to follow established protocols to protect students from any potential harm.

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Bible Verse: "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge." (Psalm 18:2)

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2. Supervision and Support: Each online session will have a designated teacher who will supervise the class. Additionally, support staff will be available to assist students with any technical or personal issues that may arise during online sessions.

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Bible Verse: "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4)

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3. Well-being Sessions: Regular well-being check-ins will be available to students. These voluntary sessions will be facilitated through one-on-one meetings with a designated counselor or support staff member.

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Bible Verse: "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)

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Child Protection

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1. Mandatory Reporting: All HIS staff are mandated reporters and are required to report any suspicion or disclosure of abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities immediately.

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Bible Verse: "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." (Proverbs 31:8)

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2. Training and Awareness: All staff members will receive regular training on child protection policies, recognizing signs of abuse, and appropriate responses to disclosures.

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A detailed policy will be available in the near future. This policy will specify what actions staff will take to ensure the welfare of students including mandatory reporting. It will also specify the responsibilities of HIS administration in this regard. 

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Bible Verse: "Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds." (Proverbs 27:23)

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3. Confidentiality and Privacy: HIS is committed to protecting the privacy of its students. Personal information will be handled with strict confidentiality and shared only on a need-to-know basis in compliance with relevant child protection laws.

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Bible Verse: "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret." (Proverbs 11:13)

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Recording and Retention of Online Interactions

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1. Recording Sessions: All live online lessons, meetings, and interactions will be recorded to ensure transparency and for the protection of both students and staff. These recordings will be securely stored and accessible only to authorized personnel.

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Bible Verse: "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." (Proverbs 11:3)

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2. Retention Policy: Recorded sessions will be retained for a minimum of five years. indefinitely. After this period, recordings will be reviewed and may be archived for future reference or deleted as per the retention schedule.
 
Records of allegations of abuse will be made available to appropriate authorities on request. 
Records, both written and electronic pertaining to allegations of abuse, will be retained by the school indefinitely. These may be used in the future to assist in the investigation of allegations of historic abuse.

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Bible Verse: "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." (Proverbs 11:3)

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Screen Time Considerations

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1. Balanced Schedule: HIS recognizes the importance of managing screen time to support students' physical and mental health. The school will implement a balanced schedule that includes regular breaks, offline activities, and interactive sessions to reduce continuous screen exposure.

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Bible Verse: "... be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." (Ecclesiastes 12:12)

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2. Guidelines for Screen Time:
2.1 Maximum Daily Screen Time:
            2.1.1 Primary Students: No more than 30 minutes of direct screen time per session, with adequate breaks between sessions.
            2.1.2 Secondary Students: Maximum of 60 minutes of direct screen time per session, with adequate breaks between sessions.
2.2 Breaks:
            2.2.1 Primary students will have a 10-15 minute break after every 30 minutes of online instruction.
            2.2.2 Secondary students will have a 10-15 minute break after every 45-60 minutes of online instruction.
2.3 Physical Activities: Students will be encouraged to participate in physical activities and offline assignments to promote a healthy lifestyle.

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Bible Verse: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own." (1 Corinthians 6:19)

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Support for Students

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1. Technical Assistance: HIS will provide technical support to ensure students can access and participate in online learning without technical barriers.

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Bible Verse: "So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:5)

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2. Counseling Services: HIS will offer external counseling services to support students' mental health and well-being. Students and parents can request appointments with counselors as needed.

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Bible Verse: "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." (Proverbs 11:14)

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3. Parental Involvement: HIS encourages parental involvement in the online learning process. Parents will have access to resources and training sessions to help them support their children's education at home.

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Bible Verse: "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

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Staff
Employees are expected to have due regard to the working environment on their wellbeing.
Training and support will be provided as part of the induction process and this will be monitored
from time to time by the Trustee Board.

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Conclusion
HIS is dedicated to ensuring the welfare of all students and staff in the online learning environment. By implementing these policies, we aim to create a safe, supportive, and enriching educational experience for every student.

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Monitoring the Impact of this Policy
The Trust board will receive a report on the impact of this policy in each of its meetings. This
reflects the priority the Trustees place on the welfare of our students and staff.