Child protection standards

§1. Purpose, scope and basic principles

1. The overriding principle of all activities undertaken by Masters&More is to act in the best interests of the minor and to respect their dignity, safety, privacy and rights.
2. These Standards apply to all persons who, in connection with Masters&More activities, have contact with minors, including in particular the owner, employees, teachers, contractors, interns, trainees, volunteers and persons temporarily permitted to work or conduct activities with children.
3. These Standards apply in all places where Masters&More conducts its activities, regardless of who owns or manages the premises. Where classes are held at a school, kindergarten or other institution, Masters&More personnel must also comply with the rules applicable at that institution, provided that those rules do not conflict with the law or these Standards.
4. These Standards take into account children with disabilities and children with special educational needs. Communication, intervention and support must be adapted to the child’s age, development, communication abilities and individual needs.
5. Whenever these Standards refer to a “child” or “minor”, this means a person under 18 years of age.

§2. Persons responsible for implementing the Standards

1. The owner of Masters&More – Elżbieta Jaroszewicz – is responsible for implementing, supervising, updating and making these Standards available and is hereinafter referred to as the Child Safeguarding Coordinator, unless the Organiser appoints another person in writing to perform this function.
2. The Coordinator receives reports concerning threats to a child’s welfare, organises interventions, documents incidents, facilitates access to necessary support and, where required, is responsible for notifying the competent authorities.
3. Reports may be made in person to the Coordinator, by telephone at 607 577 585, or by email to biuro@mastersandmore.pl.
4. If the Coordinator is absent, a report should be submitted to the owner of Masters&More or to a person appointed in writing as a substitute. If a report concerns the person acting as Coordinator, it should be submitted directly to the owner; if it concerns the owner, it should be submitted directly to the competent authorities or institutions without involving that person.
5. Every person subject to these Standards must know their contents, respond to signs of harm and promptly report information concerning a threat to a child’s welfare in accordance with this document.

§3. Safer recruitment and authorisation of personnel to work with minors

1. Before allowing a person to undertake work or other activities involving the education, care or development of minors, Masters&More fulfils the verification obligations arising from Article 21 of the Act, including checking the required registers and obtaining the required information or declarations concerning criminal records and countries of residence.
2. Documents confirming that the verification has been carried out are retained in accordance with applicable law and personal data protection rules.
3. A person beginning cooperation with Masters&More is familiarised with these Standards before being allowed to have independent contact with minors and confirms this in writing or in an equivalent documentary form.
4. Personnel verification under Article 21 of the Act is a separate obligation from maintaining these Standards, even where the verification procedure is described in this document.

§4. Rules for safe relationships between personnel and minors

1. Personnel treat every child with respect and patience and take the child’s needs into account. Physical, psychological or sexual violence, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule, shaming, insults, discrimination or any violation of a child’s dignity are prohibited.
2. Communication with a child should be calm and appropriate to the child’s age and the situation. Personnel must not use vulgar language, threats, sexualised comments or remarks concerning appearance, body, origin, family circumstances or other characteristics in a manner that may violate the child’s dignity.
3. Physical contact with a child is permitted only when justified by the situation, safe, transparent, appropriate to the child’s age and needs, and intended to ensure the child’s safety, provide support or facilitate the proper conduct of classes. A child has the right to refuse physical contact unless it is necessary to protect life or health.
4. Physical contact of a sexual, erotic or violent nature, or contact that could reasonably be perceived as crossing professional boundaries, is prohibited.
5. Personnel must not maintain a private or secret relationship with a child. Contact outside classes is limited to matters connected with educational activities and, as a rule, takes place through official Masters&More channels or with the knowledge of the parent/guardian.
6. Personnel must not establish private social-media relationships with minors, send private messages unrelated to learning or ask children to keep contact, conversations or events secret from a parent or other safe adults.
7. Individual lessons and conversations requiring privacy may take place without other persons present when this results from the nature of the service, but always in professional conditions, at a place and time known to the Organiser and, in the case of a minor, to the parent/guardian. Creating an isolated situation intended to conceal contact with a child is prohibited.
8. Personnel must not transport minors in a private car without the prior consent of the parent/guardian and agreement with the Organiser, except in an emergency involving an immediate threat to life or health where transport is necessary to provide assistance.
9. Gifts, loans, transfers of money or other benefits between personnel and a child must not create dependency, favouritism or an undisclosed relationship. Small educational rewards granted according to transparent rules are permitted.
10. Personnel respect a child’s privacy when the child uses the toilet, changes clothes or is in another situation requiring intimacy, intervening only when necessary for safety or where the child, because of age or particular needs, requires assistance.

§5. Safe relationships between minors

1. Children are expected to treat one another with respect and follow the safety rules applicable during classes and while present at the place where classes are held.
2. Prohibited behaviour includes in particular: hitting, pushing and other forms of physical violence; threats, insults, ridicule and humiliation; deliberate exclusion; harassment; sexualised behaviour; forcing another person to behave in a particular way; taking or damaging belongings; recording, photographing or publishing another person’s image without a lawful basis; cyberbullying and distribution of harmful content.
3. Personnel respond to conflicts and violence between children in a manner appropriate to the situation, first seeking to stop behaviour that threatens safety, listen to those involved and determine further action. In more serious or repeated situations, the Coordinator and parents/guardians are informed unless doing so could place the child at further risk.
4. Humiliating, collective or violent punishments, or punishments based on ridicule, must not be used against children.
5. Where a minor breaches these rules, personnel respond in a manner appropriate to the child’s age, the nature of the incident, the frequency of breaches and the level of risk to other persons.
6. In cases of repeated breaches, including in particular aggressive behaviour, physical or psychological violence, persistent humiliation, intimidation, violations of personal integrity, cyberbullying or other conduct that threatens safety, personnel may speak with the minor, inform their parent or legal guardian, agree further steps with them and document the incident in accordance with these Standards.
7. Where necessary to ensure safety, the Organiser may temporarily restrict the minor’s participation in particular activities or refuse permission to attend a particular class. Where there is an immediate threat to health or safety, protective action is taken without delay and the parent or legal guardian is informed promptly.
8. If, despite the measures taken, the minor continues repeatedly and materially to breach safety rules or their behaviour poses a real risk to other Participants or personnel, the Organiser may take the measures provided for in the Masters&More Terms and Conditions, including termination of the Agreement in accordance with those Terms and Conditions.
9. Measures taken in relation to a minor must not be humiliating or discriminatory or infringe the child’s dignity. The child’s age and development, communication abilities, circumstances and any disability or special educational needs must be taken into account. The primary purpose of the measures is to restore safety and prevent further harm.

§6. Protecting children online and during online classes

1. If Masters&More provides children with devices or Internet access, reasonable measures are taken to restrict access to harmful, illegal or age-inappropriate content.
2. Online classes use tools approved by the Organiser. Class links and access credentials should not be shared with unauthorised persons.
3. Personnel must not encourage minors to disclose passwords, login credentials, intimate photographs, private materials or other information unrelated to the delivery of classes.
4. If cyberbullying, sexual contact, blackmail, grooming, distribution of intimate content or other serious online threats are identified, the intervention procedure set out in §8 applies.
5. Recording online classes by personnel or the Organiser may take place only where there is an appropriate legal basis, after participants have been informed, and in accordance with the Privacy Policy and the rules concerning image rights.

§7. Recognising signs of harm

1. Personnel pay attention to signs that may indicate that a child is being harmed, including in particular sudden behavioural changes, fear, withdrawal, aggression, unexplained injuries, neglect, statements about violence, age-inappropriate sexualised behaviour, repeated peer violence and information received from the child, a parent, another pupil or a third party.
2. Personnel do not conduct their own “investigation” or interrogate a child. During a conversation, the child should be listened to calmly; leading questions should not be asked; complete confidentiality should not be promised; and the child should be told that the information will be shared only with persons who can help keep them safe.
3. Every credible suspicion that a child’s welfare is at risk requires a response, even where personnel do not have a complete picture of the situation.

§8. Intervention procedure where harm is suspected

1. Where there is an immediate threat to a child’s life or health, the person present first ensures the child’s safety and calls the appropriate emergency services or Police, and then informs the Coordinator.
2. In other cases, any person who observes a concerning incident, receives information about harm or to whom a child discloses harm promptly informs the Coordinator and prepares a brief note containing only facts relevant to the case.
3. The Coordinator makes an initial assessment of the situation and may speak with the child in a safe, non-pressuring manner, with personnel who have relevant information and – where it is safe to do so – with the parent/guardian.
4. If the suspicion concerns a member of Masters&More personnel, that person may, until the matter is clarified, be removed from direct contact with minors to the extent necessary to protect children and the rights of all persons concerned.
5. Where there is a reasonable suspicion that a criminal offence has been committed against a child, the Coordinator or owner submits a report to the Police or public prosecutor. Where the circumstances indicate a threat to the child’s welfare requiring intervention by the family court, a notification or application is submitted to the competent guardianship court.
6. Masters&More does not independently initiate the Polish “Blue Card” domestic violence procedure if it does not have statutory authority to do so. Where domestic violence is suspected, information is passed to authorised entities and other measures required by law are taken.
7. If the person who harmed a child is another child, the intervention includes protecting the harmed child, stopping the behaviour, age-appropriate conversations with the children and contact with parents/guardians where safe and appropriate. If the conduct may constitute a criminal offence or there is a threat to a child’s welfare, the competent authorities are notified.
8. If the suspicion concerns a parent/guardian or another person close to the child, contact with that person is made only where it does not increase the risk to the child. Where necessary, Masters&More contacts the competent services or court directly.
9. Persons involved in an intervention keep information confidential to the extent required by law and the child’s welfare. Information is disclosed only to persons who need to know it in order to ensure safety, carry out the intervention or fulfil a legal obligation.

§9. Receiving reports and documenting incidents

1. A report may be made to the Coordinator orally, in writing or electronically. A child is not required to use a formal form or any particular wording.
2. Every report concerning an incident that threatens the welfare of a minor is documented on an Intervention Record. Documentation includes in particular the date, source of information, description of facts, actions taken, decisions regarding further intervention and, where applicable, information concerning notification of the competent authorities.
3. Intervention documentation is stored securely with restricted access for a period justified by applicable law, the need to protect the child and the possibility of establishing, pursuing or defending legal claims.
4. Intervention documentation is not kept in generally accessible pupil records and is not disclosed to unauthorised persons.

§10. Support plan following disclosure of harm

1. Following disclosure of harm, the Coordinator determines, within the scope of Masters&More competence, how the child should be supported going forward.
2. A support plan may include in particular: identifying a safe contact person; adapting the organisation of classes; changing the group or teacher where necessary; limiting contact with the person concerned by the report; allowing the child breaks or another form of participation; agreeing supportive measures with the parent/guardian; and identifying appropriate support institutions.
3. The support plan takes into account the child’s wishes and needs in a manner appropriate to their age and development and does not replace psychological, medical or legal assistance or intervention by competent authorities.

§11. Protection of minors’ image and personal data

1. Children’s images and personal data are protected in accordance with law, the Masters&More Privacy Policy and adopted information-security rules.
2. Publication of a child’s image for marketing or promotional purposes requires a separate, voluntary legal basis. Refusal of consent must not result in less favourable treatment of the child or restrict participation in a Course.
3. Materials showing a child in a humiliating, intimate or compromising situation or in a manner that could expose the child to danger must not be published, regardless of whether consent has been obtained.
4. Personnel do not disclose to unauthorised persons information about a child, the child’s family circumstances, health, educational needs or the course of an intervention.

§12. Accompanying children and safety outside the classroom

1. When providing the voluntary accompanying service for pupils in grades 1–2, personnel follow the Masters&More Terms and Conditions and these Standards, including in particular the principles of transparency, safety and avoiding situations in which a child is left unsupervised.
2. A child is collected from the school day-care facility or school on the basis of the required written authorisations. The route is determined with due regard to safety and is covered on foot.
3. Personnel must not take a child to a place unrelated to the agreed route or delivery of classes unless this is necessary because of an immediate safety risk.

§13. Preparing personnel to apply the Standards

1. The Coordinator is responsible for making the Standards available to personnel, explaining reporting and intervention procedures and identifying the person responsible for receiving reports.
2. Personnel are prepared before being permitted to work independently with minors and subsequently whenever the Standards or law change or practice indicates that further preparation is needed.
3. Familiarisation with the Standards is documented by a signed statement, electronic confirmation or another durable record.
4. Personnel should understand that when a child’s safety is at risk, their role is not to decide independently whether a criminal offence has occurred, but to respond appropriately, safeguard the child and pass on information in accordance with the procedure.

§14. Making the Standards available to children and parents

1. The full version of the Standards is available on the Masters&More website and at the Organiser’s premises.
2. Masters&More also provides an abridged version of the Standards for children and young people, written in plain language. For the youngest children, the content should additionally be explained orally or presented in an age-appropriate visual form.
3. Parents/guardians may obtain information on how to report concerns or incidents and on the person responsible for receiving reports.

§15. Review and updating of the Standards

1. The Standards are reviewed at least once every two years and whenever changes in law, the nature of the activities, a significant incident or practical experience indicate that an earlier update is required.
2. The conclusions of each review are documented in writing, stating the date of the assessment, persons involved, findings and any changes required.
3. An updated version is promptly made available to personnel, parents/guardians and minors to the extent relevant to them.

§16. Final provisions

1. These Standards enter into force on the date of their adoption and publication.
2. A breach of the Standards by personnel may result in measures provided for under employment law, a cooperation agreement or other applicable regulations and, where a prohibited act is suspected, notification of the competent authorities.
3. Matters not regulated by these Standards are governed by applicable law and – to the extent consistent with law – by Masters&More internal procedures and the rules of the institution where classes are held.

ANNEX 1 – REPORT / INTERVENTION RECORD

Date and time of report: ........................................................................

Person receiving the report: ......................................................................

Child’s details (to the extent necessary): ..............................................................

Source of information / reporting person: ............................................................

Description of facts and circumstances (without interpretation):

........................................................................................................

........................................................................................................

Is there an immediate threat to life or health? YES / NO

Immediate actions taken:

........................................................................................................

Persons / authorities informed:

........................................................................................................

Decision concerning further action and support plan:

........................................................................................................

Date the case was closed / updated: .................................................................

Signature of the person documenting the case: .....................................................

ANNEX 2 – PERSONNEL STATEMENT

I, the undersigned ....................................................................................

declare that I have read the Masters&More Standards for the Protection of Minors, understand the rules for safe relationships with minors and the reporting and intervention procedures, and undertake to comply with them.

Date: ........................................ Signature: ........................................

ANNEX 3 – STANDARDS REVIEW FORM

Date of review: ........................................................................................

Person(s) conducting the review: ................................................................

Have applicable laws changed since the previous review? YES / NO

Have any incidents occurred indicating a need to change procedures? YES / NO

Have personnel reported difficulties in applying the Standards? YES / NO

Does the children’s version remain clear and age-appropriate for Participants? YES / NO

Have comments from parents/guardians and, where possible and age-appropriate, from minors been collected as part of the review? YES / NO

Comments from consultations with parents/guardians and minors (if carried out):

........................................................................................................

Key conclusions:

........................................................................................................

........................................................................................................

Changes to be introduced / deadline:

........................................................................................................

Signature of the responsible person: .................................................................

This English version is provided for information purposes. In the event of any discrepancy, the Polish version shall prevail.