Child Safeguarding Policy

This policy sets out how SparkleSprouts protects the children in our care. It defines the standards every coach must meet, the boundaries that must never be crossed, and what happens when someone has a concern.

Its purpose is simple: every child who works with SparkleSprouts should be safe, respected, and free from harm, and every coach should know exactly what to do if they are ever worried about a child.

Every child is treated with dignity, respect, and understanding. Coaches act in the child's best interest at all times, and ensure every interaction is safe, appropriate, and professional.

This applies equally to every child regardless of their communication style, behaviour, diagnosis, or support needs. A child who cannot speak, who becomes distressed, or who behaves in ways an adult finds difficult is entitled to exactly the same respect as any other child, and arguably needs our protection more.

Coaches maintain clear professional boundaries with children and families at all times.

Physical contact

Physical contact happens naturally in some enrichment activities: steadying a child learning to balance, guiding a hand to hold a paintbrush, offering a high five. It should only occur when necessary for the activity, and it must always be appropriate, respectful, and welcomed by the child.

• Ask or signal before initiating contact where possible, and respect a child's refusal
• Keep contact brief, purposeful, and in the caregiver's line of sight where practical
• Never initiate contact that could not comfortably be described to the child's parent
• If a child initiates contact (a hug, sitting close), respond warmly but appropriately, and redirect gently if it becomes prolonged

A parent or responsible caregiver must remain present in the home throughout every session. This is a condition of every SparkleSprouts booking and is not waived under any circumstances.

Coaches deliver the enrichment session. They are not responsible for full childcare supervision outside the agreed session activities.

Sessions outside the home

Some programmes include a supervised outing, for example a visit to a nearby shop as part of the Life Skills programme. Outings only take place with the parent's explicit prior agreement, and the family is told in advance where the coach and child are going, the route, and the expected duration.

If a coach sees, hears, or suspects anything that raises a concern about a child's safety or wellbeing, they report it to the Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately.

If a child discloses something

• Listen calmly and let the child speak in their own way and at their own pace
• Do not ask leading questions or press for detail; take what is offered
• Never promise to keep a secret; say instead that you will need to tell someone whose job it is to help
• Reassure the child that they have done the right thing by telling you
• Write down what the child said, in their words, as soon as you can, and report it the same day

Useful Singapore contacts

• Police: 999
• Ambulance: 995
• National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline: 1800 777 0000

All information about children and families is confidential. This includes names, addresses, diagnoses, session notes, photographs, and anything a coach observes or is told in the course of their work.

• Never share information about a child or family with anyone outside SparkleSprouts
• Never discuss families publicly, including with other families or in group chats
• Never post about children, families, or sessions on social media
• Store any documents or notes securely, and delete them when no longer needed
• Confidentiality continues indefinitely, including after a coach stops working with SparkleSprouts

Photographs or video may only be taken where the family has given written consent through the Parent Consent Form, and only for the purposes that consent covers.

• Never photograph or film a child without checking their consent status first
• Never use a personal social media account to share anything connected to a child, a family, or a session
• Images taken for internal documentation are stored securely and deleted when no longer needed

SparkleSprouts takes reasonable steps to ensure that everyone working with children is suitable to do so.

• All coaches complete an application declaring their experience and qualifications
• Coaches consent to background verification where required
• All coaches read, sign, and agree to comply with this policy before their first session
• All coaches complete SparkleSprouts onboarding, which includes safeguarding
• Coaches must immediately declare any change in circumstances affecting their suitability to work with children

Any breach of this policy is treated seriously. Depending on the nature of the breach, SparkleSprouts may suspend a coach immediately, end their engagement, report the matter to the relevant authorities, or take legal action.

Failing to report a safeguarding concern is itself a breach of this policy.

If you have any concern at all about your child's safety, wellbeing, or the conduct of a SparkleSprouts coach, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead directly:

SparkleSprouts Team, +65 8774 2149

You do not need to be certain, and you do not need to have evidence. If something does not feel right, tell us. Every concern raised by a family is taken seriously and looked into properly.

SparkleSprouts Enrichment Pte. Ltd. · hello@sparklesprouts.com.sg