Safeguarding

At KCIS, the safety, wellbeing and protection of every child is our highest priority. We believe that children thrive when they feel secure, respected and supported, and we take our safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously. Safeguarding is a whole-school commitment and every member of our community plays a part.

KCIS follows international best practice for safeguarding, aligned with British Schools Overseas (BSO) standards, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Children Act (Uganda), and school-based policies and procedures.

Our Safeguarding Team

If you have a concern about a child’s safety or wellbeing, please contact a member of our Safeguarding Team immediately.

Safeguarding Director (SGD)

Deborah Isharaza
[email protected]
0763 969 595

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Liz Mottram
[email protected]
0776 033 455

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

Sandra Nangobi
[email protected]
0776 666 887

We encourage all members of our community – students, parents, visitors and staff – to report any concern, however small. You do not need proof; safeguarding is about early help and timely action.

If You Are Worried About a Child

Please contact the DSL or DDSL immediately.
Your concerns will be taken seriously, treated sensitively, and handled in line with our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy.

If a child is in immediate danger, please call the police first and then inform the school.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

In line with British Schools Overseas (BSO) standards and international best practice, KCIS maintains robust safeguarding arrangements across the school. At KCIS, we ensure:

  • A safe and secure environment for all children;
  • Rigorous safer recruitment checks for all staff, volunteers and service providers;
  • Regular safeguarding and child protection training for every adult working at the school. This includes training on recognising signs of harm, responding appropriately to concerns, reporting procedures, safer recruitment, and creating a culture where children feel safe to speak up.
  • Clear procedures for reporting and managing safeguarding concerns;
  • Strong pastoral systems to support pupil wellbeing;
  • Age-appropriate learning about online safety, personal boundaries and healthy relationships;
  • A culture where children know who they can talk to and feel confident asking for help.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

Policies and Procedures

The following policies outline how we keep children safe.

All KCIS safeguarding policies apply to staff, parents, volunteers, contractors and visitors when they are on school premises or interacting with KCIS pupils.

Creating a Safe Environment

KCIS implements strong measures to protect children, including:

  • Secure access at school gates
  • Supervision in all areas of school life
  • Clear procedures for managing allegations or concerns about adults
  • Robust risk assessments for trips, events and activities
  • Regular health, safety and security checks
  • Clear expectations for parent and visitor conduct
  • ICT monitoring and safe digital practices

Online Safety at KCIS

Children learn how to stay safe online through:

  • PSHE lessons
  • Digital literacy lessons
  • Assemblies and awareness events
  • Parent workshops
  • Age-appropriate guidance on social media, digital footprints and cyber-bullying

Parents are provided with regular updates and practical tips on helping children stay safe at home.

Reporting a Concern as a Visitor or Parent

If you see or hear anything that causes concern while on campus:

  • Tell the DSL, DDSL or any member of staff immediately
  • Do not investigate or question children yourself
  • Do not promise confidentiality
  • If unsure, report anyway — it is always better to raise a concern

Our Safeguarding Culture

Safeguarding at KCIS is rooted in:

  • Respect
  • Transparency
  • Communication
  • Professional accountability
  • Child-centred decision-making

We work closely with families, external agencies and our wider community to ensure that every child is valued, protected and supported.

What People Say About Us

We picked the school because of how diverse it is. They strike the balance between keeping the education high with a student body that better reflects the city (Ugandan and expat alike). They manage to create the inclusive atmosphere that we promote at home.

KCIS Parent October 8, 2021

I never enjoyed learning before I came to KCIS.

Year 3 Student July 16, 2020

Students are encouraged to be independent and confident. I like that.

KCIS Parent July 16, 2020

A warm and caring high quality education for an affordable price.

KCIS Parent July 16, 2020

KCIS truly is a family of friends, where learning is fun!

KCIS Parent July 16, 2020

We have been very happy with KCIS. We love the attention our child gets, the quality of education is high and our child learns about the world & other cultures in a way I didn’t expect.

KCIS Parent July 16, 2020

Friendly, result oriented school, where learning is fun too.

KCIS Parent July 16, 2020

A very dedicated team of teachers that helps every single child to gain confidence in their learning.

KCIS Parent July 16, 2020

A very friendly and welcoming school that lets your child feel very comfortable.

KCIS Parent July 16, 2020

KCIS proved to us parents their ability to pass from a normal school to online/hybrid learning with so much ease. They have handled the Covid situation very well and were able to make every kid and their parents adapt to the new style of learning easily.

KCIS Parent July 16, 2020

The school itself is great and teaching methods are amazing.

KCIS Parent July 16, 2020

KCIS is a versatile school, enabling children to learn a fun atmosphere, to grow and to discover their other non academic talents.
The true feeling of belonging to a community

KCIS Parent July 16, 2020

It is a small school so there is more care and follow up with each student as well as more time is given to each student.

KCIS Parent July 16, 2020

I like the commitment and the content. The content is evident in the life skills that have been acquired in the short time my kid has been at KCIS.

KCIS Parent July 16, 2020

Caring teachers and staff, affordable high quality education, small classes, rich range of activities.

KCIS Parent January 3, 2019

The passion both teachers and students put in learning is incredible! KCIS also has students from a variety of countries, making it easy for students to understand different cultures.

KCIS Parent January 3, 2019

Kampala Community International School