The Haven — Policies

THEHAVENPolicies

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

14 min read

Approved Date: October 2025

Review Date: June 2026

Coordinator: Kirsten Roy

Nominated Governor: Claire Farmer

Version: 01.26

Refreshed for KCSIE 2025 — signed off April 2026

This policy was refreshed on 2026-04-29 to align with current statutory guidance: KCSIE 2025, Online Safety Act 2023 (phased duties on user-to-user services), DfE Filtering and Monitoring Standards 2024, Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 (preventive duty re sexual harassment, including third-party harassment), and emerging AI safeguarding considerations (DfE Generative AI in Education 2025, ICO Children’s Code).

Status: live — signed off 29 April 2026 by Proprietor and Governing Body.

Statement of Intent

The Haven is committed to safeguarding and promoting the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of every learner. As a flexible online learning (‘hyflex’) education provider, we recognise that safeguarding responsibilities apply across all digital spaces, including live online sessions, recorded lessons, chat functions, and communication platforms.

We adopt a whole-school preventative approach to safeguarding and child protection, ensuring robust systems are in place for learners, families, and staff across all virtual and digital environments.

This policy ensures:

● All stakeholders understand their safeguarding responsibilities under current UK legislation.

● Learners are taught to recognise and report unacceptable behaviour in both physical and online spaces.

● Staff are trained to identify learners at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

● Safer recruitment practices are embedded.

● A culture of openness, vigilance, and early intervention is fostered.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Kirsten Roy. Deputy DSL (DDSL) is Tammy McChristie. Both are trained to the appropriate level and are available during core operating hours.

Clarification on Digital Environments and Application

This policy applies to all virtual learning environments and digital communication platforms used by The Haven, including learning management systems, video conferencing tools, chat channels, and secure storage spaces. All safeguarding expectations, responsibilities, and reporting procedures apply equally across all digital contexts.

This policy has due regard to all relevant legislation and statutory guidance including, but not limited to, the following:

Legislation

● Children Act 1989

● Sexual Offences Act 2003

● Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 (as inserted by the Serious Crime Act 2015)

● Children Act 2004

● Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

● Apprenticeships, Children and Learning Act 2009

● Equality Act 2010

● The Education (School Teachers’ Appraisal) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended)

● Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014

● Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015

● The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)

● Data Protection Act 2018

● The Childcare (Disqualification) and Childcare (Early Years Provision Free of Charge)

(Extended Entitlement) (Amendment) Regulations 2018

● Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019

● Domestic Abuse Act 2021

● Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022

Statutory guidance

● Home Office (2023) ‘Prevent duty guidance: Guidance for specified authorities in England

and Wales’

● DfE (2023, last updated May 2025) ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’

● DfE (2018) ‘Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006’

● DfE (2025) ‘Keeping children safe in education 2025’

● HM Government (2020) ‘Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation’

● HM Government (2023, updated August 2025) ‘Channel Duty Guidance: Protecting people susceptible to radicalisation’

● Home Office and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (2022, updated August 2025) ‘Multi-agency statutory guidance for dealing with forced marriage and Multi-agency practice guidelines: Handling cases of forced marriage’

Non-statutory guidance

● DfE (2015) ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’

● DfE (2017) ‘Child sexual exploitation’

● DfE (2018) ‘Information sharing’

● DfE (2024) ‘Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people’

● DfE (2021) ‘Teachers’ Standards’

● DfE (2023) ‘Recruit teachers from overseas’

● DfE (2022) ‘Working together to improve school attendance’

● DfE (2023) ‘Meeting digital and technology standards in schools and colleges’

● Department of Health and Social Care (2022) ‘Virginity testing and hymenoplasty : multi-agency guidance’

It is also aligned with:

● DfE guidance for remote education delivery: Providing remote education: guidance for schools Updated 2024

● Local safeguarding partner arrangements (by location of learner or provision)

Scope and platforms in use

The Haven delivers learning in hyflex environments (see definitions): live online lessons, occasional in-person activities, and asynchronous resources. The following platforms are in scope and governed by this policy and linked procedures: Pencil Spaces (core VLE), Google Workspace/Meet, TutorCruncher (admin), and email.
No external community chat platforms are used for learner communication unless expressly authorised by the DSL and configured to Haven standards.

Definitions (key terms)

  • Hyflex environment: Hybrid-flexible delivery where learners may attend live online, attend in person (where offered), or access recorded/asynchronous learning. Safeguarding duties apply continuously across all modes.

  • Child-on-child abuse: Abuse by children towards other children, including bullying; sexual harassment/violence; upskirting; harmful sexual behaviour; initiation/hazing; and online abuse (group chats, DMs, file-sharing).

  • Anonymous reporting: Routes that allow concerns to be raised without disclosing identity (see Section 4).

  • LADO: Local Authority Designated Officer for allegations about adults who work with children.

  • MASH/Front Door: Local authority single point of contact for safeguarding referrals (children at risk of significant harm).

Types of abuse (what we watch for)

The Haven recognises categories of abuse, as defined in Keeping Children Safe in Education (2025):

● Physical abuse

● Emotional abuse

● Cyberbullying, online exclusion, and trauma linked to digital isolation.

● Criminal Child Exploitation (CCE), including county lines involvement.

● Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), including online grooming or coercion.

● Sexual abuse – contact and non-contact acts, grooming, or coercion, including digital exploitation and child sexual exploitation (CSE).

● Neglect

● Child-on-child abuse – abuse committed by one learner against another, including online or sexual harassment; consensual or non-consensual sharing of sexualised

content; and activities involving harassment, abuse, or humiliation used as a means of initiating a person into a group.

● Domestic abuse – any incident or pattern of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading, or violent behaviour observed between family members or partners.

● Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) of genital organs for non-medical reasons.

● Online abuse – grooming, exposure to harmful content, or creation of AI-generated or digitally manipulated imagery.

Contextual Safeguarding

The Haven adopts a contextual safeguarding approach, recognising that learners’ experiences online extend beyond their home environment.

● Many of our learners have SEND profiles, or transient educational histories with gaps in information.

● These factors increase vulnerability to harm, isolation, or exploitation in digital spaces such as chat groups, gaming environments, and social media platforms.

● Staff are trained to consider each learner’s broader digital context, understanding that signs of abuse or neglect may present differently in online settings.

● Trauma, loneliness, and digital disinhibition can heighten risk and require sensitive, relational safeguarding responses.

● Contextual safeguarding underpins The Haven’s proactive approach: curiosity, documentation, and consistency of response across the entire digital ecosystem.

Digital Safety and RSHE

● Filtering and monitoring systems meet DfE digital standards.

● Responsibility for technical oversight and cyber security rests with the designated Chief Technology Officer (CTO), ensuring compliance with January 2025 government guidance on AI and digital safeguarding.

● The Haven’s curriculum includes explicit RSHE content on online safety. Teaching addresses the four areas of online risk: content, contact, conduct, and commerce. Learners are supported to navigate misinformation, AI risks, sextortion, and digital misogyny.

Roles and Responsibilities

All staff:

● Must understand safeguarding can happen in both online and offline spaces

● Receive annual and contextual training, including online safety, filtering, and

monitoring

● Are responsible for escalating concerns immediately to the DSL

Governors:

● Provide strategic leadership and oversight

● Ensure safeguarding is embedded across all hybrid delivery models

DSL:

● Oversees implementation of safeguarding practices in hyflex environments

● Maintains contact with local safeguarding partners, online safety regulators, and

police where required

● Ensures staff are competent in digital safeguarding, incident reporting, and triage

● Leads safeguarding response to online and onsite concerns

Online and Hyflex Considerations

The Haven operates across multiple platforms.

Therefore:

● Monitoring of learner behaviour and communication must be proportionate,

GDPR-compliant, and effective

● Staff will be trained in digital safeguarding tools and protocol for capturing, reporting,

and escalating online incidents

● Learners are taught explicitly about digital safety, privacy, and respectful online

behaviour

● DSL reviews filtering and monitoring outcomes termly to identify safeguarding trends. The Systems Manager and DPO maintain and configure the technical systems.

Managing disclosures & reporting (how to act, how to tell us)

If a child discloses to you:

  • Listen; don’t investigate. Reassure; avoid leading questions; note exact words where possible.

  • Do not promise secrecy. Explain you may need to share information to keep them safe.

  • Ensure immediate safety. If at imminent risk: call 999.

  • Tell the DSL immediately (or Deputy DSL if DSL unavailable).

  • Record within 1 working hour.

How anyone can report a concern (including anonymous):

Recording safeguarding concerns (what to write, where)

Use the Haven safeguarding log/system. Record: date/time; who was present; verbatim wording where possible; context (online/offline/platform); observed impact; immediate actions taken; who you informed/escalated to.

  • Don’t store notes on personal devices or send via personal email. All reports must be factual, dated, stored securely under UK GDPR and reviewed termly by the DSL.

  • Don’t promise secrecy; if requested, record that you explained why you could not.

  • Upload relevant screenshots/links and any lesson recording timestamps (see Section 6).

  • Patterns of recurring concern will be flagged for early intervention.

  • All records are digital and maintained through The Haven’s online safeguarding log.

  • All safeguarding chronologies, family communications, and records of intervention are maintained within the digital safeguarding system.

  • Staff receive training to ensure consistency, curiosity, and compliance in all safeguarding documentation.

Lesson recordings as evidence (when and how they’re used)

All live lessons are recorded for quality, training, and safeguarding. Where a concern arises, the DSL may extract, secure, and disclose relevant clips as evidence to statutory agencies e.g., MASH/Front Door, Police) or the LADO for allegations about adults who work with children.
Access is strictly controlled; retention follows Haven’s Data Protection, Confidentiality & Privacy Policy v10.25 schedule (UK GDPR / DPA 2018).

Escalation pathways (DSL actions and LADO route)

The DSL (or Deputy DSL) will:

  • Child protection (non-staff): Contact MASH/Front Door via published routes and thresholds; follow local procedures; record all actions/decisions.

  • Allegations about adults who work with children: **Consult the LADO within 1 working day.

    **

  • Out of hours: Use the local Emergency Duty Service for urgent situations and record actions.

  • The DSL will maintain a log of referrals and their outcomes.

  • The DSL will contact the home school of an AP learner to inform them of all safeguarding concerns, sending the safeguarding report form via email.

  • Contact details for relevant LADOs are listed in the appendix.

  • Concerns regarding learners or families will follow Social Care escalation routes as appropriate.

Early Help and multi-agency work (what “early help” means here)

The DSL coordinates Early Help so learners receive support at the right time. We work with: Family Hubs; CAMHS; School Nursing; Education Welfare; SEND services; Youth Justice; Police Public Protection; and voluntary/community partners. The DSL will:

  • Undertake or contribute to Early Help assessments and plans;

  • Share information lawfully and proportionately;

  • Escalate to MASH/Front Door when thresholds are met; attend strategy meetings; contribute to child protection plans.

Safer recruitment (summary + cross-references)

Haven uses safer recruitment for onsite and online roles: safeguarding-signalled adverts; structured shortlisting; online footprint checks where appropriate; enhanced DBS with barred-list; identity/right-to-work/qualification verification; prohibition and, where relevant, overseas checks; two references verified pre-start; Single Central Record maintained and audited.

Associated policy: Safer Recruitment and Use of Volunteers Policy v01.26 (read alongside this policy).

Out-of-hours provision & lone working (cover and boundaries)

Out-of-hours provision refers to any online activity conducted beyond normal operating times (e.g. evening or weekend sessions). Where Haven runs activities outside core hours, a safeguarding-competent lead is on call. If DSL/Deputy DSL are unavailable, a named senior leader trained to DSL standard provides cover.
Staff must comply with the Lone Working Policy v10.25, including venue risk assessments, agreed check-ins, and approved communication channels. For urgent concerns: ensure immediate safety → 999 if required → notify on-call safeguarding lead → record immediately on the safeguarding log → follow Emergency Duty Service as needed.

Filtering & monitoring (leadership oversight)

Haven maintains proportionate, age-appropriate filtering and monitoring with leadership oversight. Roles and review points are defined (DSL, Systems Manager, DPO), risks are assessed termly, and actions are logged to improve practice.

Training

Training for all staff includes:

● Review of this policy and DfE (2025) ‘Keeping children safe in education 2025’

● Introduction to the DSL, reporting routes, and safeguarding culture.

● Recognising safeguarding concerns that may arise both within and outside work contexts.

● Understanding safeguarding in an online environment:

- awareness of how safeguarding principles apply in virtual classrooms and digital communication.

- recognising signs of abuse, neglect, or distress that may be less visible online.

- understanding the impact of learners’ home environments, and maintaining appropriate professional conduct in all online interactions.

● Use of digital safeguarding platforms and protocols

- ensuring all staff are confident in using the organisation’s online systems for logging, reporting, and escalating safeguarding concerns.

- understanding data protection, confidentiality, and secure digital communication when handling sensitive information or contacting learners.

● Managing disclosures online

- equipping staff to respond appropriately and sensitively if a learner makes a safeguarding disclosure during an online session, in chat, or through other virtual channels.

● Following agreed reporting procedures immediately, to record information accurately, and to ensure the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Deputy DSL is informed without delay.

Student Induction Includes:

● Education on staying safe online and recognising digital risks.

● Information on lesson recording and data privacy.

● Clear explanation of how to report concerns and access support in the online learning space.

Attendance and Alternative Provision Reviews

The Haven distinguishes between absence and ‘missing from education’. Where learners access alternative provision, placements are reviewed at least half-termly to ensure that safeguarding, engagement, and curriculum needs are met

DSL oversight ensures consistent risk assessment and communication with families.

Monitoring and Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or upon significant change in legislation, regulation, or

operational model. Feedback from learners, staff and parents will inform updates.

Full appendices including specific safeguarding issues and operational guidance will be

maintained and updated as annexes to this policy.

APPENDIX A

LADO / Allegations Contact Details by Local Authority

Haven specific

The LADO contact list below reflects the Local Authorities that currently commission The Haven. Other schools adopting this policy stack should substitute their own commissioning LA contacts. Statutory LADO and MASH contact information should be obtained from each LA’s published safeguarding partnership.

Local AuthorityContact Details
South Lanarkshire (Scotland)Handled via Child Protection / Social Work.
Phone: 0303 123 1008.
Forth Valley (Scotland)Stirling: 01786 471177 | Falkirk: 01324 506070 | Clackmannanshire: 01259 225111 Out of Hours: 01786 470500.
North YorkshireDuty LADO: 01609 798005
Email: lado@northyorks.gov.uk
BirminghamLADO Team: 0121 675 1669
Email: ladoteam@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk
Norfolk County CouncilLADO: 01603 223473 | Education Duty Desk: 01603 307797
Email: LADO@norfolk.gov.uk
SomersetSomerset Direct: 0300 123 2224
Email: sdinputters@somerset.gov.uk
East SussexLADO: 01273 481544
Email: ESSCP.Contact@eastsussex.gov.uk
Wiltshire CouncilLADO: 0300 456 0108 (Option 6)
Email: LADO@wiltshire.gov.uk
WorcestershireDuty LADO: 01905 846221
Email: LADO@worcestershire.gov.uk
Suffolk County CouncilLADO: 0300 123 2044
Email: LADO@suffolk.gov.uk
Monmouthshire (Wales)
Central BedfordshireLADO: 0300 300 8142
Email: LADO@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
West BerkshireLADO: 01635 503153
Email: LADO.LADO@westberks.gov.uk
East Hampshire (Hampshire County Council)LADO: 01962 876364
Email: LADO@hants.gov.uk
London Borough of HounslowSAAM Duty Desk: 020 8583 5730 | LADO: 020 8583 4933 / 020 8583 3423
Email: lado@hounslow.gov.uk

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