Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Policy Date: 1 July 2026
Review Date: 1 July 2027

1. Policy Statement

Inspired Ed is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child and young person accessing its distance-learning programmes.

This commitment applies whether learning is provided digitally, through a personalised programme, through physical activity boxes, or through AQA registration and assessment services.

Inspired Ed aims to ensure that every learner feels safe, respected and listened to. Safeguarding is central to all aspects of the service, and all decisions will be made with the child’s welfare and best interests as the primary consideration.

Inspired Ed supports children and young people who are educated other than at school, including learners who may have:

Special educational needs or disabilities
Pathological Demand Avoidance
Emotionally Based School Avoidance or Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance
Autism or other forms of neurodivergence
Mental health needs
Trauma histories
Increased vulnerability to exploitation, neglect or instability
Other barriers to accessing traditional education

Inspired Ed recognises that remote learning can present particular safeguarding challenges. These may include reduced professional visibility, online harm, changes in engagement, limited contact with external services, and risks within the learner’s home or wider environment.

This policy is informed by:

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
Prevent Duty Guidance 2023
The Children Act 1989
The Children Act 2004
The UK General Data Protection Regulation
The Data Protection Act 2018
Other relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance

This policy is intended to ensure that:

Children are protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation and maltreatment
Action is taken to prevent impairment of a child’s health or development
Remote learners receive safe, supportive and autonomy-supportive educational experiences
Concerns are identified as early as possible
Concerns are recorded, reported and referred appropriately
Particular attention is given to vulnerable or isolated learners
Accurate and secure safeguarding records are maintained
Parents, carers, commissioning organisations and relevant agencies are involved where appropriate
Children are protected from harm both online and offline

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

All children and young people receiving Inspired Ed services
All three Inspired Ed programme options
All communication between Inspired Ed and learners, parents, carers, professionals and commissioning organisations
Email, messaging, video calls and online platforms where these are used
Digital learning materials
AQA assessment evidence
Physical resources and activity boxes sent to homes or educational settings

Inspired Ed is operated by a sole practitioner and does not currently employ staff or volunteers.

The sole practitioner is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead and is responsible for safeguarding decisions, records, referrals and communication with relevant authorities.

3. Safeguarding Across Inspired Ed Programmes

Safeguarding responsibilities apply consistently across all Inspired Ed programme options.

3.1 AQA Registration and Assessment

Under this option:

Inspired Ed arranges or supports registration through the AQA Unit Award Scheme
Learners select or complete relevant AQA units
Learning is delivered independently by the family, provider or commissioning organisation
Evidence is submitted to Inspired Ed for assessment and certification

Inspired Ed will remain alert to safeguarding indicators contained within submitted work, evidence or communications.

These may include:

Disclosures of harm or abuse
Comments suggesting distress, fear or neglect
References to exploitation or unsafe relationships
Evidence of significant deterioration in wellbeing
Concerning images, recordings or written material
Unexplained changes in communication or engagement

3.2 Fully Resourced Distance Learning Programme

Under this option:

Inspired Ed develops an individual learner profile
Digital learning resources are tailored to the learner
Activities may be selected according to interests, abilities, educational goals and relevant Education, Health and Care Plan targets
AQA accreditation may be incorporated into the programme

Inspired Ed will monitor information received through communication, submitted work and engagement patterns.

Sudden withdrawal, repeated distress, concerning written reflections or significant unexplained changes in engagement may be considered possible safeguarding indicators.

3.3 Activity Box Programme

This programme includes personalised learning materials together with physical activity resources sent to the learner’s home or educational setting.

Inspired Ed will:

Risk-assess physical resources
Provide appropriate safety guidance
Consider age, ability and sensory needs
Respond to concerns raised about activity box materials
Monitor submitted reflections or evidence for safeguarding indicators

A lack of engagement does not automatically indicate a safeguarding concern. However, prolonged or unexplained non-engagement, missing communication or concerning information may require further consideration, particularly where the learner is already known to be vulnerable.

4. Safeguarding Principles

Inspired Ed’s safeguarding practice is guided by the following principles.

4.1 Empowerment

Children and young people should be supported to:

Express their wishes and concerns
Make choices where appropriate
Participate in decisions affecting them
Communicate in a way that is accessible and manageable

Communication may be adapted using:

Simple or direct language
Visual information
Written communication
Additional processing time
Reduced-demand or autonomy-supportive approaches
Alternative communication formats

The child’s views will be considered, but safeguarding action may still be required where there is a risk of harm.

4.2 Prevention

Inspired Ed seeks to reduce safeguarding risks by:

Risk-assessing digital and physical resources
Providing clear safety information to parents and carers
Monitoring relevant patterns of communication and engagement
Maintaining awareness of online and contextual safeguarding risks
Completing appropriate safeguarding and Prevent training
Reviewing policies and procedures regularly
Acting promptly when concerns arise

4.3 Proportionality

Safeguarding responses will be:

Child-centred
Respectful
Appropriate to the level of risk
Based on the available information
Escalated where necessary

Inspired Ed will avoid unnecessary intrusion while recognising that the protection of a child must take priority where there is a reasonable safeguarding concern.

4.4 Protection

Inspired Ed will take timely action where a child may be at risk of:

Abuse
Neglect
Exploitation
Radicalisation
Serious emotional harm
Self-harm or suicide
Criminal activity
Online harm
Any other significant threat to their safety or welfare

Referrals may be made directly to Children’s Social Care, the police, emergency services, Prevent or Channel services, or another appropriate authority.

4.5 Partnership

Inspired Ed will work with:

Parents and carers
Schools
Local authorities
Commissioning organisations
Health professionals
Children’s Social Care
Safeguarding partners
Police and emergency services
Other appropriate agencies

Information will be shared where it is lawful, necessary and proportionate.

4.6 Accountability

Inspired Ed will maintain:

Clear safeguarding procedures
Accurate and factual records
Secure storage of safeguarding information
Evidence of relevant training
A safeguarding continuing professional development log
Regular policy reviews

5. Roles and Responsibilities

5.1 Designated Safeguarding Lead

The Inspired Ed sole practitioner acts as the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

The responsibilities of the Designated Safeguarding Lead include:

Receiving and responding to safeguarding concerns
Recording concerns promptly and accurately
Assessing the nature and urgency of reported risks
Making referrals to appropriate authorities
Liaising with schools, local authorities and commissioning organisations
Maintaining secure safeguarding records
Following up referrals where necessary
Completing and maintaining safeguarding training
Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of online safety and Prevent responsibilities
Reviewing safeguarding policies and procedures

5.2 Concerns About the Sole Practitioner

Where a safeguarding allegation or concern relates to the Inspired Ed sole practitioner, it should not be reported directly to Inspired Ed as the only route of escalation.

The concern should instead be reported to:

The Local Authority Designated Officer for the child’s local authority
The relevant commissioning organisation
Children’s Social Care
The police, where a criminal offence may have occurred
Emergency services where there is an immediate risk of harm

The Local Authority Designated Officer should be contacted where there is an allegation that a person working with children has:

Harmed a child
Possibly committed a criminal offence involving a child
Behaved in a way that indicates they may pose a risk to children
Behaved in a way that raises concerns about their suitability to work with children

6. Types of Abuse and Safeguarding Concern

Inspired Ed recognises that safeguarding concerns may include, but are not limited to:

Physical abuse
Emotional or psychological abuse
Sexual abuse
Neglect
Domestic abuse
Discriminatory abuse
Financial abuse
Child sexual exploitation
Child criminal exploitation
County Lines exploitation
Radicalisation and extremism
Female genital mutilation
Forced marriage
Honour-based abuse
Abuse between children
Bullying and cyberbullying
Online grooming
Sextortion
Sharing or creation of sexual imagery
Artificial intelligence-generated sexual imagery
Trafficking
Modern slavery
Missing children
Children missing education
Mental health crisis
Self-harm
Suicide risk
Harmful online challenges
Exploitation through gaming, social media or messaging platforms

Safeguarding concerns may arise from a single incident, a direct disclosure, observed behaviour, submitted work, a pattern of communication or a combination of indicators.

7. Responding to a Safeguarding Concern

Where a concern is identified or disclosed, Inspired Ed will:

Consider whether the child is in immediate danger.
Contact emergency services where urgent protection is required.
Listen carefully and respond calmly.
Reassure the child that they were right to share the information.
Avoid asking leading or unnecessary questions.
Avoid investigating the allegation.
Avoid promising confidentiality.
Explain that information may need to be shared to keep them safe.
Record the concern as soon as possible.
Decide what safeguarding action or referral is required.

Depending on the circumstances, action may include:

Contacting the parent or carer, where this is safe and appropriate
Contacting the commissioning school or organisation
Consulting or referring to Children’s Social Care
Contacting the police
Contacting emergency services
Making a Prevent or Channel referral
Seeking safeguarding advice from the relevant local authority
Preserving evidence of online or criminal harm

Parents and carers will not be contacted before a referral where doing so may:

Place the child at greater risk
Place another person at risk
Interfere with a police or safeguarding investigation
Lead to the destruction of evidence
Be contrary to advice from a safeguarding authority

8. Receiving a Disclosure

Where a child or young person makes a disclosure, Inspired Ed will:

Listen without expressing shock or disbelief
Take the child seriously
Allow the child to speak in their own words
Avoid pressing for unnecessary details
Avoid making promises about what will happen
Explain what action may need to be taken
Record the child’s words as accurately as possible
Distinguish clearly between fact, observation and professional judgement
Make an appropriate referral without unnecessary delay

Inspired Ed will not attempt to determine whether an allegation is true. Investigation is the responsibility of statutory safeguarding agencies.

9. Recording Safeguarding Concerns

Safeguarding records will be:

Made as soon as reasonably possible
Factual and clear
Dated and timed
Stored securely
Kept separately from general learner information
Accessible only where there is a legitimate safeguarding need

Records should include:

The learner’s details
The date and time of the concern
What was observed, reported or disclosed
The exact words used where possible
The context in which the concern arose
Any immediate action taken
Advice sought
Referrals made
Decisions and reasons
Follow-up action
Relevant communication with authorities, parents or commissioners

Safeguarding records will not be altered retrospectively. Any later additions or corrections will be clearly dated.

10. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

Safeguarding information is confidential, but confidentiality is not absolute.

Inspired Ed will share information where it is necessary to:

Protect a child
Prevent serious harm
Support a safeguarding investigation
Comply with a legal duty
Assist a relevant statutory authority

Information will be shared:

On a need-to-know basis
With appropriate organisations or professionals
In a proportionate and secure manner
In accordance with safeguarding guidance and data protection law

Consent is not always required before sharing safeguarding information, particularly where seeking consent could place a child at risk or prevent appropriate action.

Safeguarding records will be stored separately from routine educational and administrative records.

11. Online Safety

Online safety is a central safeguarding responsibility across all Inspired Ed programmes.

Inspired Ed will:

Maintain relevant online safety knowledge and training
Use appropriate and professional communication methods
Support parents and carers to recognise online risks
Treat disclosures of online harm as safeguarding concerns
Record and refer concerns where required
Avoid unnecessary direct or private communication with learners
Use agreed communication channels
Preserve relevant online evidence where appropriate

Online risks may include:

Grooming
Sexual exploitation
Sextortion
Cyberbullying
Radicalisation
Harmful or extremist content
Artificial intelligence-generated sexual imagery
Sharing of intimate images
Harmful online challenges
Financial exploitation
Fraud
Coercion through gaming or messaging platforms
Contact from unknown adults
Encouragement of self-harm or suicide
Exposure to age-inappropriate material

Where direct online communication with a learner is agreed, appropriate parental or commissioning consent, boundaries and safeguarding arrangements will be established in advance.

12. Professional Boundaries and Communication

Inspired Ed will maintain clear professional boundaries in all interactions.

Communication with learners will:

Relate to the educational service
Use appropriate language
Take place through agreed channels
Be recorded or retained where appropriate
Avoid unnecessary personal discussion
Avoid secretive or concealed communication
Normally involve or be visible to a parent, carer or commissioning professional

Inspired Ed will not:

Contact learners through personal social media accounts
Engage in inappropriate private messaging
Request unnecessary personal images or information
Meet learners in person unless this forms part of a separately agreed and appropriately safeguarded service
Transport learners
Provide personal care
Enter into relationships that compromise professional boundaries

13. Attendance, Engagement and Children Missing Education

Inspired Ed is not a school and does not undertake statutory school attendance monitoring.

However, patterns of engagement may provide relevant safeguarding information.

Inspired Ed may consider the following:

Sudden or unexplained withdrawal
Repeated missing communication
Significant changes in submitted work
Concerning comments in learning activities
Evidence that a learner is not receiving expected support
Information suggesting that a child’s whereabouts or educational arrangements are unclear

Non-engagement alone will not automatically be treated as evidence of harm. The learner’s needs, circumstances, communication style and normal patterns of participation will be considered.

Where a learner appears to be missing education or there is a related safeguarding concern, Inspired Ed may contact:

The parent or carer
The commissioning organisation
The relevant school
The local authority
Children’s Social Care
Another appropriate agency

14. Mental Health, Self-Harm and Suicide Risk

Inspired Ed recognises that mental health difficulties may increase safeguarding vulnerability and may also arise as a consequence of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Concerns may include:

Expressions of hopelessness
References to self-harm
Suicidal thoughts or plans
Serious withdrawal
Extreme distress
Concerning changes in behaviour or communication
Disclosures of abuse or unsafe circumstances

Where a serious or immediate risk is identified, Inspired Ed may contact emergency services, Children’s Social Care, the parent or carer, or the relevant commissioning organisation.

Inspired Ed does not provide therapy, counselling, diagnosis, crisis intervention or clinical mental health support.

15. Radicalisation and Prevent

Inspired Ed recognises its responsibility to remain alert to signs that a child may be vulnerable to radicalisation or extremist influence.

Possible indicators may include:

Exposure to extremist content
Sudden adoption of harmful extremist views
Attempts to justify violence
Social isolation linked to extremist influence
Contact with extremist individuals or groups
Content within submitted work that indicates a safeguarding risk

Where there is a concern, Inspired Ed may seek advice or make a referral through the appropriate Prevent or Channel process.

Emergency concerns involving immediate danger or criminal activity will be referred to the police.

16. Abuse Between Children and Bullying

Inspired Ed recognises that children can abuse or harm other children.

This may include:

Bullying
Cyberbullying
Sexual harassment
Sexual violence
Coercion
Threats
Discriminatory abuse
Sharing sexual images
Online humiliation
Exploitation through peer groups

Concerns will be recorded and referred where appropriate.

Inspired Ed will not dismiss harmful behaviour as banter, friendship difficulties or a normal part of growing up.

Where relevant, Inspired Ed will work with parents, carers, schools, commissioning organisations and safeguarding professionals.

17. Physical Materials and Activity Boxes

Inspired Ed will take reasonable steps to ensure that activity box contents are safe and suitable.

This includes:

Risk-assessing materials
Providing safety instructions
Identifying small parts or potential hazards
Considering sensory sensitivities
Avoiding unnecessarily hazardous materials
Requiring adult supervision
Reviewing reported incidents or concerns

Parents and carers remain responsible for supervising the learner and deciding whether individual materials are suitable for use.

Any injury, allergic reaction, unsafe item or other concern should be reported promptly.

18. Safer Working Practice

As a sole practitioner, Inspired Ed does not currently undertake staff recruitment.

The sole practitioner will:

Maintain an appropriate enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check
Complete safeguarding training before providing services to children
Keep safeguarding knowledge up to date
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
Follow relevant statutory guidance
Cooperate with safeguarding enquiries
Disclose relevant safeguarding or suitability concerns where legally required

If staff, contractors or volunteers are engaged in the future, Inspired Ed will introduce appropriate safer recruitment procedures before they begin work.

These may include:

Identity checks
References
Employment history checks
Right-to-work checks
Disclosure and Barring Service checks
Qualification checks
Safeguarding declarations
Induction and training
Ongoing supervision

19. Safeguarding Training and Continuing Professional Development

Inspired Ed will:

Complete appropriate safeguarding training before working with children
Refresh formal safeguarding training at least every two years
Review safeguarding updates more regularly where appropriate
Complete Prevent training
Maintain online safety knowledge
Maintain a safeguarding continuing professional development log
Review learning after safeguarding incidents or policy changes
Undertake additional training where new risks or responsibilities arise

20. Emergency Action

Where a child is believed to be in immediate danger, Inspired Ed will contact the emergency services.

Where there is an immediate risk of serious harm, obtaining consent or following routine communication procedures will not delay urgent action.

Parents, carers or commissioning organisations may be contacted after emergency action has been taken where this is appropriate and safe.

21. Complaints and Whistleblowing

Safeguarding concerns about Inspired Ed should be raised directly with the appropriate external authority where necessary.

This may include:

The Local Authority Designated Officer
Children’s Social Care
The commissioning organisation
The police
The Disclosure and Barring Service
Another appropriate regulatory or safeguarding body

General complaints that do not concern immediate safeguarding risk will be handled under the Inspired Ed Complaints Policy.

No person should be discouraged from raising a genuine safeguarding concern.

22. Monitoring and Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner where:

Safeguarding legislation or statutory guidance changes
A safeguarding incident occurs
A significant risk is identified
The service model changes
A commissioning organisation requests an update
New staff, volunteers or contractors are introduced
Learning from training or professional advice indicates that revision is required

The next scheduled review date is 1 July 2027.