Last updated: January 01, 2021
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​​Learning Connected believes that it is always unacceptable for a child or young person to experience abuse of any kind and recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people, by committing to a practice which protects them. The policy statement applies to all staff, volunteers, children and young people and anyone involved in Learning Connected’s activities. Learning Connected works with young people as part of its activities. These include delivering online entrepreneurship lessons to young people aged 11-18.
 
The purpose of this policy statement is to:

• ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people is paramount when adults,
• young people or children are using the internet, social media or mobile devices
• provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to online safety
• ensure that, as an organisation, we operate in line with our values and within the law in terms of how we use online devices.

Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:

• Children Act 1989
• United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
• Data Protection Act 1998
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Sexual Offences Act 2003
• Children Act 2004
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
• Children and Families Act 2014
• Special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice: 0 to 25 years
• Statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities; HM Government 2014

 
We believe that:

• children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
• children should be able to use the internet for education and personal development, but safeguards need to be in place to ensure they are kept safe at all times.
  
  
  

We recognise that:

• the online world provides everyone with many opportunities; however, it can also present risks and challenges
• we have a duty to ensure that all children, young people and adults involved in our organisation are protected from potential harm online
• we have a responsibility to help keep children and young people safe online, whether or not they are using Learning Connected’s network and devices
• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
• working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare and in helping young people to be responsible in their approach to online safety.

 
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

• appointing an online safety coordinator
• providing clear and specific directions to staff and volunteers on how to behave online through our behaviour code for adults
• supporting and encouraging the young people using our service to use the internet, social media and mobile phones in a way that keeps them safe and shows respect for others
• supporting and encouraging parents and carers to do what they can to keep their children safe online
• developing an online safety agreement for use with young people and their parents/carers
• developing clear and robust procedures to enable us to respond appropriately to any incidents of inappropriate online behaviour, whether by an adult or a child/young person
• reviewing and updating the security of our information systems regularly
• ensuring that usernames, logins, email accounts and passwords are used effectively ensuring personal information about the adults and children who are involved in our organisation is held securely and shared only as appropriate
• ensuring that images of children, young people and families are used only after their written permission has been obtained, and only for the purpose for which consent has been given
• providing supervision, support and training for staff and volunteers about online safety
• examining and risk assessing any social media platforms and new technologies before they are used within the organisation.
  
  
  

Educators and DBS checks

• Learning Connected Ltd ensures that all educators have a valid enhanced DBS check.
  
  
  

Guidelines for Educators
Learning Connected Ltd recommend that educators take steps to ensure that they do not put themselves in a position where an allegation can be made against them. Educators must give special consideration to ensuring that they do not become involved in circumstances where an allegation can be raised. Such consideration might involve, but is in no means limited to:

• Treating children with respect and dignity at all times, reflecting their age, background, culture and special needs;
• Ensuring that interaction with children occurs in the company of others wherever possible to ensure that an allegation of improper behaviour does not arise;
• Retaining a professional approach to children which will involve behaviour such as not divulging home telephone numbers or addresses, refraining from any social media interaction, ensuring that there is no physical contact, avoiding inappropriate familiarity, including discussing matters of a sexual nature, maintaining self-control and being sensitive to issues that can be misconstrued; and
• Seeking guidance on their own interactions with children if they have any concerns about their appropriateness or the possibility of them being misconstrued to Farida Danmeri the Learning Connected Ltd Safeguarding Officer.
  
  

Under no circumstances should an educator ever:

• Engage in rough/boisterous, physical or sexually provocative games with a child, including horseplay;
• Engage in any form of inappropriate touching;
• Make sexually suggestive comments to a child;
• Fail to act upon and record any allegations made by a child;
• Do things of a personal nature for children that they are able to do for themselves; or Invite or allow a child to visit or stay at their home unsupervised.

These guidelines for educators will always apply in the context of coming into contact with children, including learners under the age of 18 years. It will also apply in situations involving vulnerable adults and is also likely to constitute best practice in situations involving all learners over the age of 18.
Any educator who comes into contact with children under the age of 18 is considered to be in a position of trust, whether or not they meet the strict legal definition, and any sexual activity between an educator or learner whom the educator has come into contact through activities carried out in the course of teaching a course will be treated as a very serious disciplinary matter. Anyone who meets the legal definition of “position of trust” under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and who engages in any sexual activity with a person under 18 is also committing a criminal offence, and such cases will be reported to the Police.


Learning Connected Ltd has a legal duty to report to the DBS any individual whom it believes ought to be placed on the list of individuals barred from working with children.


Procedure for educators to follow if they are concerned learners are being abused 

• Listen carefully to the child. Avoid expressing your own views on the matter. A reaction of shock or disbelief could cause the child to ‘shut down’, retract or stop talking
• Let them know they’ve done the right thing. Reassurance can make a big impact to the child who may have been keeping the abuse secret
• Tell them it’s not their fault. Abuse is never the child’s fault and they need to know this
• Say you will take them seriously. A child could keep abuse secret in fear they won’t be believed. They’ve told you because they want help and trust you’ll be the person who will listen to and support them.
• Don’t talk to the alleged abuser. Confronting the alleged abuser about what the child’s told you could make the situation a lot worse for the child
• Explain what you’ll do next. If age appropriate, explain to the child you’ll need to report the abuse to someone who will be able to help
• Record information, using the child’s own words if possible, and ask the child whether what has been recorded accords with what they have said
• Don’t delay reporting the abuse. The sooner the abuse is reported after the child discloses the better. Report as soon as possible so details are fresh in your mind and action can be taken quickly. This should be reported to Farida Danmeri who is the Learning Connected Ltd Safeguarding Officer.

How to respond if there are suspicions an educator is abusing a child 
If there are genuine suspicions that an educator is abusing a child, educators should:

1. Maintain confidentiality but alert the Child Protection Officer in the first instance.
2. The Child Protection Officer should take such steps as she considers necessary to ensure the safety of the child in question and any other child who might be at risk. The Child Protection Officer should speak to the child about any actions taken and offer support and advice about what will happen next.
3. The Child Protection Officer shall keep the person who reported the original concern informed of how the matter is progressing to the extent that this is appropriate.
   
   
   

Recording allegations and information
The member of staff who raises the initial concern must record what they have observed or what the child disclosed, and speak with the Safeguarding Officer, Farida Danmeri about the case as soon as reasonably possible. The Safeguarding Officer should record any subsequent actions, decisions or conversations. The Child Protection Officer is responsible for forwarding referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service. Safeguarding Officers are responsible for storing information in a secure area and ensuring that only authorised staff have access to this.

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.