1. Purpose of the Policy
Traden Online School is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people who access its educational services. We believe that every learner has the right to feel safe, supported, and valued—regardless of age, background, gender, ethnicity, religion, ability, or online location.
This policy outlines our legal and moral responsibilities in identifying, reporting, and responding to concerns related to the safety and wellbeing of children under our care in an online environment.
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
• All students enrolled at Traden Online School
• All staff members, including teachers, support staff, and administrators
• Parents/guardians
• Third-party educators or contractors engaged by the school
It covers all learning conducted via the school’s official platform, MeritHub, as well as communication with students through any school-authorised tools.
3. Key Principles
• The welfare of the child is paramount.
• All children have the right to protection from abuse, exploitation, neglect, and harm—both offline and online.
• All concerns and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and acted upon promptly and appropriately.
• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
4. Definitions
• Safeguarding: The proactive steps taken to ensure children’s safety, wellbeing, and development.
• Child protection: Actions taken when there is a specific concern about a child being at risk of harm.
• Child: Anyone under the age of 18.
• DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead): The staff member responsible for handling child protection concerns.
5. Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
The DSL at Traden Online School is responsible for:
• Receiving and managing all safeguarding concerns
• Liaising with appropriate authorities when necessary
• Ensuring all staff are trained and aware of safeguarding responsibilities
• Keeping records of reported concerns securely and confidentially
Contact:
Name: [Insert DSL Name]
Email: [Insert DSL Email]
Phone: [Insert School Emergency Contact]
6. Types of Abuse (Online and Offline)
Staff are trained to recognise signs of the following types of abuse:
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Child-on-child abuse (including online harassment)
• Grooming and exploitation
• Exposure to harmful online content (e.g., violence, pornography, extremism)
7. Online Safeguarding Risks
In the online environment, children may be at risk of:
• Inappropriate contact by adults (grooming)
• Cyberbullying by peers
• Access to harmful or unmoderated content
• Inappropriate sharing of personal images or videos
• Identity theft or data misuse
8. Preventive Measures at Traden Online School
We implement the following actions to keep students safe online:
• Use of a secure, single learning platform (MeritHub) with access controls, passwords, and content moderation
• Monitoring of live sessions by trained staff
• E-Safety Policy signed by students and parents
• Staff training in safeguarding and child protection procedures
• Restricted communication (all interactions occur through school-authorised platforms only)
• Cameras and microphones are used only with teacher guidance
• Live class recordings are securely stored for review and protection purposes
9. Reporting Concerns
Anyone with a safeguarding concern—whether student, parent, or staff—must report it immediately to the DSL.
Concerns may include:
• Behavioural changes in a child
• Worrying comments made in class
• Disclosure of abuse or distress
• Inappropriate messages or interactions
Reports can be made:
• Via email to the DSL
• In private during a scheduled call
• Through a secure, confidential form (if available)
All reports are treated confidentially and in accordance with data protection laws.
10. Responding to Concerns
The DSL will:
- Record the concern with date, time, and details
- Assess the risk to the child
- Contact the child and/or parent if appropriate
- Consult with or refer to external child protection agencies if required
- Document all actions taken and outcomes
If a child is in immediate danger, the DSL may bypass internal procedures and contact emergency services or local child protection authorities directly.
11. Staff Responsibilities
All staff at Traden Online School must:
• Complete annual safeguarding training
• Understand this policy and follow its procedures
• Report any concerns without delay
• Maintain professional boundaries in all online interactions
• Never engage in private, unsupervised communication with students
12. Parental Responsibilities
Parents are expected to:
• Supervise younger children during lessons
• Monitor their child’s online behaviour
• Encourage open conversations about safety and digital wellbeing
• Contact the school if they have any safeguarding concerns
13. Record Keeping
• Safeguarding records are securely stored, digitally or physically
• Only the DSL and authorised staff have access to these records
• Records are maintained in line with school policy and legal requirements
14. Recruitment and Background Checks
All staff working directly with children must complete:
• Background screening (e.g., enhanced DBS check in the UK or an international equivalent)
• Safeguarding and child protection training before starting their role
• Reference checks and signed declarations of suitability
15. Policy Review
This policy is reviewed annually by the Senior Leadership Team, or whenever there is a change in legislation, safeguarding guidance, or school structure.
Parents will be informed of any significant changes.
16. Policy Acknowledgement
All parents, students, and staff are required to read and agree to this policy upon joining Traden Online School.
A digital agreement form is completed during the enrolment process.