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1. Learn Out of The Box (hereafter referred to as LOOTB), believes that every child and young person has at all times and in all situations, the right to feel safe and protected

2. Our aim is “To create an environment where children and young people feel safe, secure, are listened to, valued and respected.  For the purposes of this policy LOOTB consider anyone aged up to 18 years old (up to 25 years old if the young person has learning difficulties) to be covered by this child protection policy.

3. LOOTB and any people who work with us are an important part of the wider safeguarding system for children. This system is described in statutory guidance by the government -Working together to safeguard children.

4. All Teachers and Therapists, who work with LOOTB will have enhanced DBS checks, before their services are engaged.

5. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.

6. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this guidance as: protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

7. LOOTB maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned. When concerned about the welfare of a child, LOOTB should always act in the best interests of the child.

8. Teaching will, where possible take place, where parents/carers are easily available, to pop in. Provision of a screen to partition teaching rooms will allow parents to be present, but out of view, should this be required. 

9. In order for an assessment to be valid it needs to be administered on a one-one, with assessor and child/student. Where possible Assessments will take place in the child/student’s school, where there are members of staff nearby and to provide a space which is familiar to the child/student. Where this is not possible, it can take place on site at LOOTB where a partition will allow a parent/ Carer, to be present, but not in view. In some circumstances it may be possible to administer the assessment in the child/student’s own home.

10.  Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation is seen as part of wider safeguarding duties.  As with other safeguarding risks, LOOTB, will be alert to changes in children’s behaviour, which could indicate that they may be in need of help or protection.

11.  If you have any concerns regarding a child protection incident or a child discloses any sensitive information to you then please contact Jo Packard at jpspld@yahoo.com immediately who will then take responsibility for any action taken. Should there be a child protection incident, or a disclosure of abuse LOOTB, will follow up immediately following the safeguarding steps outlined: (a) We will immediately suspend tuition if any information is disclosed to suggest that the LOOTB Safeguarding Policy has been breached. (b)  West Sussex/ Hampshire/Surrey Children’s Services will be informed and if appropriate the Police will be notified. (C)  All information will remain strictly confidential, and records will be kept to evidence how the complaint was dealt with and what action was taken.

 

Updated September 2023