Safeguarding & Child Protection

1. Our commitment

Spacetime Education Ltd (“we”, “us”) is committed to providing a safe online environment for children and young people.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We aim to:

Protect students from harm, abuse and neglect
Promote their welfare, wellbeing and dignity
Act promptly and appropriately if we have any concerns

This policy applies to all online lessons, Grade Roadmap Meetings involving children, and any other contact between students and our educators.

2. Who is responsible for safeguarding?

Overall responsibility for safeguarding within Spacetime Education rests with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):

Name: Dhawal Joshi

Role: Founder / Director / Designated Safeguarding Lead

Email: services@spacetime.education

All tutors/educators working with us are expected to follow this policy and any related guidance we provide. Where appropriate, we may also appoint a Deputy DSL to support this role.

3. Safer recruitment & checks

We take reasonable steps to ensure that tutors/educators working with children and young people are suitable to do so. This typically includes:

Checking identity and right to work in the UK (where applicable)
Obtaining and checking an enhanced DBS (or equivalent where a tutor is based outside the UK, where reasonably possible)
Gathering references and relevant professional qualifications
Providing basic safeguarding and online safety guidance before starting work with students
Where we engage independent tutors, we make clear in our agreements that they must comply with safeguarding and data protection expectations and follow this policy.

4. Online safety expectations (students & tutors)

To help keep everyone safe during online lessons, we expect:

For tutors/educators:

Use only approved platforms for lessons and communication (e.g. our chosen video and scheduling tools)
Start and end lessons on time and maintain professional boundaries at all times
Keep communication with students focused on learning and support; avoid personal or unrelated conversations
Never share personal contact details or social media profiles with students
Not have 1-to-1 contact with students on personal messaging apps or social media
Report any safeguarding or welfare concerns promptly to the DSL
For students & families:
Ensure the student is in a suitable space (quiet, safe and as far as possible free from inappropriate background content)
Keep cameras on where reasonably possible, so the tutor can verify who is present
A parent/guardian should be within reach of the student at home, especially for younger learners or those with additional needs
Do not record or share lessons publicly without our written consent
Do not share personal contact details or social media with tutors
If any behaviour during a lesson or communication makes you or your child uncomfortable, please contact us as soon as possible.

5. Recognising and responding to concerns

Tutors and staff are asked to remain alert to signs that a child or young person may be at risk of harm, including:

Physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect
Bullying (including online / cyberbullying)
Self-harm, suicidal thoughts or significant emotional distress
Exploitation, grooming or radicalisation
Any other situation where the child does not appear safe or well
If a tutor has a concern:
They will record what they have seen/heard as accurately as possible
They will pass the concern to the DSL without delay
They will not promise confidentiality to the student, if sharing information is needed to keep the student safe
The DSL will decide what action to take, which may include:
Gathering more information (where appropriate)
Discussing the concern with a parent/guardian (where safe to do so)
Seeking advice from or making a referral to local safeguarding partners, children’s social care, or the police where required

6. Confidentiality & information sharing

We treat safeguarding information as sensitive and confidential. However, keeping a child safe sometimes requires sharing information with others.

We will:

Share information on a need-to-know basis only
Share information with relevant agencies (e.g. children’s services, police, school) where there is a risk of harm
Keep factual records of concerns and actions taken, stored securely in line with our Privacy Policy
We do not promise absolute confidentiality if a child or parent tells us something that indicates a risk of harm.

7. Working with SEN / EHCP students

Many of our students have additional needs or learning differences, including those with EHCPs and diagnoses such as autism, ADHD or other conditions.

We aim to:

Be sensitive to communication differences and sensory needs in the online environment
Take into account any information shared by parents/guardians about EHCPs or support strategies
Adjust lesson pace and interaction style where possible to support engagement and reduce anxiety
Sometimes, safeguarding concerns may arise in the context of complex needs. We will always aim to respond with care and respect, seeking advice from relevant professionals where necessary.

8. Complaints & raising concerns about an adult

If you are a parent/guardian and you are concerned about:

The conduct or behaviour of a tutor or staff member
Something that happened in a lesson or communication
please contact the DSL as soon as possible using the details above.
We will:
Acknowledge your concern
Review any relevant evidence (e.g. lesson records, communications)
Take appropriate action, which may include: pausing lessons, investigating, speaking with the tutor, and contacting external agencies if required
In serious cases or where a crime may have been committed, we may need to contact the police or Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

9. If a student is in immediate danger

If at any time you believe a child is in immediate danger, or there is an emergency:

Call 999 (UK) or your local emergency number straight away
If you then wish to inform us, you can contact the DSL, but emergency services must be contacted first in urgent situations

10. Relationship with schools and other professionals

Where appropriate and with consent (unless there is a compelling safeguarding reason not to seek consent), we may:

Liaise with schools, SENCOs or other professionals to better support the student
Share relevant information to help keep a child safe or improve educational support
We will always aim to involve parents/guardians in these discussions except where this could place a child at increased risk.

11. Training & review

We expect tutors and staff to:

Engage with basic safeguarding guidance and updates we provide
Know how to contact the DSL and what to do if they are worried about a student
This policy will be reviewed periodically and updated when necessary to reflect changes in law, guidance or our services.

12. Contact

For any safeguarding or child protection concern, please contact:

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Name: DHAWAL JOSHI