Bitesize Digital School CIC: Safeguarding Policy

Bitesize Digital School CIC is unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people who engage with our programmes. We believe that every child has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, and neglect, and to learn in a safe, supportive, and respectful environment. This policy outlines our robust procedures and the responsibilities of all individuals associated with Bitesize Digital School CIC in upholding this commitment.

1. Scope & Definitions
This policy applies to all individuals working for or with Bitesize Digital School CIC, including Senior Leadership, tutors, tutor assistants, mentors, administrative staff, technical support, and external partners.

• Safeguarding: Encompasses protecting children from abuse and maltreatment, preventing harm to children’s health or development, ensuring 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.
• Child Protection: Refers specifically to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering or are at risk of suffering significant harm.
• Child Abuse: Includes physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. This policy also covers online abuse and radicalisation.
• Harm: Encompasses ill-treatment or the impairment of health or development.

2. Roles & Responsibilities
The Senior Leadership Team is ultimately accountable for ensuring this safeguarding policy is implemented and regularly reviewed.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

• Name(s) & Contact: Mr Rasheed Adesokan (r.adesokan@bitesizedigital.school or 07367271932)
• Responsibilities: The DSL is the central point of contact for all safeguarding concerns. They are responsible for managing and overseeing safeguarding issues, providing advice and support to staff, liaising with external agencies (including local authorities and the police), ensuring accurate record-keeping, and guaranteeing all staff receive appropriate safeguarding training.

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead(s)

• Name(s) & Contact: Ms Mariam Adesokan (m.adesokan@bitesizedigital.school or 07491949241)
• Responsibilities: To support the DSL in their duties and act in their absence, ensuring continuity in safeguarding provision.

All Staff, Volunteers & Partners

Every individual associated with Bitesize Digital School CIC has a personal and professional responsibility to:

• Read, understand, and adhere to this safeguarding policy and all related procedures.
• Be vigilant for signs of abuse or neglect.
• Report any concerns immediately following the established reporting procedures.
• Maintain professional boundaries with students and their families.
• Participate in all mandatory safeguarding training.

3. Recognising & Responding to Concerns
Bitesize Digital School CIC maintains a vigilant approach to identifying and responding to safeguarding concerns.

Types of Concerns
Staff will be trained to recognise indicators of:

• Physical Abuse: Unexplained injuries, fear of parents/carers.
• Emotional Abuse: Low self-esteem, withdrawn behaviour, aggressive outbursts.
• Sexual Abuse: Inappropriate sexualised behaviour, fear of specific individuals.
• Neglect: Poor hygiene, inadequate clothing, unaddressed medical needs.
• Online Specific Risks: Cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, online grooming attempts, radicalisation.

Reporting Procedures

1. Immediate Concern: If you have any safeguarding concerns about a child, however small, you must immediately report it to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or a Deputy DSL. Do not attempt to investigate the concern yourself.
2. Recording: The DSL will ensure all reported concerns are accurately recorded, including dates, times, individuals involved, and a factual account of the concern.
3. Liaison with External Agencies: The DSL will assess the concern and, if appropriate, make a referral to the relevant local authority children’s social care services or the police without delay.
4. Responding to a Disclosure: If a child makes a disclosure of abuse:
   • Listen carefully: Do not interrupt, probe, or ask leading questions.
   • Reassure: Let the child know they’ve done the right thing by telling you.
   • Don’t promise secrecy: Explain that you will need to share this information with the appropriate people to help them.
   • Report immediately: Follow internal reporting procedures to the DSL.

Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers

Any allegation or concern that an adult associated with Bitesize Digital School CIC has harmed or may have harmed a child must be reported immediately to the DSL. If the allegation is against the DSL, it must be reported to a Deputy DSL or directly to the Senior Leadership Team. The DSL will then follow specific procedures, which include contacting the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

4. Safer Recruitment
Bitesize Digital School CIC is committed to deterring, identifying, and rejecting individuals who are unsuitable to work with children. Our safer recruitment practices include:

• Enhanced DBS Checks: All staff working in the UK undergo enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, including a check against the barred list. For staff outside the UK, an equivalent comprehensive criminal record check is mandatory.
• Robust Interview Process: Our interview process includes safeguarding-specific questions and explores candidates’ attitudes towards working with children.
• References: We obtain and thoroughly check at least two professional references, directly addressing any safeguarding concerns.
• Identity Verification: All candidates’ identities are rigorously verified before employment begins.
• Probation Periods: All new staff and volunteers serve a probationary period during which their suitability and adherence to safeguarding principles are closely monitored.

5. Training & Awareness
All staff and volunteers receive comprehensive safeguarding training upon joining Bitesize Digital School CIC, as well as regular refresher training on an ongoing basis. This training covers:

• Understanding child abuse and neglect.
• Our internal reporting procedures.
• Online safety risks and mitigation strategies.
• Maintaining professional boundaries.
• The Code of Conduct and acceptable behaviour.

6. Online Safety (E-Safety)
Given our online delivery model, online safety is paramount.

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
All students, parents/guardians, and staff must adhere to our AUP, which outlines expectations for appropriate, respectful, and safe behaviour when using our online platforms and communication channels.

• Student Responsibilities: Students must use their full names when joining live sessions and keep cameras on for identity verification. They must never share meeting links.
• Staff Responsibilities: Staff must ensure secure meeting settings, admit participants only after verification, ensure the recording feature is activated, and monitor chat for inappropriate content.
• Prohibited Conduct: Includes cyberbullying, sharing inappropriate content, making inappropriate comments, accessing unauthorised materials, or engaging in any form of online harassment or discrimination.

Managing Online Risks

• Access Control: All live sessions are held on secure platforms (e.g., Zoom, Google Classroom, bespoke LMS). Staff must approve anyone joining from the waiting room, verifying their identity against a register. Students must use their full name as a means to identify themselves, and keep their camera on for verification. This prevents unauthorised individuals from joining sessions.
• Session Recording: All live sessions are recorded. These recordings serve multiple purposes:
  • Educational Support: For students who miss a class or wish to revisit content.
  • Safety & Investigation: Recordings are used for investigation purposes should any complaint or concern arise during a session. Recordings are securely stored and access is strictly limited to authorised personnel for designated purposes.
• Direct Communication Policy: All communications outside of live training sessions must be exclusively through parents, guardians, and carers. Bitesize Digital School CIC staff will not engage in direct communication with students outside of the live, recorded session. All class schedules, homework, and administrative information will be delivered via parents or guardians. If there is a need to speak with a child, the parent, guardian, or any adult appointed by them must be present.
• Parental Feedback: After every week, parents/guardians will receive a feedback and concern form to complete with their child, providing an ongoing mechanism for monitoring safety and well-being.

7. Record Keeping & Information Sharing
All safeguarding concerns and actions taken will be accurately and securely recorded by the DSL. Records will be kept confidential and stored in compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines. Information will only be shared with external agencies (e.g., social services, police) when it is necessary and proportionate to protect a child from harm, following legal requirements and professional guidance.

8. Confidentiality Policy
Bitesize Digital School CIC is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all individuals involved in our programmes.

• All information shared regarding safeguarding concerns will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, on a “need-to-know” basis.
• Personal data will be processed and stored in accordance with GDPR principles.
• Disclosures of abuse will not be kept secret if sharing the information is necessary to protect the child or others.

9. Complaints Procedure
Bitesize Digital School CIC is committed to resolving complaints promptly, fairly, and confidentially.

How to Make a Complaint:

1. Informal Resolution: If possible, try to resolve the issue directly with the staff member involved.
2. Formal Complaint: If unresolved, or if the complaint is serious (e.g., related to safeguarding), it must be submitted in writing (email acceptable) to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or, if the complaint concerns the DSL, to a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
3. Acknowledgement: You will receive an acknowledgement of your complaint within 5 working days.
4. Investigation: The DSL or appointed senior staff member will conduct a thorough investigation, interviewing relevant parties.
5. Resolution & Response: A written response outlining the findings and any actions taken will be provided within 30 working days of the acknowledgement, or an update if more time is needed.
6. Escalation: If you remain unsatisfied, you may appeal the decision to the Senior Leadership Team for final review.

10. Policy Review
This Safeguarding Policy will be reviewed annually by the Senior Leadership Team and the Designated Safeguarding Lead, or sooner if there are changes in legislation, guidance, or organisational practice. All staff will be informed of any updates.

11. Whistleblowing Policy
Bitesize Digital School CIC encourages all staff, volunteers, and partners to raise any concerns they may have about practices within the organisation, especially those related to safeguarding, malpractice, or misconduct, without fear of reprisal. Any such concerns should be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or, if the concern relates to the DSL, to a member of the Senior Leadership Team. All concerns will be taken seriously and investigated appropriately.