Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

1. Policy Statement

Richmond Online School is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people in our care. We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all students. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection, and justice.

2. Aims and Objectives

The aims of this policy are to:

• Provide a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.
• Identify children who may be at risk of harm and take appropriate action.
• Ensure all staff, tutors, and volunteers understand their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding.
• Ensure all staff are trained to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and know how to respond.
• Establish effective procedures for reporting and managing safeguarding concerns.

3. The Designated Safeguarding Lead

Richmond Online School has appointed a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) who has overall responsibility for safeguarding and child protection within the school. The DSL is responsible for:

• Managing referrals to children's social services, the police, and other agencies.
• Maintaining safeguarding records and ensuring they are stored securely.
• Providing advice and support to staff on safeguarding matters.
• Ensuring that all staff receive appropriate safeguarding training.
• Liaising with local safeguarding partnerships and authorities.

4. Recognising Abuse

All staff at Richmond Online School are trained to recognise the four main categories of abuse:

• Physical Abuse: Including hitting, shaking, throwing, burning, or causing physical harm to a child.
• Emotional Abuse: Including persistent emotional maltreatment that impacts a child's emotional development.
• Sexual Abuse: Including forcing or enticing a child to participate in sexual activities.
• Neglect: The persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical or psychological needs.

5. Reporting Procedures

Any member of staff, tutor, or volunteer who has a safeguarding concern about a student must report it immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead. The DSL will then assess the situation and take appropriate action, which may include:

• An internal investigation and monitoring.
• A referral to children's social services.
• A referral to the police in cases of immediate danger.
• Support and pastoral care for the student concerned.

6. Safer Recruitment

Richmond Online School follows safer recruitment practices to ensure that all staff working with children are suitable to do so. This includes enhanced DBS checks, identity verification, reference checks, and right-to-work confirmation for all staff, tutors, and contractors.

7. Contact Us

If you have any safeguarding concerns or questions about this policy, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead at info@richmondonlineschool.com.