Safeguarding Information
Understand our safeguarding approach, leadership, procedures and responsibilities.
Safeguarding →SAFEGUARDING AT RECONNECT LEARNING
Safeguarding Is at the Heart of Every Learner's Education
Reconnect Learning is committed to creating safe, professional and respectful learning environments for children and young people across home tuition, online learning, outreach and alternative provision.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Our procedures support early identification of concerns, clear reporting, appropriate escalation, safer recruitment and professional practice across every part of our provision.
OUR SAFEGUARDING FRAMEWORK
Safeguarding runs through every stage of provision
Designated safeguarding leadership
Clear concern and reporting procedures
Safer recruitment and staff checks
Risk assessment and lone-working controls
Professional boundaries and staff conduct
Online, home and outreach safeguarding
Culture
Safeguarding First
Leadership
DSL & DDSL
Recruitment
Safer Practice
Delivery
Risk-Aware
Concerns
Clear Reporting
A WHOLE-ORGANISATION RESPONSIBILITY
Safeguarding is not a separate process — it is part of everyday practice
Children and young people accessing personalised education may learn in homes, online, community settings or other environments outside a traditional classroom. That makes clear safeguarding arrangements especially important.
Staff are expected to understand their responsibilities, recognise concerns, maintain professional boundaries and report safeguarding information through the appropriate route.
OUR SAFEGUARDING PRINCIPLE
The welfare of the child is central to decision-making, professional practice and the way every Reconnect Learning placement is planned and delivered.
SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION
Explore our safeguarding section
Report a Concern
Information about raising a safeguarding concern connected with Reconnect Learning.
Report a Concern →Policies & Compliance
Access safeguarding, safer recruitment and wider organisational policies and compliance information.
Policies & Compliance →SAFEGUARDING IN PRACTICE
A safeguarding framework designed around personalised education
Safeguarding arrangements are considered from referral and mobilisation through to delivery, reporting, review and the end of provision.
Safeguarding information at referral
Named professional contacts
Risk assessment
Tutor and staff briefing
Professional boundaries
Attendance monitoring
Home-learning arrangements
Online safeguarding
Lone-working procedures
Concern recording
DSL escalation
Multi-agency communication
SAFEGUARDING LEADERSHIP
Clear safeguarding responsibility and oversight
Ellen Kerr
Managing Director and Designated Safeguarding Lead. The DSL provides safeguarding leadership, supports decision-making and oversees the organisation's safeguarding arrangements.
Claire Spicer
Director of Partnerships & Learner Engagement and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, supporting safeguarding oversight, escalation and organisational practice.
REPORTING SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS
Concerns should be shared promptly
Anyone working with or receiving services from Reconnect Learning may become aware of information that raises concern about the welfare or safety of a child or young person.
Safeguarding concerns linked to Reconnect Learning should be shared through the appropriate safeguarding route so that information can be considered and action taken where required.
Report a Safeguarding Concern →A concern may involve:
Something a child has disclosed
A change in behaviour or presentation
Physical signs of harm
Neglect or unmet basic needs
Online safety concerns
Concerns about an adult's behaviour
A low-level concern
An allegation involving a member of staff
SAFEGUARDING ACROSS DELIVERY
Different learning environments require clear professional controls
Home Tuition
Home-based learning requires clear access, attendance, professional-boundary and risk arrangements.
Online Learning
Online tuition is delivered with expectations around platform use, communication and appropriate digital conduct.
Outreach
Home and community outreach is planned around known risk, venue, travel and lone-working considerations.
Alternative Provision
Learner safety, attendance, professional information and safeguarding arrangements form part of provision planning.
1:1 Working
Professional boundaries, communication expectations and safeguarding procedures apply to individual work.
Transitions
Relevant safeguarding information is considered when learners move between provision, settings or professionals.
SAFER RECRUITMENT
Safeguarding begins before a practitioner works with a learner
Reconnect Learning uses safer recruitment processes designed to support appropriate selection, checking, induction and deployment of staff and practitioners.
Identity verification
Appropriate DBS checking
Employment and experience history
References
Qualification checks where relevant
Safeguarding induction
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Checks are only one part of safer working
Safeguarding continues after recruitment through professional expectations, training, reporting procedures and oversight.
Code of conduct
Professional boundaries
Low-level concerns
Allegations procedures
Safeguarding updates
Supervision and quality assurance
SAFEGUARDING THROUGH THE PLACEMENT
Safeguarding remains active from referral to review
1
Refer
Relevant safeguarding information is shared.
2
Assess
Risk and suitability are considered.
3
Brief
Staff receive relevant case information.
4
Deliver
Professional controls support safe practice.
5
Report
Concerns are recorded and escalated.
6
Review
Changes in risk and circumstances are considered.
OUR SAFEGUARDING EXPECTATIONS
Everyone involved has a role in keeping learners safe
Recognise
Staff remain alert to signs, disclosures and changes that may indicate a safeguarding concern.
Respond
Children are listened to appropriately without promising confidentiality.
Record
Relevant safeguarding information should be recorded clearly and accurately.
Report
Concerns should be shared promptly through the appropriate safeguarding route.
Maintain Boundaries
Clear professional boundaries help protect both learners and practitioners.
Review Risk
New information or changing circumstances may require safeguarding and risk arrangements to be reconsidered.
SAFEGUARDING POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Policies supporting safe professional practice
Safeguarding
Our core safeguarding responsibilities, procedures and reporting framework.
View Policies →Safer Recruitment
Requirements supporting safer selection, checking and appointment.
View Policies →Online Safety
Expectations supporting safe digital learning, communication and technology use.
View Policies →Staff Code of Conduct
Professional standards and boundaries expected of staff and practitioners.
View Policies →Low-Level Concerns
Procedures for concerns about adult behaviour that may not meet the allegation threshold.
View Policies →Managing Allegations
Procedures where an allegation concerns a member of staff, tutor or other adult working with learners.
View Policies →Lone Working
Controls for practitioners delivering education away from a central setting.
View Policies →Risk Assessment
Processes supporting safe planning of learners, locations and activities.
View Policies →Whistleblowing
Routes for raising concerns about unsafe or inappropriate organisational practice.
View Policies →If a child is at immediate risk
Reconnect Learning safeguarding routes are intended for concerns connected with our provision and learners. They do not replace emergency services or statutory safeguarding agencies.
Where there is an immediate danger to life or serious immediate risk, emergency services should be contacted without delay.
Where safeguarding information relates to a learner already supported by other professionals, Reconnect Learning may share relevant information through appropriate professional safeguarding routes where required.
SAFEGUARDING FAQs
Frequently asked safeguarding questions
Who is responsible for safeguarding at Reconnect Learning?
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Reconnect Learning also has designated safeguarding leadership providing oversight and escalation.
Who is the Designated Safeguarding Lead?
Ellen Kerr, Managing Director, is Reconnect Learning's Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Who is the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead?
Claire Spicer, Director of Partnerships & Learner Engagement, is Reconnect Learning's Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
How do I report a safeguarding concern?
Use the Reconnect Learning safeguarding concern route and provide the relevant information as clearly and promptly as possible.
What should a tutor do if a learner makes a disclosure?
The learner should be listened to appropriately and the concern recorded and reported through Reconnect Learning's safeguarding procedures.
Do safeguarding procedures apply to online tuition?
Yes. Safeguarding responsibilities apply across online, home, outreach and other forms of Reconnect Learning provision.
Are home tuition sessions risk assessed?
Relevant learner, location, access and lone-working risks are considered as part of planning where applicable.
What is a low-level concern?
A low-level concern relates to adult behaviour that may be inconsistent with expected professional conduct even where it does not appear to meet the threshold for an allegation.
What happens if a concern involves a member of staff?
Concerns involving staff or practitioners are managed through the appropriate safeguarding, low-level concern or allegation procedure depending on the circumstances.
Can safeguarding information be shared with other professionals?
Relevant information may be shared through appropriate professional safeguarding routes where this is necessary to protect a child or support safeguarding responsibilities.
Does safeguarding apply to 1:1 tuition?
Yes. Professional boundaries, reporting responsibilities and safeguarding procedures apply to individual tuition.
Where can I find Reconnect Learning's safeguarding policies?
Relevant policies and compliance documents are available through the Reconnect Learning Policies & Compliance page.