Safeguarding Policy (March 2024)

Rocket Education Ltd (known as ‘RocketEd’) is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all children and young people who use our services. This Safeguarding Policy outlines our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and sets out the procedures we have in place to protect them from harm and abuse.

Policy Statement:

RocketEd recognises its responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.

We are committed to:

  • Providing a safe and secure environment for all children and young people who use our services.

  • Ensuring that all RocketEd staff and practitioners are trained in safeguarding and child protection, following the guidance outlined in the latest version of the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) statutory guidance.

  • Having clear procedures in place for reporting and responding to concerns about the welfare of children and young people, in accordance with KCSIE.

  • Complying with all relevant legislation and guidance, including the Children Act 1989 and 2004, and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018, as well as any updates or revisions to KCSIE.

  • Ensuring that all RocketEd staff and practitioners undergo appropriate checks, including DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks, as per the requirements set out in KCSIE.

  • Working in partnership with parents, carers, and relevant authorities to promote the welfare and well-being of children and young people, as outlined in KCSIE.

We believe that:

  • Children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind

  • We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

We recognise that:

  • The welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take

  • Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare

  • All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse

  • Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues

  • Extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

  • Valuing, listening to and respecting them

  • Appointing a designated safeguarding officer

  • Providing effective management for staff and practitioners through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently recruiting and selecting staff and practitioners safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made

  • Recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with our privacy policy, data protection legislation and guidance [more information about this is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office: ico.org.uk/fororganisations]

  • Making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern

  • Using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately

  • Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately

  • Building a safeguarding culture where staff and practitioners, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.

Designated Safeguarding Officer

Hannah Lethbridge, CEO and Founder of RocketEd, is the designated safeguarding officer responsible for overseeing the implementation of this policy and ensuring that all staff and practitioners are aware of their responsibilities regarding safeguarding.

Safeguarding Procedures

  • RocketEd will carry out rigorous checks on all staff and practitioners, including DBS checks, before they start working with children and young people. We will also obtain references and ensure that all staff and practitioners are up-to-date with safeguarding training.

  • All staff and practitioners will receive appropriate training in safeguarding and child protection. This will be regularly updated to ensure that staff are aware of current legislation and best practice.

  • All staff and practitioners are encouraged to be vigilant and to report any concerns about the welfare of a child or young person to the designated safeguarding officer. Reports will be taken seriously and handled in a confidential manner.

  • RocketEd will follow established procedures for responding to concerns about the welfare of a child or young person. This may include making referrals to the local authority or other relevant authorities where necessary.

  • RocketEd will maintain accurate records of all safeguarding concerns and actions taken, in line with data protection legislation.

Communication and Awareness

RocketEd will communicate this Safeguarding Policy to all staff, practitioners and parents when working directly with children and young people. We will also regularly review and update the policy as necessary and provide training and guidance to ensure that all are aware of their roles and responsibilities with regard to safeguarding.

Review

This Safeguarding Policy will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary. Any changes will be communicated to all staff, practitioners and parents working directly with children and young people. 

Contact Information

If you have any concerns or questions about this Safeguarding Policy or the safeguarding procedures at RocketEd, please contact us by phone on +44 7384 505097 or by email to hello@rocketed.co.uk.