Safeguarding Policy


last updated: January 2025

1. Introduction

Wolsey Hall Oxford is the world’s most experienced home study and homeschooling 
online provider. We are committed to ensuring safeguarding and safe working 
practices are at the heart of what we do. Our aim is to provide a high-quality, safe, and 
welcoming learning experience where every child and adult is valued and respected. 
We respond appropriately to any concerns of abuse or neglect, ensuring all children 
have a right to a childhood free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

1.1 Definition of safeguarding 

  • Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. It involves promoting the welfare of 
    children and protecting them from harm. This includes:
  • Providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems 
    emerge.
  • Protecting children from maltreatment, both online and offline.
  • Preventing the impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development.
  • Ensuring children grow up in safe and effective care.
  • Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

1.2 Definition of child protection 

Child protection is the activity to protect specific children who are suffering, or are 
likely to suffer, significant harm. It is a specific element of safeguarding focused on 
protecting children from harm.

2. Contextual issues 

Potential contextual areas of risk include online safety, children missing from 
education, and international safeguarding issues. Mitigation strategies include regular 
contact with students and families, online safety training, and awareness of 
international cultures and contexts.

3. Our safeguarding role and responsibilities

Safeguarding is everybody's responsibility. All staff must:

  • Read and understand the Department for Education’s statutory safeguarding 
    guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education.
  • Complete safeguarding training as part of their induction and annual refresher 
    training.
  • Be aware of the signs of different types of abuse, neglect, and extremism. 
  • Know what to do if a child discloses abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
  • Recognise that some children may be at increased risk of abuse. 

4. Referrals

Safeguarding referrals should be made to the DSL. If a young person discloses abuse, 
Wolsey Hall staff must follow the procedures outlined in Appendix 1.

5. Safeguarding lead procedures

  • A log will be created when a concern is raised using an online form.
  • All communications, concerns, and actions will be recorded and stored securely.
  • The DSL will monitor the situation and seek advice from relevant authorities if 
    necessary.

6. Record keeping, confidentiality, and information sharing

In line with data protection guidance, all safeguarding records will be kept securely and 
shared confidentially with those who need to know.

7. Safeguarding information requests from schools

When a child leaves or joins a school, safeguarding information will be passed on 
securely. Staff should pass any requests for safeguarding information to the DSL. 

8. The 4 categories of abuse 

  • Physical Abuse: Hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm.
  • Emotional Abuse: Persistent emotional maltreatment causing severe effects on  emotional development.
  • Sexual Abuse: Forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, including physical contact and non-contact activities.
  • Neglect: Persistent failure to meet a child’s basic needs, resulting in serious impairment of health or development.

9. Child-on-child abuse 

Children can abuse other children, both inside and outside of school, and online. Staff 
should be aware of the signs and know how to respond to reports of child-on-child 
abuse. 

10. Child criminal exploitation (CCE) and child sexual exploitation (CSE)

Both CCE and CSE involve coercing, manipulating, or deceiving a child into taking part 
in criminal or sexual activity. This can include transporting drugs, working in illegal 
activities, or being involved in sexual exploitation. 

11. Domestic abuse 

Children can be victims of domestic abuse, which can have a long-term impact on their 
health, wellbeing, and development. 

12. Female genital mutilation (FGM) 

If a member of staff discovers that FGM has been carried out on a girl under 18, they 
must report it to the police.

13. Mental health

Mental health problems can be an indicator of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Staff 
should be aware of changes in behaviour that suggest potential mental health 
problems

14. Serious violence 

Indicators of serious violence include increased absence from school, changes in 
friendships, decline in educational performance, signs of self-harm, and unexplained 
gifts or possessions.

15. Radicalisation

Radicalisation is the process through which a person comes to support extremist 
ideologies. Staff should be alert to changes in behaviour that may indicate radicalisation. 

16. Online safety 

We provide age-appropriate guidance to students and parents about keeping safe 
online. 

Updating this policy

We will review this policy annually to make any changes required to comply with legal or other requirements and will publish all changes on our website. Next review date is January 2026.

Contact us 

Safeguarding Lead: Olivia Dixon

Deputy Safeguarding Leads: Charlotte English, Michaela Pignotti, Charlotte Casey

For more information or to report a concern, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Olivia Dixon, or one of our Deputy Safeguarding Leads.