Last Updated: September 2025
1. Introduction
1.1 As an online provider of education which is accessible from around the world, Wolsey Hall is committed to ensuring safeguarding and safe working practice is at the heart of what we do. Wolsey Hall aims to provide a high quality and safe learning experience. Wolsey Hall is committed to responding appropriately to any safeguarding concerns.
1.2 Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as “Protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development; ensuring that 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” (“Keeping Children Safe in Education” 2023).
1.3 Students with Wolsey Hall include students learning in an educational establishment who are using Wolsey Hall for Schools services, as directed and administered within the educational setting.
1.4 All children have an absolute right to a childhood which is free from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The welfare and protection of the students we work with is of paramount consideration.
1.5 This policy reflects the statutory guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023.
2. Roles and Responsibilities
2.1 All adults involved in Wolsey Hall’s activities and who come into contact with children have a duty of care to safeguard and promote their welfare.
2.2 Wolsey Hall will ensure that all adults who work with our students are competent, confident and safe to do so.
2.3 Staff supporting students in their schools are responsible for reporting safeguarding concerns, following the policies and procedures laid out in their workplace, to their Designated Safeguarding Lead.
2.4 Academic staff working for Wolsey Hall are responsible for their own actions and behaviour. They should avoid any conduct that would lead a reasonable person to question their motivation or intention.
2.5 Academic staff involved in Wolsey Hall’s activities must follow our Safeguarding policies and processes.
2.6 Academic must also be familiar with the steps to be taken in the event of becoming aware of, suspecting, or receiving allegations of abuse or neglect.
2.7 All academic staff are required to undertake safeguarding training at least every 3 years.
2.8 The Designated Safeguarding Lead and Heads of School will work together to ensure this policy, and procedures are adhered to.
2.9 Wolsey Hall has a Designated Safeguarding Lead to:
- Act as the main point of contact between Wolsey Hall and partner schools for safeguarding matters regarding Wolsey Hall academic staff
- Act as the main point of contact in the event of any allegation or disclosure to Wolsey Hall academic staff
- Provide best practice guidance
- Ensure that appropriate action is taken should a concern arise
In the event of an allegation, concerns of a safeguarding nature, or where a member of Wolsey Hall staff fails to comply with Safeguarding, this information must be passed immediately to Wolsey Hall’s Designated Safeguarding Lead for investigation and action.
3. Working with Schools
3.1 Each school will have their own safeguarding policy and a Designated Safeguarding Lead. The Wolsey Hall DSL will refer any relevant concerns to the school’s DSL and provide feedback to Wolsey Hall staff according to our policy. We will, in all cases, make every effort to enact a referral, to record and track progress with this referral in the normal ways articulated in this policy.
3.2 Wolsey Hall’s Referral Process
In the first instance, we would endeavour to contact the relevant DSL to discuss the case concerned.
The intention will be to:
- Make known our safeguarding concerns in the usual manner, establishing that data protection requirements and confidentiality arrangements will need to apply
- Record any communication between ourselves and the DSL
- Request information on the intended response the DSL will make in respect of our referral and how we will be contacted to establish an update
- Keep the usual records about the case, including any witness statements gathered and to monitor, at regular intervals, progress with the case
3.3 School’s Referral Process
If a member of staff at the school where the student is based has a safeguarding concern involving a Wolsey Hall academic member of staff, the policy should be followed in the normal way. All concerns should be reported to the DSL using the Cause for Concern Form.
4. Record Keeping, Confidentiality and Information Sharing
4.1 Staff from Wolsey Hall will keep clear detailed records of concerns about students (noting the date, event and action taken).
4.2 Any safeguarding concerns falling under this policy will be treated with sensitivity and appropriate levels of confidentiality in line with GDPR and information sharing guidance.
5. Other Information
5.1 Wolsey Hall is under a statutory duty to have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism of any form. If there is a reason to believe that a student may be at risk of being drawn into terrorism, action taken will be in line with the UK Prevent strategy, in line with this policy and following normal safeguarding procedures.
5.2 All staff at Wolsey Hall must comply with this policy, and undertake to comply with the following:
- Act in accordance with this policy and procedures
- Remember that someone else might misinterpret your actions, no matter how well intentioned. A clear purpose and transparency to all work undertaken is of paramount importance.
- Be aware that social networking sites are in the public domain if not protected by privacy settings. Staff should strongly consider strengthening any privacy settings so that young people would not be able to access information which you would not want in the public domain.
- Communication with students must always be via Wolsey Hall official accounts and must be for work related purposes.
- No images in any format will be circulated or stored involving students under 18 without the explicit written informed consent of those involved and their parents / guardians / carers.
- Raise any questions or concerns with the relevant Wolsey Hall Head of School or Designated Safeguarding Lead as they arise.
