Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

1. Purpose

QNS ACADEMY LONDON LTD trading as QnS Academy London is deeply committed to safeguarding, protecting, and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Every child has an absolute right to learn in a safe, respectful, and secure digital environment. This policy has been developed in accordance with the Children Act 1989/2004, the "Working Together to Safeguard Children" statutory guidance, and general child welfare frameworks within England and Wales.

2. Scope

This policy applies universally to all QNS Academy London classes, virtual programmes, online lessons, interactive communications, digital channels, staff, teachers, volunteers, students, parents, and legal guardians. For the purpose of this policy, a child or minor refers to anyone under the age of 18.

3. Safeguarding commitment

• We take proactive and reasonable steps to protect children from harm, abuse, neglect, cyberbullying, and exploitation.
• We enforce professional digital boundaries between adults and minors.
• We respond seriously, consistently, and promptly to any concerns raised by students, parents, or staff.
• We keep safeguarding information confidential in accordance with our Privacy Policy and share it only on a need-to-know basis or where disclosure is necessary to protect a child, comply with legal obligations, or cooperate with statutory authorities, unless sharing with statutory bodies is necessary to protect a child at risk.

4. Designated Safeguarding Lead

QNS Academy London maintains an appointed Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) responsible for receiving safeguarding concerns, maintaining secure internal incident logs, supporting teaching staff, and referring serious concerns externally to local authorities when required.

DSL Contact: Dr Abdus Salam Azadi. Email: dr.azadi@theqnsacademy.com.

If the DSL is unavailable, concerns may also be reported to info@theqnsacademy.com.

5. Types of concern

• Physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect.
• Bullying, cyberbullying, grooming or inappropriate contact.
• Radicalisation or extremist influence.
• Domestic abuse affecting a child.
• Self-harm or serious wellbeing concerns.
• Unsafe private communication between adults and children.

6. Reporting concerns

Anyone with a safeguarding concern should contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead as soon as possible. If a child is in immediate danger, emergency services should be contacted immediately. Staff and teachers must not investigate safeguarding concerns themselves.

7. Professional boundaries

• Do not contact children through personal social media accounts.
• Avoid unnecessary private one-to-one communication with children.
• Do not request personal images or private information from students.
• Do not arrange private meetings outside approved QnS Academy London channels.
• Use respectful, professional and appropriate language at all times.

8. Online classes

Children's online lessons should take place through approved platforms. Parents or guardians should be aware of lesson times. Lesson links must not be shared publicly. Any concerns during online lessons should be reported promptly.

9. Safer recruitment

QnS Academy London aims to take reasonable steps to ensure that teachers, staff and volunteers working with children are suitable for their role. This may include identity verification, references, interviews, safeguarding training requirements, and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where appropriate and legally permissible.

10. Parents and Guardians

Parents and guardians play an important role in supporting children's safety during online learning. They should ensure that enrolment information is accurate, supervise children where appropriate, and report any safeguarding concerns to QnS Academy London promptly.

11. Online Safety and Digital Conduct

Students should not share lesson links, passwords, personal contact information, or private messages with unauthorised individuals. Any inappropriate online behaviour, harassment, cyberbullying, or misuse of learning platforms may result in suspension or removal from programmes.

12. Safeguarding Records

QnS Academy London maintains secure records of safeguarding concerns, actions taken, and referrals made. Records are retained only for as long as reasonably necessary and may be retained longer where safeguarding obligations require.

13. Policy Review

QnS Academy London may review and update this Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy periodically to reflect legal, operational, safeguarding, or educational developments. The latest version will be published on the academy website.