1. Our commitment
Every child and adult at risk has the right to learn safely. Many of our students are young, and many have special educational needs such as ADHD or autism, which can make them more vulnerable. Everyone who works with us must put the student's welfare first and follow this policy. It is based on UK guidance including Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education.
2. Designated Safeguarding Lead
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is responsible for this policy, trains our teachers and handles every concern. You can contact the DSL directly by emailing admin@assafwaquran.co.uk with “Safeguarding” in the subject, or through our contact page.
3. Checking and training our teachers
- We check every teacher's ijazah and Tajweed certification before they teach.
- Every teacher is trained personally by us in teaching children with autism and ADHD, and in the safe-lesson rules in this policy.
- Lessons are recorded, so teaching can be reviewed at any time.
4. Safe online lessons
- Lessons take place only on our official Zoom accounts — never on teachers' personal accounts.
- Teachers contact families only through official academy channels and only with the parent or guardian, never privately with a child.
- Teachers must not connect with students on social media.
- Parents are always welcome to sit in on lessons. It is your choice — your child can also learn on their own, and every lesson is recorded.
- Teachers and students should be dressed appropriately and use a suitable, quiet background.
5. Lesson recordings
Every lesson is recorded to protect both students and teachers. Recordings are stored securely with restricted access, viewed only by the DSL or a senior manager if a concern is raised or a parent asks us to review a lesson, and deleted after 30 days unless needed for a concern. Lessons are also reviewed for teaching quality. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.
6. Students with SEN and additional needs
Students with special educational needs, ADHD or autism may communicate distress differently. Teachers are trained to notice changes in behaviour, to keep to agreed routines, and to tell the DSL about anything that worries them. We agree with parents in advance how lessons will be adapted and how to support the child if they become upset.
7. How to raise a concern
- Contact our DSL through the contact page about anything that worries you — a teacher's behaviour, something your child said, or anything else.
- If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
- You can get advice from the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. Children can call Childline on 0800 1111.
- Concerns about online abuse can be reported to CEOP.
- Outside the UK, contact your local police or child protection services.
8. Allegations against a teacher
If a concern is raised about a teacher, the DSL acts the same day. The teacher stops teaching while the concern is looked into, recordings are preserved, and — for UK cases — we refer to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), the police or the DBS where required. We tell parents what we can at each stage.
9. Reviewing this policy
We review this policy every year and whenever guidance changes or a concern shows that something should be done differently.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this policy, email admin@assafwaquran.co.uk, WhatsApp +44 7576 275779 or use our contact page.