Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy
SAFEGUARDING & CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
MINWOOD LANE COLLECTIVE LTD
Policy date: 15 November 2026
Review date: November 2027, or sooner where required
1. OUR SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENT
At Minwood Lane Collective, we believe every child and young person deserves to feel safe, respected, included and empowered to express their individuality.
Safeguarding is central to our approach to creative education and participation.
We are committed to protecting children and young people from abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination and harm, whether they participate online or in person.
We recognise that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and that children's welfare must remain our primary consideration.
We aim to create environments where children feel listened to, adults respond appropriately to concerns, and families understand how to seek help.
2. ABOUT THIS POLICY
This policy explains how Minwood Lane Collective Ltd approaches safeguarding and child protection across its activities.
It applies to:
Creative Studio — online creative projects and activities.
Home Ed Studio — online creative and cross-curricular learning.
Creative Plus — weekly in-person creative sessions.
RECONNECT — individually commissioned creative and educational programmes.
Studio Showcases, events and related activities.
Digital learning, communication and portfolio services delivered through MiniVox or other approved platforms.
It applies to employees, volunteers, contractors, visiting professionals and others acting on behalf of Minwood Lane Collective.
For safeguarding purposes, a child is anyone under 18.
Where we work with young adults aged 18 or over, we will consider any applicable adult safeguarding responsibilities.
3. LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE
Our safeguarding approach is informed by relevant legislation and guidance in England, including:
Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004.
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, where relevant to our activities and commissioning arrangements.
Education Act 2002, where applicable.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
Equality Act 2010.
Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.
Relevant statutory guidance concerning online safety, information sharing and safer recruitment.
We recognise that different legal requirements may apply depending on the nature of a particular programme.
Our safeguarding procedures will reflect the services delivered and any applicable statutory or contractual obligations.
4. SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES
Minwood Lane Collective Ltd retains overall organisational responsibility for safeguarding.
An appropriately trained safeguarding lead will be responsible for coordinating safeguarding arrangements, supporting staff and managing concerns.
Deputy arrangements will be established where appropriate to ensure safeguarding concerns can be addressed when the lead is unavailable.
Safeguarding responsibilities will be documented internally and communicated to everyone working with children.
All adults working on behalf of Minwood Lane Collective must understand their safeguarding responsibilities and follow the relevant procedures.
Safeguarding concerns must never be ignored or delayed because a particular staff member is unavailable.
5. RECOGNISING ABUSE AND HARM
We recognise that children may experience different forms of abuse or harm, including:
Physical abuse.
Emotional abuse.
Sexual abuse.
Neglect.
Domestic abuse and its effects on children.
Bullying and cyberbullying.
Child-on-child abuse.
Sexual harassment and harmful sexual behaviour.
Grooming and exploitation.
Criminal exploitation and county lines.
Online abuse and coercion.
Discrimination, racism and identity-based harassment.
Radicalisation and extremist exploitation.
Other forms of abuse or harmful practices.
Safeguarding concerns may arise through direct disclosure, observed behaviour, online interactions, information shared by families or concerns raised by other professionals.
We recognise that harm may occur inside or outside the family, in educational settings, within peer relationships or online.
6. RESPONDING TO SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS
Anyone who becomes concerned about a child's safety or welfare must take the concern seriously.
Where a child makes a disclosure, the adult receiving it should:
Listen calmly and carefully.
Take the child seriously.
Avoid expressing shock or disbelief.
Reassure the child that speaking up was the right thing to do.
Avoid promising secrecy.
Avoid leading questions or investigating the allegation themselves.
Explain, in an age-appropriate way, that information may need to be shared to keep them safe.
Record the child's words as accurately as possible.
Report the concern promptly through the safeguarding procedure.
Concerns must be recorded factually, including relevant dates, times, observations, disclosures and actions taken.
Staff must not independently investigate suspected abuse.
7. REPORTING AND REFERRALS
Safeguarding concerns should be reported promptly to the designated safeguarding lead or the person responsible for safeguarding at the time.
Where a child is at immediate risk of serious harm, emergency services must be contacted by calling 999.
Where there are concerns that a child may be suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, a referral should be made to the relevant local authority children's social care service.
Where appropriate, concerns may also be shared with the police or other statutory safeguarding agencies.
Parental consent is not required before sharing information where doing so is necessary and lawful to protect a child.
Where informing a parent or carer could increase risk, advice should be sought from the relevant safeguarding agency before doing so.
Safeguarding concerns can be raised with Minwood Lane Collective at:
This email address is not an emergency reporting service and may not be monitored continuously.
Anyone concerned about immediate danger should contact emergency services directly.
8. SAFER RECRUITMENT AND SUITABILITY
Minwood Lane Collective is committed to ensuring that individuals working with children are suitable for their roles.
Recruitment and engagement procedures will include checks proportionate to the role and its responsibilities.
These may include:
Identity verification.
Employment or professional references.
Relevant qualification checks.
Appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service checks, including barred-list checks where legally eligible and required.
Verification of relevant safeguarding training.
Clear expectations regarding professional conduct.
Volunteers, contractors and visiting professionals will be subject to appropriate safeguarding arrangements.
No individual will be permitted to undertake regulated activity with children where they are legally barred from doing so.
9. PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES AND CONDUCT
Adults working with children must maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
This includes:
Treating children with dignity and respect.
Using appropriate language and behaviour.
Avoiding favouritism and inappropriate personal relationships.
Following agreed supervision arrangements.
Avoiding unauthorised private communication with children.
Not sharing personal contact details or private social media accounts with children.
Using approved communication systems.
Reporting concerns about another adult's conduct.
Physical contact must be appropriate, necessary and respectful of the child's needs and circumstances.
Any intervention required to prevent immediate harm must be lawful, proportionate and recorded appropriately.
10. ONLINE SAFEGUARDING
Online safety is an essential part of our safeguarding approach.
Minwood Lane Collective uses digital platforms to provide creative projects, educational activities, feedback and portfolios.
We recognise that online environments may present risks, including inappropriate content, unwanted contact, bullying, grooming, exploitation and misuse of personal information.
We will take proportionate steps to promote safe digital participation.
These include:
Clear expectations for online behaviour.
Appropriate supervision and moderation.
Privacy-conscious account arrangements.
Procedures for reporting inappropriate content or communication.
Restrictions on unauthorised sharing of personal information.
Appropriate oversight of staff-to-child communication.
Age-appropriate guidance for children and families.
Parents and carers are encouraged to support children in developing safe online habits.
11. MINIVOX AND DIGITAL LEARNING
MiniVox is used to provide access to digital projects, submissions, feedback and portfolios.
Children may have individual accounts, with parent or carer access arrangements as appropriate.
Children's submitted work will be private by default within Minwood Lane Collective's learning arrangements.
A child may choose to share work within their designated community, subject to appropriate permissions and platform arrangements.
Children will not be required to share their work publicly to participate in a programme.
Concerns arising through MiniVox will be managed under Minwood Lane Collective's safeguarding procedures and, where relevant, reported to the platform provider.
We will review available platform safety features and configure them appropriately before enabling relevant activities.
12. CHILDREN'S WORK AND STUDIO SHOWCASES
We celebrate children's creativity while respecting their privacy, dignity and right to make choices about sharing their work.
Studio Showcases may offer different levels of sharing:
Community sharing: Work is shared within the child's own designated community.
Private showcase: Work is shared with an approved audience, such as members or invited families.
Public showcase: Work may be shared through approved public channels, including the Minwood Lane Collective website, social media or YouTube.
Sharing is optional.
Wider sharing requires the child's agreement and appropriate parent or carer permission.
Permission will be specific to the proposed use.
Children will not be disadvantaged if they decline to participate in promotional or public sharing.
We will take additional care where creative work includes identifiable photographs, voices, personal information or sensitive experiences.
13. PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
Photography and video may be used to document creative activities, celebrate achievements or support approved promotional activities.
Images and recordings of identifiable children will not be published for promotional purposes without appropriate permission.
We will consider safeguarding risks before publishing images, recordings or identifying information.
Where appropriate, identifying details will be limited or removed.
Families may raise concerns about previously granted permissions by contacting us.
Requests to withdraw permission will be considered promptly, taking account of legal obligations and the practical limitations of removing material already distributed.
14. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DIGITAL TOOLS
Minwood Lane Collective recognises that artificial intelligence may provide opportunities for creative learning.
We also recognise the potential safeguarding, privacy and accuracy risks associated with AI-enabled services.
AI tools will not automatically be introduced into children's activities.
Before enabling an AI feature, we will assess its suitability, age restrictions, privacy arrangements, safeguarding risks and the level of adult oversight required.
Children's personal information, safeguarding disclosures or sensitive records must not be entered into unapproved AI systems.
AI-generated responses will not replace professional safeguarding judgement.
Where AI tools are used in activities, families and learners will receive appropriate information about their purpose and any relevant risks.
15. IN-PERSON CREATIVE PLUS SESSIONS
Creative Plus sessions will operate with safeguarding arrangements appropriate to the children's ages, needs and activities.
These arrangements will include:
Appropriate supervision.
Attendance and registration procedures.
Safe arrival and collection arrangements.
Emergency contact information.
Suitable staffing and risk assessments.
Procedures for responding to accidents and emergencies.
Consideration of medical, disability-related and additional support needs.
Clear reporting arrangements for safeguarding concerns.
Children will not be released to unauthorised individuals.
Any arrangements for independent arrival or departure must be agreed appropriately with parents or carers, taking account of the child's age, circumstances and safety.
16. RECONNECT AND COMMISSIONED PROGRAMMES
RECONNECT and other commissioned programmes may involve children who require additional educational, emotional or social support.
Safeguarding arrangements will reflect the individual programme and any relevant commissioning agreement.
Where appropriate, we will work with parents, carers, referring professionals and statutory agencies to understand the child's needs and relevant risks.
Information sharing will be proportionate, lawful and focused on safeguarding and supporting the child.
Individual safeguarding and risk-management arrangements may be required before participation.
17. INCLUSION, SEND AND ADDITIONAL NEEDS
Minwood Lane Collective is committed to inclusive and anti-discriminatory practice.
We recognise that children with disabilities, special educational needs, communication differences or additional vulnerabilities may face increased barriers to reporting harm or seeking support.
We will consider individual communication preferences, accessibility requirements and reasonable adjustments.
Children will not be assumed to lack understanding or capacity simply because they communicate differently.
We will listen to children and take their experiences seriously.
Behaviour that may indicate distress, unmet needs or safeguarding concerns will be considered sensitively and in context.
18. BULLYING AND CHILD-ON-CHILD ABUSE
Bullying, harassment, discrimination and child-on-child abuse are not acceptable.
We recognise that harmful behaviour may occur in person or online.
Concerns will be taken seriously and responded to in a way that protects those affected.
We will consider the needs and welfare of all children involved, while ensuring harmful behaviour is not dismissed as ordinary conflict or banter.
Serious incidents will be referred to appropriate safeguarding agencies where required.
19. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST STAFF, VOLUNTEERS OR CONTRACTORS
Concerns about adults working on behalf of Minwood Lane Collective will be taken seriously.
Where an allegation indicates that an adult may have harmed a child, committed an offence against a child or presents a risk of harm, the matter will be handled through the appropriate safeguarding and allegations procedure.
Where the relevant threshold is met, advice or referral will be sought from the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or other appropriate statutory agency.
We will not conduct an internal investigation that could compromise a statutory safeguarding investigation.
Where required, referrals will be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service or other relevant bodies.
Concerns about the person ordinarily responsible for safeguarding must be reported through an alternative senior management or external safeguarding route.
20. WHISTLEBLOWING
We encourage staff, volunteers and contractors to raise concerns about unsafe practice, safeguarding failures or inappropriate conduct.
Concerns will be taken seriously and handled appropriately.
No individual should be discouraged from reporting a genuine safeguarding concern.
Where internal reporting is inappropriate or ineffective, concerns may be raised directly with relevant statutory agencies.
21. INFORMATION SHARING AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and shared only where there is an appropriate lawful basis and safeguarding purpose.
Information may be shared with children's social care, police, healthcare professionals, commissioners or other relevant agencies where necessary and lawful.
Confidentiality must never be used as a reason to withhold information where sharing is necessary to protect a child.
Safeguarding records will be kept securely, with access restricted to authorised individuals.
Our wider handling of personal information is explained in our Privacy Policy.
22. RECORD KEEPING
Safeguarding concerns, disclosures, decisions, referrals and actions will be recorded accurately and promptly.
Records will distinguish factual information from professional opinion.
They will be stored securely and retained in accordance with applicable legal requirements and the nature of the records.
Safeguarding records will not automatically be deleted under the general retention arrangements applying to ordinary enquiries or digital portfolios.
23. TRAINING AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Adults working with children will receive safeguarding information and training appropriate to their responsibilities.
Training and procedures will be reviewed as necessary to reflect changes in guidance, legislation, service delivery and identified risks.
We will use safeguarding learning, feedback and relevant incidents to improve our practice.
24. WORKING WITH PARENTS AND CARERS
We recognise the importance of working constructively with parents and carers.
Families will be encouraged to share information that helps us support their child's participation and safety.
We will communicate relevant safeguarding expectations and procedures clearly.
Where a safeguarding concern arises, parents and carers will ordinarily be involved unless doing so could increase risk or compromise an investigation.
25. RAISING A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN
If you have a safeguarding concern relating to Minwood Lane Collective, please contact:
Email: hello@minwoodlane.co.uk
Subject: Safeguarding Concern — Confidential
Please provide sufficient information for the concern to be understood and assessed. Avoid sending unnecessary sensitive documents through ordinary email.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
For concerns requiring urgent safeguarding action, contact the relevant local authority children's social care service or police directly.
Children and young people may also contact Childline on 0800 1111.
26. POLICY REVIEW
This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner where legislation, safeguarding guidance, operational arrangements or significant incidents require it.
Associated internal procedures will be maintained to support the practical implementation of this policy.
27. COMPANY INFORMATION
Minwood Lane Collective Ltd
Company Registration Number: 17577197
Registered Office:
1711 High Street
Knowle
Solihull
B93 0LN
United Kingdom
Email: hello@minwoodlane.co.uk
Website: www.minwoodlane.co.uk
Policy date: 15 November 2026
Next scheduled review: November 2027