Safeguarding Policy

At Engineering for Kids Chelmsford, the safety and wellbeing of every child in our care is our top priority. This page sets out our Classroom Protocols Safeguarding Policy – the structural guidelines every member of our team follows to keep sessions safe and to help us spot any inappropriate behaviour or interactions early.

Classroom Protocols

The monitoring and supervision of the classroom and activities is important for safeguarding our students as well as our employees. Below are structural guidelines for employees and children so that inappropriate behaviour and interactions can be detected.

• All students need to be signed in and out by the responsible guardian of the child/children.
• Every programme must have established ratios for adults to children. Compliance with the established ratio is required at all times.
• Employees are prohibited from being alone with a child, or in a place where other adults cannot easily observe them, at all times.
• Employees are not to assist or accompany students to the restroom alone for any reason.
• Employees are not permitted to develop new activities for children without approval from the curriculum staff. Requests to develop new activities must be submitted in writing.
• Employees are never to be abusive, verbally or physically, to any child.
• Employees will respond to children with respect, consideration and equal treatment, in line with the Engineering for Kids values.
• Employees will portray a positive role model for children by maintaining an attitude of respect, patience and maturity.
• Employees are prohibited from using physical punishment in any way for behaviour management. This includes any type of mechanical restraint, such as tape or rope.
• In the event that an employee observes any inappropriate behaviour or possible policy violation, the employee agrees to immediately report their observations to their supervisor.
• All employees will have read the Engineering for Kids Teacher Handbook, covering protocols in depth, including first aid and reporting of incidents.

Managing Disruptive (Non-Safeguarding) Behaviour

Repeated or escalating behaviour that disrupts a class or distracts other children (for example, inappropriate language or ongoing distraction) is separate from the safeguarding reporting duty above, which always applies immediately regardless of this section.

• Instructors log every such incident on our internal system on the same day it happens, including what occurred, who was involved, and what was said or done.
• Using their own judgement, the instructor also flags the issue directly to management – not just logs it – as soon as they judge it is more than a one-off, or that it is affecting other children’s experience of the session.
• Instructors do not approach a parent themselves to raise a behaviour concern. Management contacts the parent directly, generally the same day the issue is flagged, to discuss it and agree next steps.

Gary Wallsh
Managing Director
Engineering For Kids – Chelmsford

Questions about this policy, or a safeguarding concern you would like to raise? Please contact us at info@engineeringforkids-chelmsford.co.uk.