This page is an operational summary of NSEMM's approach to child protection and student welfare. For the full policy detail, visit the canonical Student Welfare and Protection Policy.
Student welfare encompasses physical safety, emotional wellbeing, educational development, and protection from harm of any kind. This summary applies to all educational activities, whether delivered online or in-person, and covers all staff, volunteers, and contractors who have contact with students.
All concerns must be logged in NSEMM Protect regardless of threshold; the DSL triages.
NSEMM draws on the following legislation and guidance to inform its practice:
KCSIE (Keeping Children Safe in Education) 2025 is statutory for schools and colleges. NSEMM is not a school, so KCSIE does not bind us directly; however, it represents sector best practice and informs our training and procedures.
DfE out-of-school settings (OOSS) guidance -- Keeping children safe during community activities, after-school clubs and tuition (updated 9 February 2026) is the primary non-statutory guidance directly relevant to NSEMM's operating model. We align our practice with it.
Safer recruitment -- all staff and volunteers undergo enhanced DBS checks under Police Act 1997 s.113BA and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
Children may be at increased risk due to age, circumstance, or educational need -- for example younger students, those experiencing family difficulties or trauma, students with special educational needs or disabilities, those who are socially isolated, or those experiencing academic stress. Full detail is in the canonical policy.
Context shapes risk. NSEMM considers:
Physical, emotional, educational, and social indicators are detailed in the canonical policy. In brief: look for unexplained changes -- in mood, appearance, attendance, engagement, or behaviour. Trust professional instinct.
All concerns -- regardless of whether they meet the threshold for external referral -- must be logged in NSEMM Protect. The DSL triages every entry and decides the appropriate response.
Do not filter concerns before logging them. The DSL makes threshold decisions, not individual staff.
For immediate danger: call 999 first.
For safeguarding referrals to children's social care: contact the relevant Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).
For DSL consultation: the NSPCC Helpline (0808 800 5000) is available for professional consultation and advice, including out of hours.
For concerns about staff conduct: contact the LADO.
Contact the DSL: dsl@nsemm.org.uk
Full procedures are in the canonical policy.
NSEMM works with families, schools, health services, social care, and voluntary sector organisations to support student welfare. Information sharing follows UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, with consent recorded where required and protection overriding consent where a child is at risk. Full partnership protocols are in the canonical policy.
Online learning, students with disabilities, students with mental health needs, young carers, students with English as an additional language, and students in care each present distinct considerations. These are addressed in detail in the canonical policy.
All staff receive annual safeguarding training. Records are maintained in NSEMM Protect, held securely, and retained in line with the canonical policy and UK GDPR obligations.
| Role | Contact |
|---|---|
| DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) | Adrian Angol-Henry -- dsl@nsemm.org.uk |
| DDSL (Deputy DSL) | Socks Ansell -- sansell@nsemm.org.uk |
| NSPCC Helpline (professional consultation) | 0808 800 5000 |
| Report a concern (NSEMM Protect) | protect.nsemm.org.uk/report-concern |
| Emergency | 999 |
| Website contact | nsemm.org.uk/contact |
Full policy: Student Welfare and Protection Policy