Safeguarding at SoloCogs

Every student who comes here is safe here.

Safeguarding isn't a policy document on a shelf - it's a daily practice. This page explains what we do, why we do it, and what it means for your child when they work with us.

Qualification
DSL Trained - Designated Safeguarding Lead
Teaching
Qualified Teacher (QTS) - SEND Specialist
Our commitment

What safeguarding looks like here

We work with children and young people who may be carrying things they've never told anyone. We take that responsibility seriously - not just as a legal requirement, but as a fundamental part of what it means to be an educator.

DSL-trained leadership
Jazz holds Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) training and also serves as Safeguarding Officer for Fort Purbrook Company of Bowmen - a voluntary role she took on because safeguarding matters to her beyond the classroom. Every concern here is handled by someone qualified to recognise, record, and respond to it - not passed to a third party or left sitting in an inbox.
Regular wellbeing check-ins
Every time a student logs in, they complete a brief Zones of Regulation check-in - choosing a colour that reflects how they're feeling. This is not optional window-dressing. It gives us a consistent picture of each student's emotional baseline over time, and flags when something might be wrong.
Trained to notice patterns
A student who seems fine in a single session might not be. We monitor patterns across sessions - if a student is consistently reporting distress, even quietly, that triggers a review. Safeguarding concerns don't always announce themselves. We're trained to notice the ones that don't.
A genuinely safe space
Students are told - clearly, regularly, and without drama - that if something is worrying them they can say so. Our check-ins include a private notes space. Students are never pressured to share anything, but when they do, it is taken seriously and acted on appropriately.
Secure data handling
Student data - including wellbeing check-ins - is stored securely and is never shared with third parties. Only the student's tutor can see their check-in data. No advertising, no data profiling, no exceptions.
Clear records and procedures
Every concern - however small - is recorded. We follow established safeguarding procedures and know when and how to refer to external services if needed. Safeguarding is not handled informally here.
Wellbeing tool

The Zones of Regulation

Every session begins with a Zones of Regulation check-in. The Zones framework is a well-established approach to emotional self-regulation, used widely in schools and therapeutic settings. It gives young people a simple, non-threatening language to describe how they're feeling - and gives us an honest picture of where each student is before any learning begins.

Blue Zone
Low energy, sad, tired, withdrawn. Can signal low mood or distress that a student might not otherwise name.
Green Zone
Calm, happy, focused, ready to learn. The ideal state for engagement - but not always where students arrive.
Yellow Zone
Excited, anxious, worried, silly. Heightened but manageable - the content and pacing adjust accordingly.
Red Zone
Overwhelmed, angry, terrified, out of control. A student in the red zone needs care before they need curriculum.

Students can also leave a brief private note with their check-in - something worrying them, something they want their tutor to know. They're never required to write anything, but they always have the option. Those notes are read. They are always followed up.

Reporting concerns

If you or your child have a concern

You do not need to wait until something is serious to raise a concern. If something doesn't feel right, tell us. Early conversations are always better than late ones.

How to raise a safeguarding concern

If you are a parent or carer with a concern about your child's safety or wellbeing - or about anything related to their experience with SoloCogs - please contact us directly and promptly via the contact page. All concerns are treated seriously, recorded appropriately, and responded to without delay.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, please contact 999 or the NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000) first.

If you are a student and something is worrying you, you can write it in the notes section of your next check-in - or you can speak to a trusted adult. If you're not sure who that is, Childline (0800 1111) is always available, and everything you say is confidential.

"Safeguarding is not about assuming the worst - it's about making sure that if the worst is happening, someone is paying enough attention to notice, and knows what to do."

- Jazz, SoloCogs