If a child is in danger now

Call 999. Then tell our Designated Safeguarding Lead as soon as you can.

If you are worried about a child and can’t reach us, contact the children’s social care team of the council where the child lives, or the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. Children and young people can call Childline free on 0800 1111.

Our commitment

The London Tamil Sangam runs Tamil classes and activities for children and young people. Their safety and wellbeing come first in everything we do. Every child has the right to be protected from harm, whatever their age, disability, gender, race, religion or background.

This policy applies to all our trustees, staff, teachers and volunteers, at every branch, in person and online.

Designated Safeguarding Lead

The trustees appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and a deputy, who receive safeguarding training and are the first point of contact for any concern. Each branch’s team knows how to reach them. You can reach them through our Contact page — mark your message “Safeguarding”.

Safer recruitment

Everyone who teaches or regularly works with children for us has an enhanced DBS check, references and safeguarding training before they start, and refreshes that training regularly.

Adults are not left alone with a child where they can’t be seen, and classes have enough adults for the age and number of children.

Raising a concern

Anyone — a child, parent, teacher or visitor — can raise a concern. Tell the DSL, your branch’s School Lead or Head Teacher, or any member of staff, who will pass it to the DSL the same day.

We listen, write down what we were told, and act. Where a child may be at risk, we refer to the local authority’s children’s social care or the police. We share information only with those who need it to keep the child safe.

A concern about a member of staff or volunteer goes to the DSL (or to a trustee if it is about the DSL), and is reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) where required.

Online classes and the website

Only the students enrolled in an online class, and their teachers, can join it. Teachers contact students and families only through LTS channels, never through personal social media or private accounts, and a parent or guardian gets copies of messages to learners under 18.

We only publish photos of children with consent, and never with their full name.

Medical needs and emergencies

Parents tell us about medical conditions and allergies when they register, and consent to emergency treatment if they can’t be reached. Only the staff who need this information can see it.

Speaking up

Staff and volunteers who are worried about how a concern has been handled should tell a trustee. They can also contact the NSPCC whistleblowing advice line on 0800 028 0285. No one will be treated unfairly for raising a concern in good faith.

Review

The trustees review this policy every year, and after any serious incident or change in the law.