Child Safeguarding Policy

Our Commitment to Child Safety

MyEdSpace is committed to creating and maintaining a safe, supportive, and respectful learning environment for every student we serve. The wellbeing of children and young people is at the heart of everything we do. We recognize that students who feel safe are better able to engage, learn, and thrive — and we take our responsibility to protect that safety seriously.

This policy applies to all MyEdSpace instructors, staff, contractors, and any individual who interacts with students through our platform. It covers all live online classes, one-on-one sessions, and any communication that takes place within the MyEdSpace ecosystem.

Designated Safeguarding Lead

MyEdSpace has appointed a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) who is responsible for overseeing the implementation of this policy, handling all safeguarding concerns, and ensuring that our practices remain current with applicable federal and state child protection standards. The DSL serves as the primary point of contact for any safeguarding matter and is trained to respond to disclosures and concerns with appropriate care and urgency.

Any concerns about a child's welfare should be reported promptly to our safeguarding team at safeguarding@myedspace.com. All reports are treated with confidentiality and handled in accordance with this policy.

Mandatory Reporting Obligations

All MyEdSpace instructors and staff are aware that many US states designate educators as mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect. Where an instructor or staff member has reasonable cause to believe that a child is being abused or neglected — whether that abuse is physical, emotional, sexual, or through neglect — they are legally and ethically obligated to report that concern to the appropriate state child protective services agency or law enforcement authority, in addition to notifying our internal Designated Safeguarding Lead.

MyEdSpace supports all personnel in fulfilling their mandatory reporting duties without fear of retaliation. We will never discourage or delay a legally required report. Where relevant, we will assist staff in understanding the reporting procedures for the specific state in which a student is located.

Title IX Awareness

MyEdSpace is aware of its obligations under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex-based discrimination and harassment in educational programs. Any report of sexual misconduct, harassment, or inappropriate conduct involving a student will be taken seriously and addressed promptly. Where Title IX obligations may be triggered, MyEdSpace will consult with appropriate legal counsel to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and to protect the student involved.

Students and parents who believe they have experienced or witnessed conduct that may constitute sexual harassment or discrimination are encouraged to contact us at safeguarding@myedspace.com or to report directly to their relevant local educational authority.

Safe Online Classroom Practices

All live classes at MyEdSpace are conducted over a secure, managed video platform. Sessions may be recorded for the purposes of quality assurance, student review, and safeguarding. Recordings are stored securely and are accessible only to authorised MyEdSpace personnel and, where appropriate, to the student's parent or guardian upon request.

Instructors are required to maintain professional boundaries at all times. Personal contact information — including personal phone numbers, personal email addresses, or social media accounts — must never be exchanged between instructors and students outside the MyEdSpace platform. All communication between instructors and students must take place through official MyEdSpace channels.

One-on-one sessions between an instructor and a minor take place within the monitored MyEdSpace environment. Where a parent or guardian wishes to observe a session, they are welcome to do so. We encourage parents and guardians to remain nearby during live classes, particularly for younger students.

Instructor and Staff Vetting

MyEdSpace conducts thorough background checks on all instructors and staff who work directly with students before they begin teaching. This process includes criminal background screening appropriate to the role and the student population served. We verify relevant credentials and references, and we require all instructors to complete safeguarding awareness training before they lead any class.

Safeguarding training is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current best practices and any changes in applicable law. We maintain records of all vetting and training for the duration of an instructor's engagement with MyEdSpace and beyond, in accordance with data protection requirements.

Recognising and Responding to Concerns

A safeguarding concern may arise from something a student says during or after a class, from a change in a student's behaviour, or from something an instructor, parent, or student witnesses or suspects. Concerns do not need to be confirmed or proven before they are reported — if something feels wrong, we ask that it be raised promptly.

When a concern is raised, our Designated Safeguarding Lead will assess the situation, document the information received, and determine the appropriate course of action. This may include contacting the student's parent or guardian, liaising with external authorities, or taking immediate protective action. We act in the best interests of the child at every stage of the process.

Reporting a Concern

If you have a concern about a child's safety or welfare — whether you are a student, parent, instructor, or member of the public — please contact our safeguarding team directly:

Email: safeguarding@myedspace.com

All concerns will be acknowledged promptly and handled with care, discretion, and urgency. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services (911) or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 without delay.

Policy Review

This policy is reviewed at least annually by the Designated Safeguarding Lead and senior leadership at MyEdSpace. It is updated as required to reflect changes in legislation, regulation, or best practice. All instructors and staff are informed of updates to this policy as they occur.