Not in the Textbooks
Last updated: 30 October 2026
1. Our commitment
Not in the Textbooks is committed to providing a safe, respectful and supportive online learning environment for all students, including children and young people under the age of 18.
We recognise our responsibility to take reasonable steps to protect students from harm, inappropriate conduct, exploitation, bullying and other safeguarding risks.
The welfare and safety of students must take priority over business or lesson arrangements.
2. Scope
This policy applies to online lessons, educational activities, communications and other interactions connected with Not in the Textbooks.
It applies to the business operator, Charlotte Jones, and to any other person who may be authorised to work with students in the future.
3. Safe online learning
We aim to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and safe communication practices.
These include:
- Using agreed communication channels for lesson-related contact.
- Keeping communication relevant to the student’s education and wellbeing.
- Treating students with dignity, fairness and respect.
- Not tolerating bullying, harassment, discrimination or abusive behaviour.
- Avoiding inappropriate personal conversations or requests.
- Taking reasonable steps to ensure online lessons take place in an appropriate learning environment.
- Communicating with parents or legal guardians where appropriate, particularly when arranging lessons or addressing concerns involving younger students.
Students should not be asked to share unnecessary personal information, private images, passwords or sensitive details.
4. Responsibilities of parents and guardians
Parents and legal guardians are encouraged to remain appropriately involved in a child’s online education.
They should:
- Provide accurate contact information.
- Make us aware of relevant safeguarding concerns that may affect the student’s participation.
- Help ensure that the student has an appropriate environment for online lessons.
- Contact us if they have concerns about a student’s safety or wellbeing during activities connected with our services.
The level of parental involvement will take account of the student’s age, maturity and applicable privacy requirements.
5. Recognising safeguarding concerns
A safeguarding concern may include, but is not limited to:
- A disclosure of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
- Signs that a student may be at risk of harm.
- Bullying, harassment or threatening behaviour.
- Inappropriate contact or conduct by another person.
- A student expressing fear, distress or concern about their safety.
- A concern about the use or sharing of images or personal information.
A concern does not need to be proven before it is taken seriously.
6. Responding to a disclosure or concern
If a student shares information that suggests they may be at risk:
- We will listen calmly and take the concern seriously.
- We will not promise to keep information secret where a person may be at risk of harm.
- We will avoid asking leading or investigative questions.
- We will make a factual record of the concern, including relevant dates and details.
- We will consider what immediate action is necessary to protect the student.
- Where appropriate, we will contact a parent or legal guardian, unless doing so could increase the risk to the student.
- Where necessary, we will contact an appropriate safeguarding service, child protection authority or emergency service in the relevant location.
We will share information only where appropriate and necessary to protect the student or meet legal obligations.
7. Confidentiality and record keeping
Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and stored securely.
Access will be restricted to those who need the information to respond to the concern.
Records will be factual, relevant and proportionate. They will be retained only for as long as necessary, taking account of safeguarding needs and legal obligations.
8. Online conduct and inappropriate behaviour
We reserve the right to pause or end a lesson or other interaction where behaviour creates a safeguarding concern or makes the learning environment unsafe.
Where appropriate, we may inform a parent or legal guardian and take further steps to protect the student.
9. Reporting a concern
Students, parents, guardians and other individuals can raise a safeguarding concern by contacting:
Charlotte Jones
Not in the Textbooks
Email: notinthetextbooks@gmail.com
If someone is in immediate danger, they should contact the emergency services in their location rather than waiting for an email response.
10. Review
This policy will be reviewed periodically and updated when necessary to reflect changes in our services, safeguarding responsibilities or applicable law.
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026