Safeguarding and child protection policy
Last Review Date
September 2026
Next Review Date
September 2027
1. Safeguarding Statement
NXT Level Sport & Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
Every child has the right to feel safe, supported and protected from harm. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and must be embedded in every NXT Level activity, school partnership, programme and community letting.
NXT Level operates primarily within schools and community facilities. When operating on a school site, this policy works alongside the host school's safeguarding and child protection arrangements.
NXT Level personnel and relevant hirers must follow the host school's safeguarding procedures, including its reporting and escalation arrangements.
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
NXT Level employees and workers, including Community Connectors and lettings staff
Sports coaches, teachers, activity leaders and programme staff
Office staff, managers and senior leaders
Contractors, consultants, volunteers and partners working for or on behalf of NXT Level
Organisations and individuals hiring facilities managed by NXT Level
Children, young people and, where relevant, adults at risk participating in or attending NXT Level activities
3. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to:
Protect children and young people from harm
Set clear safeguarding expectations for NXT Level personnel and hirers
Ensure concerns are identified, recorded, reported and escalated promptly
Establish robust safer recruitment, induction and ongoing compliance standards
Ensure partner schools receive appropriate safeguarding assurance
Promote a culture in which safeguarding concerns, including low-level concerns, can be raised without delay
4. Key Guidance and Legal Framework
NXT Level will keep this policy under review against current legislation and statutory or sector guidance.
The principal guidance and legislation informing this policy includes:
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026
Department for Education guidance for providers of out-of-school settings
Current Disclosure and Barring Service guidance on DBS eligibility and regulated activity
Children Act 1989
Children Act 2004
Children and Social Work Act 2017
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and relevant amendments
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
Equality Act 2010
Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
Prevent duty requirements
Other applicable safeguarding legislation and guidance
Where legislation or statutory guidance changes, NXT Level will apply the current requirements even if this policy has not yet reached its scheduled review date.
5. Safeguarding Leadership and Contacts
NXT Level appoints a Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
NXT Level Designated Safeguarding Lead
Oliver Beauchamp
olliebeauchamp@nxtlevelsportsed.co.uk
07837 944009
NXT Level Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Thomas Scott-Soundy
07788 150181
NXT Level Out of Hours Safeguarding
safeguarding@nxtlevelsportsed.co.uk
020 3011 3530
NSPCC Helpline
0800 800 5000
Local Authority Designated Officer and Children's Social Care contact details vary according to the local authority in which NXT Level is operating and will be identified as required.
If a child is in immediate danger, emergency services must be contacted on 999 without delay.
6. Safer Recruitment and Staff Compliance
NXT Level applies safer recruitment principles to roles involving children, school environments or safeguarding responsibility.
No person may be deployed into child-facing or school-based duties until NXT Level is satisfied that all checks, training and induction requirements applicable to their role have been completed.
6.1 Pre-Employment and Recruitment Checks
Depending on the role, NXT Level's safer recruitment process includes:
A clear role description identifying safeguarding responsibilities
A structured application and interview process
Safeguarding questions as part of the interview process
Identity verification
Right to Work verification
Review of employment and education history
Exploration of relevant gaps in employment or education
Appropriate references, including safeguarding and suitability questions where relevant
Verification of relevant qualifications, licences, first aid or coaching credentials
Appropriate DBS checks based upon the legal eligibility of the role
Children's Barred List checks where the role constitutes regulated activity and such a check is legally permitted or required
Additional overseas checks or evidence of suitability where appropriate and reasonably obtainable
Relevant self-declarations where lawful and appropriate
Online or publicly available information checks where NXT Level considers these appropriate, proportionate and lawful
Prohibition, professional status or other role-specific checks where legally applicable
Formal recording and approval of the recruitment decision before deployment
NXT Level will not request a Standard, Enhanced or Barred List DBS check unless the role is legally eligible for that level of check.
For NXT Level roles involving regular child-facing work or qualifying work within schools, NXT Level's standard is to obtain the highest appropriate level of DBS check for which the role is lawfully eligible.
Where a role constitutes regulated activity with children, this will normally include an Enhanced DBS check with a Children's Barred List check.
6.2 Mandatory Safeguarding Induction Before Deployment
Before an NXT Level employee or worker is deployed into a school or child-facing role, they must, as applicable:
Read and acknowledge this NXT Level Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Read and acknowledge the host school's current Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Read Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 Part One, or any alternative section the school is legally permitted to provide for that individual's role
Complete NXT Level safeguarding training appropriate to their role
Complete any school-specific safeguarding induction
Watch any safeguarding videos required by the school
Complete any school-specific safeguarding presentations or e-learning
Know the identity of the host school's DSL and DDSL
Understand the school's safeguarding reporting and escalation procedures
Understand relevant emergency procedures
Understand missing-child procedures where applicable
Understand collection and handover arrangements where applicable
Understand first aid and incident-reporting procedures relevant to their role
Understand NXT Level's expectations regarding professional boundaries
Understand NXT Level's requirements regarding mobile phones, photography, social media and communication with children
Have completion of applicable requirements recorded centrally by NXT Level
Where a school requires additional checks, induction or training before access is granted, NXT Level personnel must complete those requirements before working at that site.
6.3 Ongoing Suitability and Compliance
Safeguarding does not end once an individual has been recruited.
NXT Level will maintain ongoing safeguarding oversight through:
Safeguarding training updates
Refresher training
Operational supervision
Safeguarding spot checks
Compliance audits
Safeguarding incident reviews
Monitoring relevant qualifications and training
Monitoring time-limited compliance documentation
Reviewing concerns or changes in circumstances affecting an individual's suitability
Staff must immediately disclose any relevant change in circumstances that may affect their suitability to work with children.
Where NXT Level has a legitimate safeguarding concern regarding an individual's suitability, their deployment may be suspended while the matter is assessed.
7. Staff Conduct and Professional Boundaries
All NXT Level personnel must:
Act professionally and respectfully
Act in the best interests of children
Maintain clear and appropriate professional boundaries
Avoid favouritism or inappropriate relationships
Avoid conduct which could reasonably be misinterpreted
Avoid being alone with a child where this is unnecessary or unauthorised
Use open and visible environments for conversations with children wherever practicable
Use appropriate and approved communication channels
Follow safe collection and handover procedures
Challenge or report unsafe or inappropriate conduct
Report safeguarding concerns immediately
Staff must not:
Develop inappropriate relationships with children
Exchange personal contact details with children unless specifically authorised as part of an approved programme arrangement
Communicate privately with children through personal social media accounts
Take photographs or videos of children using personal devices
Transport children in personal vehicles unless specifically authorised and appropriately risk assessed
8. Mobile Phones, Photography and Digital Safeguarding
Personal mobile phones must not be used inappropriately while supervising children.
Personal devices must never be used to photograph or film children.
Any authorised photography or filming must:
Be appropriately authorised
Use approved equipment or arrangements
Follow the host school's safeguarding policy
Have appropriate consent
Comply with relevant data-protection requirements
Online communication involving children must take place through appropriate and authorised channels.
9. Recognising and Responding to Safeguarding Concerns
Safeguarding concerns may arise through:
A disclosure from a child
An observation
An allegation
A change in behaviour
An unexplained injury
Online activity
Information provided by another person
Unsafe practice
Inappropriate behaviour by an adult
Any other circumstance that causes concern about a child's welfare
When a child makes a disclosure, staff should:
Listen calmly
Take the child seriously
Not promise confidentiality
Not investigate
Not interrogate the child
Avoid leading questions
Reassure the child that they were right to speak to someone
Avoid making promises about what will happen
Record the facts promptly and accurately
Use the child's own words wherever possible
Report and escalate the concern immediately
10. Reporting and Escalation Procedure
Safeguarding concerns must never be delayed because a particular person is unavailable.
The overriding priority is always the safety and welfare of the child.
Where a concern arises at a partner school or concerns a pupil of that school:
The concern must be reported immediately to the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead and notified to the NXT Level DSL.
If the school's DSL is unavailable:
The concern must be escalated immediately to the school's Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead or another member of the school's designated safeguarding team, in accordance with the school's procedures.
The absence or unavailability of a particular safeguarding lead must never result in a concern being left unreported or delayed.
Where a concern arises outside a school context:
The concern must be reported immediately to the NXT Level DSL or DDSL, who will determine the appropriate safeguarding and statutory escalation.
Concerns about an adult working with children:
Staff must not investigate the allegation themselves.
The concern must be reported immediately to the appropriate safeguarding lead. The DSL will consider whether the matter needs to be referred to:
The Local Authority Designated Officer
Children's Social Care
Police
Disclosure and Barring Service
A professional regulator
Another appropriate safeguarding authority
Immediate danger:
If a child is believed to be at immediate risk of significant harm or requires urgent protection:
Call 999 and/or contact the appropriate statutory safeguarding service immediately.
Internal reporting procedures must never delay emergency action required to protect a child.
If the person raising a concern believes that appropriate action has not been taken, they must escalate the matter further through the school's procedures, NXT Level safeguarding leadership and/or the appropriate statutory agency.
11. Recording, Confidentiality and Information Sharing
Safeguarding information must be:
Recorded promptly
Recorded factually
Stored securely
Shared appropriately
Restricted to those who need the information for legitimate safeguarding purposes
Records should distinguish between:
Fact
Direct observation
Information provided by another person
Professional opinion
Records should include relevant dates, times and actions taken.
Staff must never promise a child or other individual that safeguarding information will be kept secret.
Safeguarding records must not be stored casually on personal devices or shared through unauthorised channels.
Information will be shared where necessary and appropriate to protect children and in accordance with applicable safeguarding, information-sharing and data-protection requirements.
12. Low-Level Concerns and Whistleblowing
NXT Level recognises the importance of identifying and addressing low-level concerns.
A low-level concern is behaviour by an adult that may not meet the threshold for a formal safeguarding referral but is inconsistent with expected professional standards or NXT Level's Code of Conduct.
Examples may include:
Inappropriate language
Overly familiar behaviour
Breaches of professional boundaries
Inappropriate use of social media
Favouritism
Conduct that causes unease
Behaviour inconsistent with the organisation's expectations
Low-level concerns must be reported to the NXT Level DSL.
Where the concern relates to conduct within a school, it must also be handled in accordance with the school's low-level concerns procedures.
NXT Level will record and review concerns to identify patterns of behaviour.
Personnel are expected to raise concerns about unsafe practice. No member of staff should suffer detriment for raising a genuine safeguarding concern in good faith.
13. Allegations Against NXT Level Personnel
Any allegation that an NXT Level employee, worker, contractor or volunteer may have:
Harmed a child
Possibly committed an offence against or related to a child
Behaved towards a child in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm
Behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children
must be escalated immediately.
The matter must be reported to the NXT Level DSL and, where relevant, the host school's DSL.
The matter may require referral to:
The LADO
Police
Children's Social Care
DBS
A professional regulator
Another appropriate authority
NXT Level may take appropriate precautionary employment or deployment action while safeguarding enquiries are undertaken.
Internal disciplinary processes must not obstruct or prejudice safeguarding or statutory processes.
14. Community Lettings Safeguarding
NXT Level manages community use of school facilities.
Hirers remain responsible for safeguarding children and participants within their own activities. However, NXT Level retains responsibility for reasonable safeguarding oversight of the letting environment and for acting upon concerns that come to its attention.
Community Connectors and lettings personnel must:
Know the site's safeguarding reporting procedure
Know how to contact the relevant safeguarding leads
Monitor the general use of the premises within the scope of their role
Challenge or report obvious breaches of safeguarding requirements
Ensure customers remain within authorised areas and booking times
Report safeguarding concerns immediately
Never attempt to investigate safeguarding concerns themselves
Support reasonable safeguarding spot checks and compliance verification
15. Hirer Safeguarding and Compliance Standard
NXT Level applies safeguarding and compliance due diligence to organisations and individuals hiring facilities under its management.
Requirements will be proportionate to:
The nature of the activity
The individuals participating
Whether children or vulnerable people are involved
The level of safeguarding risk
The requirements of the host school
Enhanced requirements apply where a hirer provides activities involving children, young people or adults at risk.
15.1 Information and Documents Required from Hirers
Where applicable, NXT Level may require the following before permitting a booking to commence:
Full organisation or legal name
Trading name, where applicable
Primary lead contact details
Secondary or emergency contact details
A description of up to approximately 250 words explaining the organisation, its activities and the nature of the proposed booking
Website details, where applicable
Relevant social media profiles, where applicable
Two suitable references
References would normally be obtained from a:
School
Previous venue
Previous hire location
Governing body
Partner organisation
Other reputable organisation able to comment on the hirer's conduct and suitability
Hirers may also be required to provide:
Current Public Liability Insurance at the level required by NXT Level and/or the host school
A current Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy where children or vulnerable participants are involved
The name and contact details of the hirer's safeguarding lead or person responsible for safeguarding
Evidence that relevant staff, coaches, leaders or volunteers have appropriate DBS checks for the work they undertake
Evidence of Children's Barred List checks where legally eligible or required
Appropriate first aid arrangements
First aid certificates where required
Relevant coaching qualifications
Relevant teaching or professional qualifications
Governing body qualifications where applicable
Risk assessments
Method statements where applicable
Relevant licences or permits
Any additional compliance documentation required by the activity, NXT Level or the host school
Confirmation that they have read and agree to comply with the NXT Level Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Confirmation that they have read and agree to comply with relevant host-school safeguarding requirements where applicable
NXT Level reserves the right to request additional safeguarding or compliance information where reasonably required following a risk assessment.
15.2 Conditions of Child-Facing Hire
No hirer delivering an activity involving children, young people or adults at risk will be permitted to commence a booking until NXT Level is satisfied that all applicable safeguarding and compliance requirements have been completed.
Where required documentation is:
Missing
Expired
Unsatisfactory
Incomplete
Unable to be verified
NXT Level may withhold access to the site, suspend the booking or cancel the booking.
Hirers are responsible for ensuring that all personnel they deploy are:
Suitable to undertake their duties
Appropriately supervised
Appropriately qualified where necessary
Subject to the appropriate safeguarding checks for their role
The presence of NXT Level personnel onsite does not replace or reduce the hirer's own safeguarding responsibilities.
15.3 Hirer Conduct Onsite
Hirers must ensure that:
Children are appropriately supervised throughout the booking
Appropriate arrival, collection and handover arrangements are in place
Participants remain within authorised areas
The organisation only accesses the site during its booked times
Site rules are followed
School safeguarding procedures are followed where applicable
Emergency arrangements are understood
Safeguarding incidents are immediately reported
Any concern arising during a booking is immediately reported to NXT Level and, where applicable, the school's DSL or DDSL
They cooperate with reasonable safeguarding spot checks, document checks or audits
Hirers must notify NXT Level of material changes to:
Their safeguarding arrangements
Insurance
Relevant personnel
Safeguarding leads
DBS or compliance status
Qualifications
Any other information that could materially affect their suitability to operate
16. NXT Level Central Safeguarding and Compliance Register
NXT Level maintains a Central Safeguarding and Compliance Register to record the completion and status of applicable safer recruitment, safeguarding and compliance requirements for NXT Level personnel and hirers.
For NXT Level personnel, the register may record:
Identity verification
Right to Work verification
Recruitment checks
References
DBS level and relevant verification information
Barred List check where applicable
Safeguarding training
NXT Level policy acknowledgement
KCSIE acknowledgement
School-specific safeguarding policy acknowledgement
Site-specific safeguarding induction
Relevant qualifications
First aid credentials
Relevant expiry and renewal dates
Approval for deployment
For hirers, the register may record:
Organisation details
Lead and secondary contacts
Safeguarding policy
Named safeguarding lead
Public Liability Insurance
Relevant DBS assurance
Relevant qualifications
First aid arrangements
References
Due diligence outcomes
Risk assessments
Additional compliance documents
Renewal and expiry dates
Approval to operate
NXT Level will not retain more sensitive personal information than is necessary and lawful for safeguarding and compliance purposes.
Relevant safeguarding and compliance information may be made available to a partner school for safeguarding, assurance or audit purposes where appropriate and lawful.
The NXT Level Central Safeguarding and Compliance Register is an internal NXT Level compliance record and does not replace a school's statutory Single Central Record.
17. First Aid, Health and Safety and Emergency Arrangements
Safeguarding includes providing a safe environment.
NXT Level personnel and hirers must comply with applicable:
First aid arrangements
Health and safety requirements
Fire procedures
Evacuation procedures
Emergency procedures
Site-specific requirements
Risk assessments
Activities must be appropriately risk assessed.
Relevant leaders must know how to summon emergency assistance and how to report accidents, incidents and safeguarding concerns.
18. Prevent and Extremism
NXT Level supports the safeguarding principles of the Prevent duty.
Concerns that a child or young person may be vulnerable to radicalisation or extremism must be treated as safeguarding concerns and reported through the appropriate safeguarding route.
NXT Level may undertake proportionate additional due diligence where the nature of a proposed hire or activity creates additional safeguarding risk.
19. Equality, Inclusion and Additional Vulnerability
Safeguarding practice must be inclusive and non-discriminatory.
NXT Level recognises that some children may face additional barriers to recognising, communicating or reporting abuse.
This may include:
Children with special educational needs or disabilities
Children with communication needs
Children experiencing discrimination
Children in care or previously in care
Children affected by social or economic vulnerability
Children experiencing other circumstances that increase their vulnerability
Safeguarding concerns must always be considered in the context of the individual child.
20. Breaches of this Policy
Failure by NXT Level personnel to comply with this policy may result in:
Removal from duties
Suspension
Disciplinary action
Termination of employment or engagement
Referral to safeguarding authorities
Referral to professional or regulatory bodies where appropriate
Failure by a hirer to meet NXT Level's safeguarding and compliance requirements may result in:
Refusal of access
Suspension of bookings
Cancellation of bookings
Termination of future hire arrangements
Notification to the host school
Referral to appropriate safeguarding or statutory authorities where required
21. Monitoring, Audit and Review
This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner where:
Legislation changes
Statutory guidance changes
School requirements change
NXT Level's operations change
A safeguarding incident identifies a need for review
An audit identifies improvements that should be made
NXT Level may audit staff and hirer safeguarding compliance at any time.
Safeguarding incidents, low-level concerns, complaints and lessons learned will be used to inform future policy and training.
Partner schools may request reasonable safeguarding assurance information relating to personnel or hirers operating at their site.
NXT Level management is responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented consistently across all sites.
22. Staff and Hirer Acknowledgement
Reading and complying with this policy is a condition of deployment for relevant NXT Level personnel and a condition of hire for relevant organisations.
Individuals and hirers must confirm that they:
Have read this policy
Understand their safeguarding responsibilities
Agree to comply with this policy
Agree to comply with applicable host-school safeguarding procedures
Understand their responsibility to report safeguarding concerns immediately
Appendix A: NXT Level Staff Safeguarding Clearance Checklist
Before deployment, the following should be completed as applicable:
☐ Role and safeguarding responsibilities confirmed
☐ Identity verified
☐ Right to Work verified
☐ Employment and education history reviewed
☐ Relevant gaps explored
☐ References obtained and checked
☐ Relevant qualifications verified
☐ DBS eligibility assessed against the actual role
☐ Appropriate DBS check completed or verified
☐ Children's Barred List check completed where eligible or required
☐ Overseas or role-specific checks completed where applicable
☐ NXT Level Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy read and acknowledged
☐ KCSIE 2026 Part One read as applicable
☐ Host-school Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy read and acknowledged
☐ NXT Level safeguarding training completed
☐ Site-specific safeguarding induction completed
☐ Required safeguarding videos, presentations or e-learning completed
☐ School DSL and DDSL identified
☐ Safeguarding reporting procedure understood
☐ Emergency and site procedures understood
☐ Central Safeguarding and Compliance Register updated
☐ Individual formally authorised for deployment
Appendix B: Hirer Safeguarding and Compliance Checklist
Where applicable:
☐ Organisation details provided
☐ Lead contact provided
☐ Secondary or emergency contact provided
☐ Organisation and activity description provided
☐ Website details provided where applicable
☐ Social media details provided where applicable
☐ Two suitable references provided and/or checked
☐ Public Liability Insurance provided and valid
☐ Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy provided
☐ Named safeguarding lead confirmed
☐ Appropriate DBS evidence or assurance obtained for relevant personnel
☐ Barred List evidence or assurance obtained where legally applicable
☐ First aid arrangements confirmed
☐ Relevant first aid certificates provided
☐ Relevant qualifications or credentials provided
☐ Risk assessment provided where required
☐ Other activity-specific compliance documents provided
☐ NXT Level Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy acknowledged
☐ School-specific safeguarding requirements acknowledged where applicable
☐ Compliance recorded centrally
☐ Hirer approved to commence child-facing booking
Appendix C: Immediate Safeguarding Escalation
If you are concerned about a child:
Immediate danger:
Call 999.
Concern arises on a school site or concerns a school pupil:
Report immediately to the school's DSL and notify the NXT Level DSL.
School DSL unavailable:
Report immediately to the school's DDSL or another member of the school's safeguarding team.
Concern outside a school context:
Report immediately to the NXT Level DSL or DDSL.
Concern about an adult working with children:
Do not investigate. Report immediately to the appropriate safeguarding lead for consideration of LADO and/or other statutory referral.
In all circumstances:
Record the facts promptly and accurately. Do not promise confidentiality. Do not allow the absence of a particular member of staff to delay safeguarding action.