Safeguarding Policy

Our Commitment

Bell.Study is committed to the safety and wellbeing of every child who uses the platform. Safeguarding is central to how we design, build, and operate the service. This policy outlines the measures we take to protect children and the responsibilities of all users.

Teacher Vetting

Every teacher on Bell.Study undergoes a rigorous vetting process before they can deliver lessons:

• Enhanced DBS check – all teachers must hold a valid Enhanced DBS certificate for the children's workforce.
• Identity verification – teachers submit a government-issued photo ID (passport or driving licence) which is reviewed by Bell.Study staff.
• Qualifications review – teaching qualifications (QTS, PGCE, or equivalent) are verified.
• Interview & selection – every teacher goes through an interview process with our team with a focus on how they teach and engage children.

During Lessons

Live lessons are designed with child safety as the primary consideration:

• Student cameras are off – children participate via anonymous text chat only. They are never visible on camera to the teacher or other students.
• Anonymous interaction – chat messages are displayed with a username or avatar, not the child's real name.
• Teacher-only broadcast – only the teacher appears on camera. Students cannot share their screen or video.
• Automatic recording – every lesson is recorded in full, providing an audit trail.
• No private messaging – there is no facility for private messages between teachers and individual students.

Parental Controls

• PIN protection – a 4-digit PIN is required to make bookings and account changes, preventing children from making purchases independently.
• Parent-managed accounts – children do not create their own accounts. All access is through the parent's family account.
• Booking visibility – parents can see all bookings, attendance, and lesson history for their children.
• Replay access – parents can watch lesson replays to review what their child experienced.

Reporting Concerns

If you have any safeguarding concerns about a teacher, a lesson, or any aspect of the platform, contact us immediately:

• Email: hello@bell.study
• Support page: bell.study/support (select "Safeguarding" as the category)

All safeguarding reports are treated as high priority. We will acknowledge receipt within 24 hours and take immediate action where necessary, including suspending teacher accounts pending investigation.

Teacher Responsibilities

Teachers on Bell.Study are required to:

• Maintain a valid Enhanced DBS certificate
• Deliver lessons in a professional and appropriate manner
• Report any safeguarding concerns to Bell.Study immediately
• Not attempt to contact students outside the platform
• Not share personal contact information with students or families

Violation of any safeguarding requirement will result in immediate suspension and potential permanent removal from the platform.

Data Protection

Children's personal data is handled in accordance with UK GDPR and the Children's Code (Age Appropriate Design Code). We collect the minimum data necessary and process it only for the purposes outlined in our Privacy Policy. Teacher application documents (ID, DBS certificates) are stored securely with restricted access.

Review

This safeguarding policy is reviewed regularly and updated as needed. The latest version is always available at bell.study/safeguarding.