Madrassah Fatima Tu Zahra (MFTZ) believes that every child and young person has the right to learn in a safe, caring environment, free from harm. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility: every teacher, volunteer and trustee.

This policy applies to all on-site and online activity. It follows the Department for Education's code of practice for out-of-school settings, Working Together to Safeguard Children, and the procedures of the Kirklees Safeguarding Children Partnership.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is [name], contactable at [phone] or info@mftz.org.uk. The deputy DSL is [name]. The DSL makes sure concerns are recorded, acted upon and, where needed, referred to Kirklees Children's Social Care or the police.

Staff are trained to recognise signs of abuse and neglect, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation, radicalisation, forced marriage, female genital mutilation and online harm.

• If a child tells you something worrying, listen calmly, do not promise to keep it secret, and do not ask leading questions.
• Write down what was said, in the child's own words, with the date and time, and pass it to the DSL the same day.
• If a child is in immediate danger, call 999 first.
• Concerns are recorded securely in a restricted safeguarding record that only the DSL can access.

Any concern about the behaviour of an adult working with children must be reported to the DSL (or, if it concerns the DSL, to [trustee name]). The madrassah will refer allegations to the Kirklees Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and will not investigate on its own.

• All teachers and regular volunteers have an enhanced DBS check with barred-list check before working with students, renewed every three years.
• Staff receive safeguarding training on induction and at least every year.
• Adults avoid being alone with a student out of sight; one-to-one lessons take place in view of others or, online, with a parent able to join.
• Staff contact students and parents only through the madrassah's portal or official channels, never through personal social media.

Anyone can contact Kirklees Children's Social Care directly through Kirklees Council, call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000, or (for young people) Childline on 0800 1111. In an emergency, always call 999.