Online Safeguarding & Behaviour Code

Last Reviewed: Sept 2026

Next review: September 2028

Online Safeguarding Statement:

Learning Through Theatre (LTT) believes that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We are committed to protecting children and young people under 18 from harm and to providing safe, respectful and inclusive online learning environments.

We recognise that online activity can present particular safeguarding risks, including grooming, exploitation, bullying and harassment, child-on-child abuse, inappropriate image sharing and harmful or abusive AI-generated material.

We follow safe working practices and the safeguarding procedures of the organisations we work with, and our approach is informed by Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 and other relevant safeguarding guidance.

The Code sets out the additional expectations that apply to LTT's online workshops and coaching.

Who this Code applies to:

This Code applies to everyone taking part in LTT online activity, including:

children and young people
parents and carers
teachers and other school or college staff
university students and staff
adult participants
LTT practitioners and guest practitioners
anyone else attending or supporting an online session.

The expectations may be adapted according to the age of participants, the nature of the activity and the safeguarding arrangements of the organisation commissioning the session.

Safe Online Working

When working with a school, college or other organisation, LTT follows its agreed safeguarding and online-working arrangements.

For sessions involving children and young people:

a teacher or other responsible adult should be available in accordance with the agreed arrangements;
LTT will not seek unnecessary personal contact details or communicate through personal social-media accounts;
appropriate professional boundaries will be maintained at all times;
participants should avoid sharing unnecessary personal information;
parents, carers or responsible adults will be involved in arrangements for independently booked young people where appropriate.

LTT does not routinely record online sessions. Where recording is agreed for an educational or professional purpose, participants will be informed and appropriate consent or other lawful arrangements will be in place.

Respect and Behaviour

Everyone taking part in an LTT online session has the right to participate safely and without abuse, bullying, harassment or discrimination.

We expect everyone to:

treat others with respect;
listen and allow others space to participate;
use appropriate and inclusive language;
follow reasonable instructions from the session leader;
respect personal and professional boundaries;
tell the session leader or responsible adult if something makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

Unacceptable behaviour includes bullying, harassment, threatening or abusive behaviour, discriminatory or sexualised comments or behaviour, deliberately disrupting a session, sharing inappropriate or harmful material, or recording/sharing others without permission.

The session leader may pause an activity or ask someone to leave if necessary. Serious concerns may be reported to the relevant organisation, parent/carer, safeguarding lead or appropriate authority.

Professional Boundaries

LTT practitioners will maintain clear professional boundaries online.

Practitioners will not:

develop inappropriate personal relationships with participants;
use personal social-media accounts to communicate with children or young people;
make inappropriate, sexualised, discriminatory or derogatory comments;
ask participants to keep inappropriate interactions or information secret;
engage in behaviour that could reasonably be considered threatening, intrusive, exploitative or abusive.

Safeguarding Concerns

Online safeguarding concerns may include grooming, exploitation, bullying, harassment, child-on-child abuse, sexualised behaviour, inappropriate image sharing, harmful or abusive AI-generated material, or exposure to inappropriate content.

Concerns or disclosures will be taken seriously and dealt with in accordance with the LTT Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy and, where relevant, the safeguarding procedures of the organisation involved.

LTT practitioners will listen calmly, avoid promising confidentiality and report concerns to the appropriate safeguarding person.

If someone is in immediate danger, emergency services should be contacted.

Online Practical Work

Some LTT sessions involve movement, physical theatre, mask work or other practical activities.

Participants should:

work within their own physical capabilities and available space;
follow safety instructions;
tell the practitioner if they need to modify or stop an activity;
avoid activities that could put themselves or others at unnecessary risk.

Participants should join from an appropriate environment where possible, rather than a location that creates avoidable safety or privacy concerns.

Shared Responsibility

Safeguarding is a shared responsibility. LTT practitioners, participants, parents/carers, teachers and other responsible adults all have a role in creating an online environment where people can learn, experiment and perform safely.

This Code should be read alongside the LTT Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy and, where relevant, the safeguarding and behaviour policies of the organisation commissioning the activity.

LTT Safeguarding Lead: Cheryl Stapleton, Artistic Director, cheryl@learningthroughtheatre.co.uk

Policy Last Reviewed: Sept 2026