Apparo Safeguarding Statement

July 2026 (reviewed at least annually, in line with KCSIE Updates)

A meaningful proportion of the young people Apparo is built for are under 18. Safeguarding isn't a policy we've added to satisfy a requirement, it has shaped Apparo's design from day one, from how content is written to how any third party features are scoped and limited.

Contents:

  1. Our Company Safeguarding Lead (CSL)

  2. Our approach to safeguarding in product design

  3. Raising a concern

  4. This statement and our full safeguarding policy

1. Our Company Safeguarding Lead

Rebecca Larder, Apparo's founder, is our Company Safeguarding Lead (CSL). This is a company-level safeguarding role reflecting Rebecca's own qualifications and experience; it is distinct from a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), a title reserved for the statutory role held within schools themselves.

Credentials and training:

●        Enhanced DBS check, registered with the DBS Update Service.

●        Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

●        Safeguarding Young People (TES), most recently renewed June 2026.

●        Artificial Intelligence and Safeguarding: Understanding the Impact on Children (TES), July 2026. Note: the learning platform does not include any generative AI features or links.

●        The Prevent Duty (TES), October 2025.

●        The Use of Reasonable Force and Restrictive Interventions in Schools (TES), May 2026.

●        Domestic Abuse: Children and Young People (TES), April 2025.

●        Preventing Bullying (TES), March 2025.

●        Female Genital Mutilation Awareness (TES), March 2025.

Rebecca also holds a suite of data protection training covering topics including phishing, password security, cloud security, and safe web browsing, reflecting the same care applied to how learner data is handled, not just how learner welfare is protected.

2. Our Approach to Safeguarding in Product Design

●        Content involving workplace conflict, difficult customers, or manager criticism is designed to coach through difficult situations without ever modelling unsafe or harmful behaviour.

●        Learner-facing content follows a plain-language, self-paced design specifically so learners are never rushed through material that involves sensitive topics.

●        Where our platform detects signs that a learner may be in distress, our design principle is to signpost appropriately and involve a trusted adult, never to position technology as a substitute for real human support.

3. Raising a Concern

If you have a safeguarding concern relating to Apparo, please contact our Company Safeguarding Lead directly: rebecca@apparo.uk, marked for the attention of the Company Safeguarding Lead. If a child is in immediate danger, please contact emergency services first.

4. This Statement and Our Full Safeguarding Policy

This page is a public statement of our approach and commitments. A full, detailed Safeguarding Policy, covering escalation procedures, record-keeping, and institutional partnership arrangements, is made available to institutional partners directly as part of any licence agreement.