Keeping Children Safe

It is of the utmost importance that children are kept safe when learning online with me. I am DBS checked to work with children and vulnerable adults and I have experience working in specialist teaching provisions and in care.  I also have three children myself, 14, 10 and 6.

Classes are taught over an interactive platform. All of the third party resources have been checked and are suitable for children from 11+. I make every single class as a slide show so I can control the content. The platform I use is user friendly, students get a classroom link which always the same link every week. When they log on, they just type in their name and wait for me to let them in. There's a fruit catching game to keep them occupied before I let them in. 

Class content is age appropriate and the only outside materials used are handpicked by me to ensure that it is suitable for the age of the student.

From time to time, homework maybe E-mailed to the student to print out. I try to limit this as much as I can as I know not everyone has a printer and those that do, I know how infuriating they can be! I never ask for the E-mail addresses of my learners under 18, an adult E-mail address would be required instead. 

Students have access to 24/7 WhatsApp support. This is to assist with anything they are struggling with or curious about to do with Japanese or Japan. WhatsApp conversations are never had directly with the student, instead in a group chat with a parent.

In addition to my classes there is an app called WaniKani that is used to practice Kanji outside of the classroom. It is a great learning tool and can be used alongside classes. It is free initially and then after level three it is chargeable at a cost of approx. £8 a month. Purchase is completely at the adults discretion and isn't compulsory, it's just a good tool to have to get a little bit of Japanese learning in at a more regular frequency in-between lessons. As this is a third party app, I can't guarantee the content, however I am on a much higher level on there and I haven't come across anything of concern myself. 

I understand it can be daunting leaving your child with a stranger. Most of the time a parent is present to say hello before the first initial lesson and then leaves the student to do the lesson. This is my preferred approach as children learn better when they are unprompted and don't feel like they are being watched when they are learning. However, please do get in touch if you have any concerns and I will try and accommodate you as best I can. 

As I see my young learners at least once a week, we will often discuss how their day has gone, how they are feeling or if they have any plans for the weekend etc. If children do disclose anything that could be considered unsafe, a parent will be notified after the lesson. Obviously if they are at imminent risk and need help this will be during the lesson. Disclosures may not seem serious, it could be that I have noticed a change in your child's behaviour or mood etc. Please be rest assured that I will notify you if there is anything I am concerned about.