If a student is struggling, a human is told.

What happens

• If an answer suggests a student may be at risk of harm, it is quietly flagged. The student sees nothing different. They never get a scary message or a warning screen.
• The flag goes only to the college's own designated safeguarding lead and deputy, who review it, acknowledge it and close it under the college's own safeguarding policy.
• The alert email says only that a flag has been raised and where to log in. It contains no student name and none of their words. If nobody acknowledges it, a reminder is sent after four working hours.
• Teachers cannot see flags, and neither can Foothold staff. Every time a lead views or changes a flag it is recorded.
• The automatic check can be wrong in both directions, so it supports the college's people. It never replaces them. Foothold isn't watched round the clock.

Before a college can use it

• A college cannot take students until it has named a safeguarding lead and a deputy and an alert has been tested end to end. Until then the join code simply doesn't work.
• The content of a flag is cleared 90 days after it is closed. The college keeps its own safeguarding records. We don't.
• Students are told, in plain words, that a safeguarding lead at their college may be told if something they write suggests they are at risk.

Keeping content safe

• Practice texts are written for 15 to 19 year olds. We avoid graphic violence, sexual content, self-harm and drugs, and each text is checked before it is saved.
• Feedback never compares students, and uses no fail language.

If you need help now

If you or someone you know is in danger, tell a trusted adult or your college safeguarding team straight away. In an emergency call 999. Young people can also talk to Childline on 0800 1111.