The short version
This is an AI wellbeing companion for young people, not therapy. Conversations are visible to safeguarding staff. Under-16s need parental consent. Everything is encrypted. The AI will not give medical advice, write homework, or promise confidentiality. Your institution is responsible for responding to alerts.
Acceptance
By using the Platform, you agree to these Terms. Students under 16 require parental consent. We comply with the Children's Code (AADC), UK GDPR, DPA 2018, and KCSIE. Material changes notified to the institution with direct notice to students and parents where appropriate.
What the Platform does
Text-based AI wellbeing companion for ages 5-18+. 23 youth-specific detectors for safeguarding. Encrypted memory for continuity. Institution-level analytics (aggregated, never individual). This is NOT therapy, counselling, or medical advice. In a crisis, follow your institution's safeguarding procedures and contact emergency services.
Eligibility
Age. Available to students aged 5-18+ at subscribing institutions. Under 5 not permitted.
Under 16. Verified parental consent required before access. Institution collects consent via mechanisms we provide.
Ages 16-17. May consent themselves under UK GDPR. Institutions may still inform parents as good practice.
Staff. DSLs, deputy DSLs, pastoral staff, and counsellors get supervisory access. Staff do not use the companion for their own wellbeing.
Parental consent
How it works. Institution distributes consent forms (digital or paper) before access. Covers data processing, AI conversations, and safeguarding visibility.
Withdrawal. Parents can withdraw anytime by contacting the institution or [email protected]. Prior processing remains lawful.
Effect. Access deactivated within 48 hours. Data retained per safeguarding record-keeping obligations (KCSIE). Non-safeguarding data deleted on request.
Safeguarding visibility
Not private. Unlike adult coaching, institution conversations are visible to safeguarding staff. Students are clearly informed before and during use.
DSL and deputies. Full access to all conversations and alerts.
Pastoral staff. Scoped to their assigned groups.
Counsellors. Scoped to referred students only.
Teachers. No access to any companion content.
Audit logging. Every staff access recorded: who, when, which student, why. Immutable. Available for compliance review.
Detection and alerting
23 detectors. Self-harm, suicidal ideation, abuse disclosure, bullying, eating disorders, substance misuse, online exploitation, radicalisation, family breakdown, exam pressure, grief, loneliness, anxiety.
Critical. Immediate real-time alert to DSL. Abuse, self-harm, suicidal ideation. Cannot be suppressed or delayed.
High. Same-day alert. Serious but not immediately life-threatening.
Medium. Dashboard review. Emerging patterns and moderate concerns.
Low. Logged for trend analysis over time.
Escalation. Critical alerts escalate: DSL (0 min) → deputy DSLs (15 min) → headteacher (30 min). Configured during onboarding.
Pattern detection. Repeated low-level signals over weeks may escalate even if no single conversation triggered a higher alert.
No student notification. Students are not told when a specific alert fires. This prevents self-censoring of disclosures.
What the AI will not do
Give medical, psychiatric, or clinical advice. Promise confidentiality. Set goals or action plans. Generate homework, essays, or academic content. Role-play or adopt alternative personas. Judge families, carers, or teachers. Encourage specific actions in relationships or conflicts.
Data processing
Governed by the Institution Privacy Policy. UK GDPR, DPA 2018, Children's Code, KCSIE. All conversations encrypted with per-student keys. European data centres. 3-year default retention (configurable shorter). Students and parents can request export or deletion subject to safeguarding obligations.
Age transitions
Turning 18. Notification 30 days before. May transition to adult account or close. Safeguarding visibility ends for new conversations on their birthday. Historical data retained per safeguarding obligations.
Leaving. Account deactivated within 30 days of confirmed departure. Retention per standard rules.
Institution responsibilities
Designate at least one DSL and one deputy. Ensure all staff with access hold current enhanced DBS checks. Maintain a safeguarding policy covering Platform use. Respond to critical alerts promptly. Inform students that conversations may be reviewed. Collect parental consent for under-16s. Notify us of leavers, role changes, and consent withdrawals. Do not use the Platform as a replacement for qualified professional support.
Student acceptable use
Use the companion for genuine wellbeing conversations only. Do not share credentials, generate academic work, trick the AI, make threats, or access other students' accounts. Students are aware conversations are not private. Misuse may result in suspension by the institution.
Staff acceptable use
Access student conversations only for legitimate safeguarding purposes. All access is audit-logged. Do not share content with unauthorised individuals. Follow data protection and safeguarding policies. Report misuse. Staff misuse may constitute a breach of data protection law and may result in disciplinary action, access removal, and referral to the ICO.
Data rights
Students have full UK GDPR rights (access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, objection). Ages 16+ exercise rights themselves. Under 16, parents exercise rights with the student's views considered per the Children's Code. Erasure subject to safeguarding record-keeping. Requests: institution DPO or [email protected]. Response within one month.
Intellectual property
Platform owned by Poyntr Ltd. Students retain ownership of their content. Limited licence granted for processing, memory, detection, and response generation. Student content never used to train AI.
Liability
Platform provided "as is." We do not warrant AI accuracy. Not liable for indirect or consequential damages. Total liability capped at 12 months' subscription. Nothing excludes liability for death, personal injury from negligence, or fraud.
Termination
Institutions may cancel with notice. We may suspend for Terms violations or expired subscriptions. On termination, data handled per Privacy Policy. Export or deletion available on request.
Governing law
Laws of England and Wales. Exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
Contact
[email protected]. Safeguarding: [email protected].