🧠 1. What schools in Spain are required to do

Across Comunitat Valenciana, schools must:

• Have a child protection/safeguarding coordinator
• Follow mandatory reporting rules under LOPIVI (Child Protection Law 8/2021)
• Act immediately on any suspicion of abuse or grooming
• Work with social services and police when needed

👉 Key point: schools are legally required to report concerns, not investigate them alone

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🚩 2. Warning signs schools and parents may notice

📱 Online / digital changes

• Secretive phone use or multiple accounts
• Sudden use of encrypted apps (Snapchat, Telegram, WhatsApp hidden chats)
• Notifications hidden or quickly closed
• Online activity late at night

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🧠 Emotional / behavioural changes

• Withdrawal from family or friends
• Anxiety, irritability, or emotional flatness
• Sudden attachment to someone they won’t discuss
• Confusion or distress after being online

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🔒 Social red flags

• Receiving unexplained gifts or money
• Talking about an “older friend” they refuse to name
• Becoming defensive when questioned
• Missing school or changes in routine

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🏫 3. What schools should do immediately

If a concern arises:

• Record observations factually (no assumptions)
• Report to the safeguarding coordinator
• Follow internal safeguarding protocol
• Escalate to social services or police if needed

👉 Schools should never:

• confront a suspected perpetrator
• or wait for “proof” before acting

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👨‍👩‍👧 4. What parents should do

🟢 Stay calm, stay open

• Avoid accusation-based conversations
• Focus on curiosity, not confrontation
• Keep communication open so the child does not shut down

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🟡 Ask gentle, non-leading questions

• “Who do you like talking to online?”
• “Has anyone ever asked you to keep secrets?”
• “Do you ever feel uncomfortable online?”

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🔵 Do not investigate alone

• Do not engage with suspected adults online
• Do not try to “catch them”
• Preserve safety and report instead

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📞 5. Where to get help in Spain (Valencia/Alicante region)

• 112 – Emergency services
• 091 Policía Nacional – National Police
• 062 Guardia Civil (EMUME units) – specialist protection for women and minors
• 017 INCIBE helpline – online safety, grooming, sextortion support
• 016 – national support line (advice + guidance, confidential)

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🧭 6. Key safeguarding principle

In Spain, the system is built on:

Concern is enough to act. You do not need proof.

Professionals are trained to assess risk once a report is made.

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🧠 7. What prevention looks like in practice

The most effective protection is:

• Regular, calm conversations about online life
• Teaching that secrecy in relationships is a warning sign
• Normalising asking for help early
• Schools and parents working together, not in isolation

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⚠️ Important reality in this region

In tourist-heavy areas like Alicante and the Costa Blanca:

• Children and teens have higher exposure to online contact from strangers
• Seasonal population changes can increase risk of unsupervised online interactions
• Schools are increasingly focused on digital safeguarding and emotional manipulation awareness

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