Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Our Commitment

With over twenty years of teaching experience in leading UK state schools and international schools, I am committed to providing a safe, supportive and respectful learning environment where every student is treated with care, dignity and respect.

Safeguarding means protecting children from harm and promoting their welfare. As an independent tutor working with children and young people, I take this responsibility seriously and will act appropriately if I have concerns about a student's safety or wellbeing.

Safeguarding Responsibility

As an independent tutor and sole provider of tuition through An English Tutor, I am responsible for safeguarding and child protection within my tutoring practice.

I hold a current Enhanced DBS certificate.

Safeguarding lead: Helene Goldup

Contact: contact@anenglishtutor.com

Safeguarding concerns will always be taken seriously and considered in the best interests of the child.

Online Lessons

All tuition is delivered online using Zoom.

For students under 18:

• Lessons are arranged with the parent or carer.
• Parents or carers should know when lessons are taking place.
• Students should attend lessons from an appropriate location within the home wherever possible.
• A parent or responsible adult should be available or contactable during the lesson where appropriate.
• Parents or carers are welcome to observe lessons or remain nearby.
• Lessons will be conducted professionally at all times.
• Appropriate language and behaviour are expected from everyone taking part.

Professional Boundaries

Appropriate professional boundaries will be maintained at all times.

• Tuition and communication will remain focused on appropriate educational matters.
• Parents or carers remain the primary contact for students under 18.
• Where direct communication with a student is useful for the practical delivery of tuition, it will remain appropriate to the teaching relationship.
• Personal social media accounts will not be used to communicate with students.
• Personal relationships with students outside the professional tutoring relationship are not appropriate.

Confidentiality

Information shared during tuition will be treated respectfully and sensitively.

Safeguarding information will only be shared where there is an appropriate reason to do so and, where possible, only with those who need the information in order to help protect the child.

Confidentiality cannot be promised where information suggests that a child or another person may be at risk of harm.

Recognising and Responding to Safeguarding Concerns

A safeguarding concern may arise through something a student says, something observed during a lesson, information provided by another person or another indication that a child may be at risk of harm.

If a student shares information that raises a safeguarding concern, I will:

• Listen calmly and take what they say seriously.
• Avoid asking unnecessary or leading questions.
• Not promise to keep information secret where doing so could place the child or another person at risk.
• Make an appropriate factual record of the concern.
• Take appropriate action based on the nature and urgency of the concern.

Where appropriate, this may include speaking with the student's parent or carer, seeking safeguarding advice or referring the concern to the relevant safeguarding authority.

A parent or carer will not be contacted first where doing so could increase the risk to the child, compromise a safeguarding response or otherwise be inappropriate.

If there is reason to believe that a child is in immediate danger, the emergency services will be contacted.

Raising a Safeguarding Concern

Parents and carers are encouraged to contact me directly if they have any concerns about their child's safety or wellbeing in connection with tuition.

If a parent, carer or student has a safeguarding concern relating to my conduct as a tutor, they may contact the appropriate safeguarding service at their local authority for advice. Concerns about an adult who works with children may also be referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) where appropriate.

The NSPCC Helpline can provide safeguarding advice on 0808 800 5000.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Working with Parents and Carers

A positive partnership with parents and carers is an important part of safe and successful tuition.

Parents and carers are asked to:

• Ensure their child has an appropriate place from which to join online lessons.
• Be aware of when lessons are taking place.
• Provide appropriate contact information.
• Share relevant information that may affect their child's learning, safety or wellbeing.
• Raise any concerns or questions about tuition or safeguarding promptly.

Student Expectations

To help create a safe and positive learning environment, students are expected to:

• Treat others with courtesy and respect.
• Participate appropriately in lessons.
• Use appropriate language and behaviour.
• Respect the privacy of others.
• Use online lesson technology appropriately.

Where behaviour creates a safeguarding concern or places the wellbeing of others at risk, tuition may be suspended or discontinued.

Online Safety

Online tuition will be conducted using appropriate professional accounts and platforms.

Students should not share lesson links or access details with other people.

Any inappropriate material or behaviour encountered during an online lesson will be addressed appropriately and, where it raises a safeguarding concern, the safeguarding procedures outlined in this policy will be followed.

Lesson Recording

Lessons are not routinely recorded.

If recording a lesson is considered educationally useful, the purpose of the recording will be explained beforehand and appropriate written consent will be obtained before recording takes place.

Any recording will be used only for the agreed purpose and handled securely. Arrangements for access, storage, retention and deletion will be made clear before recording.

Safeguarding Records

Where a safeguarding concern arises, an appropriate factual record may be kept of the concern, action taken and any advice or referral made.

Safeguarding information will be stored securely and handled in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.

Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated where necessary to reflect changes in safeguarding guidance, legislation or the way tuition is delivered.