Primary Tutor Project Online Safety Policy
Created: 16 July 2026
Last Reviewed: July 2026
Next Review Due: July 2027
Online Safety Policy Summary
This policy explains how Primary Tutor Project creates a safe, secure and professional online learning environment for children, tutors and families.
Our approach
- Online safety is an integral part of safeguarding.
- All tuition must take place through platforms approved by Primary Tutor Project.
- Tutors must maintain professional boundaries and use approved communication channels.
- Students should take part from a suitable environment and use technology respectfully and responsibly.
Lesson recordings
- All online lessons are recorded automatically.
- Recordings are stored securely and access is restricted.
- Recordings are normally deleted after 30 days unless required for an ongoing safeguarding, legal, complaint or quality assurance matter.
Reporting concerns
Important: Online safety concerns should be reported to the DSL immediately. Where a child is in immediate danger, contact emergency services by calling 999.
Full Online Safety Policy
1. Purpose
Primary Tutor Project is committed to providing a safe, secure and positive online learning environment for every child.
As an online tuition provider, we recognise that technology offers significant educational opportunities but also presents safeguarding risks. This policy sets out the measures we take to protect children, tutors and families during online tuition and explains the responsibilities of everyone involved.
Online safety is an integral part of safeguarding and applies to every lesson delivered through Primary Tutor Project.
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
• all Primary Tutor Project tutors;
• employees;
• contractors;
• volunteers;
• students;
• parents and carers.
It should be read alongside:
• Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
• Tutor Code of Conduct
• Privacy Policy
• Data Protection Policy
3. Our Commitment
Primary Tutor Project is committed to ensuring that online tuition is:
• safe;
• secure;
• professional;
• respectful;
• child-centred.
We will continually review our procedures to respond to emerging online safeguarding risks.
4. Roles and Responsibilities
Designated Safeguarding Lead
The DSL is responsible for:
• overseeing online safeguarding arrangements;
• responding to online safeguarding concerns;
• monitoring lesson recordings where required;
• providing guidance to tutors;
• reviewing online safety procedures.
Tutors
Tutors are responsible for:
• maintaining professional online conduct;
• following this policy at all times;
• recognising online safeguarding concerns;
• reporting concerns immediately;
• using only approved platforms;
• protecting their own privacy and that of students.
Parents and Carers
Parents and carers are expected to:
• provide an appropriate learning environment;
• supervise younger children where appropriate;
• support safe internet use;
• report online safety concerns promptly;
• ensure students use Primary Tutor Project platforms appropriately.
Students
Students are expected to:
• behave respectfully online;
• follow tutor instructions;
• use technology responsibly;
• report anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
5. Approved Platforms
All tuition must take place using platforms approved by Primary Tutor Project.
Tutors must not deliver lessons through personal video calling platforms unless expressly authorised by Primary Tutor Project.
Communication with students must only occur through approved channels.
6. Lesson Recording
To safeguard both children and tutors:
• all online lessons are recorded automatically;
• recordings are stored securely;
• access is restricted to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and individuals authorised by the DSL where necessary;
• recordings may be reviewed for safeguarding, complaints, quality assurance or legal purposes;
• recordings are automatically deleted after 30 days unless required for an ongoing safeguarding, legal or complaint investigation.
Parents acknowledge lesson recording by booking tuition through Primary Tutor Project.
7. Cameras and Learning Environment
To promote safeguarding:
Tutors should:
• teach from a professional environment;
• use a neutral background where possible;
• ensure appropriate lighting;
• dress professionally;
• minimise interruptions;
• avoid teaching from public places.
Students should:
• participate from an appropriate location within the home;
• wear suitable clothing;
• keep cameras switched on unless agreed otherwise;
• avoid participating from bedrooms where a more suitable family space is available.
For younger children, parents are encouraged to remain nearby throughout lessons.
8. Professional Communication
Tutors must maintain professional boundaries at all times.
Tutors must not:
• exchange personal social media accounts;
• communicate through WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram or similar personal platforms with students;
• share personal telephone numbers;
• request private messaging with students;
• communicate outside approved tuition arrangements.
Communication with parents should remain professional, courteous and related solely to tuition or safeguarding matters.
9. Online Behaviour Expectations
Everyone participating in online lessons is expected to behave respectfully.
The following behaviour will not be tolerated:
• bullying;
• cyberbullying;
• abusive language;
• discriminatory behaviour;
• sharing inappropriate material;
• threatening behaviour;
• deliberate disruption;
• recording lessons independently without permission.
Primary Tutor Project reserves the right to end lessons where behaviour places others at risk.
10. Screen Sharing
Tutors should monitor all screen sharing carefully.
Tutors should immediately stop screen sharing if:
• inappropriate content appears;
• a student deliberately shares harmful material;
• unexpected content is displayed.
Any concerning incident must be reported to the DSL.
11. Online Safeguarding Risks
Tutors should remain alert to indicators of:
• cyberbullying;
• online grooming;
• exploitation;
• radicalisation;
• sextortion;
• coercion;
• inappropriate online relationships;
• exposure to harmful content;
• self-harm;
• suicidal ideation;
• excessive online gaming where safeguarding concerns arise.
Safeguarding concerns should always be reported to the DSL.
12. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Primary Tutor Project recognises the growing use of AI technologies.
Students may use AI appropriately to support learning where directed by a tutor.
Students must not use AI to:
• impersonate another person;
• create harmful or inappropriate content;
• generate abusive material;
• deceive tutors regarding their own work.
Tutors should discuss responsible AI use with students where appropriate.
13. Information Security
Tutors are expected to:
• use secure passwords;
• protect their devices;
• install software updates;
• avoid public Wi-Fi where possible;
• lock devices when unattended;
• report any suspected data breach immediately.
14. Reporting Online Safety Concerns
Online safety concerns should be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Examples include:
• inappropriate online behaviour;
• concerning messages;
• online grooming;
• cyberbullying;
• inappropriate images;
• online exploitation;
• technology misuse;
• safeguarding concerns arising during online lessons.
The DSL will determine the appropriate response and, where necessary, involve parents, schools, Children's Social Care, the Police or other agencies.
15. Parents as Partners
Primary Tutor Project believes parents play a vital role in keeping children safe online.
Parents are encouraged to:
• remain engaged with their child's online learning;
• discuss internet safety regularly;
• supervise younger children appropriately;
• encourage children to speak openly if something online worries them;
• communicate any concerns to Primary Tutor Project promptly.
Where appropriate and safe to do so, tutors will share online safety concerns with parents so that children receive consistent support both during tuition and at home.
However, where sharing information may place a child at increased risk of harm or compromise a safeguarding investigation, tutors must refer the matter to the DSL before discussing it with parents.
16. Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed:
• annually;
• following significant safeguarding incidents;
• following changes to legislation or statutory guidance;
• following changes to Primary Tutor Project's technology or systems.
Last Reviewed: July 2026
Next Review Due: July 2027
Contact Information
