Primary Tutor Project Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Created: 6 August 2024
Last Reviewed: June 2026
Next Review Due: June 2027

Safeguarding Policy Summary

This policy explains how Primary Tutor Project safeguards children and young people who use our services.

Our commitment

The welfare of the child is paramount.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
Children should be listened to and concerns should be taken seriously.
All safeguarding concerns are recorded, handled confidentially and escalated where appropriate.

Online tutoring safety

Online lessons are recorded for safeguarding, quality assurance and complaint investigation purposes.
Recordings are stored securely and automatically deleted after 30 days unless they are required for safeguarding, legal, regulatory or complaint investigation purposes.
Students are encouraged to learn in an appropriate shared family space where possible.

Safeguarding contacts

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Callie Moir
Email: callie@primarytutorproject.com
NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000
Emergency Services: 999

Important: This summary is provided for convenience only. The full Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy below contains the complete wording and should be read in full.

Full Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

1. Purpose and Scope

1. Purpose and Scope Primary Tutor Project is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people who engage with our services. The purpose of this policy is to: • Protect children and young people who receive services from Primary Tutor Project. • Provide staff, tutors, parents, carers and students with clear safeguarding procedures. • Ensure all concerns are identified, reported and managed appropriately. • Create a culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. This policy applies to: • Primary Tutor Project staff • Self-employed tutors • Contractors • Volunteers • Students • Parents and carers By engaging with Primary Tutor Project, all parties agree to support the safeguarding principles outlined within this policy.

2. Legal Framework

2. Legal Framework This policy is informed by current UK safeguarding legislation and guidance, including: • Children Act 1989 • Children Act 2004 • Working Together to Safeguard Children (latest version) • Keeping Children Safe in Education (latest version) • The Prevent Duty Guidance • Sexual Offences Act 2003 • Online Safety Act 2023 • Data Protection Act 2018 • UK GDPR

3. Definitions

3. Definitions Safeguarding Protecting children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and harm while promoting their welfare and development. Child Protection Part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. It refers to protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Child Any person under the age of 18. Adult at Risk An adult who may be unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect or exploitation due to age, disability, illness or other circumstances. Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) The individual responsible for managing safeguarding concerns and ensuring appropriate action is taken. Abuse Abuse may include: • Physical abuse • Emotional abuse • Sexual abuse • Neglect • Bullying • Cyberbullying • Online abuse • Grooming • Exploitation • Radicalisation • Domestic abuse • Harmful sexual behaviour

4. Roles and Responsibilities

4. Roles and Responsibilities Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Name: Callie Moir Email: callie@primarytutorproject.com The DSL is responsible for: • Receiving safeguarding concerns. • Maintaining safeguarding records. • Liaising with external agencies where appropriate. • Supporting tutors and parents. • Ensuring safeguarding procedures are followed. • Reviewing safeguarding policies regularly. Tutors and Staff All tutors and staff are responsible for: • Maintaining safeguarding awareness. • Reporting concerns immediately. • Following this policy. • Maintaining professional boundaries. • Acting in the best interests of children.

5. Safer Recruitment and Tutor Checks

5. Safer Recruitment and Tutor Checks Primary Tutor Project is committed to safer recruitment practices. Before a tutor is permitted to teach through Primary Tutor Project, we will: • Verify identity. • Verify qualifications where relevant. • Obtain evidence of an Enhanced DBS Certificate and/or DBS Update Service status. • Where a tutor is not subscribed to the DBS Update Service, their Enhanced DBS Certificate must be dated within the previous twelve months. • Verify the right to work where applicable. • Obtain references. • Review employment history where relevant. • Require agreement to Primary Tutor Project's safeguarding policies and professional conduct expectations. Primary Tutor Project strongly encourages all tutors to undertake safeguarding training and maintain up-to-date safeguarding knowledge. We will signpost tutors to recognised safeguarding training and resources and provide safeguarding guidance and updates where appropriate.

6. Our Safeguarding Principles

6. Our Safeguarding Principles We believe: • Children should never experience abuse of any kind. • The welfare of the child is paramount. • Every child has the right to protection regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or background. • Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. • Children should be listened to and taken seriously. • Effective safeguarding requires partnership between tutors, parents, schools and relevant agencies.

7. Tutor Code of Conduct

7. Tutor Code of Conduct All tutors must maintain professional boundaries at all times. Tutors must not: • Share personal social media accounts with students. • Communicate with students outside approved platforms. • Exchange personal contact details directly with students. • Arrange meetings outside authorised tuition arrangements. • Request students keep secrets. • Use inappropriate, discriminatory, humiliating or sexual language. • Develop inappropriate personal relationships with students. • Ignore safeguarding concerns. • Continue a lesson where there is an immediate safeguarding risk. Tutors must: • Behave professionally at all times. • Report concerns promptly. • Follow safeguarding procedures. • Maintain appropriate boundaries.

8. Online Tutoring Safety

8. Online Tutoring Safety As an online tuition provider, we recognise the additional safeguarding considerations involved in remote learning. We therefore: • Strongly encourage all tutors to complete safeguarding training and maintain current safeguarding knowledge. • Require cameras to remain on during live sessions unless otherwise agreed. • Record all online lessons. • Store recordings securely. • Restrict access to recordings to authorised individuals only. • Automatically delete recordings after 30 days unless required for safeguarding, legal, regulatory or complaint investigation purposes. • Require tutors to maintain professional online conduct. • Encourage students to work in a shared family space where possible. • Encourage parents of younger children to remain nearby during sessions. Tutors should remain alert to: • Inappropriate online behaviour. • Cyberbullying. • Grooming risks. • Online exploitation. • Self-harm concerns. • Radicalisation concerns. • Inappropriate content shared via screen-sharing or messaging features.

9. Parent and Student Expectations

9. Parent and Student Expectations Parents and carers should: • Ensure students attend lessons in an appropriate environment. • Inform Primary Tutor Project of any safeguarding concerns. • Remain available during sessions for younger students. • Ensure students are appropriately dressed and supervised. • Respect professional boundaries with tutors. Students are expected to: • Behave respectfully during lessons. • Use online platforms appropriately. • Follow tutor instructions. • Report anything that makes them feel unsafe.

10. Recognising Safeguarding Concerns

10. Recognising Safeguarding Concerns Tutors and staff should remain vigilant for signs of: • Physical abuse. • Emotional abuse. • Sexual abuse. • Neglect. • Self-harm. • Eating disorders. • Bullying. • Exploitation. • Domestic abuse. • Radicalisation. • Online harm. A safeguarding concern may arise from: • Direct disclosure. • Behavioural changes. • Observation. • Information from a third party. • Online interactions.

11. Responding to Disclosures

11. Responding to Disclosures If a child discloses abuse or harm: Tutors and staff should: • Remain calm. • Listen carefully. • Reassure the child they have done the right thing. • Explain that the information cannot be kept secret. • Avoid asking leading questions. • Avoid investigating the concern themselves. • Record the disclosure as accurately as possible. • Report the concern to the DSL immediately. Tutors and staff must never promise confidentiality.

12. Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

12. Reporting Safeguarding Concerns All safeguarding concerns must be reported to the DSL as soon as possible. DSL Contact Callie Moir Email: callie@primarytutorproject.com Reports should include: • Date and time. • Names of those involved. • Factual description of the concern. • Exact words used where possible. • Actions taken. The DSL will assess the concern and determine whether further action is required. This may include referral to: • Children's Social Care. • Police. • Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). • Schools. • Other safeguarding agencies. If a child is in immediate danger, emergency services should be contacted immediately by calling 999.

13. Allegations Against Staff or Tutors

13. Allegations Against Staff or Tutors Any allegation involving a tutor, staff member or contractor will be taken seriously. The DSL will: • Assess the allegation. • Seek advice from the LADO where appropriate. • Maintain confidentiality. • Record actions taken. • Take appropriate protective measures. A tutor may be suspended or removed from teaching duties while an investigation is ongoing where appropriate.

14. Prevent Duty and Online Harms

14. Prevent Duty and Online Harms Primary Tutor Project is committed to protecting children from: • Radicalisation. • Extremism. • Terrorist ideology. • Harmful online content. Tutors and staff are expected to recognise indicators of concern and report them to the DSL.

15. Recording, Storage and Confidentiality

15. Recording, Storage and Confidentiality Safeguarding records will: • Be factual and accurate. • Be dated and timed. • Be stored securely. • Be accessible only to authorised individuals. • Be retained in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Information will only be shared on a need-to-know basis unless disclosure is necessary to protect a child or comply with legal obligations.

16. Whistleblowing

16. Whistleblowing Primary Tutor Project encourages tutors and staff to raise concerns regarding unsafe practice, safeguarding failures or misconduct. Concerns may be raised directly with the DSL. Individuals raising genuine concerns in good faith will not suffer disadvantage or retaliation.

17. Policy Review

17. Policy Review This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner where: • Legislation changes. • Government guidance changes. • Safeguarding incidents identify the need for updates. • Significant operational changes occur. Last Reviewed: June 2026 Next Review Due: June 2027 Contact Information Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Callie Moir Email: callie@primarytutorproject.com NSPCC Helpline Telephone: 0808 800 5000 Website: www.nspcc.org.uk Emergency Services Telephone: 999 Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Tutors and staff should contact the DSL in the first instance, who will liaise with the relevant LADO where appropriate.