Primary
Tutor Project
Safeguarding
Policy 2025-6
1. Purpose and Scope of This Policy
The purpose
of this policy is to:
- Protect
children and young people who receive services from Primary Tutor Project
from harm. This includes children of adults who use our services.
- Provide
clear principles to guide employees, tutors, parents, carers, and students
in our approach to safeguarding and child protection.
This policy
applies to anyone working on behalf of Primary Tutor Project, including
senior managers, contractors, tutors, and volunteers.
By engaging
our services, you agree to the safeguarding principles outlined here, including
our obligation to report concerns to relevant authorities when necessary to
protect a child or young person.
2. Legal Framework
This policy
is based on UK legislation, statutory guidance, and best practices, including
but not limited to:
- Children
Act 1989 & 2004
- Working
Together to Safeguard Children (2018)
- Keeping
Children Safe in Education (2024)
- The
Prevent Duty (2015)
- Data
Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
A summary of
current safeguarding legislation is available at nspcc.org.uk/learning.
3. Definitions
Safeguarding: Protecting children from harm, ensuring their health, safety, and
well-being.
Child Protection: Part of safeguarding, focusing on protecting individual children who
are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.
DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead): The person responsible for managing and responding
to safeguarding concerns.
Abuse: Can include physical, emotional, sexual abuse, neglect, bullying,
online abuse, exploitation, or exposure to harmful content or ideologies.
4. Our Commitment
We believe
that:
- Children
and young people should never experience abuse of any kind.
- Everyone
has a responsibility to promote the welfare and safety of children.
We recognise
that:
- The
welfare of children is paramount in all our work.
- All
children, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, religion, or
background, have equal rights to protection.
- Some
children may be more vulnerable due to previous experiences, communication
needs, or levels of dependency.
- Working
closely with families, carers, and relevant agencies is essential to
ensure children’s well-being.
5. How We Keep Children and Young People Safe
General Safeguarding Measures
We will:
- Ensure
children, parents, and staff know who to contact if they have concerns.
- Escalate
safeguarding concerns to the appropriate authorities without delay.
- Respect
and listen to children’s voices, and take concerns seriously.
- Appoint
a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
- Follow
safer recruitment practices, including enhanced DBS checks for all staff
and tutors.
- Provide
safeguarding training for all staff and tutors, refreshed annually.
- Follow
clear codes of conduct for staff and tutors, maintaining professional
boundaries at all times.
- Maintain
clear procedures for reporting and responding to concerns or allegations.
- Keep
accurate, confidential written records of all safeguarding concerns.
- Develop
and enforce anti-bullying, complaints, and whistleblowing procedures.
- Promote
a culture of openness, respect, and safeguarding awareness across our
service.
- Ensure
data is stored securely and handled according to UK GDPR.
Online Safety and Tutoring Practice
In online
sessions, we will:
- Signpost
safeguarding training to all tutors.
- Ensure
tutors use only first names with students and maintain professional
digital conduct.
- Require
both tutor and student to have cameras on during live sessions.
- Record
all sessions securely on our internal server. Recordings are accessible
only to the Primary Tutor Project team and the client and are deleted
after 30 days.
- Maintain
classroom-level behaviour expectations in all sessions.
- Recommend
that children are located in a shared or supervised space during sessions
(not their bedroom), with parents nearby and aware of the session.
6. Reporting and Managing Concerns
How to Raise a Concern
If a parent,
tutor, or child has a safeguarding concern:
- Contact
our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):
- Name: Callie Moir
- Email: callie@primarytutorproject.com
- Safeguarding
Training (TTA): Completed 24/07/2025
- If you
are uncomfortable reporting to the DSL or prefer to speak to someone
externally, you may contact:
- NSPCC
Helpline: 0808 800 5000
- In an
emergency or if a child is at immediate risk, call 999 or your local
child protection service.
Reporting for Tutors and Staff
- All
staff must report any concerns to the DSL as soon as possible, using the
internal reporting form or email.
- All
concerns will be documented, stored securely, and handled with
confidentiality.
- The DSL
will determine whether external agencies (e.g. local authority, LADO,
police) need to be contacted and will act swiftly to ensure the child’s
safety.
7. Allegations Against Staff or Tutors
- Allegations
of misconduct will be handled according to our safeguarding procedures.
- If an
allegation involves risk of harm to a child, we will notify the Local
Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and take appropriate steps.
- Staff
or tutors subject to an allegation may be suspended or removed from
teaching duties during investigation.
8. Prevent Duty
We are
committed to safeguarding children from exposure to extremist ideologies and
radicalisation. All staff are aware of their responsibilities under the Prevent
Duty and are trained to identify and report concerns relating to extremism.
9. Policy Review
This policy
will be reviewed annually, or earlier if there are updates to
legislation or significant changes in our service delivery.
Last reviewed: August 2025
Next review due: August 2026
Contact Information
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):
Callie Moir
📧 callie@primarytutorproject.com
TTA Safeguarding Training Completed: 24/07/2025
NSPCC Helpline:
📞 0808 800 5000
🌐 www.nspcc.org.uk
