1. Introduction

At Tutor Stone, we are committed to ensuring the safety, well-being, and protection of children and young people participating in our tutoring services. This Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy is designed to provide a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for all children and young people and to outline our commitment to their welfare. We operate in full compliance with the legal and regulatory frameworks established to safeguard children.

Definitions

In this policy, certain key terms and definitions are essential for clarity:

  • Child: A child is defined as anyone under the age of 18 years, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
  • Safeguarding: Safeguarding is the process of protecting children from abuse (including emotional, physical, financial, sexual, neglect, bullying, radicalisation, and all other forms), exploitation, and other forms of harm, while ensuring their health, development, and well-being.
  • Child Protection: Child protection refers to the measures and procedures implemented to protect children from abuse, exploitation, and harm. It encompasses actions taken to safeguard children who may be at risk of abuse or neglect.
  • Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): The DSL is a trained and responsible individual within Tutor Stone who is responsible for overseeing child safeguarding procedures, reporting concerns, and coordinating child protection efforts.
  • Child Protection Act 2004: The Children Act 2004 is a key piece of legislation in the United Kingdom that provides a framework for child protection and sets out the responsibilities of local authorities and organizations working with children to safeguard and promote their welfare.

Legal Framework

Our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy is developed and implemented in strict compliance with the Children Act 2004 and other relevant legal and statutory guidance, including “Working Together to Safeguard Children.” These legal requirements establish a framework for child protection and set out the responsibilities of organizations to ensure the safety and well-being of children.

Tutor Stone is committed to promoting a culture of vigilance, responsibility, and respect for the rights and dignity of all children. This policy reflects our dedication to the highest standards of child safeguarding and protection.

This policy is a living document that will be regularly reviewed and updated to stay in line with changing laws and best practices, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to the safeguarding of children and young people.

2. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to safeguard children and young people who come into contact with Tutor Stone from abuse, exploitation, and harm. It encompasses all aspects of our organization, including the conduct of our team members, the design and delivery of our programs, and the commitment of Tutor Stone to prioritize child protection.

This policy defines the commitments made by Tutor Stone and communicates the responsibilities of all team members, ensuring that children’s safety and well-being are at the forefront of our operations.

3. Scope

This policy applies to all members of staff, tutors, and all associated person(s) of Tutor Stone including, consultants, volunteers, advisors, programme visitors such as guest speakers, journalists, and anyone providing external training.

4. Policy Statement

Tutor Stone acknowledges that the welfare of children is paramount. We are dedicated to providing a secure and nurturing environment in which children and young people can learn and develop. We adhere to the following principles:

  • All children have the right to be protected from harm and abuse.
  • All children and young people, regardless of their age, gender, disability, race, religion, or belief, have a right to equal protection.
  • All staff members and tutors share the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children

Tutor Stone will not tolerate any abuse or exploitation by members of staff, tutors, consultants, or any other associated person(s). Tutor Stone will make sure that all of its staff are recruited through a careful screening process, performing relevant background checks, including DBS checks, where appropriate.

5. Safeguarding Procedures

Tutor Stone implements the following safeguarding procedures:

a. Safer Recruitment:

  • We conduct thorough background checks and vetting of all staff members and tutors, including DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks where applicable.

b. Training and Awareness:

  • All staff members and tutors are trained in recognizing signs of abuse or harm and the appropriate procedures for reporting concerns.
  • All staff and tutors are made aware of the appropriate and inappropriate ways to interact with their students, according to our Tutor Code of Conduct.
  • All staff and tutors are expected to act in accordance with our Tutor Code of Conduct, and failure to do so will result in disciplinary action being taken against them.

c. Reporting Procedures:

  • Anyone who has concerns about the welfare of a child is encouraged to report it to Tutor Stone management by emailing safeguarding@tutorstone.com. We follow our reporting procedures in compliance with relevant legislation and regulations.

d. Confidentiality:

  • All information regarding child safeguarding concerns is treated with the utmost confidentiality and shared only with relevant individuals on a need-to-know basis, for the protection of the child.
  • Individuals or organisations that we may share safeguarding concerns with include:
    • Parents/guardians; and (where applicable)
    • Law enforcement officers and child protection services

e. Online Safety:

  • For online tutoring, we ensure the use of secure and age-appropriate platforms and uphold strict guidelines for appropriate online conduct.

f. Record Keeping:

  • We maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all safeguarding concerns and incidents.
  • We record all our lessons in order to investigate any safeguarding complaints, perform regular safeguarding checks, and evaluate the quality of teaching provided by our tutors.

g. Regular Review:

  • We regularly review and update our safeguarding procedures to stay in line with changing laws and best practices.

6. Child Participation

Tutor Stone acknowledges the importance of children’s participation in their own safeguarding. We aim to involve children and young people in decisions that affect them, respect their views, and make sure they understand how to voice concerns.

7. Allegations of Misconduct

Tutor Stone takes allegations of misconduct seriously. If any staff member or tutor is accused of misconduct concerning a child, we will initiate an investigation following the appropriate guidelines and legal requirements.

8. Conclusion

Tutor Stone is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people. We are dedicated to providing a secure and nurturing environment that respects the rights, dignity, and well-being of all children. This policy is under regular review and will be updated as necessary.

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