Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

Mr Ryan’s Tutoring

Last reviewed: June 2026
Next review date: June 2027
Safeguarding Lead: Ryan Houghton
Contact: ryanstutoring1@outlook.com

1. Our Commitment

At Mr Ryan’s Tutoring, the safety, wellbeing and protection of children and young people is our highest priority.

We provide tutoring for children from Reception to GCSE, both online and in person. We are committed to creating a safe, respectful and supportive learning environment where every student feels valued, listened to and protected.

This policy applies to all tutors, staff, freelancers, volunteers and anyone working on behalf of Mr Ryan’s Tutoring.

2. Purpose of This Policy

The purpose of this policy is to:

  • Protect children and young people who receive tutoring through Mr Ryan’s Tutoring.

  • Provide clear guidance to tutors and staff on safeguarding expectations.

  • Explain how concerns about a child’s welfare should be handled.

  • Reassure parents and carers that safeguarding is taken seriously.

  • Promote safe, professional and appropriate behaviour at all times.

3. Our Safeguarding Principles

Mr Ryan’s Tutoring believes that:

  • Every child has the right to feel safe.

  • Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

  • Concerns must be taken seriously and responded to appropriately.

  • Tutors must maintain professional boundaries with students at all times.

  • Parents and carers should be kept informed where appropriate.

  • Children should be treated with dignity, respect and fairness.

4. Safer Recruitment and Tutor Suitability

Mr Ryan’s Tutoring aims to ensure that all tutors and staff are suitable to work with children and young people.

Where appropriate, this may include:

  • Identity checks.

  • DBS checks.

  • Reference checks.

  • Reviewing relevant experience and qualifications.

  • Clear expectations around professional conduct.

  • Ongoing monitoring of tutor behaviour and performance.

Tutors are expected to act professionally, communicate appropriately and follow this safeguarding policy at all times.

5. Professional Boundaries

Tutors and staff must maintain clear professional boundaries with students.

Tutors must not:

  • Communicate with students in a personal, inappropriate or secretive way.

  • Contact students privately outside agreed tutoring arrangements.

  • Add students on personal social media accounts.

  • Share personal or inappropriate content with students.

  • Meet students outside agreed tutoring sessions without parental/carer knowledge and consent.

  • Make comments that could make a student feel uncomfortable, embarrassed or unsafe.

Communication about lessons should usually take place through parents, carers or approved business communication channels.

6. Online Tutoring Safety

For online lessons, Mr Ryan’s Tutoring expects tutors to create a safe and professional learning environment.

This includes:

  • Using appropriate online platforms.

  • Making sure lessons take place in a suitable and professional setting.

  • Encouraging students to attend lessons from an appropriate space at home.

  • Avoiding unnecessary personal conversations.

  • Ensuring parents or carers are aware of online lesson arrangements.

  • Not recording lessons unless there is a clear reason and permission has been given.

Tutors must report any concerns that arise during online lessons to the Safeguarding Lead.

7. Face-to-Face Tutoring Safety

For face-to-face tutoring, tutors should work in a safe, appropriate and agreed location.

Tutors should:

  • Ensure parents or carers know when and where the lesson is taking place.

  • Avoid unnecessary physical contact.

  • Keep the learning environment professional.

  • Report any concerns about a child’s wellbeing, behaviour or safety.

  • Follow any agreed household, venue or business safety arrangements.

Where possible, tutoring should take place in a suitable shared or visible space, rather than an isolated private area.

8. Recognising Safeguarding Concerns

Safeguarding concerns may arise from something a student says, something a tutor observes, changes in behaviour, or concerns raised by a parent, carer, tutor or another person.

Tutors are not expected to investigate concerns themselves. However, they are expected to take concerns seriously, record relevant information accurately and report concerns promptly to the Safeguarding Lead.

9. Responding to a Concern

If a tutor or staff member has a concern about a child, they should:

  1. Stay calm and listen carefully.

  2. Reassure the child that they have done the right thing by speaking up.

  3. Avoid asking leading questions.

  4. Do not promise to keep secrets.

  5. Record the concern clearly, using the child’s own words where possible.

  6. Report the concern to the Safeguarding Lead as soon as possible.

If a child is believed to be at immediate risk of harm, emergency services should be contacted straight away by calling 999.

10. Reporting and Escalation

The Safeguarding Lead is responsible for reviewing safeguarding concerns and deciding the appropriate next steps.

This may include:

  • Speaking with a parent or carer, where appropriate.

  • Seeking advice from the NSPCC Helpline.

  • Contacting the relevant local authority children’s services.

  • Contacting emergency services if a child is at immediate risk.

All safeguarding concerns will be handled sensitively, professionally and in line with the need to protect the child.

11. Allegations Against Tutors or Staff

Any allegation or concern about the behaviour of a tutor, staff member, freelancer or volunteer will be taken seriously.

This may include concerns about:

  • Inappropriate communication.

  • Breaches of professional boundaries.

  • Unsafe conduct.

  • Behaviour that makes a student feel uncomfortable or at risk.

Where necessary, Mr Ryan’s Tutoring may suspend tutoring arrangements while the concern is reviewed. Advice may also be sought from the relevant local authority, the NSPCC or other appropriate safeguarding professionals.

12. Confidentiality and Record Keeping

Safeguarding information will be treated confidentially and shared only with those who need to know in order to protect the child.

Records of safeguarding concerns should be:

  • Clear and factual.

  • Stored securely.

  • Shared only where appropriate.

  • Kept separate from general tutoring notes where possible.

Confidentiality will never be used as a reason to avoid taking action where a child may be at risk.

13. Photography, Videos and Student Information

Mr Ryan’s Tutoring will not use photos, videos, names, testimonials or personal information about students for marketing purposes without appropriate permission from a parent or carer.

Tutors must not take or share images of students for personal use.

Any student information used for learning, administration or communication must be handled responsibly and in line with the business privacy policy.

14. Bullying, Discrimination and Respect

Mr Ryan’s Tutoring does not tolerate bullying, harassment, discrimination or intimidation.

All students should be treated with respect regardless of age, ability, background, gender, race, religion, disability or personal circumstances.

Tutors are expected to create a positive learning environment where students feel safe, supported and encouraged.

15. Whistleblowing

Tutors, staff, parents and students should feel able to raise concerns about unsafe practice.

Anyone who has a concern about the conduct of a tutor, staff member or the business’s safeguarding approach should contact the Safeguarding Lead.

Concerns will be taken seriously and handled appropriately.

16. Policy Review

This safeguarding policy will be reviewed at least once a year, or sooner if there are changes to safeguarding guidance, business practice or legal requirements.

Mr Ryan’s Tutoring is committed to regularly improving safeguarding practice to help keep children and young people safe.