Lichfield Biology Tuition
Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy
For tuition in a student’s home and online tuition
Effective from: 30 July 2026
Lichfield Biology Tuition is a sole-tutor service providing KS3 Science, GCSE Biology and A Level Biology tuition. Tuition may take place online or in the student’s/parent’s home. The welfare, safety and dignity of children and young people are paramount.
1. Purpose and scope
This policy applies to all tuition, communications and related activity undertaken by Lichfield Biology Tuition. For this policy, a child is anyone under 18. The policy is informed by current safeguarding guidance in England, including Working Together to Safeguard Children and Department for Education guidance for out-of-school settings, including private tuition.
2. Safeguarding responsibility
As a sole tutor, the proprietor/tutor is responsible for safeguarding within Lichfield Biology Tuition, including receiving concerns, keeping appropriate records and making referrals or seeking advice when necessary.
The tutor holds an Enhanced DBS certificate and is registered with the DBS Update Service. A DBS check supports safer working but does not replace safeguarding procedures or professional judgement.
3. Principles
Every child has the right to be safe, listened to and treated with respect.
Concerns about a child’s welfare will be taken seriously and acted upon promptly.
Professional boundaries will be maintained in person and online.
Information will be shared only when appropriate, but confidentiality will never be promised where a safeguarding concern exists.
Safeguarding decisions will place the child’s welfare first.
4. In-home tuition
For tuition in a student’s home, a parent/carer or another responsible adult aged 18 or over should normally be present in the property for the duration of the lesson. Any alternative arrangement must be agreed in advance with the parent/carer and must remain appropriate to the student’s age and circumstances.
Lessons should take place in a suitable teaching area, preferably a normal family/shared space or a room with appropriate visibility and access.
The tutor will not enter bedrooms or other private areas for the purpose of tuition unless there is an exceptional, legitimate reason and a parent/carer is present.
Physical contact will be avoided except where necessary to prevent immediate harm or where incidental and appropriate.
The tutor will not transport a student in a vehicle as part of the tuition service unless a separate, explicit arrangement has been agreed with the parent/carer and is lawful and appropriately insured.
Parents/carers should advise the tutor of relevant access, safety, allergy, medical or behavioural information needed to deliver the session safely.
5. Online tuition
Online tuition will be conducted through an agreed professional platform. Where the student is under 18, the parent/carer remains the contracting customer and should know when sessions are taking place.
Administrative communication and lesson arrangements will normally be made with the parent/carer.
Students should join from an appropriate location. The tutor will teach from an appropriate professional environment.
Private or disappearing-message social media accounts will not be used for tutor–student communication.
Sessions will not be recorded by the tutor unless there is a clear educational reason and the parent/carer has given prior informed agreement. Students/parents must not record or distribute sessions without the tutor’s prior agreement.
If inappropriate material, behaviour or an unexpected safeguarding concern arises online, the tutor may end or pause the session and contact the parent/carer as appropriate.
6. Professional boundaries and communication
Communication will be professional, proportionate and related to tuition.
For under-18s, parents/carers should be the main contact for bookings, payment, progress and administrative matters.
One-to-one communication with a student may occur where educationally necessary, but the tutor will use appropriate professional channels and boundaries.
The tutor will not develop inappropriate personal, financial or social relationships with students.
Photographs, testimonials, student work or identifying information will not be published for marketing without appropriate permission.
7. Responding to a disclosure or concern
If a student discloses abuse, neglect or another safeguarding concern, the tutor will listen calmly, avoid leading questions, explain that the information may need to be shared to keep them or someone else safe, and make an accurate factual record as soon as possible.
Where there is a concern that a child may be at risk of harm, the tutor will consider contacting the relevant local authority children’s social care service and/or seeking safeguarding advice. If a child or another person is in immediate danger, emergency services will be contacted. A parent/carer will normally be informed unless doing so could increase risk to the child, prejudice an investigation, or otherwise be inappropriate.
8. Allegations or concerns about the tutor
Any allegation that the tutor has harmed a child, may have harmed a child, committed an offence against a child, or behaved in a way indicating a safeguarding risk must be taken seriously. Appropriate advice/referral will be sought from the relevant local authority safeguarding service/LADO and, where necessary, the police or DBS.
9. Records and information sharing
Safeguarding records will be factual, dated, stored securely and kept separately from routine teaching notes where practicable. Information may be shared with safeguarding agencies, schools, police or other relevant professionals where this is necessary and lawful to protect a child. Safeguarding information will not be withheld solely because consent has not been obtained where sharing is necessary to protect a child.
10. Review
This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner if safeguarding guidance, the service offered, or relevant circumstances change.
Website contact
Safeguarding contact: enquiries@LichfieldBiologyTuition.co.uk