Purpose and Scope 

The purpose of a safeguarding policy is: 

• to protect the children and young people who receive tutoring services from Victoria Wharam, from harm; 
• to respond to any allegations and/or any concerns relating to the welfare of a child or young adult for whom I provide tutoring services to; 
• I will undertake ongoing training to ensure that safeguarding protocols are up-to-date and understood. 

This policy applies to Victoria Wharam and Learning Launchpad. This policy will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis or earlier if there is a change in safeguarding protocols. 

Responsibilities 

I recognise that I have a responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of my students. This responsibility includes: 

• ensuring I have a DBS check completed each year;
• ensuring that I undertake appropriate safeguarding training at least once every two years; 
• endeavouring to keep up-to-date with any new information about safeguarding and child protection and updating this policy accordingly to include any changes; 
• in the event of a safeguarding concern, I will notify the Local Authority Safeguarding Lead for the appropriate county or the National Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).  

Recruitment 

As an independent tutor, I use a third party (The Tutors’ Association - TTA) to have my own DBS check completed on an annual basis. As a member of The Tutors’ Association, I am required to hold a recent Enhanced DBS Check (issued within the last 12 months) or have registered for the DBS Update Service. I have also agreed to TTA’s Code of Practice and supplied two references upon joining. You can use the Member Register to verify a Tutor or Tuition Business membership, which will confirm my DBS status, by using this link: https://thetutorsassociation.co.uk/member-register

Reporting safeguarding concerns 

If a student tells me that they or another child is being abused I will: 

• show that I have heard what they are saying, and that I take their allegations seriously; 
• encourage the child to talk, without prompting them or asking them leading questions. I will not interrupt 
• when a child is recalling significant events and will not make a child repeat their account;
• reassure the child that they can tell me anything that is worrying them, but that I cannot promise not to tell anybody because some things have to be passed on in order to keep them safe;
• explain what actions I must take, in a way that is appropriate to the age and understanding of the child;
• record what I have been told, as soon as I can, using exact words where possible;
• make a note of the date, time, place and people who were present during the disclosure.

I will contact the Safeguarding Lead for the relevant Local Authority or NSPCC. If I am concerned that the child is in immediate danger, I will call the police. 

If I have suspicions of a safeguarding or welfare concern in relation to one
of my students I will: 

contact the Safeguarding Lead for the relevant Local Authority or the NSPCC. If I am concerned that the child is in immediate danger, I will call the police. 

Useful Contact Details 

if there were a concern relating to one of my students, I would need to make contact with the Safeguarding Lead for the local authority of my student’s home town. 

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough:

https://www.safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk/concerned/professionals-reporting-a-concern/

East Sussex:

https://adultsocialcare.eastsussex.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/presafeguardingpage 

NSPCC:

https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/services/nspcc-helpline 

Surrey:

https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/children/contact-childrens-services

West Sussex:

https://www.westsussexscp.org.uk/report-a-concern-about-a-child

Training 

I will undertake safeguarding and child protection training at least every two years with the NSPCC and TTA. 

Please contact me if you would like a copy of my most recent training certificates.