SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

 

Bright Bee Tutors

Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

Last updated: 18 August 2026
Policy owner: Bright Bee Tutors
Website: brightbeetutors.com
Contact: brightbeestutors@gmail.com

 

1. Purpose of this policy

Bright Bee Tutors is committed to protecting and promoting the welfare of every child and young person who uses our tutoring services.

Safeguarding is a fundamental responsibility of Bright Bee Tutors and everyone working on our behalf.

This policy explains how Bright Bee Tutors will:

• protect children from harm;

• promote their welfare and wellbeing;

• identify and respond to safeguarding concerns;

• recruit and vet tutors safely;

• establish appropriate professional boundaries;

• provide safe online tutoring;

• respond to allegations or concerns involving tutors;

• share information appropriately where necessary to protect a child; and

• work with parents, guardians and relevant authorities when concerns arise.

This policy applies to all Bright Bee Tutors personnel, including:

• owners and management;

• tutors;

• prospective tutors during the recruitment process;

• administrative staff;

• contractors and other individuals working on behalf of Bright Bee Tutors.

Bright Bee Tutors expects every person working with us to understand that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

 

2. Our safeguarding commitment

Bright Bee Tutors believes that every child has the right to:

• feel safe;

• be treated with dignity and respect;

• learn in an environment free from abuse and discrimination;

• have their views listened to;

• have their privacy respected appropriately;

• be protected from harm;

• receive appropriate support when concerns arise.

We will take all reasonable and proportionate steps to safeguard children using our services.

We will place the child's welfare and best interests at the centre of our safeguarding decisions.

We recognise that safeguarding concerns can arise both online and offline and that children may experience more than one form of harm at the same time.

 

3. Legislative and guidance framework

Bright Bee Tutors will have regard to applicable UK legislation and safeguarding guidance, including:

• Children Act 1989;

• Children Act 2004;

• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006;

• Equality Act 2010;

• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012;

• Children and Social Work Act 2017;

• Data Protection Act 2018;

• UK General Data Protection Regulation;

• Working Together to Safeguard Children;

• Keeping Children Safe in Education, where applicable and relevant;

• relevant Disclosure and Barring Service guidance; and

• relevant local safeguarding partnership procedures.

The current statutory safeguarding framework in England is set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.

Bright Bee Tutors will review this policy when relevant legislation, statutory guidance or safeguarding procedures change.

 

4. Who is a child?

For the purposes of this policy, a child means anyone under the age of 18.

Bright Bee Tutors may provide tutoring to children and young people across different age groups, including pupils undertaking GCSE and A-level study.

We recognise that older teenagers may have increasing independence and understanding. However, they remain children for safeguarding purposes until they reach 18.

 

5. Types of safeguarding concerns

Safeguarding concerns may include, but are not limited to:

Physical abuse

Including hitting, shaking, poisoning, burning, inappropriate physical punishment or other physical harm.

Emotional or psychological abuse

Including persistent criticism, humiliation, threats, intimidation, controlling behaviour or emotional mistreatment.

Sexual abuse

Including inappropriate sexual contact, sexual exploitation, grooming, sexual communication or exposure to sexual material.

Neglect

Including persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical, emotional, educational or medical needs.

Online abuse and exploitation

Including:

• online grooming;

• inappropriate contact;

• sexual exploitation;

• coercion;

• cyberbullying;

• exposure to harmful content;

• inappropriate sharing of images;

• exploitation through social media or online platforms.

Bullying and cyberbullying

Including repeated physical, verbal, social or online behaviour intended to harm, intimidate or isolate a child.

Discrimination and hate-related abuse

Including abuse or harassment related to protected characteristics or other aspects of a child's identity.

Domestic abuse

Children may be harmed directly or indirectly by domestic abuse within their home or family environment.

Child sexual exploitation

Children may be exploited for sexual purposes through relationships, coercion, manipulation, money, gifts, status or online activity.

Criminal or group exploitation

Children may be vulnerable to exploitation by individuals or groups, including involvement in criminal activity.

Self-harm or suicidal thoughts

Any disclosure or observation suggesting that a child may be at risk of serious harm to themselves must be treated seriously and escalated appropriately.

Neglect of educational or emotional needs

Concerns about a child's welfare may sometimes become apparent through changes in engagement, behaviour, attendance or communication during tutoring.

Tutors are not expected to diagnose or investigate safeguarding concerns. Their responsibility is to recognise concerns, respond appropriately and report them.

 

6. Recognising safeguarding concerns

Safeguarding concerns may be identified through:

• something a child says;

• something a child writes or communicates online;

• a change in a child's behaviour;

• a disclosure;

• an injury or unexplained physical sign;

• concerning behaviour by an adult;

• concerning interactions during an online lesson;

• information provided by a parent or guardian;

• information provided by another professional;

• a tutor's observation;

• information contained within a recorded lesson; or

• information received through another legitimate source.

A concern does not need to be proven before it is reported.

Tutors should not wait until they are certain that abuse or neglect has occurred.

 

7. What tutors must do if a child discloses a concern

If a child tells a tutor something that suggests they may be at risk of harm, the tutor should:

1. remain calm;

2. listen carefully;

3. allow the child to speak without interruption;

4. take the child seriously;

5. reassure the child that they have done the right thing by speaking;

6. explain that the information cannot necessarily be kept secret;

7. avoid promising confidentiality;

8. avoid asking leading or investigative questions;

9. avoid expressing disbelief or shock;

10. record the child's words as accurately as possible; and

11. report the concern to Bright Bee's designated safeguarding person as soon as possible.

The tutor should not attempt to investigate the allegation themselves.

The tutor should not confront the alleged perpetrator.

 

8. Confidentiality

Bright Bee Tutors will respect children's privacy.

However, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where information indicates that a child may be at risk of harm.

Information may need to be shared with:

• Bright Bee's safeguarding lead;

• the child's parent or guardian where appropriate;

• children's social care;

• the police;

• another safeguarding professional; or

• another relevant authority or organisation.

Information will be shared on a need-to-know basis and in accordance with applicable safeguarding and data protection requirements.

The safety of the child takes priority where there is a genuine safeguarding concern.

 

9. Safeguarding Lead

Bright Bee Tutors will appoint a person responsible for overseeing safeguarding arrangements.

Designated Safeguarding Lead:
Bright Bee Tutors Management

Contact: info@brightbeetutors.com

The safeguarding lead is responsible for:

• overseeing safeguarding procedures;

• receiving safeguarding concerns;

• ensuring concerns are appropriately recorded;

• deciding what action should be taken;

• contacting relevant authorities where necessary;

• maintaining safeguarding records;

• ensuring tutors understand their safeguarding responsibilities;

• overseeing safeguarding training;

• reviewing safeguarding procedures;

• responding to allegations involving tutors; and

• ensuring safeguarding remains a priority within Bright Bee Tutors.

Where a concern involves the safeguarding lead, the concern must be reported to the other Bright Bee owner/manager and, where appropriate, directly to the relevant safeguarding authority.

 

10. Immediate danger

If a tutor believes that a child is in immediate danger of serious harm, they should not wait for a response from Bright Bee Tutors before seeking emergency assistance.

The appropriate emergency services should be contacted where necessary.

For example, if there is an immediate threat to a child's safety, the police or emergency services should be contacted.

The tutor should then inform Bright Bee Tutors as soon as reasonably possible.

 

11. Reporting safeguarding concerns

All safeguarding concerns must be reported promptly.

A tutor should provide:

• the child's name;

• the date and time of the concern;

• what was observed or disclosed;

• the child's exact words where possible;

• any relevant contextual information;

• what action the tutor took; and

• any other information that may help assess the concern.

The tutor should distinguish between:

what they know or observed and what they believe or suspect.

Reports should be factual and objective.

 

12. Safeguarding records

Bright Bee Tutors will maintain appropriate safeguarding records.

Records should include:

• the date and time of the concern;

• the person making the report;

• the child concerned;

• the nature of the concern;

• relevant factual information;

• action taken;

• who the concern was reported to;

• any information shared with external agencies;

• the outcome where known; and

• any further action required.

Safeguarding records will be stored securely and separately from general lesson or administrative information where appropriate.

Access will be restricted to authorised individuals with a legitimate safeguarding reason.

Safeguarding records will be retained in accordance with Bright Bee's Data Protection & Privacy Policy and applicable legal requirements.

 

13. Information sharing

Bright Bee Tutors understands that appropriate information sharing can be essential to protecting children.

We will share information where necessary and proportionate to:

• protect a child from harm;

• prevent serious harm;

• support a safeguarding assessment;

• comply with a legal obligation;

• respond to a lawful request;

• support an investigation; or

• protect another individual where appropriate.

Data protection legislation should not be treated as a barrier to necessary and proportionate safeguarding information sharing.

However, Bright Bee Tutors will avoid unnecessary disclosure and will only share information with appropriate individuals or organisations.

The 2026 Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance reinforces the importance of appropriate multi-agency information sharing in safeguarding.

 

14. Parents and guardians

Parents and guardians play an important role in safeguarding.

Bright Bee Tutors will generally communicate with the parent or guardian where appropriate regarding:

• safeguarding concerns;

• significant welfare concerns;

• serious incidents;

• changes affecting the child's safety;

• concerns regarding online tutoring; and

• appropriate follow-up actions.

However, parents or guardians will not automatically be informed where doing so could:

• place the child at greater risk;

• compromise a safeguarding investigation;

• place another person at risk; or

• otherwise be inappropriate.

In these circumstances, Bright Bee Tutors may seek advice from children's social care, the police or another appropriate safeguarding professional.

 

15. Online tutoring safety

Because Bright Bee Tutors provides online tutoring, additional safeguards apply to virtual lessons.

Tutors must:

• use the agreed Bright Bee communication and tutoring platforms;

• maintain professional communication at all times;

• avoid private communication with students outside approved channels;

• avoid contacting students through personal social media accounts;

• avoid sharing personal social media accounts with students;

• avoid unnecessary disclosure of personal information;

• maintain appropriate professional boundaries;

• avoid inappropriate jokes, comments or conversations;

• ensure that lesson content is appropriate for the student's age;

• report concerning online behaviour;

• follow Bright Bee's recording requirements; and

• report technical or safeguarding issues promptly.

Where possible, tutoring sessions should take place in an appropriate environment where the student can participate safely.

Parents or guardians are encouraged to ensure that students have an appropriate and safe place from which to participate in online lessons.

 

16. Tutor communication with students

Tutors must maintain a professional relationship with every student.

Tutors must not:

• flirt with or engage in romantic behaviour towards a student;

• engage in sexualised conversations;

• request or exchange inappropriate images;

• use sexually suggestive language;

• meet students privately outside approved Bright Bee arrangements;

• give students personal gifts without authorisation;

• lend or borrow money from students;

• communicate secretly with students;

• encourage students to hide communications from parents or Bright Bee;

• add students to personal social media accounts;

• use disappearing-message functions for tutoring communication; or

• encourage a student to move communications to an unapproved platform.

Tutors must never exploit a position of trust or authority.

 

17. Tutor-student boundaries

Bright Bee recognises that tutors may develop positive and supportive relationships with students.

However, professional boundaries must always be maintained.

A tutor may be friendly, encouraging and supportive without becoming a student's friend, confidant or substitute parent.

If a student discusses personal difficulties, the tutor should listen appropriately but should not attempt to provide specialist counselling or mental-health treatment unless appropriately qualified and authorised to do so.

Where appropriate, concerns should be reported through Bright Bee's safeguarding procedures.

 

18. Safer recruitment

Bright Bee Tutors will take reasonable steps to ensure that individuals working with children are suitable for their role.

Our recruitment process may include:

• application screening;

• review of qualifications and educational experience;

• interview;

• assessment or teaching demonstration;

• safeguarding questions;

• identity verification;

• right-to-work checks where applicable;

• reference checks where appropriate;

• DBS checks where legally eligible and appropriate;

• review of relevant safeguarding training;

• review of relevant experience working with children; and

• ongoing monitoring of suitability.

We will not knowingly allow a person to undertake work with children where we have reason to believe that they present an unacceptable safeguarding risk.

 

19. DBS checks

Bright Bee Tutors will require appropriate DBS checks for tutors where legally eligible and appropriate to the role.

The level of DBS check will be determined according to the role and the relevant legal eligibility requirements.

Where a role constitutes regulated activity with children, an Enhanced DBS check with a Children's Barred List check may be applicable. The DBS defines regulated activity partly by the nature and frequency of teaching, training, instruction, care or supervision provided to children.

Bright Bee Tutors will not assume that every tutoring arrangement automatically qualifies for the same level of DBS check.

Where a tutor is self-employed, the DBS provides specific guidance on obtaining eligible Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred List checks through an Umbrella Body.

Bright Bee Tutors may require tutors to:

• provide evidence of an appropriate DBS check;

• register with the DBS Update Service where appropriate;

• inform Bright Bee of relevant changes affecting their suitability;

• complete safeguarding checks before commencing tutoring; and

• comply with any additional checks required by Bright Bee.

DBS checks are one part of safer recruitment and do not replace interviews, references, safeguarding training or ongoing professional conduct expectations.

 

20. Safeguarding training

All Bright Bee tutors are expected to understand their safeguarding responsibilities before providing tutoring to children.

Tutors will be expected to complete appropriate safeguarding training.

Training should cover areas including:

• recognising abuse and neglect;

• responding to disclosures;

• reporting concerns;

• online safety;

• professional boundaries;

• child sexual exploitation;

• child criminal exploitation;

• bullying and cyberbullying;

• appropriate information sharing;

• recording concerns;

• safer online tutoring; and

• Bright Bee's safeguarding procedures.

Bright Bee Tutors will keep appropriate records of safeguarding training.

Refresher training will be required where appropriate.

 

21. Allegations or concerns about a tutor

Any allegation or concern that a tutor has:

• harmed a child;

• behaved inappropriately towards a child;

• breached professional boundaries;

• engaged in inappropriate communication;

• behaved in a sexually inappropriate manner;

• failed to follow safeguarding procedures; or

• otherwise presented a safeguarding risk

will be taken seriously.

Bright Bee Tutors will assess the concern promptly.

Depending on the circumstances, action may include:

• temporarily removing the tutor from tutoring duties;

• restricting access to systems or students;

• reviewing lesson recordings or other relevant information;

• speaking with relevant individuals;

• contacting the child's parent or guardian where appropriate;

• contacting children's social care;

• contacting the police;

• making a referral to the DBS where the legal criteria are met; and/or

• taking disciplinary or contractual action.

Bright Bee Tutors will not attempt to conduct an investigation that should properly be carried out by the police or children's social care.

 

22. Concerns about Bright Bee management

If a safeguarding concern relates to an owner, manager or safeguarding lead, the concern should be reported to the other appropriate person within Bright Bee Tutors.

If it is not appropriate or possible to report internally, the concern may be reported directly to the relevant children's social care service, police or other appropriate safeguarding authority.

No person should feel that they must report a safeguarding concern to someone who is the subject of that concern.

 

23. Whistleblowing

Bright Bee Tutors encourages tutors and other individuals working with us to raise concerns where they believe:

• a child may be at risk;

• safeguarding procedures are not being followed;

• another tutor has behaved inappropriately;

• information is being concealed;

• a safeguarding concern has not been acted upon; or

• management has failed to take appropriate action.

A person raising a genuine safeguarding concern will not be penalised for doing so.

Concerns should be raised promptly.

 

24. Recording of lessons

Bright Bee Tutors may record online tutoring sessions for safeguarding and quality assurance purposes.

Recordings can assist with:

• investigating safeguarding concerns;

• reviewing allegations;

• addressing complaints;

• monitoring professional standards; and

• quality assurance.

Recording arrangements, consent, access controls and retention periods are covered in our separate Recording & Privacy Policy.

Tutors must not make independent recordings of students using personal devices or unauthorised software.

 

25. Physical contact

Bright Bee Tutors primarily provides online tutoring and therefore physical contact between tutors and students should not normally occur.

Tutors must not arrange physical meetings with students outside Bright Bee's approved arrangements.

If Bright Bee Tutors introduces face-to-face tutoring in the future, separate procedures will be established to address the additional safeguarding considerations.

 

26. Equality, inclusion and discrimination

Bright Bee Tutors is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment.

We will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, bullying or abuse.

Safeguarding concerns may involve discrimination or identity-based abuse, and these concerns will be taken seriously.

We recognise that children may be particularly vulnerable to harm because of factors including disability, additional educational needs, social circumstances, family circumstances or other vulnerabilities.

Additional support should be considered where appropriate.

 

27. Children with additional needs or vulnerabilities

Some children may face increased safeguarding risks because of:

• disability;

• additional learning needs;

• communication difficulties;

• social or emotional difficulties;

• previous experiences of abuse;

• family circumstances;

• caring responsibilities;

• exploitation;

• social isolation; or

• other vulnerabilities.

Bright Bee Tutors will consider individual circumstances when responding to safeguarding concerns.

Tutors should not make assumptions about a child based on a disability or additional need.

Where communication difficulties exist, appropriate reasonable adjustments should be considered.

 

28. Professional conduct

All Bright Bee Tutors personnel are expected to:

• act professionally;

• maintain appropriate boundaries;

• treat children respectfully;

• listen to children;

• avoid discriminatory behaviour;

• maintain confidentiality appropriately;

• use professional communication channels;

• report safeguarding concerns;

• follow Bright Bee policies;

• cooperate with safeguarding procedures; and

• prioritise children's welfare.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in removal from tutoring duties or termination of the tutor's relationship with Bright Bee Tutors.

 

29. Safeguarding during tutoring sessions

Tutors should remain alert to significant changes in a student's:

• behaviour;

• mood;

• communication;

• engagement;

• appearance;

• language;

• interaction with others; or

• general wellbeing.

A change does not automatically indicate abuse.

However, a significant or concerning change should not be ignored where there are other indicators of possible harm.

Tutors should record and report relevant concerns rather than attempting to diagnose the cause.

 

30. Student voice

Bright Bee Tutors recognises that children should be listened to in safeguarding matters.

Students should be encouraged to:

• raise concerns;

• ask for help;

• tell a trusted adult if something makes them uncomfortable;

• report inappropriate behaviour; and

• speak up if they feel unsafe during tutoring.

Tutors should take children's concerns seriously and avoid dismissing or minimising them.

 

31. Parent and student complaints

Safeguarding concerns may be raised through Bright Bee Tutors' complaints procedure.

However, a safeguarding concern should not be delayed while waiting for the normal complaints process.

Where there is a potential risk of harm, the safeguarding procedure takes priority.

 

32. Working with external agencies

Where appropriate, Bright Bee Tutors will cooperate with:

• children's social care;

• local safeguarding partners;

• police;

• schools or educational settings;

• health professionals;

• safeguarding organisations; and

• other relevant agencies.

We will provide information where legally permitted and necessary to support the protection of a child.

 

33. Review of safeguarding arrangements

Bright Bee Tutors will review its safeguarding arrangements regularly.

Reviews may consider:

• safeguarding concerns received;

• incidents involving tutors;

• complaints;

• feedback from parents and students;

• tutor training;

• changes in legislation;

• changes in technology;

• online safety risks;

• recording arrangements; and

• relevant government or safeguarding guidance.

Lessons learned from incidents will be used to improve our procedures where appropriate.

 

34. Policy review

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner where necessary.

It will be updated when there are significant changes to:

• safeguarding legislation;

• government guidance;

• Bright Bee's services;

• online tutoring arrangements;

• recording procedures;

• tutor recruitment arrangements; or

• identified safeguarding risks.

Next scheduled review: August 2027

 

35. Related policies

This policy should be read alongside:

• Data Protection & Privacy Policy

• Recording & Privacy Policy

• Tutor Terms & Conditions / Tutor Agreement

• Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy

• Complaints Procedure

• Cookie Policy

• Tutor Code of Conduct, where applicable

Together, these documents form Bright Bee Tutors' safeguarding and child protection framework.

 

36. Contact

For safeguarding concerns relating to Bright Bee Tutors:

Bright Bee Tutors
Email: brightbeestutors@gmail.com
Website: brightbeetutors.com

For an immediate emergency where a child is at serious and immediate risk, contact the appropriate emergency service without delay.

Where a safeguarding concern requires external referral, Bright Bee Tutors will contact the relevant local children's social care service, police or other appropriate safeguarding authority.

 

Policy statement

Bright Bee Tutors is committed to creating a tutoring environment in which children are safe, respected, listened to and supported.

Every person working with Bright Bee Tutors has a responsibility to recognise safeguarding concerns and take appropriate action.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.