This policy applies to all staff, contractors, tutors, volunteers, and directors of Miss Davis Tutoring & Performance Limited, regardless of whether they are delivering sessions online or in person.

1. Our Commitment to Safeguarding

Miss Davis Tutoring & Performance Limited is committed to the safety, wellbeing, and protection of every child who uses our services. We believe that every child has the right to learn in a safe environment, free from harm, abuse, exploitation, and discrimination.

This policy sets out our approach to safeguarding and child protection across all delivery — including online tutoring via our platform and any in-person sessions such as Saturday school revision groups.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Every person who works with or for Miss Davis Tutoring & Performance Limited — whether employed, contracted, or volunteering — has a duty to act on concerns and follow this policy without exception.

This policy is informed by the following legislation and guidance:

• Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2023
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 (updated 2023)
• The Children and Social Work Act 2017
• UK GDPR and the ICO Children's Code
• Ofsted inspection framework expectations for out-of-school settings

2. Who This Policy Applies To

This policy applies to all individuals working with or on behalf of Miss Davis Tutoring & Performance Limited, including:

• The Director (Seroca Davis)
• All contracted tutors delivering online or in-person sessions
• Any volunteers or guest educators
• Any administrative or support staff with access to student data or student-facing communications

It also applies to our delivery environments:

• Online sessions delivered via our LearnDash-integrated platform and associated video tools
• In-person Saturday school revision sessions (current and future)

3. Roles and Responsibilities

3a. Designated Safeguarding Lead — Seroca Davis

The DSL holds overall responsibility for safeguarding at Miss Davis Tutoring & Performance Limited. Her responsibilities include:

• Being the first point of contact for all safeguarding concerns raised by tutors, parents, or students.
• Making referrals to statutory agencies (MASH, LADO, police) where a concern meets the threshold for intervention.
• Maintaining a secure, confidential record of all safeguarding concerns and actions taken.
• Ensuring all contractors and tutors have a valid Enhanced DBS check with barred list check before working with children, and maintaining a central written record of all DBS certificate numbers and expiry dates.
• Ensuring this policy is reviewed annually and updated following any significant incident or change in legislation.
• Completing and maintaining DSL-level safeguarding training (minimum Level 3, refreshed every two years).

3b. Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead — [TO BE CONFIRMED]

The Deputy DSL acts in the absence of the DSL and shares responsibility for safeguarding oversight. The Deputy must be trained to a minimum of Level 2 in Safeguarding Children and must be contactable during all delivery periods. This role must be filled and named before this policy is published.

3c. Contracted Tutors

All contracted tutors are responsible for:

• Completing safeguarding awareness training before delivering any session (minimum Level 1 — Introduction to Safeguarding).
• Holding a valid Enhanced DBS check with barred list check. No tutor may work with children before this check is in place.
• Reporting any safeguarding concern immediately to the DSL. Tutors must never attempt to investigate a concern themselves.
• Adhering to the online safety and conduct rules set out in Section 6 of this policy.
• Attending any in-person sessions only at approved, risk-assessed venues.

4. Recognising Abuse and Neglect

All staff and contractors must be able to recognise the indicators of abuse and neglect. The four main categories are:

Physical Abuse

Hitting, shaking, throwing, burning, or otherwise physically harming a child. Indicators may include unexplained injuries, flinching, or a child appearing afraid of a particular adult.

Emotional Abuse

Persistent emotional maltreatment that causes severe and persistent adverse effects on a child's emotional development. Indicators may include low self-esteem, excessive anxiety, withdrawal, or age-inappropriate behaviour.

Sexual Abuse

Forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. This includes online abuse — sexualised messaging, grooming, or sharing of inappropriate images. Any indication of this must be reported to the DSL immediately.

Neglect

The persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical or psychological needs. Indicators may include poor hygiene, malnutrition, persistent tiredness, or a child consistently appearing uncared for.

Additional safeguarding concerns that must be treated with the same seriousness include: child sexual exploitation (CSE), child criminal exploitation (CCE), radicalisation, domestic abuse in the home environment, female genital mutilation (FGM), and online grooming.

You do not need to be certain that abuse is occurring to make a referral. If you have a reasonable concern, you must report it. It is not your job to investigate — it is your job to report.

5. How to Report a Concern

Any person who has a safeguarding concern — whether about a child's behaviour, a disclosure made by a child, or the conduct of an adult — must follow this procedure:

• Do not delay. Report your concern to the DSL (Seroca Davis) as soon as possible — on the same day where at all possible.
• Do not investigate. Do not ask leading questions, challenge the child, or attempt to gather evidence yourself.
• If a child makes a disclosure, listen calmly. Use open, non-leading language. Do not promise confidentiality. Tell the child you will need to speak to someone who can help.
• Record what you observed or heard as soon as possible, using the child's exact words where applicable. Note the date, time, and who was present.
• Submit your record to the DSL by email at info@missdavistutoring.com, marked clearly as a safeguarding concern.
• If the DSL is unavailable, contact the Deputy DSL. If neither is available and you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

The DSL will assess the concern and decide on the appropriate course of action, which may include contacting the local MASH, making a referral to children's social care, contacting the LADO (if the concern involves a member of staff or contractor), or in an emergency, calling 999.

All concerns and actions taken will be recorded confidentially and retained securely in line with our data protection obligations.

6. Online Safety and Safe Conduct

Because the majority of our delivery is online, all tutors and staff must adhere to the following rules without exception:

6a. Platform Rules

• All live sessions must be delivered through the approved platform only (LearnDash-integrated tools). No session may be moved to a personal video platform, personal phone call, or unofficial channel.
• One-to-one sessions must never take place without a parent or guardian being aware the session is happening and having the ability to observe. Where possible, sessions should be conducted in a group or recorded environment.
• No tutor may contact a student directly via personal social media, personal email, WhatsApp, or any messaging platform outside the approved system.
• Chat functions within the platform must be used for educational purposes only. Any inappropriate communication must be reported to the DSL immediately.

6b. Recording

• Sessions may only be recorded with the explicit written consent of the parent or guardian.
• No recordings may be shared, distributed, or stored outside the approved platform without written consent.
• Tutors must not record sessions on personal devices under any circumstances.

6c. Appearance and Environment

• Tutors must deliver sessions from a professional, appropriate environment. Bedrooms should be avoided where possible. Backgrounds must be neutral or use a virtual background.
• Tutors must be appropriately dressed for a professional educational setting.

6d. Reporting Online Concerns

If a tutor observes concerning behaviour during an online session — including a child appearing distressed, disclosing information about harm, or another adult behaving inappropriately — the session should be ended and the DSL contacted immediately. Do not attempt to handle the situation alone.

7. In-Person Sessions (Saturday School)

Where Miss Davis Tutoring & Performance Limited delivers in-person revision sessions or classes, the following additional requirements apply:

• All in-person sessions must take place at a pre-approved, risk-assessed venue. A written venue risk assessment must be completed and signed off by the DSL before the first session takes place.
• A minimum supervision ratio of 1 adult to 8 children must be maintained at all times. For children aged 5–7, this ratio is 1 adult to 6 children.
• No tutor or adult may be alone with a single child at any point — this is an absolute rule. If a one-to-one conversation is necessary, it must take place in a visible, open area.
• A register of student attendance must be taken at the start of every session and retained securely.
• A first aid kit must be present at every in-person session. At least one adult present must hold a current paediatric first aid certificate.
• A parent or guardian must provide written consent before a child attends an in-person session. Verbal consent is not sufficient.
• Children must not be permitted to leave a session unaccompanied without prior written instruction from their parent or guardian.
• Photography or filming at in-person sessions is not permitted without explicit written consent from the parent or guardian of every child present. General group photographs require consent from all families in the group.

8. Allegations Against Staff or Contractors

If an allegation is made against any tutor, contractor, or member of staff — including the Director — it must be handled through the following process:

• The concern must be reported to the DSL immediately. If the allegation is against the DSL, it must be reported to the Deputy DSL or directly to the LADO.
• The LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) must be contacted on the same day that an allegation is received, regardless of whether the allegation is believed to be true.
• The individual who is the subject of the allegation must be suspended from all contact with children pending investigation. This is a precautionary measure, not a finding of guilt.
• No internal investigation should be conducted that could compromise a statutory investigation.
• The matter will be handled in strict confidence. Only those who need to know will be informed.

Failure to report an allegation against a colleague or contractor is a serious breach of this policy and may result in termination of the working relationship and referral to statutory authorities.

9. DBS Checks and Safer Recruitment

Miss Davis Tutoring & Performance Limited operates a safer recruitment process for all contractors and tutors who work with children.

• All tutors and contractors with direct contact with children must hold a current Enhanced DBS check with barred list check before they begin any work with students. No exceptions.
• The DSL maintains a central written record of all DBS certificate numbers, issue dates, and expiry dates. This record is reviewed regularly.
• DBS checks are renewed every three years as a minimum, or sooner if a concern arises.
• References are taken up for all new contractors before engagement.
• The Director (Seroca Davis) holds her own Enhanced DBS check, which is maintained and renewed in line with this policy.

Miss Davis Tutoring & Performance Limited reserves the right to terminate a contractor's engagement immediately and without notice if a DBS check reveals information that makes them unsuitable to work with children.

10. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

Safeguarding concerns are handled with the highest level of confidentiality. Information is shared only on a need-to-know basis and only where sharing is necessary to protect a child.

Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where a child is at risk of harm. Staff must never promise a child that what they share will be kept secret. The appropriate phrase is: 'I will need to talk to someone who can help you, but I will only share what is necessary to keep you safe.'

All safeguarding records are stored securely and separately from general student records. They are retained for a minimum of seven years, or until the child reaches the age of 25 — whichever is longer — in line with statutory guidance.

Information sharing with statutory agencies (social care, police, LADO) will be carried out in accordance with UK GDPR where lawful processing grounds exist, including the protection of vital interests of a child.

11. Training Requirements

All individuals working with children under this organisation must complete the following minimum training before working with any student:

• Contracted tutors: Level 1 — Introduction to Safeguarding (online course acceptable). Must be renewed every two years.
• Deputy DSL: Level 2 — Safeguarding Children. Must be renewed every two years.
• DSL (Seroca Davis): Level 3 — Designated Safeguarding Lead training. Must be renewed every two years.

Training records are maintained by the DSL and reviewed annually. No tutor or staff member may work with children without evidence of current, valid safeguarding training on record.

12. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually as a minimum — in April each year — or sooner in the event of:

• A safeguarding incident or near-miss.
• A significant change in legislation or statutory guidance.
• A change in the nature of delivery (e.g. expansion of in-person provision).
• A change in key personnel (DSL or Deputy DSL).

The DSL is responsible for ensuring the review takes place and that any updates are communicated to all tutors and contractors.

Miss Davis Tutoring & Performance Limited

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Seroca Davis

Email: info@missdavistutoring.com

Policy version: 1.0 | Next review: April 2027

This policy should be read alongside the Miss Davis Tutoring Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions. All three documents form part of the organisation's commitment to safe, legal, and ethical operation.