Safeguarding Policy Statement Jan26

Policy Statement (updated 8/1/2026) 

 

I Love to Learn Professional Tuition 

I LOVE TO LEARN PROFESSIONAL TUITION aims to offer a safe environment in which children can learn and develop. Children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in the Tuition Centre programmes have the right to protection from harm. I LOVE TO LEARN PROFESSIONAL TUITION will seek to ensure the safety and protection of all children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in its activities through adherence to this Child Protection Statement. 

 

Key Principles 

• The welfare and protection of children and young people who are students of I LOVE TO LEARN PROFESSIONAL TUITION, must be the first consideration of every person involved in the provision of our education programmes. 

• I LOVE TO LEARN PROFESSIONAL TUITION will practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff to work with children and young people. 

• I LOVE TO LEARN PROFESSIONAL TUITION LLP will raise awareness of safeguarding issues so that every person involved in the provision of the tuition understands their moral obligation to protect children and young people from harm, abuse and exploitation. 

• I LOVE TO LEARN PROFESSIONAL TUITION has adopted a Code of Conduct which every person involved in the provision of tuition must comply with. The code is set out later in this policy. 

• Every person involved in the provision of tuition has a responsibility to be aware of the procedures to follow should a disclosure be made to them or if they have concerns. The procedures outlined in this policy should be commenced without delay. 

• Safeguarding concerns occur in all cultures, racial and religious groups. All staff have a responsibility to be sensitive to and respectful of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, however, these factors must not be used as a reason for non-intervention. 

• I LOVE TO LEARN PROFESSIONAL TUITION will endeavour to keep up-to-date with national developments relating to the care and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults and will amend this policy as may be appropriate to comply with current best practice. 

• I LOVE TO LEARN PROFESSIONAL TUITION has adopted Child Protection Procedures to protect children and young people involved in tuition. The procedures are set out later in this policy. 

 

Code of Conduct 

 

Every person engaged in the provision of the education programmes must abide by the following Code of Conduct: 

 

Teachers and employees should: 

• Be aware of situations which may present risks and manage those. 

• Plan and organise work and the workplace to minimise risks. 

• As far as possible, be visible when working with students. Do not spend time alone with children away from others. 

• Ensure that a culture of openness exists to enable any issues or concerns to be raised or discussed. 

• Ensure that a sense of accountability exists between staff so that poor practice or potentially abusive behaviour does not go unchallenged. 

• Talk to students about their contact with staff or others and encourage them to raise any concerns. 

• Empower students by discussing with them what they can do if there is a problem. 

 

Teachers and employees must never: 

• Hit or otherwise physically assault or physically abuse students. 

• Use physical force against a participant, unless it constitutes reasonable restraint to protect yourself or another person or property from danger or harm. In this situation the minimum amount of force should be used for the minimum amount of time and a report of the incident should be recorded in writing immediately afterwards. 

• Develop physical/sexual relationships with students. 

• Develop relationships with students which could in any way be deemed exploitative or abusive. 

• Act in any way that may be abusive or may place a student at risk of abuse. 

• Use language, make suggestions or offer advice which is inappropriate, discriminatory, offensive or abusive. 

• Behave physically in a manner which is inappropriate or sexually provocative. There may be rare occasions when a student, particularly a young child, is distressed and needs physical comforting – discretion must be used to ensure that this is appropriate and any contact is necessary and justified. 

• Take a student with whom they are working to (or allow a student to stay overnight at) their home. 

• Give students alcohol, cigarettes, drugs or other stimulants. 

• Do things for students of a personal nature that they can do for themselves (e.g. taking them to the toilet). In the case of very young children it may be necessary for them to be offered assistance in using the toilet – this assistance should, wherever possible, be provided by someone of the same sex and discretion should be used so that any assistance is appropriate and any contact is necessary and justified. Prior parental consent should always be obtained. 

• Act in ways intended to shame, humiliate, belittle or degrade a student or otherwise engage in any form of emotional abuse. 

• Discriminate against, show deferential treatment, or favour particular students to the exclusion of others. 

• Conduct a one-to-one lesson with a student without another person present. If there is only one student in a lesson, the session should by moved to another session unless there is another person present in the centre. 

This is not an exhaustive or exclusive list. The underlying principle is that actions or behaviour which may constitute poor practice, or potentially abusive behaviour should be avoided. 

 

 

Safeguarding Procedures 

 

1. Safer Recruitment Policy 

 

• When undertaking any recruitment process, I Love To Learn Professional Tuition will take the following steps: 

• All job descriptions and person specifications will include a specific reference to suitability to work with children and young people and refer to the responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. 

• Comprehensive information from applicants will be obtained and scrutinised and any discrepancies or anomalies will be investigated and resolved. 

• Independent professional and character references relating to an applicant’s suitability to work with children and young people will be obtained. 

• A face-to-face interview will be held with all successful applicants prior to engagement. 

• The identity, qualifications and previous employment history of the successful applicant will be verified before appointment. 

• A check will be made to confirm the right of the successful applicant to work in the United Kingdom before appointment. 

• Where the successful applicant has lived outside the United Kingdom, such further checks as are considered appropriate will be carried out before appointment. 

• A check will be made on the successful applicant’s mental and physical health. 

• A disclosure (enhanced DBS) certificate check will be carried out in respect of the successful applicant before appointment, if not already on the update service. All employees must be on the update service for annual checks to be made. 

• Any offer of employment or engagement will be made conditional upon the satisfactory completion of the above checks and verifications. 

 

I LOVE TO LEARN PROFESSIONAL TUITION will ensure that: 

An individual will not be recruited to work at the centre where they are named on any of the following lists: 

o The Protection of Children Act (PoCA) List (England and Wales); 

o List 99 (England and Wales); 

o The Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) List (England and Wales); 

o The Disqualified from Working with Children List (DWCL – Scotland); 

o The Disqualification from Working with Children List (Northern Ireland); and 

o The Disqualification from Working with Vulnerable Adults List (Northern Ireland). 

• An individual who is appointed and subsequently found to be named on any of these lists will be removed from the position forthwith. 

An individual will be referred to the appropriate List where the grounds for referral under the Acts are met. 

 

2. Alternative Provision Providers

 

Where a school places a pupil with an alternative provision provider, it continues to be responsible for the safeguarding of that pupil and should therefore be satisfied that the placement meets the pupils needs.  

 

The cohort of pupils in Alternative Provision often have complex needs, it is important that governing bodies and proprietors of these settings are aware of the additional risk of harm that their pupils may be vulnerable to. Schools should obtain written information from the alternative provider that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out on individuals working at their establishment (i.e. those checks that schools would otherwise perform on their own staff). This includes written confirmation that the alternative provider will inform the commissioning school of any arrangements that may put the child at risk (i.e. staff changes), so that the commissioning school can ensure itself that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out on new staff.  

 

Schools should always know where a child is based during school hours. This includes having records of the address of the alternative provider and any subcontracted provision or satellite sites the child may attend. They should regularly review the alternative provision placements they make. Reviews should be frequent enough (at least half termly) to provide assurance that the child is regularly attending and the placement continues to be safe and meets the child’s needs. Where safeguarding concerns arise, the placement should be immediately reviewed, and terminated, if necessary, unless or until those concerns have been satisfactorily addressed. 

 

3. 3. Types of Abuse

 

Definitions of Abuse 

 

I Love To Learn Professional Tuition recognises the following as definitions of abuse: 

 

Physical Abuse 

When an adult, or sometimes an older child, deliberately injure a child or fail to prevent physical injury (or suffering) to a child. In addition to physical injury this includes giving a child alcohol or drugs. 

 

Neglect 

When parents fail to meet a child’s basic needs for food, warmth, clothing or medical attention or fail to protect the child from exposure to danger. Neglected children may be withdrawn or very aggressive and may develop health problems such as non-organic failure to thrive. 

 

Sexual Abuse 

When an adult, or sometimes an older child, uses a child for sexual gratification. This might mean touching a child in a sexual way, forcing a child to carry out sexual acts, deliberately showing a child adult pornographic videos or magazines and filming or photographing children in a sexual way. Both boys and girls are sexually abused, and it can happen to very young children as well as older ones. The child may be dependent or developmentally immature. 

 

Psychological and Emotional Abuse 

When parents continuously fail to show love and affection to a child causing the child severe adverse side effects on emotional and behavioural development. This might include sarcasm, threats, criticism, yelling and taunting. All abuse involves some emotional ill treatment. This category should be used where it is the main or sole form of abuse. 

 

 

4. 4. Awareness of Actual or Likely Occurrence of Abuse 

 

There are a number of ways in which safeguarding concerns become apparent: 

• A victim discloses abuse. 

• Someone else discloses that a student has told him/her or that he/she strongly believes a student has been or is being abused. 

• A student may show signs of physical injury for which there appears to be no satisfactory explanation. 

• A student’s behaviour may indicate that it is likely that he/she is being abused. 

• A colleague’s behaviour or the way in which he/she relates to a student causes concern.  

 

5. 5. Receiving Allegations of Abuse

 

If a child or young person makes a disclosure about possible abuse you are advised to: 

• Listen carefully and stay calm. 

• Do not interview the child, but question normally and without pressure, in order to be sure that you understand what the child is telling you. 

• Do not put words into the child’s mouth or promise anything. 

• Reassure the child that, by telling you, they have done the right thing. 

• Inform the child that you must pass the information on to “someone who can help” (e.g. the police or the Child Protection Officer (but do not specify whom, to avoid alarming the child, particularly if they are very young. 

• Make a detailed note of the date, time, place, what the child said and did, your questions etc. This should not normally be done in the presence of the child as it may be intimidating for them. The Incident Form (see Appendix I) is designed to help you do this. Teachers or employees should not investigate concerns or allegations themselves but should follow the reporting procedure which is outlined below. 

 

6. 6. Procedures for Responding to Concerns about Abuse/ Neglect

 

The centre has a designated Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL). Currently Grazia Naylor. It is the DDSL’s role to monitor and implement this policy and deal with reports of safeguarding concerns. The reporting procedure differs depending upon the role of the person making the report. 

 

 

 

Reporting Procedure for Tutors. 

 

1. If a tutor or employee has any safeguarding concerns about a student, they should contact the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) or the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) as soon as possible.  

 

1. If a member of staff has safeguarding concerns or has received allegations of abuse from a student or third party, they will need to complete an Incident Form (see Appendix I) and send it to the DSL. 

 

1. Upon receipt of the Incident Form the DSL will check its content and, if necessary, refer to the originator to clarify and further discuss the situation. 

 

1. The DSL must then assess and refer concerns to MASH without delay. 

 

1. If the DSL is unavailable for any reason, the person witnessing the Incident, or receiving the allegation from the child, should contact MASH themselves immediately. Then, as soon as possible, they should inform the CPL.  

 

Contact information current 17/1/2025 

 

Portsmouth 

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) 02392 688793 

Out of Hours; 03005551373 

Email: mash@portsmouthcc.gov.uk 

LADO (Chas Smith) 02392 882500 

Email: LADO@portsmouthcc.gov.uk 

 

 

 

Hampshire (Fareham and Havant) 

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) 0300 555 1384 

Out of Hours; 03005551373 

Email: childrens.services@hants.gov.uk 

 

LADO: 01962 876364  

Email: LADO@portsmouthcc.gov.uk 

 

It is recognised that hastily or ill-informed decisions in connection with an alleged  child protection issue can irreparably damage an individual’s reputation,  confidence and career. Therefore, those dealing with such allegations within I  Love To Learn Tuition Centres will do so with sensitivity and will act in a careful  and measured way. 

Every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality and guard against unwanted publicity while an allegation is being investigated or considered. 

 

7. 7.Protection of Those Reporting Care and Protection Concerns 

 

The law protects those who report care and protection concerns from actions by those individuals who have been implicated in the abuse, harm and/or neglect of a child or young person as long as the report was not malicious or vexatious. 

 

8. 8.Data Protection and Management of Confidential Information is outlined in the DATA Protection policy. I LOVE TO LEARN PROFESSIONAL TUITION is committed to managing confidential information in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act  Children and young people have a right to confidentiality unless I Love To Learn Professional Tuition consider that they could be at risk of abuse and/or harm. 

 

9. 9.Photography and sharing images. Photographs will only be taken with the permission of children and pa No images will be used for purposes that are prohibited by parents. Permission will be sought at enrolment. 

 

10. 10.Online tuition. When tutoring one to one online, children will be expected to be in a room with open access and have an adult near 

 

11. 11.Anti bullying. I Love to Learn is opposed to any form of bullying or harassment. Tutors have a duty of care to report and challenge any suspected bullying and to ensure children feel safe and cared for while being tutored.  

 

 

Child-on-Child Abuse Policy 

I LOVE TO LEARN PROFESSIONAL TUITION has zero tolerance for any form of child-on-child abuse, including bullying, physical harm, and cyberbullying.
All incidents must be reported to the CPL for appropriate intervention, which may involve external referrals to relevant agencies.
Preventative measures include awareness training for staff and creating an environment where children feel safe to report concerns. 

 

Whistleblowing Policy 

I LOVE TO LEARN PROFESSIONAL TUITION encourages staff and volunteers to report concerns about unsafe practices or misconduct.
Reports can be made anonymously to the CPL or an external organization, such as the NSPCC helpline.
No individual will face repercussions for raising genuine concerns in good faith.
Support mechanisms include access to the CPL, confidential discussions, and external resources. 

Contact Information for Whistleblowing and Support: 

• NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 

• Portsmouth City Council Whistleblowing Hotline: 023 9283 4702 

• Email: whistleblowing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk 

 

Review and Monitoring 

This policy is reviewed annually or sooner if required by legislative changes. 

Last Reviewed: 8/1/2026 

Designated Safeguarding Lead, DSL: Linda Jones 

Contact Information: 

• Email: linda@ilovetolearn.co.uk 

• DSL Phone: 07966 – 553042 

 

 

Appendix I 

 

Incident Report Form 

 

Date, time and place of disclosure: 

 

 

Name and position of person about whom the report, complaint or allegation is made: 

 

 

Name and age of child involved: 

 

 

Nature of incident, complaint or allegation (continue on a separate sheet if necessary) 

 

 

What questions did you ask the child (continue on a separate sheet if necessary)? 

 

 

What did the child do/say (continue on a separate sheet if necessary)? 

Action taken (continue on a separate sheet if necessary) 

 

 

 

If Police or Children’s Social Care Services contacted, name, position and telephone number of person handling the case and date and time referred 

 

 

If the decision was taken not to consult with a relevant statutory agency, why was this 

decision taken? 

 

 

 

 

Name of person completing the form: ______________________________ 

 

Position: _____________________________________________________ 

 

Signature:  ___________________________________________________ 

 

Contact telephone number _______________________________________ 

 

Date and time completed: ________________________________________ 

 

 

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