Teachmeschool Safeguarding Policy

Overview

At Teachmeschool, we aim to ensure that getting help to achieve better grades is carried out in a safe, trustworthy manner.
This policy details the responsibilities of Teachmeschool, tutors, parents and students in preventing and handling safeguarding concerns.

General

Alongside this policy, all users of Teachmeschool (tutors, parents and students) should familiarise and agree with with our terms and conditions.
If any user has a safeguarding concern at any stage of tutoring or sign-up process, they must let Teachmeschool know by contacting the safeguarding team at info@teachmeschool.co.uk.
Any usage of the services provided by Teachmeschool not in accordance with the guidance and regulations listed in this document and terms and conditions may result in a permanent ban from the services we provide.

Teachmeschool Responsibilities

Teachmeschool will use reasonable measures of verification to check the identity of all tutors.
Teachmeschool does not require every tutor to have a background check in order to register as a tutor. The ‘background check’ we accept is the enhanced DBS as we can see whether someone applying to become a tutor with us is currently on the Children’s Barred List/Adult First list. It is upto the parent to decide whether or not they would like lessons with a tutor who has had a DBS check carried out.
Teachmeschool will take reasonable precautions to protect students’ and tutors' information. Teachmeschool will protect all data in accordance with all relevant legislation and our Privacy Policy.
In the unlikely event of any illegal activity occurring through the services provided by Teachmeschool, these will be dealt with promptly and through cooperation with relevant government law enforcement authorities if required.
Teachmeschool will carefully listen to and promptly react as required to any complaints that the company is made aware of by tutors, students or parents.

Student Responsibilities

Students under the age of 18 must be represented by a parent or legal guardian when signing up for lessons. Teachmeschool is not responsible for any dispute regarding parental consent.
Students must ensure that all of their relevant personal details and contact information on their tutoring profile is kept up-to-date and as accurate as possible.
Students must ensure that they engage in no inappropriate communication with tutors both during lessons and outside of lesson time. If any such inappropriate communication occurs from the tutors’ side, it is their responsibility to make Teachmeschool aware of the situation as soon as possible.
Teachmeschool cannot guarantee that that all of the content on its website is up-to-date, accurate or complete. Students and parents must therefore exercise their own judgement regarding the accuracy of the information provided on the website.
Students are responsible for checking any claims made by tutors which influence their decision in choosing a tutor to book lessons with. This is can be done during the first initial free meeting.
Students must immediately report to Teachmeschool any defamatory, offensive or illegal material they view at any point whilst using our services.
Students must ensure that the physical environment that they are having lessons in are safe.
Students must ensure that tutors are treated with respect and are not subject to abusive behaviour or language.
Students must ensure no improper suggestions are made to their tutor.
Students are responsible for their own security in conjunction with our services, both online and offline.
Students must report any complaints, safeguarding concerns or illegal activity immediately to info@teachmeschool.co.uk.

Tutor responsibilities

Tutors are not employees of Teachmeschool and are solely responsible for their own actions both on and off the website.
If Tutors contact students who are under 18, they must ensure that these students are represented by a parent or legal guardian who gives consent for the student to receive tuition.
Tutors are responsible for ensuring that the personal information they provide and their personal statements on the Website are accurate and in no way misleading. They must update this information promptly to maintain its accuracy.
Tutors must immediately report to Teachmeschool any defamatory, offensive or illegal material they view at any point whilst using our services.
Tutors must disclose any criminal convictions or cautions they may have to Teachmeschool, including any criminal convictions or cautions received at any time after having registered a tutor account on the website and for as long as the tutor remains registered.
Tutors must also disclose any other relevant information which may lead Teachmeschool to determine they are not suitable to tutor.
Tutors claiming to have a background check must send their Enhanced DBS Check to admin@teachmeschool.co.uk. Otherwise this claim will be deemed false and the ‘background check’ status will be not be put on their profile.
Tutors must use their own judgement about whether they wish to offer their tuition services to each individual student.
Tutors must take every precaution to ensure that they work in a safe environment and are responsible for taking out and maintaining their own insurance policies to cover the work they undertake.
Tutors must ensure that their environment does not display any inappropriate images or documents when conducting a session.
Tutors must treat students fairly and without prejudice or discrimination; whatever their age, culture, ability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity.
Tutors must ensure all reasonable steps are taken to protect children from harm, discrimination and demeaning treatment and to respect their rights.
Tutors must value students and take their contributions seriously.
Tutors must ensure they work in partnership with parents and children – which is essential for the protection of children.
Tutors must ensure the language they use is appropriate and not offensive or discriminatory.
Tutors must ensure no improper suggestions are made to the student.
Tutors must ensure that any contact or communication they have with the student is appropriate to their role as a tutor and confined to the field for which they have been selected to tutor.
Tutors must ensure that there is no inappropriate communication between themselves and the student on or outside of the Website and report any unsolicited communications from the student to info@teachmeschool.co.uk if appropriate.
Tutors are responsible for their own security in conjunction with our services, both online and offline.
Tutors must report any complaints, safeguarding concerns or illegal activity immediately to Teachmeschool by emailing info@teachmeschool.co.uk.

Parent/Responsible adult responsibilities

The parent/legal guardian will be responsible for the selection of the tutor and make any reasonable checks to ensure the tutor is suitable for the student (including, if required, reviewing the tutor’s CRB/DBS certification documentation).
The parent/legal guardian will ensure the student is fully aware of the Teachmeschool’s safeguarding policy.
The parent/leal guardian will always be responsible for the welfare of the student during the session.
The parent/legal guardian will always be responsible for the physical environment of the pupil during the session ensuring it is safe and appropriate.
The parent/legal guardian will if they consider it appropriate, be present or available during a tutor session so any concerns encountered by the student can be reported as soon as possible and ensure the student and tutor are behaving in an appropriate manner.
The parent/legal guardian will use their best endeavours to ensure that tutors will be treated with respect and fairness by the student and will not be subjected to abusive, inappropriate behaviour or language.
The parent/legal guardian will ensure the student has no inappropriate communication with the tutor outside the lesson sessions.
The parent/legal guardian will report any unsolicited communications between the tutor and student if appropriate.
The parent/legal guardian will report any dispute with a tutor to Teachmeschool by emailing info@teachmeschool.co.uk.
The parent/legal guardian will report any inappropriate behaviour or illegal activity by a tutor.

Breach of our Safeguarding Policy

Any student or tutor reported for a breach of our Safeguarding Policy will be immediately suspended from the site until the matter reported has been investigated by the appropriate authority. We will inform them of their suspension and seek guidance where required. The student or tutor reporting the breach may be informed of the resolution, if appropriate.
Teachmeschool reserves the right to make a final decision on action taken for minor breaches of our Safeguarding Policy.
Any student or tutor reported for illegal activity whilst using the services Teachmeschool provides may be barred from the service, reported to the police and any other relevant organisations.

Review

This Safeguarding Policy and our Procedures will be reviewed by Teachmeschool on a regular basis to ensure it is adequate and relevant to safeguarding standards.