Safeguarding Policy

Our Safeguarding Policy

Welcome to Decimal Tutoring’s Safeguarding Policy.

We know policies can sometimes feel a bit heavy, so we’ve put this together in a way that’s easy to understand and friendly to read. But don’t worry, we’re serious about keeping everyone safe, especially the young people we work with.

So that you know more about us, please take a look at the information below before we dive right in.

We are Decimal Tutoring Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. Our Company Registration Number is 16116185 and our registered office address is, 64 Mulberry Way, London, England, E18 1ED.

You can contact us using the following details:

Email address: info@decimaltutoring.com
Telephone number: +44 (0) 7717 158 515
Website: www.decimaltutoring.com

This Safeguarding policy is based on UK laws, policies and guidance which aims to protect children in England and Wales.

That’s it! Now let’s move on to what this document is all about – Safeguarding.

What is Safeguarding?

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (“NSPCC”) have defined safeguarding as:

“The action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm”.

Safeguarding is about protecting children from abuse and maltreatment, preventing harm to children’s health or development, ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care, and taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes. Safeguarding focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.”

Decimal Tutoring is aligned with NSPCC principles in that we believe and recognise that the welfare of children and young people is paramount in everything we do, including the decisions we make and/or endorse.

We work to ensure that across the services we provide, all children and young people regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.

We accept our responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to make sure that tutoring is provided in a way that protects them. This includes students with vulnerabilities. For example, where there is a level of dependency, previous experience(s), communication(s) and other additional needs, students may require extra support and require additional safeguards.

We have included a schedule at the bottom of this policy which refers to the different types of Safeguarding issues which can arise.

Accountability and Responsibilities

We are committed to providing a safe environment for students to engage in tutoring. We want all those who work with us to understand the steps we take in relation to safeguarding so that we are transparent and accountable.

This policy applies to all members of staff who work for and with Decimal Tutoring and should be read in conjunction with our Data Protection Notice.

We have appointed an individual who is responsible as our Safeguarding Lead who provides support, advice and help with any safeguarding issues. This individual is tasked with (where necessary), contacting the relevant authorities and organisations to seek advice, obtain further relevant information, and dealing with any safeguarding issues. They will also maintain information and records relating to safeguarding issues.

You can contact our Safeguarding Lead using the following details:

Name: Connor Harman
Email: charman@decimaltutoring.com
Phone: 07717158515

We aim to keep our students safe by:

• Make sure everyone understands our safeguarding duties and follows clear policies and procedures.
• Treat all students, families, and team members with respect – no discrimination.
• Have a dedicated Safeguarding Lead to support and guide on any safeguarding matters.
• Listen to and value our students and everyone we work with.
• Build a culture where people feel safe to speak up and share concerns.
• Hire safely – check identities, run DBS checks, and follow up on references.
• Handle personal and safeguarding data securely, following our Data Protection and Privacy policies.
• Promote good safeguarding practices across the board.
• Have clear steps for dealing with complaints or concerns, and work with the police or other authorities when needed.

Safeguarding Responsibilities of Decimal Tutoring Tutors

Tutors are not our employees and are solely responsible for their own actions. However, we ask all tutors and those who work with as well as for us to comply with the following:

• Understand and stay aware of safeguarding responsibilities and risks to children and young people.
• Complete NSPCC or equivalent safeguarding training and be able to show proof.
• Regularly read Keeping Children Safe in Education and confirm you’ve done so.
• Follow this safeguarding policy and report any concerns promptly.
• Set clear Session Ground Rules to keep tutoring safe and respectful.
• Treat all students, families, and colleagues with respect – no discrimination.
• Create a safe environment and take steps to protect children from harm.
• Work together with students, families, other tutors, and organisations to support child welfare.
• Make sure all communications and resources are reviewed by Decimal Tutoring and are appropriate and respectful.
• Report any safeguarding concerns to the Safeguarding Lead within 12 hours – including anything that could affect your suitability to tutor.
• If you can’t raise an issue with us or feel it’s not been handled properly, contact the NSPCC via phone, email, or their online form.

Vulnerable Students

There are also responsibilities for parents, carers, guardians, teachers and other appropriate adults (collectively known as ‘Guardians’) who support the student (the person we are tutoring) who is under 18 or is otherwise a vulnerable person.

Students and Guardians will make sure that every online tutoring session takes place in a safe and appropriate environment and understand that they are responsible for that student’s welfare at all times.

Students and Guardians will make sure that all personal and contact details for the Student and Guardian are kept up to date. We will from time to time ask you to confirm that the details we hold on file are up to date and accurate.

Guardians should also be available during the sessions times so that the student can immediately raise any concerns to them and students should immediately raise any issues or concerns regarding an individual tutor, tutoring session, inappropriate communication, our organisation or any other issues with their Guardian and/or contacting our Safeguarding Lead to avoid delays which could prejudice the safety and welfare of a student.

What Happens When a Safeguarding Concern is Raised

You may have some questions about what happens when a safeguarding concern has been raised so we have answered these questions below:

(1) What are Safeguarding Issues and how are they reported to us?

We use the words Safeguarding Issues to include all and any safeguarding concerns, complaints or allegations. These Safeguarding Issues include, but are not limited to:

• A tutor’s behaviour
• A student’s behaviour (including behaving unusually)
• A Tutor disclosure
• A student disclosure
• Evidence of physical harm, such as bruising etc

(2) What does a Safeguarding Lead do?

The Safeguarding Lead will:

• Act appropriately, objectively and proportionally whilst always making sure that the welfare and interest of the child or young person is paramount. For example, where a child or young person is in immediate danger, they will contact the police and/or relevant authorities immediately.
• Obtain as much information that they need to fully investigate the Safeguarding Issue.
• Fully investigate the matter by considering all the factors and information available. They will also make sure that any investigation and intervention is as unobtrusive as possible as appropriate to the circumstances.
• Fully record the Safeguarding Issue and all steps taken using our whilst understanding that these may be used as evidence, including in criminal cases.
• Fully support anyone who raises a Safeguarding Issue in good faith.

(3) Who determines the types/category of Safeguarding Issue(s)

Safeguarding Issues are categorised by the Safeguarding Lead as to the type of behaviour and determining what further action may need to be taken. The categories are:

• Serious Incident – This occurs when a child or young person is at risk of or has experienced significant harm, a crime has been committed and/or the reputation of an individual or this organisation is at risk.
• Low Level Safeguarding or Welfare Concern – This is a Safeguarding Issue which means that a student’s welfare must be monitored. Someone, such as a Guardian, has shared a student’s particular needs with us and asked us to provide support. Or it is something which can be dealt with immediately and will not require any ongoing monitoring or support.

4) What steps are taken by a Safeguarding Lead once a Safeguarding Issue has been raised?

Depending on the Safeguarding Issue raised, the Safeguarding Lead may take one or more of the following steps:

• Reach out to the NSPCC or our legal team if the Safeguarding Lead needs advice or support.
• Immediately contact the police or child protection services if a child is at risk or has been harmed.
• Decide not to refer a concern to authorities if, after proper advice, it’s deemed unnecessary.
• Get in touch with the student’s Guardian—unless the concern involves the Guardian themselves.
• If a tutor is involved in a safeguarding issue, offer the student a new tutor and pause the tutor’s sessions until the matter is resolved.
• If the concern involves a tutor or team member, the Safeguarding Lead may report it to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 – This referral may happen if the person has caused harm, poses a future risk, meets the harm test, or has a relevant caution or conviction.

Conclusion

We hope we have been able to provide you with the assurance that we take the safeguarding of all those we come into contact with seriously. At Decimal Tutoring we not only want to ensure that the students we tutor thrive, but that also this is achieved in a safe and supportive environment. The welfare of our students, tutors and staff is paramount and supports the academic and personal growth of students.

Review and Changes to this Policy

This policy was last updated on 9th September 2025. Our Safeguarding policy is reviewed annually, and the Safeguarding Lead is responsible for this review. When changes are made to this policy, we will notify you in an automated format.

Queries, Concerns and Complaints

Any individual who feels that they have been treated in a manner contrary to our policy or has any other concerns or queries should contact the Safeguarding Lead using the following details:

Name: Connor Harman
Email: charman@decimaltutoring.com
Phone: 07717 158 515

SCHEDULE 1 – TYPES OF SAFEGUARDING ISSUES

The following is intended as an introduction to the types of issues that relate to safeguarding:

Abuse – maltreatment, abuse or neglect either by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm.

Domestic Abuse – when someone sees, hears, or experiences the impact of abuse at home and/or in their own intimate relationships.

Emotional Abuse – persistent emotional maltreatment, abuse or neglect causing severe and persistent adverse effects on the individual’s emotional and/or psychological state and development.

Physical Abuse – any threat of violence or actual violence.

Sexual Abuse – when an individual is forced or enticed to take part in sexual activities.

Child on Child Abuse – maltreatment, abuse or neglect from one child to another, including all types of bullying, and abuse in intimate personal relationships.

Child Criminal Exploitation and/or Child Sexual Exploitation – where an individual uses the imbalance in power to coerce, manipulate or deceive someone into taking part in criminal or sexual or criminal activity. This is unusually in exchange for things they need or want or because of actual or threatened violence.

Neglect – persistently failing to meet the basic physical and/or psychological needs of an individual, particularly a child, young person or vulnerable person when it is likely to result in serious impairment to their health or development.

Honour Based Violence – is a form of abuse when the perpetrator believes that a relative has shamed their family and/or their community by breaking their code of honour. This includes Female Genital Mutilation and Forced Marriage.

Mental Health – issues which may or do impact on a person’s mental health.