Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

Effective date: 9 July 2026 · Next review: 9 March 2027 · Version 1.0

1. Our commitment

Ascend Tuition Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Every student has the right to learn in an environment that is safe, respectful and free from harm. All tutors and staff share responsibility for keeping children safe and must act on any concern, however small.

This policy applies to everyone working for or with Ascend Tuition, including its directors and all tutors. It is informed by UK statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children.

2. Safer recruitment

Before any tutor teaches for Ascend Tuition, we:

• obtain an Enhanced DBS check, renewed or verified through the DBS Update Service at least every 3 years;
• verify identity and right to work in the UK;
• take up at least two references, including from recent teaching or tutoring work;
• interview each tutor and assess their suitability to work with children;
• require written agreement to this safeguarding policy and our code of conduct.

3. Online lesson conduct — our code of practice

All tuition is delivered online through Google Meet. To keep online lessons safe:

• Lessons take place only through Google Meet, at scheduled times visible to parents in the parent portal;
• Tutors must never contact students through personal social media, personal email, gaming platforms or personal phone numbers;
• All messages between tutors, students and families go through the parent portal or official Ascend Tuition channels, and may be monitored;
• A parent or responsible adult must be present in the home while a lesson takes place;
• Students and tutors should join lessons from an appropriate, open living space where possible, and be appropriately dressed;
• Tutors must keep lessons professional at all times: no personal or off-topic relationships, no gifts, and no arrangements to meet in person;
• Lessons are not recorded by Ascend Tuition, and tutors, students and parents must not record lessons without the written agreement of all involved.

4. Recognising concerns

Tutors are required to remain alert to possible indicators of abuse or neglect, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, bullying (including online bullying), self-harm, radicalisation and exploitation. Indicators may include unexplained injuries, sudden changes in behaviour or engagement, a disclosure by the student, or concerning things seen or heard during an online lesson.

5. Responding to a concern or disclosure

1. Listen calmly. Do not promise confidentiality — explain that you may need to share what they tell you in order to keep them safe.
2. Do not investigate, ask leading questions, or contact the family about the concern.
3. Record what was said or observed, in the student's own words where possible, with the date and time.
4. Report to the DSL the same day, without exception.

The DSL will decide on next steps, which may include contacting the children's social care team for the child's local authority, the NSPCC (0808 800 5000), or, in an emergency, the police on 999. If a concern involves the DSL, the report should be made directly to the local authority designated officer (LADO) for the child's local area.

6. Allegations against tutors or staff

Any allegation against a tutor or member of staff will be taken seriously, recorded, and referred to the relevant LADO where the threshold is met. The tutor concerned will be suspended from lessons while the matter is considered. Suspension is a neutral act and does not imply guilt. Ascend Tuition will meet its legal duty to refer to the Disclosure and Barring Service where the referral criteria apply.

7. Safeguarding records and confidentiality

Safeguarding records are stored securely, separately from general student records, and shared only with those who need them to protect a child. Information is shared with external agencies where the law allows or requires it — a child's safety always takes priority over confidentiality.

8. Training and review

All tutors receive safeguarding guidance when they join and refresher updates at least annually. The DSL maintains up-to-date safeguarding knowledge. This policy is reviewed at least every 12 months, and immediately after any incident or change in statutory guidance.