Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy
Last Updated: 01/08/2026
The safety, wellbeing, and protection of all children and young people attending tutoring sessions is the highest priority. Study turtle is committed to providing a safe, supportive, and respectful learning environment for every student.
All reasonable steps will be taken to protect students from harm, abuse, neglect, bullying, and inappropriate behaviours during tutoring sessions and related activities.
1.0 Purpose of this policy:
1.1 Protect all children and young people (under the age of 18) attending Study Turtle tutoring sessions and educational activities.
1.2 Provide parents and guardians with reassurance regarding the safety, vetting, and welfare of their children.
1.3 Outline clear standards of professional conduct, operational safety, and appropriate boundaries for tutors and staff.
1.4 Ensure any concerns regarding a student’s safety or welfare are identified, recorded, and handled promptly and appropriately.
Scope: This policy applies to all students under the age of 18 across all 1-on-1 tutoring sessions, group workshops, online lessons, and community centre learning activities delivered by or through Study Turtle.
2.0 Safeguarding Principles:
Study Turtle operates strictly in accordance with the following fundamental principles:
2.1 Dignity & Respect: Every student, regardless of age, background, or ability, is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.
2.2 Positive & Inclusive Environment: We promote a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning space where equality and diversity are valued.
2.3 Student-Centred Approach: We take children's views and concerns seriously, ensuring their voices are heard and acted upon.
2.4 Professional Boundaries: Tutors and staff maintain appropriate, professional boundaries in all interactions—both online and in person.
2.5 Prompt Response: Any suspicions, allegations, or disclosures regarding a student's safety or welfare will be addressed promptly and in accordance with UK statutory procedures.
2.6 Partnership with Parents: We work collaboratively with parents and guardians to support the student's safety, well-being, and academic development.
3.0 Tutor Responsibilities and Code of Conduct
3.1 Continuous Supervision: Tutors must provide continuous supervision during all sessions and must never leave a minor unattended, whether online or during in-person activities.
3.2 Equality & Non-Discrimination: Tutors must treat all students fairly, with dignity, and without prejudice or discrimination, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
3.3 Safe Environments: Tutors must ensure lessons take place in safe, suitable, and professional environments (including designated community centre rooms, appropriate online virtual classrooms, or supervised domestic settings).
3.4 Professional Boundaries & Conduct: Tutors must avoid favouritism, inappropriate relationships, or informal banter. Tutors must use professional, supportive, and age-appropriate language at all times.
3.5 Safe Handover & Departure (In-Person): For in-person sessions or community activities involving minors under 16, tutors must ensure the student is collected promptly by a named parent, guardian, or designated adult, unless prior written consent has been provided by the parent for independent travel.
3.6 Off-Platform Contact: Tutors must not arrange private meetings with students outside scheduled session times, nor communicate with minor students via personal phone numbers, personal email, or social media. All communications must go through official platform channels or involve the parent/guardian.
3.7 Role-Specific Communication: Any subject matter discussed or resource shared by the tutor must be appropriate, age-suitable, and strictly confined to the academic discipline being tutored.
3.8 Student Respect & Empowerment: Tutors must value students' contributions, take their views and concerns seriously, and maintain an encouraging learning environment.
3.9 Vetting & Background Checks: All tutors must hold an Enhanced DBS check (with Children's Barred List check) or an active Scottish PVG Scheme membership dated within the last 3 years (or registered on the continuous DBS Update Service).
3.10 Duty to Suspend & Report: Tutors have the authority to suspend or terminate a session immediately if they observe suspicious, inappropriate, or concerning behavior. Any such incident must be reported promptly to the Study Turtle Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), the parent/guardian, or relevant statutory authorities where appropriate.
4.0 Parent / Guardian Responsibilities
4.1 Tutor Selection and Safeguarding Awareness
Tutor Verification: Parents/guardians are responsible for reviewing tutor profiles and may request to verify background checks (such as Enhanced DBS certificates or Scottish PVG Scheme memberships) prior to commencing lessons.
Policy Awareness: Parents/guardians must ensure the student is aware of and understands the core principles of Study Turtle’s Safeguarding and Student Code of Conduct.
4.2 Learning Environment and Supervision
Physical & Virtual Environment: Parents/guardians remain responsible for providing a safe, quiet, and appropriate learning space for the student during both online and in-person sessions.
Adult Presence: For students under 18, a parent or responsible adult (18+) must remain present or nearby in the home/vicinity during sessions to ensure proper conduct and address any immediate concerns.
Arrival & Collection (In-Person): Parents/guardians must ensure the student arrives safely and is collected promptly following in-person or community centre sessions. Students will only be permitted to leave independently if prior written consent has been provided by the parent/guardian.
4.3 Student Conduct, Boundaries and Off-Platform Activity
Respectful Treatment: Parents/guardians must take all reasonable steps to ensure students treat tutors with respect and fairness, refraining from abusive or inappropriate language and behaviour.
Communication Rules: Parents/guardians must ensure students do not engage in private or unsolicited communication with tutors outside of Study Turtle’s official platform channels.
4.4 Attendance, Reporting and Dispute Resolution
Absence Notification: Parents/guardians must notify tutors or Study Turtle in advance of any upcoming absences to maintain accurate attendance records and lesson schedules.
Reporting Safeguarding Concerns: Parents/guardians must immediately report any inappropriate behaviour, unsolicited off-platform contact, safety breaches, or illegal activity involving a tutor directly to Study Turtle’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or statutory authorities.
5.0 Student Code of Conduct and Safety Responsibilities
(Note: For students under 18 years of age, parents and legal guardians are responsible for ensuring their child understands and adheres to these guidelines.)
5.1 Respectful Conduct and Behaviour
Mutual Respect: Students must treat tutors and fellow peers (in group workshops) with courtesy, dignity, and respect at all times.
Prohibited Behaviour: Abusive language, harassment, bullying, inappropriate comments or suggestions, disruptive behaviour, or conduct intended to demean or humiliate others will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
5.2 Communication and Platform Boundaries
Official Communication Only: Students must keep all lesson scheduling, messaging, and academic discussions strictly within Study Turtle’s official website tools or approved virtual classroom platforms.
No Unsolicited Off-Platform Contact: Students must not request or share personal phone numbers, private email addresses, personal passwords, or social media handles with tutors.
Reporting Unsolicited Messaging: Students must immediately report any unsolicited or inappropriate off-platform communications received from a tutor to their parent/guardian or to Study Turtle.
5.3 Safety, Environment and Digital Conduct
Safe Physical & Virtual Space: Students must participate in lessons from an appropriate, quiet, and safe setting (e.g., a study room or living area, wearing suitable attire).
Appropriate Materials: Students are solely responsible for the content, text, or files they share during online sessions or upload to the platform. Sharing or uploading offensive, defamatory, explicit, or illegal materials is strictly prohibited.
Reporting Concerns: If a student encounters offensive material, feels uncomfortable, or has a safety/safeguarding concern during a lesson, they must report it immediately to their parent, guardian, or Study Turtle’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
6.0 Prohibition of Unauthorised Recording and Photography
6.1 Prohibition of External Recording and Screen Captures
To safeguard the privacy, personal data, and image rights of both students and tutors:
No Third-Party Recording: Neither students, parents/guardians, nor tutors are permitted to record, audio-record, video-record, or take screen captures of any session using external software, mobile phones, or third-party recording devices.
Prohibition of Public Sharing: Uploading, publishing, or sharing lesson recordings, session screenshots, or educational materials to social media platforms, public websites, or file-sharing hubs is strictly forbidden.
Sanctions: Any unauthorized recording or distribution of lesson media constitutes a material breach of our Safeguarding Policy and Terms & Conditions, and may result in immediate account termination and legal action.
6.2 Authorised Media and Promotional Consent
Official Recordings: Where Study Turtle records online sessions for quality assurance, staff training, or safeguarding purposes, these recordings are conducted strictly within our secure platform and stored in compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Promotional Use: Photographs, video clips, or testimonials involving students for marketing, promotional materials, or website content will only be taken and published where explicit, written consent has been obtained from the parent or legal guardian prior to the session.
Withdrawal of Consent: Parents or legal guardians reserve the right to withdraw their media consent at any time. To withdraw consent, written notification must be sent to Study Turtle’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
7.0 Reporting & Responding to Safeguarding Concerns
Study Turtle takes a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and child welfare risks. All tutors, staff, parents, and students are required to report any concerns regarding a student’s safety or well-being immediately.
7.1 Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Study Turtle maintains a dedicated Designated Safeguarding Lead responsible for child protection and welfare matters:
Role of the DSL: Overlapping risk assessments, receiving internal safeguarding reports, liaising with UK statutory authorities, and managing confidential records.
Safeguarding Contact: nkirikyali@gmail.com
Urgent Reporting: Via our main website contact hub or DSL hotline.
7.2 Procedure for Handling a Student Disclosure
If a student discloses information regarding abuse, harm, or neglect during an online or in-person session, the tutor or staff member must follow the 4 R's of Safeguarding:
1.Receive (Listen Calmly): Do not promise absolute secrecy.
Listen attentively and calmly to the student. Reassure them that they were right to speak up but explain clearly that information must be shared with the DSL to ensure their safety.
2.Reassure (Support the Student): Never interrogate or ask leading questions.
Allow the student to speak at their own pace. Do not ask leading questions, press for details, or make promises you cannot keep (e.g., promising not to tell anyone).
3.React (Maintain Boundaries): Do not confront the alleged abuser.
Do not express horror, shock, or anger. Do not attempt to investigate the disclosure independently or confront any individuals involved.
4.Record & Report: Must be completed immediately post-session.
Make an accurate written record of the disclosure using the student’s exact words where possible, noting the date, time, and context. Submit the report directly to the DSL within 1 hour of the lesson ending.
7.3 Handling Allegations Against Tutors or Staff
If an allegation of abuse, unprofessional conduct, or breach of safeguarding is made against a Study Turtle tutor:
Immediate Suspension: The tutor’s account will be immediately suspended, pending investigation, to ensure student safety.
Statutory Escalation: The DSL will immediately contact the appropriate statutory body:
England & Wales: The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
Scotland: Local Social Work Services / Police Scotland (PVG / Care Inspectorate framework).
Referrals: Where an investigation substantiates harm or risk to children, Study Turtle will fulfil its statutory duty to refer the individual to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or Disclosure Scotland.
7.4 External Escalation and Emergency Action
Where there is reason to believe a child is in immediate danger or at risk of significant harm:
Anyone can—and should—contact emergency services directly without waiting for internal review.
Emergency Services: Dial 999 for Police in immediate danger.
Non-Emergency Advice: Call 101 (Police) or contact the local council Children’s Social Care team.
NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (24/7 free advice line).
7.5 Safeguarding Record Keeping and Confidentiality
All safeguarding disclosures, reports, and actions taken are stored securely on encrypted, password-protected servers in full compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Safeguarding information is shared strictly on a need-to-know basis to protect the child’s privacy and welfare. Records are retained in line with statutory UK guidelines for child protection records.
7.6 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.
7.7 Study Turtle reserves the right to make a final decision on action taken for minor breaches of our Safeguarding Policy.
7.8 Any Student or Tutor reported for illegal activity whilst using the Study Turtle Website may be barred from the service, reported to the police and any other relevant organisations.
8.0 Communication Protocol and Operational Boundaries
8.1 Parental and Administrative Channels
Primary Contacts: All official communications regarding lesson bookings, scheduling changes, payments, and general academic feedback must take place through the registered parent/guardian email address, phone number, or approved platform messaging system.
No Direct Private Messaging: Tutors must not communicate with minor students via personal text messages, personal email accounts, or private messaging applications (such as WhatsApp, iMessage, or social media platforms).
8.2 In-session and Virtual Classroom Communication
Professional Focus: Direct interaction between a tutor and a student within the Virtual Classroom or approved online learning platform must remain professional, encouraging, and strictly limited to tutoring-related matters.
Educational Scope: Discussions, shared files, and digital whiteboards must pertain strictly to the subject being taught. Informal personal chats, non-educational file-sharing, or discussions of a sensitive personal nature are strictly prohibited.
Platform Audit Trails: Parents and guardians acknowledge that all in-platform text chats, shared resources, and messaging logs are archived for quality assurance, safety, and safeguarding review purposes.
9.0 Policy Review and Continuous Governance
Study Turtle is committed to maintaining the highest child protection standards. This Safeguarding Policy and its supporting procedures are formally reviewed on an annual basis to ensure they remain effective, current, and aligned with statutory requirements.
An immediate review of this policy will take place prior to the annual review in the event of:
Changes to relevant UK legislation or statutory government guidance (such as Keeping Children Safe in Education or Scottish Child Protection Guidance);
The identification of new safeguarding risks or operational vulnerabilities;
Significant changes to Study Turtle’s business operations, platform technology, or service offerings; or
Organizational lessons learned following a reported safeguarding incident or review.
10.0 Contact Information
If you have any questions, concerns, or legal inquiries regarding these Safeguarding measures, please contact us at:
E-mail: nkirikyali@gmail.co.uk
Website: www.Studyturtle.co.uk