Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

TheStudySoc is committed to providing a safe, supportive and respectful environment for every child and young person who uses our services.

We provide educational support to students aged 11 and above, including GCSE and A-level revision, revision crash courses, one-to-one and group tuition, university admissions support, personal statement guidance, interview preparation and admissions test preparation.

The safety and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority. We recognise that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and that children and young people have the right to learn in an environment free from abuse, neglect, discrimination, exploitation and inappropriate behaviour.

This policy sets out how TheStudySoc approaches safeguarding and child protection, and applies to all tutors, employees, contractors, volunteers and other individuals working directly on behalf of TheStudySoc.

TheStudySoc's Designated Safeguarding Lead is Simrat Kaur (admin@thestudysoc.com).

The DSL is responsible for overseeing safeguarding arrangements, responding to concerns, maintaining appropriate safeguarding records, and ensuring that safeguarding procedures are reviewed and maintained.

TheStudySoc will ensure that the DSL has appropriate safeguarding knowledge and training for the role.

TheStudySoc provides educational services to:

• students aged 11 and above
• GCSE students
• A-level students
• sixth-form students
• students preparing for university applications
• students seeking support with particular university courses
• older students seeking academic or university admissions support

Some students may be under 18 and some may be adults. Our safeguarding procedures apply particularly to children and young people under 18.

TheStudySoc will:

• put the safety and welfare of children first
• take all safeguarding concerns seriously
• listen to children and young people
• maintain appropriate professional boundaries
• provide a safe and respectful learning environment
• ensure tutors understand their safeguarding responsibilities
• ensure appropriate checks are carried out on tutors working directly with children
• respond promptly to safeguarding concerns
• maintain appropriate safeguarding records
• share information where necessary to protect a child
• work with parents, carers, schools, children's social care, the police and other relevant organisations where appropriate
• review our safeguarding procedures regularly

Safeguarding concerns may include, but are not limited to:

• physical abuse
• emotional abuse
• sexual abuse
• neglect
• domestic abuse
• bullying or cyberbullying
• grooming
• child sexual exploitation
• child criminal exploitation
• online abuse
• inappropriate contact between adults and children
• discriminatory or hateful behaviour
• radicalisation or extremism
• serious risks to a child's mental or physical wellbeing
• self-harm or suicidal thoughts
• concerns about a child's home environment
• concerns about another adult who may pose a risk to a child

A safeguarding concern does not necessarily involve an obvious injury or direct disclosure. Changes in behaviour, communication, appearance, attendance or emotional wellbeing may also indicate that a child needs support.

All tutors and staff working for TheStudySoc must maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students. Tutors must not:

• engage in inappropriate physical contact
• engage in sexual or romantic behaviour with a student
• make inappropriate comments or jokes
• use humiliating, threatening or abusive language
• ask students to keep inappropriate secrets
• communicate with students through personal social media accounts
• arrange private meetings with students outside agreed TheStudySoc activities
• share inappropriate personal information with students
• request or exchange inappropriate photographs or other material
• use personal communication channels to develop inappropriate relationships with students

Communication relating to TheStudySoc services should take place through approved professional channels. TheStudySoc primarily communicates with students and parents or carers by email.

Students may contact TheStudySoc directly, including students under 18. Where a student is under 18, TheStudySoc may involve their parent or legal guardian where appropriate, particularly where this relates to safeguarding, serious concerns, payments, attendance or other matters affecting the student's welfare. TheStudySoc will respect students' privacy while recognising that information cannot always remain confidential where there is a safeguarding concern.

TheStudySoc may provide sessions at third-party venues or other agreed educational locations. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that venues used for TheStudySoc activities are suitable for educational sessions and provide an appropriate environment for children and young people. Students should only attend an agreed TheStudySoc session at the designated venue and during the agreed times.

Parents and carers remain responsible for arrangements relating to getting their child to and from the venue unless TheStudySoc has expressly agreed otherwise. TheStudySoc does not provide transportation to or from sessions unless this is specifically agreed in writing.

Where TheStudySoc provides online sessions:

• sessions will use an agreed professional platform
• tutors will maintain professional boundaries
• tutors must not use personal social media accounts to communicate with students
• students should participate from an appropriate environment
• parents or carers may request information about the arrangements for online sessions
• safeguarding concerns arising during an online session will be dealt with in accordance with this policy

TheStudySoc does not currently intend to routinely record online sessions. If this changes, students and parents or carers will be informed in advance and appropriate privacy and consent arrangements will be put in place.

If a student tells a tutor or member of staff that they are being harmed or are at risk of harm, the tutor or staff member should:

1. remain calm
2. listen carefully
3. allow the student to speak without unnecessary interruption
4. avoid leading questions
5. avoid promising absolute confidentiality
6. reassure the student that they have done the right thing by speaking up
7. explain that the information may need to be shared with someone who can help keep them safe
8. record the concern accurately
9. report the concern to the DSL as soon as possible

Tutors and staff should not investigate safeguarding allegations themselves.

Any safeguarding concern should be reported to the DSL as soon as possible: Simrat Kaur, admin@thestudysoc.com.

The report should include, where known:

• the student's name
• date and time of the concern
• what was seen, heard or disclosed
• the student's exact words where possible
• any relevant observations
• actions already taken
• the name of the person making the report

If a child or another person is in immediate danger, or there is an immediate risk of serious harm, emergency services should be contacted by calling 999.

The DSL should be informed as soon as reasonably possible.

A concern should not be delayed simply because a parent or carer has not given permission to report it, where doing so could place the child at further risk.

Where appropriate, TheStudySoc may contact or cooperate with:

• children's social care
• the police
• the child's school or educational institution
• the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) where relevant
• other safeguarding professionals or appropriate authorities

TheStudySoc will share relevant information where necessary to protect a child or comply with legal obligations.

Safeguarding information will be treated sensitively. However, confidentiality will not prevent information from being shared where this is necessary to protect a child or prevent serious harm. Information will only be shared with people or organisations who have a legitimate reason to receive it.

Any concern or allegation involving a tutor, employee, contractor, volunteer or other person working for TheStudySoc will be taken seriously. The person concerned may be removed from contact with students while the concern is assessed.

Where necessary, TheStudySoc will refer the matter to the appropriate external authority. TheStudySoc will not attempt to conduct investigations that should be undertaken by the police, children's social care or another appropriate authority.

All tutors and individuals working directly with students on behalf of TheStudySoc will be subject to appropriate recruitment and safeguarding checks. Depending on the role, these may include:

• identity checks
• right-to-work checks where applicable
• references
• qualification checks
• employment or experience checks
• safeguarding questions
• appropriate DBS checks

TheStudySoc will ensure that the level of DBS checking is appropriate to the role and the nature of the work being undertaken.

Tutors and other individuals who work directly with children for TheStudySoc will be required to have an appropriate DBS check where the role is eligible. A DBS check is one part of safer recruitment and does not replace appropriate safeguarding procedures, supervision or professional conduct.

TheStudySoc will ensure that the DSL and individuals working directly with children have appropriate safeguarding information or training for their roles. Safeguarding training will be refreshed when appropriate and when there are significant changes to safeguarding guidance or TheStudySoc's services.

TheStudySoc is committed to providing an inclusive learning environment. We will not tolerate discrimination, harassment or bullying on the basis of characteristics protected by law or any other personal characteristic. Every student should be treated with dignity and respect.

Safeguarding concerns will be recorded securely and accurately. Records will include relevant information about:

• the concern
• the date and time
• actions taken
• referrals made
• decisions made
• relevant communications

Safeguarding records will only be accessed by individuals who need access to them.

This policy will be reviewed regularly and at least annually. It will also be reviewed sooner if there are significant changes to:

• legislation
• government guidance
• safeguarding procedures
• TheStudySoc's services
• the way TheStudySoc works with children

Policy owner: Simrat Kaur. Designated Safeguarding Lead: Simrat Kaur (admin@thestudysoc.com).