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LEARNINGCLUBS SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

 

Person responsible for policy: Carol Railton

Policy version and publication date: V1 October 2022

 

Designated Safeguarding Officer

Name: Sarah Mcgrath

Phone: 07911 712250

Email: admin@learningclubs.com

 

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer

Name: Carol Railton

Phone: 07911 750613 / 52 415 168 4662 (-6 hours)

Email: admin@learningclubs.com

 

This safe working practice document is NOT statutory guidance from the Department for Education (DfE). The following documentation is for employers, local authorities and/or the Three Safeguarding Partners. LearningClubs has determined to use this as the basis for their representatives' code of conduct and behaviour guidelines.

 

  1. Introduction

  2. Purpose of the PolicySafeguarding

  3. International Students

  4. Keeping Children Safe in Education

  5. Online Safety

  6. Registration of Tutors

  7. Dealing with a Safeguarding Concern or Disclosure

 

LearningClubs Safeguarding Statement:

“Safeguarding is everyone’s business at LearningClubs – We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Students. All those who represent LearningClubs including Tutors have provided their signature as an agreement in  this commitment.”

 

1. Introduction

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Established in 2011, LearningClubs offers online bespoke learning opportunities for Students to boost their thinking skills while building confidence. 

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This safe working practice and procedure document is not statutory guidance from the Department for Education (DfE). It is for employers, local authorities and/or the Safeguarding Partners. LearningClubs has determined to use this as the basis for their representatives' code of conduct and behaviour guidelines.

 

The following sections set out the procedure followed if an incident occurs. These procedures ensure a prompt response to any incident and minimise any further harm to a student or other person. Each section below sets out the recommended procedure which must be followed. 

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It is always the responsibility of the person alerted to the incident to take action to protect the Student or other person. LearningClubs will not be responsible for any non-compliance with the recommended procedure.

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The procedures are not an exhaustive list; therefore, if an incident is not covered in this document, you are advised to immediately contact children's social care or the police if you believe it may be a criminal matter. Following this action, contact the company’s CPO.

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2. Purpose of the Policy

 

This policy applies to all aspects of LearningClubs conducting online Tutoring services. The policy and supporting procedures apply to all LearningClubs’s representatives including Tutors.

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LearningClubs acknowledges its duty of care to safeguard, and promote the welfare of Students and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practices reflect up-to-date statutory responsibilities, and government guidance and its services are carried out and reflect best practice.

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The welfare of a Student is paramount and is the responsibility of everyone. 

 

This policy statement is in place to protect all Students, regardless of age, gender, religion or beliefs, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. 

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In addition, LearningClubs offers online educational services that fall within the scope of this policy including that:

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  • All Students will receive Tutoring in a safe environment

  • All reasonable steps will be taken to protect every Student from harm, discrimination or demeaning treatment

  • Every Student is entitled to have their rights, wishes and feelings respected

  • Every Tutor is entitled to be treated with respect

  • Confidentiality is essential to the environment of trust with our Students, but this will be balanced against the organisation’s duty to protect Students 

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We undertake to:

  • Take all suspicions and allegations of poor practice or abuse seriously and respond to them swiftly and appropriately

  • Ensure that all Tutors and parents/guardians are aware of the correct procedures for raising any concerns they may have

  • Ensure robust safer recruitment, selection and appointment procedures for staff and tutors

  • Ensure all our Tutors work cooperatively with parents/guardians

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3. Safeguarding International Students

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LearningClubs recognises that international students use and access LearningClubs services. LearningClubs uses the same reporting approach to international students as it does to the UK.

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The LearningClubs safeguarding team, CPO, will always endeavour to follow the same policy and procedures and notify the relevant local authority equivalent where possible.


4. Keeping Children Safe In Education

 

Children are considered abused or at risk of abuse by parents or others when the Child's basic needs are not being met through either commission or omission.  Children include everyone under the age of 18 (KCSIE, 2022*).

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Children and young people is defined as:
 

  • Protecting Children from maltreatment

  • Preventing impairment of Children’s mental and physical health or development

  • Taking action to enable all Children to have the best outcomes

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5. Online Services

 

LearningClubs recognises the considerable breadth of issues classified within online safety. LearningClubs takes a holistic approach to online safety that aims to protect LearningClubs’s representatives including Tutors and Students in their use of technology.

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The Tutor

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The Tutor shall:

  • Ensure that their environment does not display any inappropriate objects, images or documentation that the Student or parent/responsible adult can be viewed when conducting a session

  • Ensure that their attire is professional in keeping with that of a school environment

  • Treat Students fairly and without prejudice or discrimination. This may include Students who have a disability or come from a minority ethnic or cultural group can easily become victims of discrimination and prejudice, which may harm the Student’s well-being

  • Ensure any contact with the student is appropriate to their role as a tutor

  • Always ensure language is professional and not offensive or discriminatory

  • Ensure that all email contact with the parent and the Student (if and when required) is solely done with the email assigned to the Tutor from LearningClubs

  • Report any dispute with a Student or parent/responsible adult immediately to the CPO

  • Report any inappropriate behaviour or illegal activity identified within a Tutorial session by the Student or third party immediately to the CPO

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The Student

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The Student shall:

  • Treat the Tutor with respect and fairness, and not subject them to abusive behaviour or language

  • Have no contact with the Tutor outside of the tutorial session except organising schedule changes

  • Report any dispute with a Tutor to a parent/responsible adult in accordance with the Safeguarding procedures and forwarded to the CPO

  • Report any inappropriate behaviour or illegal activity by a Tutor within a session in accordance with the Safeguarding procedures

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Parent/Responsible adult

 

The parent/responsible adult shall:

  • Ensure the Student is fully aware of the LearningClubs Safeguarding Policy

  • Always be responsible for the welfare of the Student during the session

  • 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.

  • Ensure that Tutors will be treated with respect and fairness by the Student and will not be subjected to abusive behaviour or language

  • Ensure that no improper suggestions are made by either the Tutor or Student

  • Ensure the Student has no communication with the Tutor outside the tutorial session except organising schedule changes

  • Report any dispute or inappropriate behaviour with a Tutor to the CPO

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6. Registration of Tutors 

 

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 requires the organisation to carry out specific vetting (enhanced DBS and barred list checks) on Staff and Tutors. 

 

LearningClubs carries out appropriate recruitment practices for all positions within the organisation to ensure that the Tutor will:

  • Be identified by their real name

  • Provide proof of identity

  • Provide proof of residential address

  • Hold a current enhanced DBS certificate

  • Hold a Certificate of Safeguarding and Child Protection Level 1 or higher

  • Provide two professional references that will be verified. 


The CPO will undertake to monitor the working practice of staff and Tutors no less than once per year. 

 

7. Dealing with a Safeguarding concern or disclosure

 

LearningClubs must accept the information being shared without influencing it when there is a question of possible harm or abuse. 

 

 Those supporting the Student should:

  • Stay Calm

  • Listen carefully and let the Student tell their story 

  • Do not lead, do not suggest, just record this information

  • Make a full report within 2 hours to the CPO by completing the incident form*

  • Disconnect immediately from any device in the event of sexual or physical harm content being shown

 

 Those supporting the Student should NOT:

  • Promise confidentiality

  • Ask leading questions (e.g. Did xxx do this to you?)

  • Make promises (e.g. this will never happen again)

 

When the CPO receives the incident form, they will contact the relevant child social care team and make a referral. The referral will be followed up in writing within 24 hours. 

 

Where a child is suffering or is likely to suffer from harm, it is important that a referral to children’s social care (and if appropriate the police) is made immediately. 

 

Designated Safeguarding Officer

Name: Sarah Mcgrath

Phone: 07911 712250

Email: admin@learningclubs.com

 

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer

Name: Carol Railton

Phone: 07911 750613 / 52 415 168 4662 (-6 hours)

Email: admin@learningclubs.com

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Definitions and References

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DEFINITION: ​

Regulated activity: Teaching, training or instruction of Students, carried out by the same person frequently (once a week or more often).

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REFERENCES:

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