Safeguarding

1. Commitment

The safety, welfare, dignity and rights of children and young people are central to all work. Charlotte holds Qualified Teacher Status, has an enhanced DBS and works within professional safeguarding responsibilities.

2. Scope and responsibility

Little Steps Big Strides is an independent tutoring service. Charlotte is responsible for receiving, recording and acting on safeguarding concerns arising through the service. Concerns will be handled according to their seriousness, relevant statutory guidance and local safeguarding procedures.

3. Online sessions

• A parent or carer should know when and where the session is taking place.
• An appropriate adult should be available during the session.
• Sessions should take place in a suitable shared or agreed space.
• Private messaging with a child outside agreed educational channels will be avoided.
• Sessions will not be recorded unless a clear, lawful and safeguarding-appropriate agreement is in place.

4. Home visits

• A responsible adult should remain at the property unless a different written arrangement has been formally agreed.
• The working space should be safe and suitable.
• Charlotte may leave or end a session if the environment becomes unsafe.
• Professional boundaries apply at all times.

5. Responding to a concern

If a learner makes a disclosure or a concern arises, Charlotte will listen without conducting an investigation, make an accurate record, consider immediate safety and share information with an appropriate safeguarding service where necessary. Parents or carers will usually be informed unless doing so may increase risk or interfere with safeguarding action.

6. Confidentiality and records

Safeguarding information is shared on a need-to-know basis. Records are factual, dated, stored securely and retained according to the nature of the concern and relevant guidance.

7. Useful safeguarding contacts

8. Allegations or concerns about the tutor

Any allegation that a person working with children has harmed a child, may have committed an offence, poses a risk of harm or may be unsuitable to work with children must be taken seriously and referred to the appropriate local authority process or police as required.

Last reviewed: 30 June 2026. This policy should be reviewed whenever the booking, payment or record-keeping systems change.