NORTH FINCHLEY TUTORS – SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Our Safeguarding Policy

1. Statement of Intent

All children have an absolute right to be protected from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
North Finchley Tutors is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment for all children and young people.
In all safeguarding matters, the welfare of the child is paramount.

Although we are not a maintained school, we adhere to the principles of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and Working Together to Safeguard Children to ensure best practice.

2. Purpose and Scope

This policy applies to all tutors, staff, volunteers, contractors, and visitors involved in North Finchley Tutors’ activities — whether online or face-to-face.
It outlines our procedures for:

Preventing harm or abuse;
Responding to concerns or disclosures;
Promoting safe and professional conduct; and
Ensuring that unsuitable individuals do not work with children.

3. Legal and Policy Framework

Our policy is informed by the following statutory and best-practice guidance:

Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE, 2025)
Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE, 2023)
The Children Act (1989 & 2004)
The Education Act (2002)
The Equality Act (2010)
UK GDPR and Data Protection Act (2018)

While tutoring centres are not bound by the same statutory duties as schools, North Finchley Tutors voluntarily adopts these standards to safeguard all students effectively.

4. Principles

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
All staff and tutors must act promptly on any concerns.
All suspicions or allegations must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO).
Children and parents should feel confident that concerns will be taken seriously.
Information is shared securely and only on a need-to-know basis.

5. Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)

Sahand Ahghari
📞 07525465726
📧 info@northfinchleytutors.co.uk

The DSO is responsible for:

Ensuring all staff and tutors understand safeguarding procedures;
Acting as the main point of contact for any concerns, allegations, or disclosures;
Liaising with local safeguarding partners, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), and designated leads at partner schools;
Maintaining accurate, confidential records;
Overseeing safer recruitment and DBS checks; and
Ensuring regular review and training.

If the DSO is unavailable or the allegation concerns the DSO, the concern must be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) at the relevant local authority (Barnet LADO: 020 8359 4066).

6. Safer Recruitment

North Finchley Tutors ensures that all adults working with children are suitable and safe:

All staff and tutors must undergo an Enhanced DBS check (with barred list check if eligible).
Two professional references are required prior to appointment.
Identity, right-to-work, and qualification checks are completed.
New staff receive induction training including safeguarding awareness and our Code of Conduct.
Tutors are never left alone with students in unsupervised 1-to-1 settings without parental knowledge or consent.

7. Staff Conduct and Professional Boundaries

All staff, tutors, and volunteers must:

Act as positive role models and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Avoid any behaviour that could lead a reasonable person to question their intentions.
Never exchange personal contact details or communicate with students outside authorised channels.
Avoid being alone in closed rooms with students (doors should remain open or have visibility panels).
Report any concern about a colleague’s conduct immediately to the DSO.

All tutors must follow North Finchley Tutors’ Code of Conduct and Online Safety Policy.

8. Online Safety

Given the nature of tutoring, sessions may be conducted online. Staff must:

Use only approved, secure platforms (e.g. Zoom with waiting rooms enabled).
Keep cameras on and backgrounds neutral.
Never record sessions without consent from parents/carers.
Report any online safeguarding concerns (e.g. grooming, bullying, or exposure to harmful content) to the DSO immediately.

9. Responding to Concerns or Disclosures

If a child makes a disclosure or a concern arises, staff and tutors must:

Listen carefully and allow the child to speak freely.
Do not ask leading or investigative questions.
Reassure the child that they have done the right thing by speaking up.
Explain that you cannot keep what they tell you a secret and that you must share it to help keep them safe.
Record the facts — using the child’s own words — as soon as possible.
Report immediately to the DSO (on the same day).
Do not confront the alleged perpetrator or promise confidentiality.

The DSO will:

Review the information and assess risk;
Decide whether to make a referral to Children’s Social Care or the LADO;
Liaise with partner schools if appropriate; and
Record all actions and decisions in a secure safeguarding log.

If at any point a child is at immediate risk of harm, contact the police (999) or Children’s Social Care immediately.

10. Recording and Information Sharing

All safeguarding concerns are logged promptly and securely.
Information is shared only with those who need to know.
Records are stored in line with UK GDPR and retained securely for a minimum of six years.
Parents are informed of concerns unless doing so would place the child at increased risk.

11. Training and Review

All tutors and staff receive annual safeguarding and child protection training, including updates on KCSIE and online safety.
The DSO receives enhanced training every two years.
This policy is reviewed annually or sooner in light of statutory changes or incidents.

12. Whistleblowing

Staff and volunteers must feel able to raise concerns about unsafe or inappropriate practices.
Whistleblowing concerns should be reported to the DSO or, if necessary, directly to:

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO); or
NSPCC Whistleblowing Helpline: 0800 028 0285.

13. Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers

Any allegation that a tutor or volunteer has:

Behaved in a way that harmed or may have harmed a child;
Possibly committed a criminal offence against a child; or
Behaved in a way that indicates they may pose a risk to children
must be reported immediately to the DSO, who will contact the LADO for guidance.
Staff will not investigate the allegation internally before referral.

Mobile Phone and Personal Device Use Policy (Safeguarding Addendum)

Purpose
To ensure the safety, privacy and protection of all pupils in accordance with KCSIE statutory guidance.

Staff Use of Mobile Phones

Staff may carry personal mobile phones in teaching areas for:
Emergency communication in a multi-classroom building. Phones must not be used in toilets or changing areas

Immediate reporting of accidents or safeguarding concerns.
Sending registers (first names only, no personal data) to designated managers. These are deleted weekly after use and used to chase absences for safeguarding reasons.
Teaching assistants are not permitted to carry or use mobile phones during sessions.
Mobile phones must:
- Remain on silent.
- Not be used for personal communication during teaching time.
- Never be used to photograph or record pupils.
The taking of photographs or videos of pupils on personal devices is strictly prohibited. Any image capture requires centre-owned device (if ever needed)

Any breach of this policy will be treated as a safeguarding concern and investigated under the staff disciplinary procedure.
Leadership monitors compliance, and all staff sign to confirm understanding of this policy annually.

14. Policy Review and Approval

This policy was last reviewed: February 2026
Next review due: August 2026

Approved by:
Sahand Ahghari – Designated Safeguarding Officer
North Finchley Tutors