Safeguarding and Online Learning Policy
Sullivan Tutor Academy is committed to providing a safe, secure and supportive online learning environment for all students. As many of our learners are under the age of 18, we take our safeguarding responsibilities seriously and aim to ensure that students can learn in an environment that is professional, respectful, and appropriate for their age.
This policy explains the measures we take to promote the safety, wellbeing, and privacy of students participating in our online tutoring services.
1. Our Safeguarding Commitment
1a. We take the safeguarding and welfare of all students seriously and aim to maintain a learning environment in which students feel safe, respected and able to participate.
1b. Our safeguarding approach is informed by relevant UK safeguarding principles and guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) where applicable to our activities.
1c. We take reasonable and proportionate steps to identify, prevent and respond to safeguarding concerns arising in connection with our services.
1d. Where a safeguarding concern is identified, we will take appropriate action based on the circumstances and the information available to us.
2. Online Learning Environment
2a. All group tutoring sessions are delivered live online via Zoom.
2b. Sessions are led by a tutor and follow a structured format designed to support effective and appropriate learning.
2c. Tutors are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students at all times.
2d. Students are expected to participate in a suitable environment where they can learn safely and without unnecessary disruption.
2e. Sessions may be recorded for safeguarding, quality assurance, and educational purposes.
2f. Access to sessions and learning materials is restricted to authorised students and staff.
3. Student Expectations
3a. Students must treat tutors, staff and other students with respect.
3b. Students must use appropriate language and behaviour at all times.
3c. Students must follow reasonable instructions given by the tutor.
3d. Students must respect the privacy, safety, and wellbeing of other students.
3e. Students must not record sessions, take screenshots, or otherwise reproduce session content without permission.
3f. Students must not share class links, recordings, or other private class information with unauthorised individuals.
3g. Students must not share course materials or resources with people who are not authorised to access them.
3h. Students must not engage in bullying, harassment, discriminatory behaviour, or other inappropriate conduct.
3i. Students must not behave in a way that could compromise the safety, privacy, or wellbeing of another student or tutor.
3j. Where a student’s behaviour presents a serious safety, safeguarding, or disruption concern, we may remove the student from a session and take further appropriate action in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.
4. Parents and Guardians
4a. Parents and guardians have an important role in supporting the safe participation of students under their care.
4b. Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring that students access sessions from a safe and appropriate environment.
4c. Parents and guardians should provide supervision where they consider it appropriate based on the student’s age, needs, and circumstances.
4d. Parents and guardians should support students in following the expectations set out in this policy.
4e. Parents and guardians should inform Sullivan Tutor Academy of any relevant concerns that may affect a student’s participation, safety, or wellbeing.
4f. While tutors are responsible for managing the learning environment during sessions, parents and guardians retain responsibility for the student’s wider welfare outside our tutoring services.
5. Recording of Sessions
5a. Online sessions may be recorded for legitimate purposes, including student catch-up, quality assurance, tutor development, safeguarding and educational purposes.
5b. Recordings are stored securely and access is restricted to those who reasonably require access for the relevant purpose.
5c. Recordings will not be shared publicly or used for marketing purposes without appropriate consent.
5d. Students and parents or guardians must not make their own recordings, screenshots or copies of sessions unless Sullivan Tutor Academy has expressly authorised this.
5e. Further information about how we collect, use and protect personal data is available in our Privacy Policy.
6. Safeguarding Concerns
6a. Any safeguarding concern raised during or in connection with our services will be taken seriously.
6b. Where appropriate, we may record and assess the concern and take reasonable steps to establish the relevant circumstances.
6c. We may communicate with the student, parent or guardian where appropriate.
6d. Where necessary, we may take action to protect the safety and wellbeing of a student or another person.
6e. We may refer or escalate a concern to an appropriate person, organisation or relevant authority where necessary.
6f. We will cooperate with relevant safeguarding professionals or authorities where required or appropriate.
6g. We may share relevant information where we reasonably believe this is necessary to protect a child or another person from harm, or where we are legally required to do so.
6h. While we will handle information sensitively and appropriately, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where disclosure is necessary to protect someone from harm or comply with a legal or safeguarding obligation.
7. Online Safety and Privacy
7a. Students should take reasonable steps to protect their own privacy and the privacy of others when participating in online sessions.
7b. Students should not unnecessarily share personal contact details, private information, or other sensitive information during lessons.
7c. Students must not share passwords, account credentials, or other security information.
7d. Students must not share class links or other access information with unauthorised individuals.
7e. Students should be mindful of what is visible or audible in their surroundings when participating in online sessions.
7f. We will take reasonable measures to maintain a secure online learning environment, but students and parents or guardians also have a responsibility to use online services safely.
8. Professional Boundaries
8a. Tutors and staff are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students.
8b. Communication relating to tutoring should take place through appropriate channels and should remain professional and relevant to the student’s education.
8c. Tutors and staff must not engage in inappropriate personal relationships or communications with students.
8d. Any concern regarding the conduct of a tutor or member of staff should be reported to Sullivan Tutor Academy promptly.
8e. We will take appropriate action when concerns about professional conduct are raised.
9. Policy and Guidance Updates
9a. We may update this Safeguarding & Online Learning Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our services, safeguarding practice, technology or relevant UK guidance.
9b. This may include updates to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) or other relevant safeguarding guidance.
9c. The most current version of this policy will be published on our website.
9d. Where necessary, we may update our safeguarding procedures before formally updating this policy in order to respond appropriately to changes in circumstances or guidance.
Last updated: 26 August 2026