Safeguarding Policy

Reviewed 15th July 2026

1. Purpose, Aim, and Scope

Purpose: To set out TutorBunch’s commitment to safeguarding the children and young people who use its services, ensuring their welfare and protection from harm. Also, to provide staff and all involved with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding.

Aim: To ensure that all staff, volunteers, and partners act in the best interests of children and young people, recognise and respond to concerns, and operate to the highest safeguarding standards.

Scope: This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, contractors, and any adult working on behalf of Knowledge Privileged in any capacity.

2. Core Principles of TutorBunch

  • The welfare of the child is paramount.
  • Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
  • Children’s views will be sought, listened to, and respected.
  • We operate transparent safeguarding procedures based on respect, dignity, and equality.
  • We work in partnership with children, families, and statutory agencies.

3. Our Commitment

At TutorBunch, we believe that a child’s welfare is of paramount importance. We are deeply committed to protecting children from abuse, maltreatment, and online harm. Because our learning environment is virtual, we employ a proactive, transparent, and robust approach to digital safeguarding so that every student can learn safely and confidently.

4. Our Legal Obligations

This policy is underpinned by statutory UK safeguarding legislation and guidance to ensure that our operations align with national standards:

  • The Children Act 1989: The foundational legislation for child welfare in the UK. We operate under its core principle that “the child’s welfare is the paramount consideration” in any actions we take.
  • The Children Act 2004: This Act places a statutory duty on organisations to ensure they safeguard and promote the welfare of children through multi-agency cooperation and preventative measures.
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE): While primarily aimed at schools, we look to this statutory Department for Education (DfE) guidance for best practices regarding safer recruitment, staff conduct, and recognising signs of abuse or online harm.

5. Safer Recruitment & Vetting

We do not compromise on who represents TutorBunch. Before any tutor is permitted to deliver a session on our platform, they must pass our rigorous safer recruitment process:

  • Enhanced Background Checks: All UK-based tutors must hold a valid, enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. International tutors must provide equivalent local police clearances.
  • Mandatory Training: Tutors must complete comprehensive safeguarding training, including how to spot indicators of neglect, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, and how to identify radicalisation.
  • Identity Verification: We thoroughly verify tutor credentials, references, and identities before their profiles go live. We engage the services of Yoti for our ID verification process.

6. Safe Online Practices & Platform Features

We mitigate risk through secure, monitored technology and clear Rules of Engagement:

  • Recorded Sessions: All sessions are recorded and stored securely. This acts as a protective measure for both the student and the tutor.
  • No Outside Communication: Tutors and students are restricted from communicating via personal phone numbers, emails, or unregulated third-party social media platforms. All communication must happen via the on-site messaging system of TutorBunch.
  • Prohibited Content & Profanity Filters: Our platform utilises moderation to detect inappropriate language, images, or files shared during sessions.

7. Reporting Concerns

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We ensure that children, parents, and tutors have clear, easily accessible routes to report any issues or concerns:

  • Designated Safeguarding Team & Lead (DSL): We have a DSL and a dedicated safeguarding team who review session flags, handle disclosures, and immediately liaise with local authorities or emergency services when a child is at risk of significant harm.
  • Report Button: Students and parents can instantly flag a tutor or report uncomfortable behaviour using the “Report Concern” button on their student dashboard. Alternatively, Users who have any concerns regarding child protection are encouraged to contact TutorBunch immediately. TutorBunch’s Designated Child Protection Officer (DSL) can be reached at office@tutorbunch.com.

8. Review and Monitoring

Policy reviewed annually and after any safeguarding incident or legislative update. Reviewed and updated by DSL using directives from recent, applicable legislation and guidance. Regular audits and staff feedback inform improvements.

Help & FAQ

For Students & Parents
For Tutors
Pricing & Payment
Why does the price I see include more than the tutor's rate?
The price shown is the full Lesson Fee — it already includes a small service fee on top of the tutor's own rate, which helps us run the platform, keep it safe, and support tutors. There's nothing extra to pay at checkout — the price you see is exactly what you'll be charged.
If I cancel a lesson, do I get a refund?
Yes. Cancel 24 hours or more before your lesson and you'll get a full refund automatically. Cancel less than 24 hours before, and you'll get a 50% refund. If you simply don't show up without cancelling, no refund applies, though your tutor may offer to reschedule at their discretion.
How long does a refund take to arrive?
Refunds are processed automatically and usually appear back on your card within a few business days, depending on your bank.
Tutors & Badges
What do the badges (Rising Star, Elite, etc.) mean?
Badges help you understand the type of tutor you're looking at — for example, Rising Star tutors show strong potential, while Elite tutors have a proven track record of excellent results. Badges don't affect price at all — every tutor's price is based purely on the rate they've set.
Are all tutors background-checked?
Tutors go through an application and approval process before appearing on the platform. You won't see a tutor's profile listed publicly until they've been approved.
Lessons & Booking
Can I try a tutor before committing to paid lessons?
Many tutors offer a free 15-minute trial session, shown on their booking page if available. This is a great way to see if their teaching style is a good fit before booking a full paid lesson.
Where do lessons actually take place?
All lessons happen inside our own secure, dedicated online learning space — you don't need Zoom, Skype, or any other app. A link to join is provided automatically once your booking is confirmed.
Can I watch a lesson back afterwards?
Yes — lessons are recorded, and you can access the recording from your profile under "My Lessons" for 90 days after the lesson. After that, recordings are no longer available, so it's worth watching back anything important sooner rather than later.
Messaging & Safety
Why was my message hidden or flagged?
For everyone's safety, our system automatically flags messages that contain things like phone numbers, email addresses, or mentions of other apps (WhatsApp, Zoom, etc.), since all communication and payment needs to stay on the platform. A flagged message is reviewed by our team — if it's a false flag, it'll be restored.
I'm uncomfortable with something a tutor said or did — what do I do?
Use the "Report a Concern" button on your profile page. It goes straight and confidentially to our admin team, who'll review it as a priority.
Can tutors see my contact details?
No — your contact information stays private. All communication happens securely through our own messaging system, not via email or phone.
Referrals
How does the referral program work?
Use your unique referral link (found on your profile) to invite a friend. Once they create a brand new account using your link and complete 5 paid lessons, you'll both receive £25 credit to use toward future lessons. Free trial sessions don't count toward the 5 lessons, and credit expires 3 months after it's awarded.
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