Safeguarding

Our approach

The welfare of the student comes first. Aptum Tutors interviews and carefully selects tutors, explains these expectations and responds to concerns raised by students, families or tutors.

This policy supports safe practice but does not replace the responsibility of a parent or carer to supervise and make decisions for their child.

Before a lesson

• A parent or carer should make the enquiry and remain Aptum’s main contact.
• Lesson links and arrangements should be shared through the agreed contact route.
• The student should use a suitable device in an appropriate, shared or easily accessible part of the home.
• The parent or carer should know when the lesson starts and ends and how to contact Aptum.
• Only information reasonably needed for tutoring should be shared with the tutor.

During online lessons

• A parent or carer should be nearby or readily contactable throughout the lesson.
• Everyone should use appropriate language, clothing, backgrounds and materials.
• Communication should stay focused on learning and take place through agreed channels.
• Tutors and students should not share personal social-media accounts, private photographs, home addresses or other unnecessary personal details.
• No lesson may be recorded, photographed or captured without prior agreement from Aptum and informed consent from everyone involved, including the parent or carer for a child.

Contact outside lessons

Scheduling, payment, complaints and safeguarding matters should be handled by the parent or carer through Aptum. A tutor should not arrange private meetings or move a child’s communications to a personal or disappearing-message account.

If limited direct communication with an older student is useful for lesson materials, it should happen only with the parent or carer’s knowledge and through an agreed channel.

Expected behaviour

Tutors, students and adults must treat one another respectfully. Bullying, harassment, discrimination, sexualised communication, threats, intimidation, requests for secrecy or any other inappropriate behaviour are not accepted.

A tutor should end or pause a lesson if continuing is unsafe or seriously inappropriate, then contact Aptum. A student or parent may also leave a lesson at any time and report what happened.

Raising a concern

For a concern about a tutor, lesson, message or student’s welfare, email Aptum’s safeguarding contact at hello@aptumtutors.com. Include what happened, when it happened and any immediate risk. Do not investigate the matter yourself or confront someone if doing so could increase risk.

We will listen, record the concern securely, take proportionate steps to protect those involved and seek advice or make a referral to the appropriate authority when necessary. Information will be shared only where needed to respond or protect someone.

Privacy and records

Safeguarding concerns and related records are handled carefully and access is restricted. We may retain and share information where necessary to protect a child, meet a legal obligation or assist an appropriate authority. See our privacy notice for more information.

Reviewing this policy

We will review this policy as the service develops and when safeguarding guidance or our working practices change. Tutors and families will be told about material changes that affect their lessons.