Bringing the classroom to you
1.1 TauRho Tutors Ltd (trading as Cambridge Online Tutors. Abb. COT) are committed to providing the highest standard of safeguarding. The safety of our users is our paramount concern.
1.2 Our website and policies have all been designed to ensure Tutees/Registered Adults and Tutors work together in a safe environment.
2.1 Our website and policies have been developed to ensure we comply with all relevant safeguarding legislation.
2.2 Our safeguarding policy should be read in conjunction with our Terms & Conditions.
3.1 To provide the best service possible and provide a safe experience in which children can learn.
3.2 This policy aims to ensure we safeguard all Users, Tutees/Registered Adults and Tutors whilst they engage with our Website or Lessons.
3.3 This policy outlines the responsibilities of all Users, Tutees/Registered Adults and Tutors and it is important that all have familiarised themselves with this policy and our Terms & Conditions.
3.4 Alongside this policy, Users, Tutees/Registered Adults and Tutors must comply with the The Tutors' Association Child Protection Policy, whether or not they are a member of The Tutors' Association, and all relevant legislation and government guidance.
3.5 If any User has a concern regarding child protection, they must contact TauRho Tutors immediately.
3.6 Contravention of any of the terms contained within this policy may result in immediate removal of access to and permanent barring from our services.
4.1 TauRho Tutors will determine a whether a Tutors biography is suitable to be placed on the TauRho Tutors website.
4.2 TauRho Tutors will use reasonable endeavours to verify the identity of all Tutors.
4.3 TauRho Tutors will not accept any Tutor access to the TauRho Tutors site without first providing valid DBS certification and undertaking an interview process with our internal assessment team. TauRho Tutors do not require every Tutor to have an enhanced DBS check, however, all Tutor bios will show to what level they have been certified. Background checks must have been awarded within 2 years of the date on which a Tutor permitted account access on the Website, and within 3 years at any point in time thereafter. Within these time frames, background checks will be accepted if they are an enhanced check provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service, Disclosure Scotland or Access Northern Ireland. It is entirely at the Tutees/Registered Adults discretion as to whether they determine having an enhanced DBS check, over a basic DBS check is part of their selection criteria.
4.4 TauRho Tutors require new Tutors to provide two written references from people who are not related to them, in which the referees confirm that they are not family and agree that their reference may be shared on the Tutors bio on the Website. TauRho Tutors are not responsible for the accuracy of, or content within, these references.
4.5 TauRho Tutors rank Tutors on the website based on a mixture of Tutee/Registered Adult reviews and ratings and number of lessons taught. TauRho Tutors reserves the right to change the way Tutors are ranked at any time. The communication of this information to Tutees/Registered Adults is to enable them to find the right Tutor for them.
4.6 TauRho Tutors encourages Tutees/Registered Adults to leave a review of Tutors they have lessons with. "Review" means any review, comment or rating.
4.7 TauRho Tutors will take reasonable precautions to protect Tutees/Registered Adults and Tutors personal information, including but not limited to a purge of all personal data from the website following one year of inactivity.
4.8 TauRho Tutors will protect all data in accordance with all relevant legislation including but not limited to the General Data Protection Regulation, May, 2018. More information on this can be found in our Privacy Policy.
4.9 TauRho Tutors will be able to monitor any activity either during lessons or outside of lessons on the website and messages sent between Tutees/Registered Adults and Tutors. This is in order to stop misuse of the website and to ensure we safeguard all users.
4.10 TauRho Tutors will record all online lessons (aside from unforeseen malfunction in recording equipment occurs) and store these recordings for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 3 months. These recordings will remain the property of TauRho Tutors.
4.11 TauRho Tutors may review any online lessons at any time for the purposes of improving our service or where a complaint or safeguarding report has been made.
4.12 TauRho Tutors will deal with reports of possible illegal activity promptly, focusing on the safety and wellbeing of Users. TauRho Tutors will allow access to UK law enforcement of any recording where a criminal offence may have occurred in relation to a specific lesson.
4.13 TauRho Tutors will ensure complaints are considered promptly and in accordance with our Terms & Conditions.
4.14 TauRho Tutors review this policy on a quarterly basis, and our Terms & Conditions to ensure they are best suited to safeguarding all users.
5.1 Tutees/Registered Adults must be at least 16 years old to book tuition for themselves or another learner. Tutees under the age of 16 must be represented by a parent or legal guardian who gives consent for them to receive tuition. TauRho Tutors is not responsible for any dispute regarding parental consent.
5.2 Tutees/Registered Adults must ensure that all of their personal details and contact information are accurate and up-to-date.
5.3 Tutees/Registered Adults and parents must ensure that there is no inappropriate communication between themselves, a learner they represent and the Tutor outside the Website and report any unsolicited communications from the Tutor if appropriate.
5.4 Tutees/Registered Adults and parents must exercise their own judgement regarding the accuracy of the information provided on the Website. TauRho Tutors cannot guarantee that all of the content on the Tutor's bios is complete, accurate or up-to-date.
5.5 Tutees/Registered Adults and parents must use their own judgement about the services of Tutors detailed on the website. Although we undertake certain checks to assess the suitability of each Tutor prior to setting their profile live on the website, Tutees/Registered Adults are responsible for checking any claims made by Tutors to satisfy their requirements. TauRho Tutors are happy to undertake further checks if requested.
5.6 Tutees/Registered Adults and parents are solely responsible for any material they or the learner they represent post on the website, including messages sent, and they must not post defamatory, offensive or illegal material.
5.7 Tutees/Registered Adults or parents must immediately report to TauRho Tutors any defamatory, offensive or illegal material they view on our website.
5.8 Any User who is the parent of a learner under the age of 16 who has a lesson with a Tutor should be available for the learner to report any inappropriate behaviour or concerns. Learners must report any concerns to a parent or legal guardian immediately.
5.9 Tutees/Registered Adults and parents must ensure that Tutors are treated with respect and are not subjected to abusive behaviour or language.
5.10 Tutees/Registered Adults and parents must report any Complaint in line with our Terms & Conditions.
5.11 Tutees/Registered Adults must report any safeguarding concerns or illegal activity immediately and in line with our Terms & Conditions.
6.1 Tutors are not employees of TauRho Tutors and are solely responsible for their own actions both on and off the website.
6.2 If Tutors are contacted by Tutees/Registered Adults who are under 16, they must ensure that these Tutees/Registered Adults are represented by a parent or legal guardian who has consented for the pupil to receive tuition.
6.3 Tutors are responsible for ensuring that the personal information they provide and their personal statements on the website are accurate and in no way misleading. They must update this information promptly to maintain its accuracy.
6.4 Tutors are solely responsible for the material they post on the Website, including messages sent, and they must not post defamatory, offensive or illegal material.
6.5 Tutors must immediately report to TauRho Tutors any defamatory, offensive or illegal material they view on our Website.
6.6 Tutors must disclose any criminal convictions or cautions they may have to TauRho Tutors, including any criminal convictions or cautions received at any time after having registered a tutor account on the website and for as long as the Tutor remains registered.
6.7 Tutors take responsibility for recording all online lessons for quality assurance, transcription and safeguarding purposes.
6.8 Tutors must disclose any other relevant information which may lead TauRho Tutors to determine they are not suitable to tutor.
6.9 Tutors must provide certification of DBS checked status. This must be valid from within 2 years since certified on application or within 3 years any time thereafter.
6.10 Tutors must take every precaution to ensure that they work in a safe environment and are responsible for taking out and maintaining any insurance policies they wish to cover the work they undertake.
6.11 Tutors must ensure that their environment does not display any inappropriate images or documents when conducting a lesson.
6.12 Tutors must treat Tutees/Registered Adults fairly and without prejudice or discrimination; whatever their age, culture, ability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity.
6.14 Tutors must ensure all reasonable steps are taken to protect children from harm, discrimination and demeaning treatment and to respect their rights.
6.15 Tutors must value Tutees/Registered Adults and take their contributions seriously.
6.16 Tutors must ensure the language they use is appropriate and not offensive or discriminatory and all communication with the pupil or parents is appropriate.
6.17 Tutors must ensure that any contact or communication with the Tutees/Registered Adults is appropriate to their role and confined to the field for which they have been selected to tutor.
6.18 Tutors must ensure that there is no inappropriate communication between themselves and the Tutees/Registered Adults on or outside of the website and report any unsolicited communications from the Tutees/Registered Adults if appropriate.
6.19 Tutors are responsible for their own security in conjunction with our services, both online and offline.
6.20 Tutors must report any complaint in line with our Terms & Conditions.
6.21 Tutors must report any safeguarding concerns or illegal activity immediately to TauRho Tutors.
7.1 The parent/responsible adult will be responsible for the selection of the Tutor and make any reasonable checks to ensure the Tutor is suitable for the Tutee/Registered Adult (including, if required, reviewing the tutor's DBS certification documentation or qualification transcripts).
7.2 The parent/responsible adult will ensure the Tutee/Registered Adult is fully aware of TauRho Tutor's safeguarding policy.
7.3 The parent/responsible adult will always be responsible for the welfare of the Tutee/Registered Adult during the session.
7.4 The parent/responsible adult will if they consider it appropriate, be present or available during a lesson so any concerns encountered by the Tutee/Registered Adult can be reported as soon as possible and ensure the Tutee/Registered Adult and Tutor are behaving in an appropriate manner.
7.5 The parent/responsible adult will ensure that Tutors will be treated with respect and fairness by the Tutee/Registered Adult and will not be subjected to abusive behaviour or language.
7.6 The parent/responsible adult will ensure that no improper suggestions are made by either the Tutor or Tutee/Registered Adult.
7.7 The parent/responsible adult will ensure the Tutee/Registered Adult has no inappropriate communication with the Tutor outside the lesson sessions.
7.8 The parent/responsible adult will report any unsolicited communications between the Tutor and Tutee/Registered Adult outside of a lesson.
7.9 The parent/responsible adult will report any dispute with a Tutor to TauRho Tutors in accordance with procedures set out in this Safeguarding Policy document.
7.10 The parent/responsible adult will report any inappropriate behaviour or illegal activity by a Tutor in accordance with procedures set out in this Safeguarding Policy document.
8.1 Any Tutee/Registered Adult or Tutor reported for a breach of our Safeguarding Policy will be immediately suspended from the site until the matter reported has been investigated by appropriate authorities. We will inform them of their suspension and seek guidance where required. The Tutee/Registered Adult or Tutor reporting the breach may be informed of the resolution, if appropriate.
8.2 TauRho Tutors reserves the right to make a final decision on action taken for minor breaches of our Safeguarding Policy.
8.3 Any Tutee/Registered Adult or Tutor reported for illegal activity whilst using the TauRho Tutors website may be barred from the service, reported to the police and any other relevant organisations.
9.1 This Safeguarding Policy and our Procedures will be reviewed by TauRho Tutors on a quarterly basis to ensure it is adequate and relevant to safeguarding standards.
Thank you for reading this document. Please direct any questions to info@cambridgeonlinetutors.co.uk