Edward Townsend Education Safeguarding Statement

Edward Townsend Education is committed to providing a safe, professional, and appropriate learning environment for students.

This Safeguarding Statement explains the basic safeguarding standards we follow when providing tutoring, admissions test preparation, interview preparation, diagnostic assessments, and related educational support.

It applies to all tutoring, online lessons, communications, resources, and educational services provided by Edward Townsend Education.

We believe that all students have the right to learn in a safe and respectful environment.

We aim to:

• act in the best interests of students;
• maintain clear professional boundaries;
• communicate appropriately with students and parents or guardians;
• respond seriously to safeguarding concerns;
• take reasonable steps to reduce risks during online tutoring;
• share concerns with appropriate people or authorities where necessary.

This statement applies to:

• Edward Townsend Education;
• tutors, contractors, or representatives working with Edward Townsend Education;
• students receiving tutoring or educational support;
• parents and guardians arranging services.

Most of our work is delivered online, so this statement gives particular attention to online lesson safety and communication.

Lessons are normally delivered online via Google Meet or another agreed video platform.

For online lessons:

• students should attend from a suitable and appropriate location;
• students should be appropriately dressed;
• tutors should conduct lessons from an appropriate environment;
• cameras should normally be used unless there is a reasonable reason not to;
• lessons should remain focused on tutoring and educational support;
• students should not share unnecessary personal information;
• parents or guardians may remain nearby or accessible, especially for younger students;
• any technical or behavioural issues should be raised promptly.

Where possible, lessons should take place at regular agreed times and through agreed platforms.

Communication should remain professional, appropriate, and related to tutoring or educational support.

Where the student is under 18:

• administrative communication should normally involve the parent or guardian;
• parents or guardians may be copied into relevant communication where appropriate;
• direct student communication should be limited to educational matters, scheduling where appropriate, lesson preparation, homework, resources, or feedback;
• communication should not be secretive, overly personal, or unrelated to tutoring.

Students and parents should not use private or informal channels in a way that creates safeguarding concerns.

Tutors and representatives of Edward Townsend Education must maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

This means:

• no inappropriate personal relationships with students;
• no inappropriate messages, jokes, comments, images, or content;
• no unnecessary personal contact outside tutoring;
• no sharing of inappropriate personal information;
• no meetings in person unless specifically agreed with the parent or guardian and arranged appropriately;
• no contact that could reasonably be seen as exploitative, coercive, secretive, or inappropriate.

Lessons must not be recorded by the client or student without prior written permission.

If Edward Townsend Education ever records a lesson, this will only be done with appropriate notice and consent.

Any recording will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Notice and safeguarding responsibilities.

Educational materials, question banks, reports, diagnostic tools, and online platforms should be used only for legitimate educational purposes.

Students must not upload, send, or share inappropriate, offensive, illegal, or unsafe material through any platform, message, form, or lesson.

If inappropriate material is shared, we may stop the lesson, inform the parent or guardian, restrict access to services, and take further action where necessary.

Students are expected to:

• behave respectfully;
• attend lessons on time;
• participate appropriately;
• follow reasonable tutor instructions;
• avoid abusive, discriminatory, sexual, threatening, or inappropriate language or behaviour;
• avoid sharing unnecessary personal or sensitive information.

Parents, guardians, and clients are also expected to communicate respectfully and appropriately.

We may end a lesson or stop providing services if behaviour creates a safeguarding concern or prevents a safe learning environment.

Safeguarding concerns may include, but are not limited to:

• a student saying they feel unsafe;
• signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying, or harassment;
• concerning behaviour during lessons;
• inappropriate contact from another person;
• self-harm or suicidal thoughts;
• radicalisation or extremist influence;
• sexualised behaviour or inappropriate sexual content;
• serious mental health concerns;
• unsafe online activity;
• unexplained distress or significant changes in behaviour;
• disclosures about harm to the student or another person.

Tutors are not expected to investigate concerns themselves. Concerns should be recorded and escalated appropriately.

If a student discloses a safeguarding concern, we will aim to:

• listen calmly and take the concern seriously;
• avoid promising absolute confidentiality;
• avoid asking unnecessary leading questions;
• record the concern as accurately as possible;
• consider whether the student or another person is at immediate risk;
• share the concern with a parent or guardian where appropriate;
• contact relevant safeguarding services or emergency services where necessary.

If there is an immediate risk of serious harm, emergency services should be contacted by calling 999.

Where we believe a student may be at risk of harm, we may need to share relevant information with appropriate people or organisations.

This may include:

• a parent or guardian;
• a school safeguarding lead;
• a local authority children’s services team;
• the police;
• emergency services;
• the NSPCC Helpline;
• another appropriate safeguarding body.

We will aim to share only the information that is necessary and proportionate.

Safeguarding concerns may override normal confidentiality where sharing information is necessary to protect a student or another person from harm.

Parents and guardians play an important role in keeping students safe during online tutoring.

Parents and guardians should:

• make sure the student attends lessons from a suitable environment;
• help ensure the student has the correct technology and setup;
• remain contactable during lessons where appropriate;
• tell us about any relevant learning needs, access needs, wellbeing issues, or safeguarding concerns that may affect tutoring;
• raise any concerns about tutoring, communication, or student welfare promptly.

Where Edward Townsend Education works with tutors, contractors, or representatives, we aim to take reasonable steps to ensure they are suitable for the role.

This may include:

• reviewing qualifications, experience, and suitability;
• checking references where appropriate;
• requiring appropriate professional behaviour;
• requiring compliance with this Safeguarding Statement;
• considering DBS checks where appropriate for the role;
• removing tutors or representatives from work where safeguarding concerns arise.

Safeguarding records will be treated carefully and shared only where appropriate.

We may keep records of safeguarding concerns, actions taken, and relevant communications.

Safeguarding records may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary, depending on the nature of the concern.

Further information about how we handle personal data is set out in our Privacy Notice.

If a student, parent, or guardian has a safeguarding concern about Edward Townsend Education, a tutor, a lesson, communication, or any related service, they should contact:

If the concern is urgent or someone is at immediate risk, call 999.

For non-emergency child protection advice, the NSPCC Helpline can be contacted on 0808 800 5000.

We may review and update this Safeguarding Statement from time to time, especially if our services, legal requirements, safeguarding guidance, or tutoring arrangements change.

For questions about this Safeguarding Statement, contact: