Will Tutors be regulated?
Tutors and Tutor Agencies have recently had to undergo a lot of changes. Private tutoring has recently come under scrutiny, with investigations, including by the BBC, revealing some concerning facts:
- No regulations: The UK allows convicted sex offenders to work as private tutors without mandatory background checks.
- Over 90 tutors have been convicted of child sexual abuse in the last two decades.
- Private tutors aren’t legally required to have Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
There is a growing call for reform, led by the Children’s Commissioner, advocating for mandatory checks for all tutors to ensure children’s safety.
What Can Tutors and Tutor Agencies Do to Build Trust?
1. Get Tutors DBS Checked
Ensure all tutors undergo DBS checks and prominently feature this in your marketing materials.
2. Enhance Safeguarding Knowledge
Understand the potential risks involved in tutoring, particularly in higher-risk settings such as one-to-one and online environments, Demonstrate your awareness of issues like:
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- Emotional and psychological abuse (e.g., undue pressure, working at an inappropriate pace).
- Quality assurance through membership in professional organisations.
3. Show Your Commitment to Safety
Clearly communicate to clients and the public that you prioritise safeguarding by:
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- Signposting parents to relevant information- for example, online tutors safeguarding guidance
- Implementing and publicising various guidelines, particularly for one-to-one and/or online sessions, covering aspects like:
- Suitable environments (e.g., avoiding bedrooms).
- Appropriate supervision.
- Age-appropriate content and resources.
- Safeguarding measures for online sessions.
4. Develop a Safeguarding Policy
Even if you’re a solo tutor, having a safeguarding policy demonstrates your understanding of safeguarding issues and provides a mechanism for reporting concerns.
We provide you with a template Safeguarding Policy – Tutors and Tutor Agencies. It’s written by lawyers in plain English and is easy to customise. You can buy the Safeguarding Policy here
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