Safeguarding Kit for Tutoring and Coaching Centres
A safeguarding toolkit for tutoring centres, private tutors, and coaching providers working one-to-one or in small groups with children and young people.
Overview
Tutoring and coaching settings often involve one-to-one or small-group work, which can create a close, trusting relationship between the tutor and child. While this is valuable for learning, it also increases the importance of clear boundaries, transparent practices, and robust safeguarding procedures. Whether you run a tutoring centre or work as an independent tutor, this kit will help you put appropriate protections in place.
Key Risks
- •One-to-one sessions creating opportunities for inappropriate behaviour or false allegations.
- •Online tutoring sessions without adequate monitoring or recording safeguards.
- •Over-familiarity or blurred boundaries between tutor and student.
- •Children sharing personal information during sessions that may indicate welfare concerns.
Policies
- •A safeguarding policy that covers both in-person and online tutoring, including how sessions are monitored and recorded.
- •A code of conduct for all tutors setting out professional boundaries, communication rules, and reporting obligations.
- •A lone-working policy detailing how one-to-one sessions are managed safely, including visibility, parental consent, and session logging.
- •A data protection policy covering how student records, session notes, and any recordings are stored and shared.
Adult Conduct Boundaries
- •In-person one-to-one sessions should take place in a room with a window or open door, and another adult should be on the premises.
- •Tutors should not meet students outside of agreed tutoring locations or times without written parental consent.
- •Personal topics beyond the scope of the lesson should be redirected, and any welfare concerns recorded and reported to the DSL.
- •Tutors must not offer or accept gifts to or from students.
Communication Boundaries
- •All communication with students and parents should go through official channels — business email, a tutoring platform, or a monitored booking system.
- •Tutors should not connect with students on personal social media or messaging apps.
- •Session scheduling and any changes should be communicated to parents directly, not solely to the child.
- •Online sessions should use professional platforms with waiting rooms and session recording capabilities.
Image Guidance
- •Screen recording of online sessions should only occur with prior written consent from parents, and recordings must be stored securely.
- •Photographs of students or their work should not be taken without parental consent and should only be used for agreed educational purposes.
- •Students should not be asked to share images of themselves during online sessions.
Emergency Escalation
- 1If a child discloses abuse during a session, remain calm, listen without judgement, and report to the centre's DSL or, for independent tutors, directly to local authority children's services.
- 2Record the disclosure factually as soon as possible after the session, noting the child's own words.
- 3If a child is in immediate danger, contact 999 without delay.
- 4Independent tutors should have a named safeguarding contact — such as a local authority officer or the NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000) — readily available.
Safeguarding Checklist
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This content is designed to support professionals in their safeguarding role. It does not replace your organisation's safeguarding policies or training requirements.
External sources
- Safeguarding in sport & activities — NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit
- Keeping Children Safe in Education — GOV.UK / DfE
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
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Last reviewed: 2026-03-29