My Amazing Mind
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Policy owner: My Amazing Mind
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Business owner / sole practitioner
Effective date: September 2026 (subject to final review)
Review date: September 2027
1. Our commitment to safeguarding
At My Amazing Mind, the safety and wellbeing of every child is of paramount importance.
My Amazing Mind is committed to providing a safe, welcoming and supportive learning environment in which
children feel respected, valued and able to develop their confidence and skills.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. As an independent specialist tutor working directly with children,
I recognise my responsibility to promote children's welfare, recognise potential signs of abuse or neglect and
respond appropriately to any concerns.
I am committed to:
Putting children's safety and wellbeing first.
Treating every child with dignity, respect and kindness.
Providing a safe and positive learning environment.
Listening to children and taking their concerns seriously.
Acting promptly when a safeguarding concern arises.
Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
Working in partnership with parents and relevant safeguarding professionals.
2. Scope of this policy
This policy applies to all children receiving tuition or educational support through My Amazing Mind.
My Amazing Mind provides individual, structured literacy tuition, primarily to children aged 7–11, in a dedicated teaching classroom situated in the garden of my home.
Occasional online tuition may be offered by prior arrangement when a child is unable to attend in person, for example due to illness.
3. Safeguarding responsibility
As a sole trader, I am responsible for all safeguarding arrangements within My Amazing Mind.
I act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and am responsible for:
Promoting a safe learning environment.
Recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns.
Maintaining accurate and confidential safeguarding records.
Making referrals to the appropriate safeguarding services.
Keeping safeguarding knowledge and training up to date.
Reviewing this policy regularly.
4. Safer working practices
The teaching environment
Tuition takes place in a dedicated classroom situated in the garden, separate from the main family home.
The teaching environment is maintained to provide a safe, appropriate and comfortable space for children to learn.
Other family members may occasionally be present on the property, but they are not involved in the delivery of tuition.
One-to-one tuition
My Amazing Mind provides individual tuition, which means that children may be in my care without their parent or carer being present during the lesson.
Parents are welcome to remain during tuition but are not required to do so.
Professional boundaries are maintained at all times. Lessons are conducted in the designated teaching space, and interactions with children remain appropriate, respectful and focused on learning.
Arrival and collection
Parents or carers are responsible for bringing children to their lessons and collecting them afterwards.
Parents provide emergency contact details and are expected to remain contactable during the lesson.
Children will not be allowed to leave with another person unless this has been agreed with their parent or carer.
If a parent or carer is delayed, the child will remain safely supervised until collection arrangements have been confirmed.
Toilet facilities
Children have access to toilet facilities during lessons. Where possible, children will use the downstairs utility room toilet, separate from the main living areas of the house.
The child's privacy and dignity will be respected.
Online tuition
Where online tuition is arranged, communication and lesson arrangements will be made through parents or carers.
Lessons will take place using an agreed online platform, with appropriate professional boundaries maintained. Parents will be informed of the arrangements and may be asked to remain available during the session.
5. Safer recruitment and checks
As an independent tutor, I hold an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate and am registered with the DBS Update Service.
I recognise the importance of maintaining appropriate safeguarding knowledge and undertaking relevant safeguarding training.
6. Recognising abuse and neglect
Abuse and neglect can take many forms. These include:
Physical abuse: Deliberately causing physical harm or injury to a child.
Emotional abuse: Persistent behaviour that harms a child's emotional development or self-esteem.
Sexual abuse: Involving or exposing a child to sexual activity.
Neglect: Failing to meet a child's basic physical or emotional needs.
Other safeguarding concerns may include bullying, exploitation, domestic abuse, online harm, harmful behaviour by other children and concerns about a child's mental or emotional wellbeing.
Possible indicators may include changes in behaviour, unexplained injuries, withdrawal, anxiety, fearfulness or a child expressing concerns about their safety.
A single sign does not necessarily indicate abuse. However, any concern will be taken seriously and considered appropriately.
7. Responding to a disclosure or safeguarding concern
If a child shares information that causes concern about their safety or wellbeing, I will:
Listen carefully and remain calm.
Allow the child to speak in their own words without interrupting unnecessarily.
Reassure the child that they have done the right thing by telling me.
Explain, in age-appropriate language, that I may need to share the information with someone who can help keep them safe.
Avoid asking leading questions or attempting to investigate the situation.
Record the information as soon as possible, using the child's own words wherever possible.
Contact the appropriate safeguarding service for advice or make a referral where necessary.
I will never promise a child that I can keep information secret.
If a child is in immediate danger, emergency services will be contacted by calling 999.
Parents or carers will normally be informed of safeguarding concerns where appropriate. However, if informing a parent could increase the risk to the child or compromise a safeguarding response, advice will be sought from Children's Social Care before doing so.
8. Reporting and recording concerns
Any safeguarding concern will be recorded factually and securely.
Records will include:
The child's name and date of birth.
The date and time of the concern.
A factual description of what was observed or disclosed.
The child's own words, where possible.
Any relevant actions taken.
Details of any professionals or services contacted.
Any subsequent advice or action.
Safeguarding records will be kept separately from routine educational progress notes, with access restricted to those who need the information.
Information will only be shared where necessary and appropriate to protect a child.
9. Allegations or concerns about an adult
Any allegation or concern about the behaviour of an adult working with children will be taken seriously.
If a concern relates to my own conduct, I will seek appropriate advice from the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and follow the relevant safeguarding procedures.
If a concern relates to another adult, I will report it to the appropriate safeguarding authority.
10. Communication and professional boundaries
Routine communication regarding tuition, progress and arrangements takes place with parents or carers through WhatsApp or email.
I do not routinely communicate privately with children through personal messaging accounts.
All interactions with children will remain professional, appropriate and focused on their educational needs.
11. Photographs and videos
My Amazing Mind does not currently routinely take photographs or videos of children.
If photographs or recordings are introduced for educational, assessment or promotional purposes in the future, appropriate written parental consent will be obtained beforehand.
Consent for promotional use, including websites and social media, will be separate from consent for educational purposes.
Parents may decline permission without this affecting their child's tuition.
12. CCTV and site security
A camera operates on the driveway to provide security and assist with monitoring arrivals and collections.
The camera records and stores footage. Access to recordings is restricted to the business owner.
Visitors and parents will be informed that CCTV is in operation. Footage will be used for its stated security purpose and will not be shared publicly.
Recordings will be retained only for as long as necessary, with relevant footage preserved where required in connection with a security or safeguarding incident.
The operation, storage and deletion of CCTV footage will be managed in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.
13. Confidentiality and information sharing
Information about children and their families is treated confidentially and stored securely.
Confidentiality will not prevent information from being shared when this is necessary to protect a child from harm.
Where a safeguarding concern arises, relevant information may be shared with Children's Social Care, the police or other appropriate professionals.
14. Working in partnership with parents
Parents and carers are asked to provide relevant information about their child's needs, medical circumstances and emergency contacts before tuition begins.
Parents complete an initial questionnaire and sign the My Amazing Mind Terms and Conditions.
I aim to maintain open and positive communication with families and encourage parents to raise any concerns about their child's safety or wellbeing.
15. Policy review
This policy will be reviewed annually and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, safeguarding guidance, local procedures or the operation of My Amazing Mind.
Parents and carers may request a copy of this policy at any time.
My Amazing Mind
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Last reviewed: September 2026