Sabreo Education – Safeguarding & Online Safety Policy

1. Introduction and Organisational Commitment

Sabreo Education maintains an unwavering commitment to the safeguarding and welfare promotion of children and young people throughout every aspect of our service provision. Operating as a provider of online tutoring services, we understand that our safeguarding duties extend well beyond traditional physical environments and demand heightened attention, robust frameworks, and constant awareness within digital contexts.

Every individual employed by or representing Sabreo Education bears responsibility for safeguarding. Our dedication lies in establishing and maintaining a secure, professional, and nurturing online learning environment wherein learners experience safety, dignity, and protection from potential harm.

This policy aligns with contemporary UK safeguarding standards and principles, encompassing statutory guidance concerning child protection, digital safety, and distance learning. The policy has been designed to maintain appropriate proportionality relative to Sabreo Education’s operational scale and service delivery framework whilst upholding exemplary professional standards.

This policy is applicable to:

  • All tutoring personnel 
  • Personnel in administrative and management capacities
  • Independent contractors and voluntary participants
  • Any individual acting in representation of Sabreo Education
  • All learners below 18 years of age receiving online educational support

2. Policy Objectives

Sabreo Education seeks to:

  • Safeguard children and young people from harm within online educational settings
  • Prevent instances of abuse, neglect, exploitation, harassment, or unsuitable conduct
  • Foster safe, professional, and transparent digital interactions
  • Establish unambiguous procedures for recognising, documenting, and addressing safeguarding matters
  • Assist tutors and personnel in comprehending their safeguarding obligations
  • Advance awareness of digital safety amongst learners and their parents or carers

3. Safer Recruitment and Staff Suitability

Sabreo Education implements reasonable and proportionate measures to verify that individuals working with children possess appropriate suitability for their roles.

These measures include, as applicable:

  • Verification of identity
  • Appropriate DBS screening aligned with role requirements and legal obligations
  • Verification of professional references
  • Mandatory safeguarding and digital safety orientation before commencing learner contact

No tutor shall commence session delivery until safeguarding awareness training has been successfully completed and formally acknowledged.

Tutors must maintain continuous suitability and are required to notify Sabreo Education without delay of any circumstance that may impact their capacity to work safely with children.

4. Safe Practice in Online Tutoring

Online educational delivery presents distinct safeguarding challenges. The following standards are mandatory for all Sabreo Education sessions.

4.1 Authorised Platforms and Communication Channels

All tutoring sessions must be conducted exclusively through platforms authorised by Sabreo Education.

Tutors are prohibited from utilising personal accounts, private messaging applications, or social networking platforms for learner communication.

All communication must remain professional, suitable, and capable of being traced.

Communication occurring outside of scheduled sessions must take place solely through approved channels and serve educational purposes only.

4.2 Professional Standards During Sessions

Tutors must:

  • Conduct sessions from neutral and suitable environments
  • Maintain appropriate dress and utilise professional language consistently
  • Verify that backgrounds are appropriate and devoid of personal or sensitive materials
  • Uphold clear professional boundaries
  • Confine discussions to learning-related matters and wellbeing concerns

Tutors are prohibited from:

  • Sharing personal contact information with learners
  • Establishing social media connections with learners
  • Participating in personal or private discussions unrelated to educational activities
  • Communicating beyond agreed timeframes unless explicitly authorised

4.3 Individual Online Sessions

Sabreo Education acknowledges that the majority of online tutoring operates on an individual basis. Protective measures are implemented to mitigate associated risks, including session recording capabilities, defined communication parameters, and parental awareness protocols.

5. Online Session Recording

To provide protection for both learners and tutors, online sessions may be subject to recording.

  • Recording is executed by Sabreo Education rather than individual tutors
  • Written consent is secured from parents or carers and, where appropriate, from learners
  • Recordings serve exclusively safeguarding, quality assurance, and dispute resolution purposes
  • Recordings are maintained under secure conditions with strictly controlled access
  • Recordings are ordinarily retained for a maximum of three months, except where required for ongoing safeguarding investigations
  • All recordings are managed in accordance with UK GDPR and data protection legislation

6. Identifying Safeguarding Concerns in Digital Environments

Digital learning contexts may amplify certain risks, including:

  • Grooming or exploitation activities
  • Inappropriate messaging or conduct
  • Online harassment or cyberbullying
  • Exposure to harmful or unsuitable material
  • Development of inappropriate emotional dependency
  • Radicalisation concerns
  • Coercion or digital manipulation

Warning indicators may encompass:

  • Unexpected alterations in behaviour, participation levels, or attendance patterns
  • Disclosures indicating harm or distress
  • Observable signs of anxiety or apprehension during sessions
  • Efforts to redirect communication away from authorised platforms

All personnel and tutors must maintain vigilance and take prompt action upon identifying concerns.

7. Safeguarding Concern Reporting Procedures

7.1 Immediate Risk Situations

Where a learner is believed to face immediate danger, emergency services must be contacted via 999 without delay.

7.2 Internal Reporting Mechanisms

Any safeguarding concern must be:

  • Reported without delay to Sabreo Education’s designated safeguarding lead or senior management
  • Documented factually, capturing observations, statements, or disclosures
  • Submitted securely via Sabreo Education’s established reporting process

Personnel and tutors are prohibited from:

  • Conducting independent investigations into allegations
  • Making promises of confidentiality to learners
  • Contacting parents or carers directly concerning safeguarding matters unless specifically directed

Where deemed appropriate, concerns may be escalated to external agencies, including local authority children’s services or law enforcement authorities.

8. Allegations Against Tutors or Personnel

Any allegation that a tutor or staff member:

  • Has conducted themselves inappropriately towards a learner
  • Has violated online communication protocols or professional conduct requirements
  • Has caused harm or potentially caused harm to a child

Must be escalated immediately to senior management.

Appropriate measures will be enacted, potentially including suspension from duties, internal investigation, and referral to external authorities. Minor concerns are also documented to facilitate pattern identification.

9. Online Safety and Risk Mitigation

Sabreo Education mitigates risk through:

  • Utilisation of secure and established digital platforms
  • Recording of sessions to ensure transparency
  • Delivery of safeguarding and online safety training
  • Promotion of parental awareness regarding online sessions
  • Monitoring of adherence to professional standards

Parents and carers are encouraged to maintain awareness of tutoring sessions and to promote safe internet practices within the home environment.

10. Prevention of Radicalisation

Sabreo Education acknowledges that digital environments may expose learners to extremist or harmful ideological content. Tutors receive training to identify concerning behaviour or language patterns and to report such concerns appropriately in accordance with established safeguarding procedures.

11. Confidentiality and Record Management

Safeguarding records are:

  • Maintained under secure conditions
  • Accessed exclusively by authorised individuals
  • Shared on a strictly need-to-know basis

Information will be disclosed externally when necessary to protect a child or fulfil legal requirements.

Confidentiality principles do not supersede safeguarding obligations.

12. Training and Policy Review

  • All tutors must successfully complete safeguarding training prior to session delivery
  • Refresher training is completed on an annual basis
  • This policy undergoes review no less than annually, or sooner if:
  • Safeguarding legislation or guidance undergoes modification
  • An incident reveals the necessity for policy revision
  • Sabreo Education modifies its service delivery model

13. Statement of Commitment

Sabreo Education is dedicated to establishing a safe, respectful, and appropriately regulated online tutoring environment. Safeguarding is integrated into our organisational culture, professional standards, and everyday practices, and we regard our duty of care towards learners with the utmost seriousness.

Last updated: 17/02/2026