1. Overview

1.1 WiseBees Ltd (trading as WiseBees Academy) are committed to providing the highest standard of safeguarding. The safety of our users is our paramount concern.

1.2 Our site, coordinating policies have all been designed to ensure students and tutors work together in a safe environment.

2. Legislation

2.1 Our site and coordinating policies have been developed to ensure we comply with all relevant safeguarding legislation.

2.2 This safeguarding policy should be read in conjunction with our Terms and Conditions.

3. Aims of Policy

3.1 WiseBees seeks to provide the best service possible and provide a safe experience in which children can learn.

3.2 This policy aims to ensure we safeguard all users of WiseBees (including Users, Students and Tutors) whilst they engage with our Website or Lessons.

3.3 This policy outlines the responsibilities of all users of WiseBees (including Users, Students and Tutors) and it is important that all have familiarised themselves with this policy and our Terms and Conditions.

3.4 Alongside this policy, users of WiseBees (including Users, Students and Tutors) must comply with the The Tutors’ Association Child Protection Policy, whether or not they are a member of The Tutors’ Association, and all relevant legislation and government guidance.

3.5 If any User has a concern regarding child protection, they must contact WiseBees immediately.

3.6 Contravention of any of the terms contained within this policy may result in immediate removal of access to and permanent barring from our services.

4. WiseBees Responsibilities

4.1 WiseBees will decide when a Tutor’s profile is to be set live on the Website and be accessible by other Users.

4.2 WiseBees will use reasonable endeavours to check the identity of all Tutors and Qualified Teacher Status.

4.3 WiseBees will use reasonable endeavours to check the background checks of Tutors. Background checks will be accepted if they are an enhanced check provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service, Disclosure Scotland or Access Northern Ireland.

4.4 WiseBees will take precautions we consider reasonable to protect Students’ and Tutors’ information.

4.5 WiseBees will protect all data in accordance with all relevant legislation and our Privacy Policy

4.6 WiseBees will be able to monitor postings made on the Website and messages sent between Students and Tutors. WiseBees do so in the hope of helping Students and Tutors meet, but also to stop misuse of the Website and to ensure we safeguard all users.

4.7 WiseBees will record all Online Lessons (aside from where any unforeseen malfunction of the recording equipment occurs) and store these recordings for a minimum of 28 days and a maximum of 365 days. These recordings remain the property of WiseBees.

4.8 WiseBees may review any Online Lessons at any time for the purposes of improving our service or where a Complaint or Safeguarding Report has been made.

4.9 WiseBees will deal with reports of possible illegal activity promptly, focusing on the safety and wellbeing of Users. WiseBees will allow access to UK law enforcement of any recording where a criminal offence may have occurred in relation to a specific Lesson.

4.10 WiseBees will endeavour to ensure Complaints are considered promptly and in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

4.11 WiseBees will regularly review this policy and our Terms and Conditions to ensure they are best suited to safeguarding all users.

5. Student Responsibilities

5.1 Learners under the age of 18 must be represented by a parent or legal guardian who gives consent for them to receive tuition. WiseBees is not responsible for any dispute regarding parental consent.

5.2 Students must ensure that all of their personal details and contact information are accurate and up-to-date.

5.3 Students must ensure that there is no inappropriate communication between themselves, a Learner they represent and the Tutor outside the Website and report any unsolicited communications from the Tutor if appropriate.

5.4 Students are solely responsible for the material they or the Learner they represent post on the Website, including messages sent, and they must not post defamatory, offensive or illegal material.

5.5 Students must immediately report to WiseBees any defamatory, offensive or illegal material they view on our Website.

5.6 Any Student who is the parent of a Learner under the age of 18 who has a Lesson with a Tutor should not leave the child in the sole care of that Tutor. They must be available for the Learner to report any inappropriate behaviour or concerns. Learners must report any concerns to a parent or legal guardian immediately.

5.7 Students must ensure the physical environment is safe.

5.8 Students must ensure that Tutors are treated with respect and are not subjected to abusive behaviour or language.

5.9 Students must ensure no improper suggestions are made to, or by, the Tutor.

5.10 Students are responsible for their own security in conjunction with our services, both online and offline.

5.11 Students must report any Complaint in line with our Terms and Conditions

5.12 Students must report any safeguarding concerns or illegal activity immediately and in line with our Terms and Conditions.

6. Tutor Responsibilities

6.1 Tutors are not employees of WiseBees and are solely responsible for their own actions both on and off the Website.

6.2 If Tutors contact Students who are under 18, they must ensure that these Students are represented by a parent or legal guardian who gives consent for the Student to receive tuition.

6.3 Tutors may cancel Lessons if no parent or legal guardian is present during a Lesson with a Learner who is under 18 and they or the Learner do not feel comfortable to continue.

6.4 Tutors are solely responsible for the material they or the Learner they represent post on the Website, including messages sent, and they must not post defamatory, offensive or illegal material.

6.5 Tutors must immediately report to WiseBees any defamatory, offensive or illegal material they view on our Website.

6.6 Tutors must disclose any criminal convictions or cautions they may have to WiseBees, including any criminal convictions or cautions received at any time after having registered a tutor account on the Website.

6.7 Tutors must disclose any other relevant information which may lead WiseBees to determine they are not suitable to tutor.

6.8 Tutors must ensure that their environment does not display any inappropriate images or documents when conducting a session.

6.9 Tutors must treat students fairly and without prejudice or discrimination; whatever their age, culture, ability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity.

6.10 Tutors must ensure all reasonable steps are taken to protect children from harm, discrimination and demeaning treatment and to respect their rights.

6.11 Tutors must value students and take their contributions seriously.

6.12 Tutors must ensure they work in partnership with parents and children – which is essential for the protection of children.

6.13 Tutors must ensure the language they use is appropriate and not offensive or discriminatory.

6.14 Tutors must ensure no improper suggestions are made to, or by, the Student.

6.15 Tutors must ensure that any contact or communication they have with the Student is appropriate to their role as a Tutor and confined to the field for which they have been selected to tutor.

6.16 Tutors must ensure that there is no inappropriate communication between themselves and the Student on or outside of the Website and report any unsolicited communications from the Student if appropriate.

6.17 Tutors are responsible for their own security in conjunction with our services, both online and offline.

6.18 Tutors must report any Complaint in line with our Terms and Conditions

6.19 Tutors must report any safeguarding concerns or illegal activity immediately to WiseBees.

7. Parent/Responsible adult responsibilities

7.1 The parent/responsible adult will ensure the student is fully aware of the WiseBees’ Safeguarding Policy.

7.2 The parent/responsible adult will always be responsible for the welfare of the student during the session.

7.3 The parent/responsible adult will always be responsible for the physical environment of the pupil during the session ensuring it is safe and appropriate.

7.4 The parent/responsible adult will if they consider it appropriate, be present or available during a tutor session so any concerns encountered by the student can be reported as soon as possible and ensure the student and tutor are behaving in an appropriate manner.

7.5 The parent/responsible adult will ensure that tutors will be treated with respect and fairness by the student and will not be subjected to abusive behaviour or language.

7.6 The parent/responsible adult will ensure that no improper suggestions are made by either the tutor or student.

7.7 The parent/responsible adult will ensure the student has no inappropriate communication with the tutor outside the Online messaging and lesson sessions.

7.8 The parent/responsible adult will report any unsolicited communications between the tutor and student if appropriate.

7.9 The parent/responsible adult will report any dispute with a tutor to WiseBees in accordance with procedures set out in this document.

7.10 The parent/responsible adult will report any inappropriate behaviour or illegal activity by a tutor in accordance with procedures set out in this document.

8. Reported Breach

8.1 Any Student or Tutor reported for a breach of our Safeguarding Policy will be immediately suspended from the site until the matter reported has been investigated by the appropriate authority. We will inform them of their suspension and seek guidance where required. The Student or Tutor reporting the breach may be informed of the resolution, if appropriate.

8.2 WiseBees reserves the right to make a final decision on action taken for minor breaches of our Safeguarding Policy.

8.3 Any Student or Tutor reported for illegal activity whilst using the WiseBees Website may be barred from the service, reported to the police and any other relevant organisations.

9. Updating our Policies and Procedures

9.1 This Safeguarding Policy and our Procedures will be reviewed by WiseBees on a regular basis to ensure it is adequate and relevant to safeguarding standards.