Last updated · 2 September 2026

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Every child's safety comes first. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Every ATutor Consultant has a duty to contribute to a safe, respectful, and appropriate learning environment for children and young people.

Policy no. ATG-POL-002

Your role

You are not responsible for investigating safeguarding concerns. Your responsibility is to recognise possible concerns, respond appropriately, record factual information, and report the matter immediately through the official ATutor safeguarding process.

Immediate safeguarding rule

If you are worried about a child, do not investigate. Make the child safe where possible, record the facts, and report the concern immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) through the official safeguarding channel. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, follow the emergency procedure contained in the ATutor Safeguarding Policy.

1. Recognising a safeguarding concern

A safeguarding concern may arise because of something you:

  1. See during an online lesson.
  2. Hear a child say.
  3. Notice in the child's behaviour.
  4. Observe in the child's surroundings.
  5. Receive through a message or communication.
  6. Are told by another person.
  7. Become concerned about through a pattern of behaviour or interactions.

Reporting, not investigating

You do not need to determine whether abuse or harm has occurred before reporting a concern. Remember: you report concerns. You do not investigate them.

2. If a child makes a disclosure

How you respond is extremely important. A child may tell you directly that something has happened to them or that they are worried about something.

Stay calm

Remain composed and give the child your attention. Avoid displaying shock, disbelief, anger, or panic.

Listen

Allow the child to speak in their own words and at their own pace. Do not interrupt unnecessarily or attempt to complete their sentences.

Reassure appropriately

You can acknowledge that the child has done the right thing by speaking to you. Do not make promises about what will happen next.

Do not promise confidentiality

Never tell a child: “I won’t tell anyone.” You may need to share the information with the appropriate safeguarding personnel to help protect them.

What you can say instead

Explain in an age-appropriate way that you may need to tell someone whose job is to help keep children safe.

ATutor professional standard · Listen carefully, stay calm, avoid promises, and pass the concern to the appropriate safeguarding personnel through the official ATutor process.