Safeguarding POlicy

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Safeguarding Policy

Purpose and scope

The purpose and scope of this Safeguarding Policy is:

• to protect children and young people who receive Bright Sparks Coaching's services from harm; and

• to provide children and young people and their families with the overarching principles and practical procedures that guide our approach to child protection.

Bright Sparks Coaching is run by Rebecca Goulbourne as a sole trader. This policy applies to all tuition and coaching delivered by Bright Sparks Coaching, whether in person (at a pupil's home, at Bright Sparks Coaching's premises, or another agreed venue such as at a school) or online, and to anyone else who may occasionally assist with delivering services on behalf of Bright Sparks Coaching.

Legal framework

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children and young people in England, including:

• the Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004;

• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023;

• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 (statutory guidance for schools and colleges, in force from 1 September 2026, used here as a benchmark of current good practice even though it is not directly binding on a sole trader business); and

• UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from nspcc.org.uk/childprotection.

Our beliefs

We believe that:

• children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind; and

• we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

We recognise that:

• the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take;

• working in partnership with children, young people, their parents and carers is essential in promoting young people's welfare;

• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse;

• some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs, special educational needs, or other issues; and

• extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.

Our intentions

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

• valuing, listening to and respecting them;

• adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through this policy and our code of conduct;

• developing and following an effective online safety approach;

• undertaking appropriate vetting and criminal records checks, and keeping them current;

• recording, storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance;

• sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and their families before sessions begin;

• making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern, including about Bright Sparks Coaching itself;

• using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know;

• ensuring that we provide a safe physical (and online) environment for children and young people; and

• building a safeguarding culture in which children, young people and their families feel comfortable about sharing concerns.

Roles and responsibilities

As Bright Sparks Coaching is a sole trader business, Rebecca Goulbourne is both the specialist teacher and the Nominated Child Protection Lead. This means Rebecca is responsible for:

• understanding and following this policy and keeping it up to date;

• receiving, recording and acting on any safeguarding concerns;

• knowing how and when to contact local children's services, the police, or the NSPCC Helpline; and

• keeping her own child protection knowledge and training current.

Because Rebecca is both the specialist teacher and the Nominated Child Protection Lead, families are also given an external contact (see "Complaints, allegations and whistleblowing" below) so that any concern about Rebecca's own conduct can be raised independently.

Safer recruitment and vetting

Rebecca Goulbourne holds a current Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, obtained through a DBS umbrella body (as self-employed tutors cannot apply for an enhanced check directly). This is renewed regularly, and a copy of the certificate can be shown to parents or carers on request before tuition begins.

Contact details for at least two professional references are also available on request.

Code of conduct

To maintain clear, professional boundaries and to protect both pupils and Bright Sparks Coaching, the following standards of behaviour will always be followed:

• personal contact details are not given directly to a child; all arrangements are made through the parent or carer;

• there is no contact with pupils via personal social media accounts;

• any physical contact is appropriate, justifiable, and sensitively handled;

• professional language, dress and conduct are maintained at all times; and

• no inappropriate jokes, comments, or overly familiar behaviour with children or young people.

Session arrangements and lone working

Tuition is usually delivered one-to-one, so the following safeguards apply to reduce risk when working alone with a child.

In-person sessions

• Sessions take place in a room with windows, with curtains or blinds open.

• Doors to the room are kept unlocked (and open where privacy allows).

• If requested, a parent, carer or other trusted adult is within earshot / invited to stay for the session.

• Children are never transported by Bright Sparks Coaching without a parent or carer present.

Sessions in a child's home

• A parent, carer or other trusted adult should be present, or at least in the property and reachable, during the session.

• Sessions take place in a common area such as a kitchen or living room, never in a bedroom.

• Each home visit is noted in advance (who, where, when) and a brief written record is kept after the visit.

Online sessions

• Where possible, the child should be in a common space in their home, not a bedroom.

• Parents or carers are invited to be within earshot during the session, if they would like to be.

• Rebecca will use a neutral or blurred background and will be mindful of what is visible or audible during screen-sharing.

• Sessions are not recorded unless a parent or carer has given prior written consent.

Record-keeping

A brief written record is kept of every session: the date, time and location, what was covered, and any concerns noted. Parents or carers are given a short update at the end of each session, including any concerns about wellbeing, behaviour, or progress.

Consent

Before starting one-to-one specialist teaching tuition, Rebecca will agree the following with the parent or carer (and, where appropriate, the child):

• what sessions will involve and where they will take place;

• emergency contact details and any relevant medical, SEND, or additional support needs;

• who Rebecca may need to share information with, and the limits of confidentiality; and

• a copy of this Safeguarding Policy, or a child-friendly summary of it.

Recognising and responding to concerns

If Rebecca believes a child is in immediate danger, she will call 999 (or 111 if urgent medical advice is needed but it is not a 999 emergency).

If a concern is not urgent, Rebecca will:

• make a dated, written record of what was seen, heard or said, using the child's own words where possible;

• never promise a child confidentiality — she will explain that she needs to share what they have told her with someone who can help;

• contact the local authority's children's services for the area the child lives in; and/or

• contact the NSPCC Helpline for advice: 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk.

Signs that may indicate a child is experiencing abuse or neglect include (but are not limited to): unexplained changes in behaviour, becoming withdrawn or unusually aggressive, unexplained injuries, a child or family member saying something concerning, or a child talking about self-harm. Concerns are acted on rather than investigated personally.

Online safety

• Devices and platforms used for tutoring and for storing pupil information are kept secure and up to date, and protected by passwords.

• Any use of AI tools in preparing materials or reviewing pupil work is done without inputting identifiable pupil information, unless a parent or carer has agreed to this in advance.

• If Rebecca becomes aware of an online safety concern involving a pupil (for example, something seen or disclosed during an online session), she will follow the "Recognising and responding to concerns" procedure above.

Data protection and record-keeping

• Pupil and parent contact details, consent forms, session notes and any safeguarding records are stored securely (password-protected electronic files and/or a locked physical location) and are not shared beyond what is necessary to keep a child safe.

• Records are kept in line with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and are retained only for as long as necessary.

• Parents and carers can ask what information is held about their child at any time.

Complaints, allegations and whistleblowing

Because Rebecca is the sole practitioner at Bright Sparks Coaching, parents, carers or children who have a concern about her own conduct — not just about a child — have two ways to raise it:

• directly with Rebecca, using the contact details below; or

• independently, via the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line (0800 028 0285) or the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for the area the child lives in, who deals with allegations against people who work with children.

Any allegation raised will be treated seriously, recorded, and responded to promptly.

Training

• Rebecca completes child protection training on a regular cycle, including training aimed specifically at tutors (for example, NSPCC's child protection training for tutors).

• Rebecca keeps up to date with changes to safeguarding legislation and guidance, including via NSPCC's free CASPAR newsletter.

Contact details

Nominated child protection lead

Name: Rebecca Goulbourne

Phone/email: rebecca@brightsparkscoaching.net / 07814 615240

External contacts

• NSPCC Helpline (advice and concerns about a child): 0808 800 5000 / help@nspcc.org.uk

• NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line (concerns about how a safeguarding issue is being handled): 0800 028 0285

• Childline (for children and young people): 0800 1111

• Police (emergency): 999 | Police (non-emergency): 101

Policy review

We are committed to reviewing this policy and our safeguarding practice at least annually, and sooner if there is a significant change in legislation, guidance, or how Bright Sparks Coaching operates.

This policy was last reviewed on: 5th August 2026

Next review due by: 5thAugust 2027

Signed: Rebecca Goulbourne

Date: 5th August 2026