Online Tutoring Policy and Procedure

Online Teaching Policy

1. Introduction

Big Fish Tutors (BFT) is committed to ensuring the highest possible standard of safeguarding. The personal safety and wellbeing of each student and tutor using BFT is paramount.

2. Aims

The aim of this policy is to safeguard all students and other persons using BFT system whilst they are within a lesson session.
This policy document contains the responsibilities of all persons using BFT, including tutors, students, parents (responsible adults) and teachers.
It is important that all persons using or working on behalf of BFT are aware of this policy and have familiarised themselves with the detailed safeguarding procedures.
This policy should be read and understood before engaging in any activity arranged through BFT and the responsibilities and procedures therein adhered to. Contravention of the policy document could lead to suspension and/or barring from the services.

3. Recording of lessons

Lessons will not be recorded by parents or staff at BFT.

Roles and Responsibilities of persons using BFT Online Teaching

4. The Tutor

The tutor shall:

Ensure that their environment does not display any inappropriate images or documentation capable of being viewed by the student or parent/responsible adult when conducting a session.
Treat students fairly and without prejudice or discrimination.
Always ensure language is appropriate and not offensive or discriminatory.
Ensure any contact with the student is appropriate to their role as a tutor and confined to the relevant lesson session.
Not make any improper suggestions to a student.
Not send unsolicited communications to the student or parent/responsible adult.
Value and take students’ contributions seriously.
Report any dispute with a student or parent/responsible adult to BFT management, in accordance with the Safeguarding procedures document.
Report any inappropriate behaviour or illegal activity identified within a lesson session by the student or third party, in accordance with procedures set out
in Safeguarding procedures.
Ensure that if no parent/responsible adult is present during a lesson session that the student is comfortable to continue the session; if not, the parent/responsible adult can terminate the session.

5. The Student

Students who are current students enrolled for BFT regular classes only are permitted to use this service

The student shall:

Treat the tutor with respect and fairness, and not subject them to abusive behaviour or language.
Not make any improper suggestions to the tutor.
Have no inappropriate communication with the tutor outside the lesson session.
Report any dispute with a tutor to a parent/responsible adult.
Report any inappropriate behaviour or illegal activity by a tutor within a session.

6. Parent/Responsible adult

The parent/responsible adult shall:

Ensure the student is fully aware of the BFT Safeguarding Policy.
Always be responsible for the welfare of the student during the session.
Always be responsible for the physical environment of the pupil during the session ensuring it is safe and appropriate and without distraction.
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.
Ensure that tutors will be treated with respect and fairness by the student and will not be subjected to abusive behaviour or language.
Ensure that no improper suggestions are made by either the tutor or student.
Ensure the student has no inappropriate communication with the tutor outside the lesson session.
Report any unsolicited communications between the tutor and student if appropriate.
Report any dispute with a tutor to BFT management in accordance with procedures set out in this document.
Report any inappropriate behaviour or illegal activity by a tutor in accordance with procedures set out in this document.

7. Director/Management Services

The Director/Management shall:

Ensure that any dispute between persons using the BFT services is handled efficiently and fairly without discrimination in accordance with the procedures set out in this document.
Deal with reports of possible illegal activity promptly, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the student and/or tutor in accordance with the procedures set out in this document (see procedures section).
If appropriate, employ the services of an independent Child Protection consultant to review a report concerning the welfare of a student ensuring an appropriate course of action is taken.
Regularly review the policy and procedures to ensure they are relevant and adequate to safeguard all persons using the BFT services.

Online Teaching Procedures

1. Introduction

Big Fish Tutors (BFT) is committed to ensuring the highest possible standard of safeguarding. The personal safety and wellbeing of each student and tutor using BFT is paramount.
The following sections set out the procedures that should be followed if an incident occurs
There are differing severities of behaviour which could be witnessed during a lesson session. Some behaviour would warrant only a report to BFT; other behaviour maybe of a more serious nature where a direct report to the police may be necessary.
Each section below sets out the recommended procedure which should be followed. It is always the responsibility of the person alerted to the incident to take some action to protect the student or other person. BFT will not be responsible for any non-compliance with the recommended procedure.
The procedures are not an exhaustive list; therefore if an incident occurs that is not covered in this document you are advised to contact BFT, or the police if you believe that it may be a criminal matter.

2. Tutors

If a tutor sees/experiences:

Inappropriate language: The tutor will request, in a polite manner, that the student or other persons using inappropriate language refrains from doing so during the lesson session. If the language continues the tutor will explain that they will terminate the session due to the language and will report the matter to BFT who will decide on any further use of the service by the student or other person involved. Any unsolicited contact from the student or other persons following the termination of the session should be reported to BFT.
Inappropriate behaviour: The tutor will request, in a polite manner, that the student or other persons involved in the inappropriate behaviour refrains from the behaviour during the lesson session. If the behaviour continues the tutor will explain that they will terminate the session due to the behaviour and will report the matter to BFT who will decide on any further use of the service by the student or other person involved. The tutor should have no further contact with the student unless by mutual agreement with BFT. Any unsolicited contact from the student or other persons following the termination of the session should be reported to BFT.
Inappropriate or abusive images: Any display of adult pornographic images whilst in the presence of a student may constitute an offence under UK law. Any tutor witnessing the display of adult pornographic images by or towards a student should explain that the images should not be displayed during a lesson session, terminate the session and report the matter to BFT.
Any display of child abuse images or indecent images of a child (for these purposes, a ‘child’ is defined as anyone under the age of 18 years) is an offence under UK law. Any tutor witnessing a display of indecent images of a child by or in the presence of a student should explain that due to the nature of the images they will terminate the session. The tutor should then inform the UK police. The tutor should also inform BFT of the incident to ensure any recordings can be preserved and made available for any police investigation. The tutor should have no further contact with the student or any other person involved in the incident. Any unsolicited contact from the student or other persons following the termination of the session should be reported to the police and BFT immediately. The display of any other images perceived to be inappropriate, either due to the age of the student or the content of the image shall be reported to MTW at the discretion of the parent/responsible adult.
Disclosure of/witness to abuse towards or in the presence of a student: Any physical or sexual abuse of a child is an offence under UK law. If a tutor receives information about such abuse from the student or other person present they should reassure the person that they can get assistance for them. It is the responsibility of the tutor to contact the UK police and report what has been witnessed.
If the tutor witnesses any such abuse at first-hand they should immediately contact the police and report the incident. The tutor should also inform BFT of the incident to ensure any recordings can be preserved and made available for any police investigation. The tutor should have no further contact with the student or other person involved in the incident. Any unsolicited contact from the student or other persons following the termination of the session should be reported to the police and BFT immediately.
Disclosure of inappropriate/sensitive information: During a lesson session sensitive information may be offered by a student or other person present. If the information relates to any kind of abuse the tutor should refer to ‘Disclosure of/witness to abuse towards or in the presence of a student’, above. The student or other person present should be discouraged from disclosing sensitive information by the tutor. If the information continues to be shared the tutor will determine the impact of the information and decide whether to continue or terminate the session and report the incident to BFT.
Any information disclosed regarding the safety of a child should always be reported immediately to the UK police

3. Students

If a student sees/experiences:

Inappropriate language: The student will inform a parent/responsible adult of the tutor using inappropriate language. The parent/responsible adult should ask the tutor to refrain from using inappropriate language during the lesson session. If the language continues the parent/responsible adult should explain that they will terminate the session and will report the matter to BFT, who will decide on any further use of the service by the tutor. The student and parent/responsible adult should have no further contact with the tutor unless by mutual agreement with BFT. Any unsolicited contact from the tutor after termination of the session should be reported to the BFT. If a parent/responsible adult are not present or readily available the student should report the language as soon as possible to a parent/responsible adult who will take the decision to report the incident.
Inappropriate behaviour: The student will inform a parent/responsible adult of the tutor using inappropriate behaviour. The parent/responsible adult should ask the tutor to refrain from using inappropriate behaviour during the lesson session. If the behaviour continues the parent/responsible adult will explain that they will terminate the session due to the behaviour and will report the matter to BFT who will decide on any further use of the service by tutor. The student, parent/responsible adult should have no further contact with the tutor unless by mutual agreement with BFT. Any unsolicited contact from the tutor after termination of the session should be reported to BFT. If a parent/responsible adult are not present or readily available the student should report the behaviour as soon as possible to a parent/responsible adult who will take a decision to report the incident. If the behaviour is of a sexual nature towards a student by a tutor, the student should immediately inform a parent/responsible adult and terminate the session. The parent/responsible adult should inform the UK police and BFT immediately.
Inappropriate or Abusive images: Any display of adult pornographic images whilst in the presence of a student may constitute an offence under UK law. Any student witnessing the display of adult pornographic images by a tutor should immediately terminate the session and report this to a parent/responsible adult who should inform the UK police. Any display of child abuse images or indecent images of a child (for these purposes, a ‘child’ is defined as anyone under the age of 18 years) is an offence under UK law. Any student witnessing a display of indecent images of a child should immediately terminate the session and report this to a parent/responsible adult, who should inform the UK police. The parent/responsible adult should also inform BFT of the incident to ensure that any recordings can be preserved and made available for any police investigation. The student, parent/responsible adult should have no further contact with the tutor involved in the incident. Any unsolicited contact from the tutor following the discontinuation of the session should be reported to the police and BFT immediately. The display of any other images perceived to be inappropriate either due to age of the student or content of the image shall be reported to BFT at the discretion of the parent/responsible adult.
Disclosure of/witness to abuse: Any physical or sexual abuse of a person is an offence under UK law. If a student receives information about such abuse from the tutor or other person present they should immediately inform a parent/responsible adult. It is the responsibility of the parent/responsible adult to contact the UK police and report what was witnessed. If the student witnesses any such abuse at first-hand they should immediately contact a parent/responsible adult who should immediately inform the UK police. The parent/responsible adult should also inform BFT of the incident to ensure that any recordings can be preserved and made available for any police investigation. The student, parent/responsible adult should have no further contact with the tutor involved in the incident. Any unsolicited contact from the tutor following the termination of the session should be reported to the parent/responsible adult immediately. This action should be taken so the correct authorities can be alerted and can deal appropriately with the incident.
Disclosure of inappropriate/sensitive information: During a lesson session sensitive information may be offered by a tutor (If the information relates to any kind of abuse the student should refer to ‘Disclosure of/Witness to abuse’). The tutor should be discouraged from disclosing sensitive information by the student, parent/responsible adult. The parent/responsible adult will determine the impact of the information and decide whether to continue or terminate the session and report the incident to BFT.
Any information disclosed regarding the safety of a child should always be immediately reported to the UK police.
Any tutor reported by a parent/responsible adult will be suspended from the site until the incident has been investigated by the appropriate authority. The parent/responsible adult may be informed of the resolution if appropriate.

4. Parents/Responsible Adults

As per the policy document, the parent/responsible adult has primary responsibility for the welfare and safety of the student during an lesson session and should be present or available to deal with any concerns or incidents reported by the student.
It is also the duty of the parent/responsible adult to ensure the wellbeing of the child if they have been affected by anything said or done by the tutor.
If a parent/responsible adult is alerted by the student to any inappropriate behaviour/language or information by the student or they witness any inappropriate behaviour/language or information by the tutor, they should immediately speak to the tutor, state their concern and inform them they are terminating the session. The incident should then be reported to BFT to take appropriate action.
The parent/responsible adult should have no further contact with the tutor involved in the incident. Any unsolicited communication from the tutor should be reported to the police and BFT as soon as possible.
If a parent/responsible adult is alerted by the student to any inappropriate or abusive images or they witness any inappropriate or abusive images displayed by the tutor, they should immediately speak to the tutor, state their concern and inform them they are terminating the session. The parent/responsible adult should inform the UK police (if appropriate) and (in all cases) BFT of the incident to ensure that any recordings can be preserved and made available to any police investigation.
The parent/responsible adult should have no further contact with the tutor involved in the incident. Any unsolicited communication from the tutor should be reported to the police and BFT as soon as possible.
As there is a recording of the session available, the parent/responsible adult may review the session before taking further action.
Any tutor reported by a parent/responsible adult will be suspended from the site until the incident has been investigated by the appropriate authority. The parent/responsible adult will be informed of the resolution if appropriate.

6. Director/Management BFT Services

The Safeguarding Policy and procedures of the BFT website and services are the responsibility of the Director and management.
Any report of a contravention of the Safeguarding Policy will be reviewed by BFT, who may engage independent Child Protection consultants to ensure that an appropriate course of action is taken.
Any incident reported to BFT shall be reviewed as soon as possible to ensure a timely resolution.
If a report concerns minor breach of the safeguarding policy, BFT can make a decision as to appropriate action which may include barring the reported person from using the BFT services.
If a report is received by BFT which concerns the immediate safety of a student or any illegal activity during an lesson session, they will be required to contact UK police and report the incident.