Everyone working with Future Stars Tuition has a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of every child who attends our sessions. We follow the Department for Education's Out-of-School Settings safeguarding guidance across everything we do. If you have any concern that a child may be at risk of harm, please speak to our Designated Safeguarding Lead without delay.
If a child discloses that they are being harmed, our approach is to listen carefully, take what they say seriously, and reassure them that they've done the right thing by speaking up. We avoid asking leading questions, as this can affect any investigation that follows, and we write down what was said as soon as possible afterwards, in the child's own words where we can. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead will then contact the relevant local authority children's social care team, follow their advice on next steps, and liaise with them on whether police involvement is needed.
We keep up-to-date contact details, names, and ages for every child on our register, and any safeguarding concern raised is recorded and stored securely, shared with social workers only where it helps their assessment. Any decision not to escalate a concern further is also recorded, along with the reasoning. Where appropriate, we'll talk to the child and their parents or carers about a referral, and agree with any involved social worker what information is shared and with whom.
How we safeguard children during sessions
- All tutors and assistants working with children complete an enhanced DBS check with a check of the barred lists before they start.
- We take up references and verify qualifications for every tutor before they join us.
- Tutors and assistants are given clear guidance on how to interact appropriately with children, as part of their induction.
- Sessions are run in groups, and tutors avoid being alone with an individual child; where this can't be avoided, physical contact is kept to a minimum.
- We celebrate progress and success through praise, stickers, and encouragement rather than physical contact.
- If a child needs comfort, we encourage other ways to reassure them rather than a hug.
- At least one first aid-trained tutor is present at every session, with a stocked first aid kit on hand. If first aid is needed, we contact the parent or carer straight away and support the child to apply their own plaster or cold compress where they're able to. All first aid given is logged.
- Any situation that could be open to misinterpretation is recorded and raised with our Designated Safeguarding Lead promptly.
- If a tutor or assistant is found to have breached these guidelines, or a complaint is raised by a child, parent, or carer, we hold a formal interview and keep a written record. Depending on the outcome, this may lead to a warning, further training, or dismissal. Dismissal in a safeguarding-related case will always be followed by a report to the police.
- We watch the entrance to the room where tuition takes place throughout each session, to protect children from unsupervised access by strangers.
- Toilet facilities have lockable doors, and staff are aware of which children are using them at any time.
- Children remain in the main session area, where they're supervised throughout.
If you have a safeguarding concern about Future Stars Tuition and wish to contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), please contact your local session's Designated Safeguarding Lead in the first instance, who can direct you to the LADO for the relevant local authority area.
Concerns about the standard of service, rather than the safety or welfare of a child, are handled under our Complaints Procedure.