The Cambridge Tuition Group: Online Safety Policy

At the Cambridge Tuition Group, the safety and well-being of both our students and tutors are of utmost importance. This policy outlines the standards and guidelines for conducting online lessons to ensure a safe, productive, and secure learning environment.

1. Approved Platforms

Online lessons must be conducted via one of the following approved platforms:

Zoom
Microsoft Teams
Google Meet
TutorCruncher Video
LessonSpace
Bramble

Tutors are responsible for ensuring the platform used is secure and appropriate for the lesson, and for sending the link for the online lesson to the student and parent prior to the lessons.

2. Lesson Recording

Online lessons may be recorded, but only with prior agreement from both the tutor and the student (or their parent/guardian if the student is under 18). The purpose of recording may include quality monitoring, safeguarding, or reference for future learning. All parties must be informed in advance when a recording will take place, and recordings must be stored securely.

3. Use of Online Whiteboards

Online whiteboards may be used during lessons to facilitate interactive learning. Tutors should ensure that any online whiteboard tool used is safe, secure, and accessible to the student.

4. Lesson Duration and Platform Time Limits

Tutors must ensure that the selected video conferencing platform does not have a time limit shorter than the duration of the lesson. Tutors must not ask students to leave and rejoin another meeting in order to bypass time limits. Lessons should run continuously for the scheduled time without unnecessary interruptions.

5. Lesson Location

Lessons should take place in a quiet but accessible location. This ensures that the lesson is conducted in a focused environment, while also allowing a parent/guardian to check in on the lesson at any time if they wish, though they are not required to join the lesson in full. This arrangement allows them to observe or participate briefly, if desired.

6. Parental Access and Supervision

For students under the age of 18, parents must have access to the online lesson link. While parents are not required to attend lessons, they are encouraged to check in at any time if they feel the need. This promotes transparency and ensures the student’s safety and well-being.

7. Communication with Students Under 18

For students under the age of 18, any direct communication between the tutor and the student must include a parent or guardian. This can be achieved through:

A group message system, such as a WhatsApp group, which includes both the parent and student.
Copying the parent/guardian into any emails exchanged between the tutor and the student.

Direct, unsupervised communication with students under 18 is strictly prohibited.

8. General Conduct

Tutors and students are expected to behave in a respectful and professional manner at all times.
Tutors should not share personal information with students and should avoid any informal contact outside of the lesson time unless it pertains directly to lesson arrangements.
All interactions should remain focused on the student’s educational needs.

9. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. All communications, lesson content, and shared materials will be treated with confidentiality. Our approved platforms are chosen with your privacy in mind.

10. Reporting Concerns

If a tutor or parent has any concerns about the online safety or well-being of the student, they should report this immediately to the Cambridge Tuition Group's designated safeguarding lead (Hannah Gavin: hannah@cambridgemathstuition.co.uk).

This policy is reviewed regularly to ensure that it remains up-to-date and in line with best practices for online tutoring safety. By adhering to this policy, both tutors and students can engage in a secure and productive learning experience.

the Cambridge Tuition Group is committed to providing a safe, supportive, and transparent online tutoring environment.