Company Information
Safeguarding is a personal and professional commitment at Gradus Academy. I am committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and I take this responsibility seriously in every aspect of my work as a tutor.
Gradus Academy is operated as a sole trader by Rebecca Harrigan. All safeguarding responsibilities outlined in this policy are held by Rebecca Harrigan directly.
This policy outlines Gradus Academy's safeguarding approach and sets out the working methods I use to ensure my practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance, and best practice.
I will work to protect students from abuse and maltreatment of any kind and will apply sound professional judgement to identify and respond to situations where a child or young person may be at risk of harm. This includes:
This policy applies to all students, parents and guardians who engage with Gradus Academy, and covers all tutoring activity whether conducted online or in person.
Child abuse is any form of maltreatment of a child under the age of 18. Harm can be caused by direct action or by a failure to act to prevent harm, and may be physical, emotional, sexual or through neglect. Abuse can take place within the home, in institutional settings, or online.
I am trained to recognise indicators of abuse, neglect and exploitation and understand that these issues rarely exist in isolation. Key categories of abuse include:
Any form of physical harm inflicted on a child, including hitting, shaking, burning, or fabricated illness.
Persistent maltreatment that causes severe and adverse effects on a child's emotional development, including humiliation, threats, or age-inappropriate expectations.
Forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. This includes both contact and non-contact abuse, and can take place online.
The persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical or psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of the child's health or development.
Both child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation are forms of abuse. I am trained to recognise the signs that a child may be at risk.
Children can and do abuse other children. This includes bullying, sexual harassment, and harmful behaviour both online and offline. There is a zero-tolerance approach to all such behaviour.
All tutoring at Gradus Academy takes place through a secure online platform. All sessions are conducted via video call and are recorded. Personal contact details for students and parents are never shared or requested outside of the platform. No contact between myself and students takes place outside of the official tutoring environment.
I hold a current Enhanced DBS Certificate with Children's Barred List information, renewed every three years. A copy is available on request.
I take a proactive approach to online safety and am aware of the risks that technology can present for children and young people. All sessions take place through a secure, recorded video platform. I do not communicate with students or parents through personal social media accounts or private messaging services.
I am aware of the four key categories of online risk as set out in KCSIE 2025: content, contact, conduct and commerce, and I apply this understanding in my day-to-day practice.
If you are a parent or guardian and have a safeguarding concern related to your child's experience with Gradus Academy, please contact me directly and promptly.
Designated Safeguarding Person
Rebecca Harrigan, Gradus Academy
Email: hello@gradusacademy.co.uk
Available Mon–Sun, 8am–8pm
Where a concern involves a child being at immediate risk of harm, please contact the emergency services on 999 immediately.
Concerns can also be reported directly to the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or via [email protected], available 24 hours a day.
If a concern is raised with me, I will respond promptly, maintain a detailed and objective record, and where appropriate refer the matter to Children's Social Care, the police, or another relevant statutory authority in line with the Children Act 1989 and KCSIE 2025.
Any allegation of inappropriate behaviour by me as the tutor should be reported immediately to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for the relevant local authority, as well as to the NSPCC helpline if preferred. I am committed to full cooperation with any investigation.
If any person connected with Gradus Academy has a concern about unsafe practice that they do not feel able to raise directly, they are encouraged to contact:
This policy is informed by and compliant with the following legislation and guidance:
Authored by Rebecca Harrigan · Gradus Academy · Reviewed March 2026 · Review frequency: annual