Essential Safeguarding and Compliance Guide for Tutoring Business Owners

“I used to lie awake at night worrying about whether I’d got everything right. The legislation felt like a minefield, and I was terrified of making a mistake that could shut down everything I’d built.”

Running a successful tutoring business isn’t just about exceptional teaching anymore—it’s about navigating complex compliance requirements and choosing the right systems to support your growth.

The good news? With the right guidance, these challenges become manageable stepping stones rather than insurmountable obstacles.

At Supportive Stories, we have hands-on experience at supporting a wide range of tuition businesses and there are key three areas in which we see businesses become overwhelmed – and we can help with all of them.

Employment Agency Legislation: Know Your Classification

The Two-Path Reality

How you run your business and your compliance framework depends on whether you’re operating as an Employment Business or Employment Agency:

• Employment Business: You supply tutors who work under your control and direction
• Employment Agency: You introduce tutors directly to families who then engage them independently

Many tutoring businesses operate across both models, creating additional complexity but also service flexibility.

The guidelines for both are quite complex and different. Throw in the additional complication of navigating self-employment vs employment rules and ensuring all relevant checks are carried out for tutors to maintain safeguarding standards and it’s no wonder that it’s a bit of a headache for businesses to figure out!

What You Must Get Right:

• Clarity over your structure including recruitment, payment processes and client management
• Comprehensive suitability checks beyond basic DBS
• Detailed record keeping for inspections

Understanding this early prevents costly corrections later.

Safeguarding and DBS Compliance: Your Complete Framework

The Reality

All tutors need Enhanced DBS checks, but there’s much more to safeguarding than just getting the certificate. Government guidance around safeguarding changes regularly, so tutoring businesses need to stay current with requirements.

What You Need to Do:

• DBS Checks and Updates: Get Enhanced DBS checks and encourage tutors to join the Update Service for easier renewals
• Safeguarding Policies: Keep your policies updated with current government definitions and requirements
• Record Everything: Keep detailed records of all checks, concerns, and actions taken
• Stay Current: Regularly review the latest safeguarding guidance to ensure compliance

Key Areas to Focus On:

• Know the signs of different types of abuse and neglect
• Have clear procedures for reporting and recording concerns
• Ensure safe recruitment practices when hiring new tutors
• Designate someone as your safeguarding lead who stays on top of current guidance

Alternative Provision Work

If you work with schools or local authorities, they’re required to ask for:

• Written proof you’ve done all the right safeguarding checks
• Details about anything that might put children at risk
• Your full address and any other locations where children might go
• Regular reviews to make sure placements are still safe
• Quick action if any concerns come up

Why This Matters

Good safeguarding doesn’t just keep children safe – it shows schools and local authorities they can trust you. This trust leads to more contracts and referrals.

Choosing the Right Systems: CRM and Compliance Management

Moving Beyond Spreadsheets

As your tutoring business grows, spreadsheets become a nightmare. You need proper systems, but choosing the wrong one is expensive and frustrating.

Your System Needs to Handle:

• Tutor Information: Profiles, qualifications, availability, and DBS tracking
• Client Management: Family details, lesson schedules, and communication history
• Compliance Tracking: DBS renewals, training records, and audit trails
• Money Management: Invoices, tutor payments, and financial reports

What to Look For:

• Will it grow with your business over the next few years?
• Does it connect with your accounting software?
• Can it track all your compliance requirements?
• Is it easy enough that your team won’t need weeks of training?
• Does it give you the reports you need for your business and inspections?

Getting This Right

The wrong system costs thousands and creates headaches. The right one makes everything run smoothly and gives you confidence you’re meeting all requirements.

Why Getting This Right Matters

When your compliance and systems work together properly, you get more than just peace of mind:

• More Time for Growth: Less time on admin means more time building your business
• Confidence to Scale: Solid foundations mean you can grow without worry
• Better Reputation: Schools and families trust businesses that have their act together

Next Steps

Every successful tutoring business deals with these challenges eventually. The question is: will you sort them out now as stepping stones to growth, or later when you’re in crisis mode?

Ready to turn your compliance headaches into competitive advantages? Book a clarity call to talk about your specific situation and discover how getting these foundations right can help your business grow with less stress.

Your business deserves the stability that comes from getting the basics right.

Supportive Stories helps tutoring businesses create sustainable growth through practical systems and compliance solutions, bringing structure and calm to the challenges of running purpose-driven education businesses.