Safeguarding Policy

1. Our Commitment to Child Safety

At Lingoodle, safeguarding children is our highest priority. As an Irish B2B edtech company delivering online 1-on-1 Mandarin immersion for children, we recognise that we hold a position of trust and responsibility. Every decision we make, from hiring tutors to designing our technology, is guided by the principle that children must be safe, respected, and supported at all times.

We are committed to creating an online learning environment where children can thrive, free from harm, abuse, neglect, or exploitation. This policy applies to all Lingoodle staff, tutors, contractors, and partners who have any contact with children through our services.

2. How Our Sessions Work

All Lingoodle sessions are delivered as live, 1-on-1 lessons via Zoom, connecting each child with a world-class Mandarin specialist. Sessions are 30 minutes in duration and follow a structured curriculum designed to maximise engagement and learning outcomes.

Each session involves only one tutor and one child. There are no group environments where children interact with other children or unknown adults. This model allows us to maintain close oversight of every interaction that takes place within our programme.

3. Tutor Vetting and Selection

Every tutor who joins Lingoodle undergoes a rigorous, multi-stage vetting process before they are permitted to work with children. Our vetting procedures include:

• Garda vetting. All tutors are vetted through the National Vetting Bureau, the Irish equivalent of DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks. This screening identifies any criminal history or concerns relevant to working with children.
• Background checks. We conduct thorough identity verification and background checks to confirm each tutor's qualifications, employment history, and suitability for working with minors.
• Reference checks. A minimum of two professional references are obtained and verified for every tutor, with specific enquiries about their experience working with children and any safeguarding concerns.
• Ongoing monitoring. Vetting does not end at the point of hire. Lingoodle conducts regular performance reviews, session audits, and periodic re-vetting to ensure that all tutors continue to meet our standards throughout their engagement with us.

4. Safeguarding Training

All Lingoodle tutors are required to complete comprehensive safeguarding training before they begin working with children. This training covers:

• Recognising the signs of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• Understanding appropriate boundaries in online learning environments.
• Procedures for reporting concerns and escalating issues.
• Data protection responsibilities when working with children's information.
• Cultural sensitivity and inclusive teaching practices.

Training is refreshed annually, and all tutors must complete updated modules whenever our safeguarding procedures are revised. Completion records are maintained by our Designated Safeguarding Lead.

5. Code of Conduct for Tutors

All Lingoodle tutors are bound by a strict code of conduct that governs their behaviour during sessions and in all interactions related to their role. Key requirements include:

• Treat every child with dignity, respect, and kindness.
• Maintain professional boundaries at all times. Personal contact with children or families outside of the Lingoodle platform is strictly prohibited.
• Never request, share, or store personal information about a child beyond what is necessary for delivering the lesson.
• Never use language, imagery, or behaviour that could be considered inappropriate, discriminatory, or harmful.
• Report any safeguarding concerns immediately, following the procedures outlined in this policy.
• Ensure that sessions take place in an appropriate, private setting with a neutral background.

Breaches of this code of conduct are treated as serious matters and may result in immediate suspension, investigation, and termination of the tutor's engagement with Lingoodle.

6. Session Recording

Lingoodle sessions are not recorded. Instead, our safeguarding model relies on live parental oversight: because each session is delivered online, 1-on-1, and not recorded, a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult must be able to see and hear the child for the full duration of every session.

Tutors are required to end a session immediately if a responsible adult is not within sight or hearing of the child.

7. Parental Access and Involvement

Parents and legal guardians are welcome to observe any Lingoodle session at any time. We believe that transparency is essential to building trust, and we actively encourage parental involvement in the learning process.

Parents may sit in on live sessions and contact our team at any time with questions or concerns about their child's experience. There is no requirement to provide advance notice to observe a session.

8. Reporting Procedures

If any Lingoodle staff member, tutor, parent, or other individual has a concern about the safety or wellbeing of a child, they should report it immediately. Lingoodle operates a clear and accessible reporting process.

How to Report a Concern

1. Contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead. Reports can be made by email at hello@lingoodle.com. All reports are treated as confidential and are acknowledged within 24 hours.
2. Internal review. The Designated Safeguarding Lead will assess the report, review any relevant session recordings, and determine the appropriate course of action.
3. Escalation. Where a concern involves a potential risk of harm to a child, the matter will be escalated to the relevant statutory authorities, including Tusla (the Child and Family Agency in Ireland) and, where applicable, An Garda Siochana.
4. Follow-up. The reporting individual will be kept informed of the outcome to the extent permitted by law and confidentiality obligations.

For Tutors

Tutors who become aware of any safeguarding concern during a session, whether through something a child says, their behaviour, or any other indicator, must report it to the Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately after the session. Tutors must not attempt to investigate concerns themselves.

For Parents

Parents who wish to raise a concern about their child's tutor, a session, or any aspect of the Lingoodle programme should contact hello@lingoodle.com. We take every concern seriously and will respond promptly.

9. Designated Safeguarding Lead

Lingoodle has appointed a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) who holds overall responsibility for safeguarding within the organisation. The DSL is responsible for:

• Receiving and managing all safeguarding reports and concerns.
• Ensuring that all tutors and staff complete required safeguarding training.
• Liaising with statutory authorities, including Tusla and An Garda Siochana, as necessary.
• Maintaining safeguarding records and ensuring compliance with this policy.
• Reviewing and updating this policy on an annual basis, or more frequently if required.

10. Children's Data Protection (COPPA Compliance)

Lingoodle is committed to protecting the personal data of children in accordance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Our data protection practices for children include:

• We collect only the minimum personal information necessary to deliver our services.
• Verifiable parental consent is obtained before collecting any personal information from a child.
• Parents have the right to review, request deletion of, and refuse further collection of their child's personal information at any time.
• Children's data is never sold, shared for marketing purposes, or disclosed to third parties except as required to deliver our services or comply with legal obligations.
• All children's data is stored securely within GDPR-compliant infrastructure with strict access controls.

For further details on how we handle personal data, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Safeguarding Policy, wish to report a concern, or require further information about our child protection practices, please contact us.