Updated and reviewed on September 9th, 2026

Iliani’s Safeguarding Guideline for Core Programme Activities 

Purpose and scope

These guidelines set out proactive safeguarding measures that apply to Iliani’s primary programme activities, including:

  • Online tutoring, coaching and/or mentoring

  • In-person tutoring, coaching and/or mentoring

  • Residential or non-residential summer camps

  • Accompanied educational visits and learning activities

The objective is to prevent harm before it occurs, ensure safe professional boundaries, and provide clear behavioural expectations for all staff and associated personnel.

These guidelines operate alongside Iliani’s Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct and are mandatory for all personnel engaged in programme delivery.

Core Safeguarding Principles in Programme Delivery

All Iliani activities involving children or young people must be delivered in accordance with the following principles:

  • The best interests of the child are paramount

  • Professional boundaries must be maintained at all times

  • Safeguarding applies regardless of parental presence or consent

  • Safeguarding responsibilities apply online and offline

  • Power imbalances must be actively managed and mitigated

  • Concerns must be acted upon promptly, not investigated informally

Guidelines for Online Tutoring, Coaching and/or Mentoring

Approved Communication Channels

  • All tutoring, coaching and/or mentoring sessions must take place on Iliani-approved platforms

  • Communication must relate strictly to educational objectives

One-to-One Online Sessions

  • One-to-one sessions with minors are permitted only for educational purposes

  • Sessions should be scheduled, time-limited, and logged

  • Tutors must not engage in informal or social conversations unrelated to learning objectives

  • Where legally permissible, session records or attendance logs must be retained

Professional Conduct Online

Tutors, coaches and/or mentors shall not:

  • Communicate with students outside agreed hours

  • Engage in conversations with a student that creates or encourages an inappropriate personal or emotional relationship beyond a professional relationship, including encouraging emotional dependency, excessive personal disclosure, secrecy, exclusivity, or treating the student as a friend, confidant or source of emotional support.

  • Request or accept personal images, gifts, or favours

  • Discuss sensitive personal issues unless safeguarding concerns arise

Safeguarding Disclosures Online

If a student discloses harm, abuse, or risk during an online session:

  • The tutor must listen calmly and not promise confidentiality

  • The concern must be reported immediately to the Safeguarding Focal Point

  • Tutors must not investigate, question extensively, or contact third parties directly

Guidelines for In-Person Tutoring, Coaching and/or Mentoring

Supervision and Environment

  • Sessions must take place in appropriate, observable environments

  • Private, isolated, or unsupervised locations are prohibited

  • Parents or guardians remain responsible for supervision unless otherwise formally agreed

Physical Boundaries

  • Physical contact with students must be avoided

  • Any necessary contact (e.g. safety-related) must be minimal, appropriate, and explainable

  • Iliani staff must never be alone with a child in a closed or unobservable space

Transportation

  • Iliani staff must not transport students in personal vehicles unless explicitly authorised in writing

  • Where transport is arranged, safeguarding risk assessments must be completed in advance

Guidelines for Summer Camps and Group Programmes

Staffing and Ratios

  • Appropriate adult-to-child ratios must be maintained at all times

  • At least two authorised adults must be present during group activities

  • Roles and supervision responsibilities must be clearly assigned

Behaviour Management

  • Discipline must never involve humiliation, intimidation, physical force, or isolation

  • Behavioural expectations must be communicated clearly to participants

  • Any safeguarding-related behavioural concerns must be escalated, not managed informally

Accommodation and Personal Care

  • Staff must not enter sleeping or personal care spaces alone with a child

  • Clear rules must exist regarding room access, supervision, and privacy

  • Gender-appropriate arrangements must be respected

Boundaries During Educational Visits and Accompaniment

  • Iliani staff act in an advisory and support capacity only

  • Parents or legal guardians retain responsibility for the child at all times

  • Iliani staff must not assume a parental or custodial role

  • Any safeguarding concern observed during visits must be reported immediately

Managing Safeguarding Concerns Proactively

All staff and associated personnel must:

  • Be alert to signs of abuse, neglect, distress, or inappropriate behaviour

  • Report concerns immediately to the Safeguarding Focal Point

  • Maintain confidentiality on a strict need-to-know basis

  • Understand that safeguarding concerns override contractual confidentiality

  • Failure to report a safeguarding concern may itself constitute a breach of policy.

Training and Acknowledgement

All tutors, coaches, and programme staff must receive safeguarding induction before engaging with students.

Staff must confirm in writing that they have read and understood:

  • The Safeguarding Policy

  • These Safeguarding Guidelines

  • The Code of Conduct

Zero Tolerance Statement

Iliani maintains a zero-tolerance approach to safeguarding violations.

Any breach of these guidelines may result in:

  • Immediate removal from programme activities

  • Disciplinary action

  • Referral to external authorities where appropriate

Associated policies and procedures

  1. Safeguarding policy 

  2. Safeguarding guideline for core programme activities (this document)

  3. Code of Conduct

  4. Procedure for Dealing with Safeguarding Reports