By booking online tuition with BrightStart Phonics with Sarah, I confirm I have a reliable internet connection. 

I confirm that I have the necessary hardware required in full working order and that all software required is the most up-to-date version and is installed and working. I confirm my child has the basic computer skills necessary to take part in the tuition sessions. 

The hardware required is Laptop or Desktop Computer 

The software required is Zoom

Other materials required; resources pack provided by your tutor (Sarah Ellison)

Services provided

The services I provide are limited to the duration of the tutoring session(s) listed above.

Further services I offer can include but are not limited to these:

-liaising with other educational professionals or schools

-writing reports or letters of recommendation

-setting extra homework / creating personalized learning plans

-marking homework

-learning coach and mentoring services according to individual needs

Please get in touch with me here Sarah@brightstartprimaryenglishtutorsarah.com  to ask about the extra services I provide beyond tutoring and my availability and rates for these services.

Cancellation policy for individual tutoring sessions

My cancellation policy is strict and I do not issue refunds. Instead, you will be offered an alternative session to make up for a maximum of 1 missed session per month.  

For more than 1 missed session a month I will, at my discretion, offer alternative sessions to make up for any sessions that are missed (for whatever reason) although I cannot guarantee to do this.

To cancel tuition sessions, please email the cancellation to  Sarah@brightstartprimaryenglishtutorsarah.com. You don’t need to give a reason, although please do so if you wish. 

The date and time stamp of the email will be the time the session is officially cancelled. Cancellation by email is the only accepted way to cancel. 

Phone calls or text messages or any other form of communication cannot be accepted as formal cancellation of the session. 

Any internet, power, hardware or software failures outside of anyone’s control (tutor or student family’s), including at any point while a lesson is taking place,  cannot be accepted as reasons to give credits or refunds for tuition in addition to the policy below.   

Please be aware: children will not be admitted into unpaid sessions. It is the responsibility of the booking adult to make sure sessions are paid in advance. 

If the responsible adult/parent/carer has to cancel a tutoring session

If the responsible adult/parent/carer gives less than 48 hours’ notice , or no notice at all including failure to join the session (a “no-show”) for whatever reason, the tutoring session will be charged at full price and no lesson credit or refund will be given.

If the responsible adult/parent/carer gives more than 48 hours’ notice

for whatever reason, up to 1 x 30 minute tuition session per month may be cancelled, and a lesson credit will be given so one 30 minute tuition session will be credited as a makeup session at a fixed time/in agreement with parent.  

If tuition does not continue to the next month, no make up session or refund will be given. 

For more than 1 x 30 minute session that is cancelled per month, I will, at my discretion, offer alternative sessions to make up for any sessions that are missed (for whatever reason) although I cannot guarantee to do this.

If the child misses the tutoring session, they will be sent the recording and will catch up in their own time, before the next tutoring session. No refunds or makeup sessions will be provided.

If the tutor has to cancel a tutoring session

I will try to let you know with as much notice as possible, but if something happens at very short notice resulting in me cancelling, I cannot guarantee the cancellation notice period.  If I have to cancel, I will offer you an alternative, make-up tutoring session. No refunds will be given. 

School and public holidays: BrightStart Phonics tutoring sessions take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, so it is unlikely that sessions will fall on UK bank holidays.

For sessions scheduled during school holidays, an alternative mutually convenient time will be arranged between Sarah and the parent(s) to ensure regular learning continues.

A minimum of 4 weeks’ notice will be provided for any planned tutor holidays.

Please note:
I will be away for one week - 18th August 2025. To maintain consistency, an alternative session will be offered either the week before or week after to make up for any missed session during that time.

Cancelling the tutoring contract to end tutoring completely

If you as the parent or carer wish to cancel the tutoring contract,  you may cancel it at any time in the current paid period so the contract does not renew for another month. You do not need to give a reason for cancelling, although it would help if you can tell me why you are cancelling. Please send an email to this address Sarah@brightstartprimaryenglishtutorsarah.com to cancel your contract. Cancellation by email is the only accepted way to cancel.  Phone calls or text messages or any other form of communication cannot be accepted as formal cancellation of the contract. If you cancel and your child is unable to join the remaining paid tutoring sessions, no make-up sessions, no lesson credits and no refunds will be given. 

If the tutoring sessions come to a natural end when your child has completed their time working with me, the contract automatically ends and you do not need to cancel. If you have set up automatic payments, it is your responsibility to cancel them. 

In the case of adverse or extreme circumstances, I as the tutor reserve the right to cancel the tutoring contract with immediate effect, without a notice period and without giving a reason. Refunds or reimbursements of any kind for outstanding tutoring sessions are not guaranteed.

Under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 you have a 14-day cooling-off period with the right to change your mind and cancel this contract completely within 14 days of the start date. Please do that by emailing Sarah@brightstartprimaryenglishtutorsarah.com. An email to this address is the only accepted way of cancelling.    

Lateness policy

If the student is late to the tutoring session   

Group lessons: I will admit the student to group lessons up to 5 minutes after the start time of the tutoring session, but students who arrive at or after 10 minutes will not be admitted in order to avoid disruption to other students. No lesson credits, makeup sessions or refunds will be given. Arriving later than 15 minutes to the lesson will be treated as an uncancelled lesson and charged in full. 

If the student is late (arrives up to 15 minutes after the session has started), the tutoring session will be charged in full, and no make-up lesson will be offered and no (partial) lesson credit given. If the student arrives late, the lesson will not extend beyond the regular finish time to make up for the student’s lateness - it will be a shortened lesson. Your child may be offered a recording of the lesson to catch up. 

Individual lessons: I will wait for 5 minutes after the start time of the lesson, then send a reminder and a link to join the session. I will then wait another 10 minutes and cancel the session if the student does not arrive.  If the student arrives late, the lesson will not extend beyond the regular finish time to make up for the student’s lateness - it will be a shortened lesson. If the student is late, the tutoring session will be charged in full, and no make-up lesson will be offered and no (partial) lesson credit given.

If the tutor is late to the tutoring session

In the unlikely event that I am late, I will do my best to inform you as soon as possible and I will arrange with you to either extend the session or  offer a make-up session, whichever option you prefer. No refunds will be given. 

Obligations of the responsible adult during tutoring sessions

For safeguarding reasons, a responsible adult must be within sight and sound of the tutoring session at all times. The tutoring session may not be privately recorded or photographed. The responsible adult who books tuition or is in charge of the child during online tutoring sessions confirms that before each online tutoring session:

• the child will be able to work in a quiet place without interruptions for the duration of the tutoring session 

• the child comes rested, settled and not hungry or thirsty to the tutoring session

• the child understands they may not drop in and out of the session and they have to stay for the whole session

• the child understands they need to behave cooperatively and, in group sessions,  not disrupt the learning of others. If the child behaves in a way that is not conducive to learning they may, in extreme circumstances, be removed from the session  

• the child has the required equipment (a whiteboard and a pen, a pencil/pen and paper) requested by the tutor

• people other than the child will only join the tutoring session with the prior agreement of the tutor

• equipment (computer, microphone, etc.) will be prepared and working before the session starts

• the internet connection and power supply will be checked and working before the session starts

• all software will be available in its most up-to-date form

Progress updates

I will update you on your child’s progress every 4-5 weeks by email with a report based on the objectives of the British Early Years Foundation Stage or National Curriculum (which are relevant to international settings) and I will clearly let you know if I feel we need to meet and discuss your child’s progress. If you need to arrange a meeting with me, please do so with at least 24 hours’ notice by contacting me here Sarah@brightstartprimaryenglishtutorsarah.com. Please understand that I have other commitments and so I am unlikely to be available either before or after tutoring sessions for spontaneous meetings. 

Safeguarding Policy

Sarah at BrightStart Phonics Tutoring makes safeguarding a top priority. 

The purpose of this policy is to confirm

• I am committed to protecting the children and young people who receive my services from harm

• I will respond to any allegations or any concerns relating to the welfare of the child or young person for whom I provide tutoring services 

• I hold a current, enhanced DBS check that is renewed annually 

• I will never directly contact the child or young person outside of the tutoring session, and I expect all communication to be via the parent/carer, including exclusively via the parent/carer’s email address and phone number

• I undertake certified safeguarding training with a reputable provider (https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/training) at least every two years to keep up-to-date with safeguarding protocols and best practice 

If a student tells me that they or another child is being abused, I will: 

• show that I have heard what they are saying, and that I take their allegations seriously

• encourage the child to talk, without prompting them or asking them leading questions. I will not interrupt when a child is recalling significant events and will not make a child repeat their account

• reassure the child that they can tell me anything that is worrying them, but that I cannot promise not to tell anybody because some things have to be passed on in order to keep them safe

• explain what actions I must take, in a way that is appropriate to the age and understanding of the child

• record what I have been told, as soon as I can, using exact words where possible

• make a note of the date, time, place and people who were present during the disclosure

I will contact the relevant local safeguarding authorities. 

If I am concerned that the child is in immediate danger, I will call the police. 

It is not my responsibility to attempt to investigate the situation myself.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Sarah at BrightStart Phonics Tutoring takes data protection very seriously and make it a top priority with reference to:  

• The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which went into effect on May 25, 2018 and 

• The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) which went into effect on January 1, 2021.

For data protection purposes, I classify Sarah at BrightStart Phonics Tutoring as a Data Controller. 

The information I hold will be:

• the name and address of parents/carers

• the name and date of birth of the child

• email address of parents/carers

• phone number of parents/carers

• SMS messages, direct messages, emails messages or messages on others apps or platforms we choose to use

• assessment information from the introductory session

• payment and billing information 

• documentation, for example school reports, assessments, tests, other school communication or communication from relevant professionals connected to the child that parents/carers choose to give me

For safeguarding reasons, I do not hold the contact details (phone number, email address, etc) of the child or young person I tutor, as all communication must be via the legally responsible adult (parent/carer).

I can confirm that the data you provide Sarah at BrightStart Phonics Tutoring with is held securely. The platform I use to store data is Google Workspace, which is fully compliant with the EU GDPR and UK GDPR. Google employs industry-leading security measures and robust privacy practices to ensure your data is protected at all times.

You can view Google’s security and compliance documentation at the following links:

• 🔗 Google Workspace Security Overview
  
  

• 🔗 Google Cloud GDPR Resource Center
  
  

• 🔗 Google Compliance Certifications

Any paper documentation is stored in a lockable cabinet.  Your data will not be used for anything other than the functioning of the services we provide. We will never give or sell your data to any third parties for any reason whatsoever. The only times we will share your information are:
(1) to disclose information in the case of a safeguarding issue, or
(2) because you ask us and give us permission to share information with someone else, such as your child’s school.
We hold your data until the tutoring contract finishes, when we will delete all electronic records and return any paper documentation to you. There are exceptions to this:

1. Any data related to safeguarding, accidents or incidents must be held until the child turns 21 years and 3 months of age. 

2. Contracts, consent forms, information sheets, invoices and payments must be held for 7 years.
   
   

We may ask you if you would like to opt in to receiving communication from us once the tutoring contract is finished so we can keep in touch.   

Sarah at BrightStart Phonics Tutoring is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office, ico.org.uk, the UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest and to promote data privacy for individuals.

Sarah Ellison is the registered Data Protection Officer.

For all data protection matters, please contact Sarah at BrightStart Phonics Tutoring Sarah@brightstartprimaryenglishtutorsarah.com

Insurance: 

I am fully insured with https://www.mortonmichel.com/

Disclaimer:

I will work to the best of my abilities with your child to ensure their progress, but I cannot guarantee that they will pass any tests, exams or checks, formal or informal, or reach any levels of achievement that have been set, either formally or informally. Be assured that if, in my professional opinion, another kind of help alongside or in place of tutoring is in the best interests of your child, I will ask for a meeting with you to advise you.     

In case you are dissatisfied with my service, please talk to me first so we can resolve the situation discreetly, professionally and to your satisfaction.