Policies & Terms – Rivers Tutoring

About Rivers Tutoring

Rivers Tutoring is a UK-based sole trader providing supportive, structured small-group online learning sessions for primary-aged children.

Sessions are delivered live online using Zoom and/or Google Meet. The platform being used for each session will be confirmed as part of the booking information.

Our sessions are designed to support confidence, learning skills and enjoyment while complementing a child’s home education or school learning.

Rivers Tutoring is not a formal assessment programme. Children are not graded, and there is no expectation that every child will complete every activity or demonstrate a particular level of attainment.

Terminology

Rivers Tutoring generally uses the word “session” to describe our online learning sessions.

However, the word “lesson” may occasionally appear on older resources, website content, booking information, emails, social media posts or other materials.

Where the word “lesson” is used, it has the same meaning as “session” and does not refer to a different service.

1. Parental Responsibility & Learning

• Parents/guardians remain responsible for their child’s supervision, welfare and overall education.

• Rivers Tutoring sessions are intended to support and complement a child’s existing home education or school learning rather than provide their complete educational provision.

• Parents/guardians remain responsible for meeting any legal education requirements that apply to their child.

• Academic progress or outcomes cannot be guaranteed, as every child learns at a different pace and participates in different ways.

• Children are welcome to participate in the way that feels most comfortable for them. This may include answering aloud, using the chat, using reactions, completing activities privately or simply listening.

• Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring their child participates from a safe and appropriate environment.

• A responsible adult must be present in the home and reasonably available during the session.

2. Safeguarding & Online Safety

• Rivers Tutoring is committed to providing a safe, supportive and respectful online learning environment.

• I hold an Enhanced DBS certificate, which can be viewed by parents/guardians upon request.

• Secure Access: Sessions are delivered through Zoom or Google Meet using joining links supplied through the booking process, booking confirmation or associated session information.

• Session joining links must not be shared with anyone who has not booked or been authorised to attend the session.

• Rivers Tutoring may change the online platform used to deliver sessions where reasonably necessary. Parents/guardians will be given the appropriate joining information for their booked session.

• Cameras & Microphones: Children are not required to keep their camera or microphone switched on during sessions.

• Children may participate by speaking, typing in the chat, using reactions or simply listening.

• Where reasonably required for attendance or safeguarding purposes, a parent/guardian may be asked to confirm the identity or presence of the child attending.

• Supervision: A responsible adult must remain in the home and be contactable during the session.

• Communication: Rivers Tutoring will not undertake private one-to-one communication with a child outside scheduled sessions. Administrative, booking or safeguarding communication will take place through the parent/guardian.

• Session Chat: Where the online platform includes a class chat, this may be used for learning and participation purposes. Messages may be visible to other participants.

• Behaviour: Behaviour which is significantly disruptive, unsafe, discriminatory or harmful to others may result in a child being removed from a session. Where appropriate, a parent/guardian may be asked to support their child.

• Safeguarding Concerns: Any safeguarding concern will be handled appropriately and may be referred to the relevant safeguarding authority where necessary.

• Parents/guardians are welcome to remain nearby or observe their child during sessions where this is helpful.

3. Supporting Your Child’s Needs

• Sharing Information: Parents/guardians may choose to share relevant information about their child’s learning needs, communication preferences, sensory needs or other support that may help them participate comfortably.

• A formal diagnosis is not required to attend Rivers Tutoring sessions.

• Rivers Tutoring does not require parents to provide medical reports, diagnostic paperwork or formal educational assessments.

• Information voluntarily provided by parents is used only where relevant to supporting the child and adapting sessions where reasonably possible.

• Information concerning a child’s health, disability or diagnosed condition will be treated confidentially and handled in accordance with applicable UK data-protection requirements.

• Scope of Support: Rivers Tutoring sessions are thoughtfully designed to be accessible to a range of learners, including neurodivergent children. However, these are small-group educational sessions rather than specialist one-to-one therapeutic, clinical or SEN interventions.

• Rivers Tutoring cannot guarantee that every session or group environment will be suitable for every child.

• Rivers Tutoring reserves the right to pause or end a child’s participation where continuing would significantly affect the safety or wellbeing of the child, tutor or other participants.

• Parents should ensure their child participates in an environment where they feel comfortable, while being mindful that normal household life, family members or pets may occasionally be visible or audible.

4. Booking, Payments & Refunds

• Pay-per-session: Rivers Tutoring operates on a pay-per-session basis.

• There is no requirement to attend every week or book sessions consecutively unless specifically stated.

• Most weekly topics are designed as standalone sessions, allowing children to join even if they have not attended previous weeks.

• Booking: Payment is required at the time of booking to secure a place.

• Parents/guardians are responsible for providing accurate booking and contact information, including a valid email address.

• A booking confirmation will be sent following a successful booking.

• Joining Information: The appropriate Zoom or Google Meet joining information will be provided for the booked session.

• During the transition between Zoom and Google Meet, parents/guardians should check the joining information supplied for each individual session.

• Worksheets: Where a worksheet or supporting resource is available, it will normally be included on the relevant session page within the Rivers Tutoring booking website.

• Worksheets are generally optional unless specifically stated otherwise.

• Refunds: Refund requests must be made at least 48 hours before the scheduled session.

• Cancellations made after this time and non-attendance are normally non-refundable.

• Tutor Cancellation: If Rivers Tutoring is unable to provide a booked session, parents will be offered an alternative session, credit or refund as appropriate.

• Parents may book individual sessions or multiple sessions in advance.

• Payments are processed using secure third-party payment providers. Rivers Tutoring does not directly store full payment-card details.

5. Technical Requirements

Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that their child has:

• a suitable internet-connected device;

• a reasonably stable internet connection;

• access to the online platform specified for the session, which may include Zoom or Google Meet;

• functioning audio so that the child can hear the session;

• any optional worksheet or materials they choose to use.

A camera is not required for normal participation unless specifically agreed for an individual circumstance.

Rivers Tutoring cannot accept responsibility for problems caused solely by a participant’s own internet connection, equipment, device or software.

Where a significant technical problem on the Rivers Tutoring side prevents a paid session from taking place, reasonable steps will be taken to rearrange the session, provide credit or issue a refund where appropriate.

6. Privacy & Data Protection

Rivers Tutoring processes personal information in accordance with applicable UK data-protection legislation.

Information collected may include:

• parent/guardian name;

• email address;

• contact number;

• child’s first name and age;

• booking and attendance information;

• payment and transaction records;

• communications relating to bookings or sessions;

• learning or support information voluntarily provided by a parent/guardian.

How Information Is Used

Information may be used for:

• processing and managing bookings;

• communicating with parents/guardians;

• delivering online sessions;

• safeguarding;

• providing appropriate learning support;

• maintaining financial and business records;

• meeting legal, regulatory, insurance or accounting requirements.

Rivers Tutoring does not require parents to provide formal medical or diagnostic documentation.

Where information about a child’s health, disability, diagnosis or additional needs is voluntarily provided, only relevant information should be shared and it will be handled with appropriate care.

Third-party services used to operate Rivers Tutoring — including booking platforms, payment providers, Zoom and/or Google services — may process information where necessary to provide those services.

Retention

Booking, payment and other necessary business records may be retained for up to six years where required for accounting, tax, insurance or legal purposes.

Other personal information will not be retained for longer than reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.

Your Rights

Parents/guardians may contact Rivers Tutoring to request access to, correction of or deletion of their personal information, subject to any legal requirement for Rivers Tutoring to retain particular records.

7. Intellectual Property & Use of Resources

• All original worksheets, slides, teaching resources, graphics and educational materials created by Rivers Tutoring remain the intellectual property of Rivers Tutoring unless otherwise stated.

• Any worksheet or educational resource displaying the Rivers Tutoring name or logo is the property of Rivers Tutoring unless specifically stated otherwise.

• Worksheets and resources supplied in connection with Rivers Tutoring sessions are provided for the personal educational use of the child/family attending the sessions.

• Families may print, complete, retain and revisit worksheets for their own child’s personal learning.

• Rivers Tutoring worksheets and resources must not be copied, forwarded, uploaded, published, redistributed or shared outside of the family for use by other children, families, tutors, schools, groups, organisations or online communities without prior permission from Rivers Tutoring.

• Rivers Tutoring resources must not be used to provide teaching, tutoring, group activities, classes or other educational services for individuals who have not accessed them through Rivers Tutoring.

• Resources must not be sold, commercially reproduced, altered for redistribution or incorporated into another person’s tutoring or educational service without written permission.

• Accessing or downloading a worksheet as part of a booked session does not transfer ownership or intellectual-property rights to the person downloading it.

8. Insurance, Responsibility & Liability

• Rivers Tutoring holds appropriate insurance for the tutoring services provided.

• Rivers Tutoring will provide its services with reasonable care and skill.

• Rivers Tutoring cannot guarantee particular academic outcomes, grades, examination results or levels of progress.

• Rivers Tutoring is not responsible for disruption caused solely by circumstances outside its reasonable control, including a participant’s own internet, equipment or technical problems.

• Rivers Tutoring provides educational support only and does not provide medical, psychological, therapeutic or clinical services.

• Nothing within these terms is intended to remove or restrict any legal rights that a parent/guardian or child has under applicable consumer law.

9. Circumstances Beyond Our Control

Occasionally, circumstances outside reasonable control may prevent a session from running as planned.

These may include:

• illness;

• internet or service outages;

• power failures;

• significant technical disruption;

• emergencies;

• severe weather;

• national emergencies;

• other unforeseen circumstances.

Where possible, Rivers Tutoring will notify parents/guardians promptly.

If Rivers Tutoring cannot provide a paid session, an alternative session, credit or refund will be offered as appropriate.

10. Scope of Rivers Tutoring

Rivers Tutoring provides educational support.

Rivers Tutoring does not provide:

• medical care or advice;

• psychological assessment;

• therapy;

• formal SEN diagnosis;

• specialist clinical intervention;

• formal educational assessment or grading.

Sessions are intended to sit alongside and support a child’s wider education.

11. Complaints

Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact Rivers Tutoring directly if they have a concern or complaint.

Complaints should be sent using the official Rivers Tutoring contact details.

Rivers Tutoring aims to:

• acknowledge complaints within 48 hours; and

• investigate and respond fairly and professionally as soon as reasonably possible.

Safeguarding concerns will be handled separately and urgently where necessary.

12. Changes to Sessions or Services

Rivers Tutoring may occasionally make reasonable changes to:

• session topics;

• session content;

• resources;

• online platforms;

• booking systems;

• session times or arrangements.

This includes changing between Zoom and Google Meet or introducing a new booking platform.

Where a change materially affects an existing paid booking, parents/guardians will be informed as soon as reasonably possible and appropriate options will be provided.

13. Governing Law

These Policies & Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

Nothing within these terms affects any mandatory consumer rights that apply to parents/guardians.

Friendly Note for Parents 💚

Rivers Tutoring aims to provide a safe, supportive and enjoyable online learning environment where children can participate in the way that feels most comfortable for them.

There is no pressure to answer aloud, use a camera or complete every activity or worksheet.

Our sessions are designed to complement a child’s wider learning, and children are welcome to join individual sessions without having attended every previous session.

By completing a booking, the parent/guardian confirms that they have read, understood and agreed to the Policies & Terms that apply to the booking.