Safety First
Qualified Tutor is revolutionising the tutoring industry by prioritising student safety and professional standards. Recognising the lack of formal safeguarding measures for independent tutors, we have introduced a comprehensive system to ensure tutors are thoroughly vetted and continuously monitored.
Here's how we're making tutoring safer for everyone:
Enhanced DBS
Qualified Tutor acts as an umbrella body, enabling independent tutors to obtain Enhanced DBS checks
Daily DBS Monitoring
Tutors undergo daily DBS status updates. This continuous monitoring is reflected in live digital credentials, providing real-time assurance to parents.
Safeguarding Included
Included in every membership, safeguarding training ensures that all tutors have access to the essential knowledge and guidance they need to keep students safe.
Certified Professional Tutor Status
includes safeguarding training, DBS checks, and daily monitoring—ensuring tutors are safe, professional, and trusted by families.
Free Directory
A centralised platform where parents can find and verify tutors who hold Certified Professional Tutor status – having met stringent safeguarding and professional criteria.
Coming Soon: Safeguarding Support
Qualified Tutor is proud to announce a forthcoming partnership with a leading organisation in safeguarding in education, further strengthening our commitment to raising standards, ensuring safety, and supporting tutors with the tools and recognition they need to thrive. Full details coming soon.
Included in Membership
Enhanced DBS and Daily DBS Checks
If you’re a self-employed tutor, securing a DBS certificate is an essential step in demonstrating your commitment to safeguarding and professionalism. While DBS checks are not legally required for all tutors, many parents, schools, and tutoring agencies expect tutors to be DBS-certified to ensure a safe learning environment.
Your Frequently Asked Question on our DBS service
How long does DBS take to process?
DBS Check Processing Time
The time it takes to receive a DBS certificate varies:
- Basic DBS Check – Typically processed within 14 days.
- Enhanced DBS Check – May take up to 8 weeks, depending on the complexity of the background checks and the police authorities involved.
To avoid delays, ensure all details are accurate when applying.
What are the various types of DBS checks?
Types of DBS Checks for Tutors
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) offers different levels of background checks, depending on the role and level of contact with children or vulnerable adults:
- Basic DBS Check – A general background check showing unspent convictions. Suitable for tutors who do not work directly with schools or regulated activities.
- Standard DBS Check – Includes spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and warnings. More relevant for tutors working in specific professional settings.
- Enhanced DBS Check – The most detailed check, revealing both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, and any relevant information held by the police. Required for tutors working in regulated activity with children.
Many parents and organisations prefer tutors to hold an Enhanced DBS check, as it provides the highest level of reassurance.
How long does does DBS remain valid?
Duration and Validity of DBS Certificates
A DBS certificate does not have an official expiry date, but employers and parents may request an updated check every 1 to 3 years. Some tutors choose to register with the DBS Update Service, which allows for continuous monitoring and easy renewal.
What About CRB Checks?
What About CRB Checks?
If you’ve heard the term CRB check, it refers to the old system used before the DBS check was introduced in 2012. The CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) merged with the Independent Safeguarding Authority to form the current DBS.
Is DBS a legal requirement?
Legal Requirements for DBS Checks
DBS checks are not legally mandatory for self-employed tutors unless they work in a regulated setting, such as a school or through a registered tutoring agency. However, having a DBS-certified status increases trust and can be a key factor in attracting students.
Included in Membership
Empower Yourself with Key Safeguarding Skills
Safeguarding training is a core part of achieving Certified Professional Tutor status and is included in our flagship course, Foundations of Effective Tutoring. It’s one of the first modules tutors complete, covering how to recognise, respond to, and report safeguarding and child protection concerns. This training aligns with the same standards used in schools and references key statutory documents such as Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children, giving parents and professionals real reassurance. For those who wish to go further, this training can be converted into a Level 2 Award in Safeguarding Children with the purchase of an assessment, providing a formal and nationally recognised tutoring qualification.
Included in Membership
Certified Professional Tutor Status
At Qualified Tutor, we’re on a mission to raise standards in tutoring. Our Certified Professional Tutor status helps tutors show they’re safe, skilled and professional – and helps parents choose with confidence.
Included in Qualified Tutor membership, this status is awarded through our Five-Point Check:
1. Enhanced DBS (plus daily DBS checks)
2. Up-to-date safeguarding training
3. Proof of insurance
4. Clear terms & conditions
5. Verified client reviews
Once approved, tutors receive a digital credential and appear in our free online tutor directory, making it easy for families to find trusted support.
For tutors, it’s a mark of confidence and credibility. For parents, it’s a reliable way to find qualified professionals. And for the profession, it’s a vital step towards consistent, high-quality tutoring.
We’re setting the gold standard. Join us.
Digital Credentials: A New Era of Trust
By integrating blockchain technology, we ensure that every credential is up-to-date and tamper-proof, reinforcing our dedication to maintaining the highest standards of safety and professionalism in tutoring.
Join our free directory of certified professional tutors
Be Found by Families Who Trust You
The Qualified Tutor Directory connects you with parents searching for safe, professional tutors. It’s free for families to use and included in your membership—no extra cost. With your Certified Professional Tutor status clearly displayed, your profile showcases your DBS, safeguarding training, insurance, and verified reviews, giving parents real confidence in choosing you.
