Michael Fish
Creative Performance Tutor
Michael Fish - Creative Performance Tutor
Safeguarding & Child Protection
I am committed to providing a safe, respectful, supportive and professional learning environment for every child and young person I teach. Safeguarding is central to the way lessons are conducted, and the welfare of the child is always paramount.
This page summarises the key safeguarding arrangements for students under 18.
The full Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available below.
Enhanced DBS Certificate Held
NSPCC Safeguarding Training Completed
Parents & Carers During Lessons
For every student under the age of 18, a parent, carer or other responsible adult must remain on the premises throughout the lesson. Parents and carers are welcome to remain in the teaching room, but are not required to do so.
If they choose to wait elsewhere in the home, they must remain readily available throughout the lesson.
This provides an additional layer of reassurance while allowing the student to work with increasing confidence and independence.
Professional Boundaries & Communication
The tutor-pupil relationship remains professional at all times, with clear and appropriate boundaries around behaviour, communication and personal interaction. Students are treated with dignity and respect, and the trust inherent in one-to-one tuition is never to be exploited.
For students under 18, routine communication about lessons, bookings, payments, practice and other arrangements takes place through their parent or carer.
Private social-media relationships, secret communications and disappearing-message systems are not used with child pupils.
Physical Guidance in Teaching
Some areas of tuition - particularly piano technique, acting, movement and posture - may occasionally make limited physical guidance educationally useful. Wherever possible, I will first use verbal explanation, demonstration or allow the student to correct their own position.
If physical guidance would genuinely help, I will explain what I propose to do and why, asking whether the student is comfortable with it. Any contact will be limited to what is necessary for the teaching. Students may always decline physical guidance, and suitable alternatives will be used without criticism or disadvantage.
Photography & Recording
No photograph, video or audio recording of a student under 18 will be used on the website, social media, advertising or other promotional material without prior consent from their parent or carer.
Where photography or recording is proposed, the purpose and intended use will be explained beforehand. Attendance at lessons is never treated as consent, and images or recordings will be handled responsibly without publishing unnecessary identifying information.
Responding to Safeguarding Concerns
If a child raises a concern or I become worried about their welfare, I will listen carefully, take what they say seriously and respond calmly and appropriately. I will not investigate the matter myself or promise secrecy that cannot be maintained.
Any safeguarding concern will be recorded accurately and, where necessary, appropriate advice will be sought or a referral made to the relevant safeguarding authority. The aim is always to recognise, respond, record and refer where appropriate.
NSPCC Safeguarding Training
Child Protection for Tutors
Completed August 2026
The full Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy sets out the procedures and standards that apply to tuition involving children and young people, including professional boundaries, communication, physical guidance, photography and recording, responding to concerns, record keeping and safeguarding referrals.
Full Safeguarding Policy
Enhanced DBS
Enhanced DBS Certificate Held
Available for verification upon request.
Immediate Danger
999
Key Safeguarding Contacts
Oxfordshire MASH
Emergency Duty Team (Out of Hours)
01865 519800
0800 833 408