Last Updated: [24/04/2026

1. Policy Statement

ABZ Driving School is committed to protecting the safety, welfare, and dignity of every individual we work with. We recognise our responsibility to safeguard all pupils from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harm .

This commitment extends to:

• Learners under the age of 18, who are legally defined as children 
• Adults who may be vulnerable due to age, disability, mental or physical health needs, or learning difficulties 

We believe that everyone has the right to learn in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment.

2. Scope of This Policy

This policy applies to:

• All driving instructors, staff, and contractors working under the ABZ Driving School name 
• All work carried out with learners, including driving lessons, theory support, and any communication outside of lessons
• Any interactions with members of the public encountered during tuition

3. Legal Framework

This policy is informed by UK legislation and statutory guidance, including :

• Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004
• Care Act 2014
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018, updated 2023)
• Equality Act 2010
• Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
• Human Rights Act 1998

We note the ongoing campaign, supported by organisations such as FearFree and Drive Change, calling for driving instructors to be formally included in the “position of trust” legislation under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 . ABZ Driving School voluntarily holds itself to the standards expected of such a position regardless of current statutory gaps.

4. Key Definitions

• Child: Any person under the age of 18 
• Vulnerable Adult: Any person aged 18 or over who may need care or support and may be unable to protect themselves from harm 
• Safeguarding: Actions taken to protect a person’s right to live safely, free from abuse or neglect 
• Abuse: Any deliberate or avoidable act that causes harm, including physical, emotional, sexual, financial abuse, or neglect 

5. Safeguarding Principles

ABZ Driving School is committed to :

• Creating safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environments
• Recognising signs of harm or vulnerability
• Taking all concerns seriously, no matter how small
• Responding quickly and effectively to safeguarding issues
• Ensuring all instructors are trained in safeguarding awareness
• Working in partnership with statutory agencies where appropriate

6. Responsibilities

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

• Name: [Insert Full Name]
• Position: [Insert Position, e.g., Owner/Director]
• Contact: [Insert Phone Number and Email Address]

The DSL is responsible for :

• Acting as the first point of contact for all safeguarding concerns
• Deciding when to escalate concerns to social services, the police, or the DVSA
• Maintaining secure records of all reported issues
• Ensuring all instructors receive appropriate safeguarding training
• Reviewing this policy annually

All Instructors and Staff
Every instructor working under ABZ Driving School is responsible for :

• Reading, understanding, and following this policy
• Completing safeguarding training as required
• Maintaining professional boundaries at all times
• Reporting any concerns promptly to the DSL
• Never promising confidentiality when a safeguarding issue is disclosed

7. Working with Young Learners (Aged Under 18)

Many learner drivers are aged 17. ABZ Driving School recognises that while these individuals can generally consent to lessons themselves, they are still legally children and deserve additional consideration .

Our Instructors Must :

• Maintain professional boundaries at all times
• Use age-appropriate and respectful communication
• Not engage in private or personal social media contact with learners under 18
• Not share their personal mobile number for non-lesson communication unless strictly necessary
• Ensure that any one-to-one time in the vehicle is conducted professionally and safely

Parental Involvement :

• Parents or carers may request to be kept informed of progress
• We will accommodate this where appropriate and with the learner’s agreement
• Written parental consent for lessons is not routinely required unless there is a specific safeguarding concern

8. Recognising Abuse

All instructors must be alert to signs that a pupil may be experiencing harm. These can include :

• Physical Abuse: Unexplained injuries, bruises, or reluctance to change clothing for practical reasons
• Emotional Abuse: Low self-esteem, sudden mood changes, withdrawal, or appearing overly anxious about making mistakes
• Sexual Abuse: Inappropriate comments, fear of certain situations, physical discomfort, or signs of grooming
• Neglect: Poor hygiene, unsuitable clothing for weather, frequent hunger, or tiredness
• Financial Abuse (Vulnerable Adults): Sudden shortage of money for lessons, confusion over payments, signs of undue influence from others

Important: This list is not exhaustive. Any behaviour or sign that causes concern should be reported.

9. Reporting and Recording Concerns

If a pupil discloses harm or you have a safeguarding concern:

During the Disclosure :

• Remain calm and listen without judgement
• Do not ask leading questions; let the pupil speak freely
• Do not promise confidentiality; explain that you may need to share the information to help keep them safe
• Reassure the pupil that they have done the right thing by speaking out

After the Disclosure :

• Write down exactly what was said, using the pupil’s own words where possible
• Record the date, time, and location of the disclosure
• Include your observations of the pupil’s demeanour and any visible signs
• Sign and date the record

Immediate Action :

• If someone is at immediate risk of harm, call the police on 999
• Report all safeguarding concerns to the ABZ Driving School DSL without delay
• Do not investigate the matter yourself

10. Reporting Concerns About an Instructor

We recognise that reporting concerns about a colleague can be difficult. ABZ Driving School encourages all staff and pupils to raise concerns without fear of reprisal .

For Pupils:
If you have concerns about the behaviour of an ABZ Driving School instructor, you can:

• Speak directly to the DSL using the contact details in this policy
• Report the instructor to the DVSA by emailing instructorconduct@dvsa.gov.uk 
• If you feel unable to report to the school or DVSA, contact a support organisation such as Rape Crisis (0808 500 222) or your local sexual violence charity 

For Instructors and Staff (Whistleblowing) :

• Concerns about a colleague’s conduct will be treated seriously and sensitively
• Individuals raising concerns in good faith will be protected from victimisation
• All concerns will be investigated promptly and appropriate action taken

11. Safer Recruitment

ABZ Driving School is committed to preventing unsuitable individuals from working with children or vulnerable adults . All instructors will:

• Provide suitable references before commencing work
• Hold a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, as required by the DVSA for Approved Driving Instructors 
• Provide proof of identity and right to work in the UK
• Complete safeguarding training as part of induction
• Display their DVSA registration badge (green for qualified ADIs, pink for PDIs) in the vehicle windscreen at all times during lessons 

We note that DVSA requires ADIs to repeat the DBS disclosure process every four years upon registration renewal . We will verify that all our instructors have current, valid DBS clearance.

12. Professional Boundaries and Safer Working Practice

All ABZ Driving School instructors must adhere to the following professional standards:

• Lessons are conducted in dual-controlled, insured tuition vehicles
• Physical contact with pupils is limited to what is strictly necessary for safety instruction (e.g., guiding the steering wheel in an emergency)
• Instructors must not engage in social activities with pupils outside of lessons
• Communication with pupils should be professional and limited to lesson-related matters
• Instructors must not enter a pupil’s home unless explicitly invited and with another responsible adult present where the pupil is under 18

13. Training

All ABZ Driving School instructors are required to :

• Complete an approved safeguarding awareness course within one month of starting work
• Renew safeguarding training at least every two years, or sooner if legislation or guidance changes
• Keep a record of training completed, which can be requested by the DSL at any time

14. Confidentiality and Record Keeping

All safeguarding records will be :

• Stored securely and separately from other business records
• Accessible only to the DSL and relevant statutory agencies
• Retained until the individual reaches the age of 25, or for longer if the case remains active or is required by law
• Shared only with those who have a lawful reason to know

Safeguarding concerns take precedence over other policies, including data protection or complaints procedures . Information will be shared lawfully with statutory agencies where necessary to protect a child or vulnerable adult from harm.

15. External Escalation and Partnership Working

If a safeguarding concern requires external intervention, the DSL will contact the appropriate agency:

Emergency: Police on 999 (immediate threat to life or safety)

Non-Emergency:

• Local Authority Children’s Services or Adult Social Care: For concerns about a child or vulnerable adult
• Police on 101: For non-urgent concerns
• DVSA Instructor Conduct: instructorconduct@dvsa.gov.uk for complaints about an ADI’s professional conduct 

ABZ Driving School will cooperate fully with police, social care, the DVSA, and any other statutory agency in safeguarding matters .

16. Relationship with Other Policies

This Safeguarding Policy sits alongside our Complaints Procedure, Privacy Policy, and Terms and Conditions. Where a safeguarding concern overlaps with another policy area, this Safeguarding Policy takes precedence and will be acted upon immediately .

17. Policy Review

This policy was last reviewed on [Insert Date]. The next review is due by [Insert Date, One Year from Last Review]. The DSL is responsible for ensuring this policy remains current and compliant with UK legislation and statutory guidance .

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ABZ Driving School Designated Safeguarding Lead:

• Name: [Insert Full Name]
• Email: [Insert Email Address]
• Phone: [Insert Phone Number]

External Contacts:

• Police (Emergency): 999
• Police (Non-Emergency): 101
• DVSA Instructor Conduct: instructorconduct@dvsa.gov.uk 
• NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000
• Rape Crisis Helpline: 0808 500 222 

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