Parent and Carer Terms and Conditions

Last updated: August 2026

These Terms and Conditions explain the agreement between West Lancs Tutors and parents or carers using our tutoring service.

Please read them together with our Cancellation Policy, Privacy Notice, Safeguarding Policy and Complaints Procedure.

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1. About West Lancs Tutors

West Lancs Tutors is operated by David Currie, trading as West Lancs Tutors.

Email: admin@westlancstutors.co.uk

In these Terms:

• “West Lancs Tutors”, “we”, “us” or “our” means David Currie trading as West Lancs Tutors;

• “parent”, “carer” or “you” means the person requesting or purchasing tuition;

• “child” or “student” means the person receiving tuition; and

• “tutor” means the independent contractor selected to deliver tuition through West Lancs Tutors.

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2. Our service

West Lancs Tutors:

• receives and reviews tutor requests;

• considers potentially suitable qualified tutors;

• introduces families and tutors;

• arranges and administers tuition;

• manages family payments and tutor payments;

• maintains lesson and cancellation records; and

• provides ongoing support during the arrangement.

Tutors deliver lessons as self-employed independent contractors appointed through West Lancs Tutors. Families pay West Lancs Tutors rather than paying tutors directly.

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3. Forming an agreement

Submitting a tutor request does not create a contract, begin the cooling-off period or guarantee that a tutor will be available.

An agreement is formed when:

1. West Lancs Tutors confirms a proposed tutor, lesson price and intended arrangements;

2. you confirm that you wish to proceed;

3. you accept these Terms and the Cancellation Policy; and

4. any required payment arrangements are completed.

The date on which these steps are completed is referred to in these Terms as the Confirmation Date.

The person accepting these Terms confirms that they are at least 18 years old and have authority to arrange tuition for the child.

 

4. Finding and proposing a tutor

We consider information including:

• the child’s age and educational level;

• subject requirements;

• learning needs and objectives;

• location and preferred lesson format;

• availability; and

• relevant tutor qualifications and experience.

We will take reasonable care when proposing a tutor, but we cannot guarantee that a particular tutor will be available or that every request can be fulfilled.

A website profile does not confirm a tutor’s current availability. Any match is subject to the tutor and family agreeing to proceed.

 

5. Tutor qualifications and checks

West Lancs Tutors works with tutors who hold an appropriate recognised teaching qualification.

We require tutors to provide the identity, qualification, right-to-work and DBS evidence specified in our tutor-verification procedures before accepting tuition opportunities.

Checks provide important safeguards but cannot guarantee a person’s future behaviour. Any concern about a tutor’s conduct should be reported promptly.

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6. Information provided by families

You agree to provide information that is accurate and reasonably complete, including relevant details about:

• the child’s age and year group;

• subject and educational level;

• tuition objectives;

• availability and location;

• health, disability, special educational needs or learning circumstances where relevant to providing safe and suitable support; and

• anything else that could reasonably affect the tuition arrangement.

You should tell us if relevant information changes.

Please do not provide excessive or unrelated sensitive information. We will explain how to share further information securely where required.

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7. Lesson arrangements

Before tuition begins, the family and tutor will agree:

• the normal day and time;

• lesson duration;

• lesson location or online platform;

• subject and educational level; and

• expected frequency.

Unless otherwise agreed, published prices are for a one-hour lesson.

Regular lesson times are subject to tutor availability and may occasionally need to change. Any material change should be reported to West Lancs Tutors so that payment and lesson records can be updated.

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8. Lesson locations

Depending on the agreed arrangement, tuition may take place:

• online;

• at the family’s home;

• at the tutor’s home; or

• at another location approved by West Lancs Tutors.

For tuition at the family’s home, you must provide a safe, suitable and reasonably quiet teaching environment.

The family and tutor must follow the relevant safeguarding arrangements. A responsible adult must remain contactable and available in accordance with the child’s age, needs, lesson location and our Safeguarding Policy.

West Lancs Tutors may refuse or suspend an arrangement where a location appears unsafe or unsuitable.

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9. Online tuition

For online lessons, families are responsible for providing:

• a suitable device;

• a reliable internet connection;

• any agreed software or account;

• a suitable learning environment; and

• appropriate adult support or supervision where required.

Neither families nor tutors may record, photograph or distribute a lesson without prior agreement from West Lancs Tutors and the informed permission of everyone involved, including the child where appropriate.

Technical difficulties are handled in accordance with our Cancellation Policy.

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10. Educational approach and resources

Tutors retain professional control over how they plan and deliver lessons, taking account of the child’s needs and agreed objectives.

The family should provide relevant information or school materials where these would help the tutor understand the child’s current work.

Unless specifically agreed, tuition does not include:

• completion of unlimited work outside lessons;

• routine marking of additional papers outside lesson time;

• formal diagnostic assessment;

• guarantees of examination grades or school outcomes; or

• communication with a child’s school.

Any additional service and price must be agreed through West Lancs Tutors before it is provided.

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11. Prices

Current standard lesson prices are published on our Pricing page. The applicable price will be confirmed before tuition begins.

The price paid includes:

• delivery of the agreed lesson;

• tutor preparation reasonably associated with that lesson;

• West Lancs Tutors’ matching and administration service;

• payment management; and

• ongoing support.

Where more than one child is taught together, or a non-standard lesson duration or service is requested, the total price will be confirmed before the arrangement begins.

There are no separate joining or registration fees unless clearly agreed in advance.

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12. Payment

All lesson payments must be made to West Lancs Tutors using the agreed payment method.

Payment will normally be collected or become due approximately 48 hours before the scheduled lesson. Where a different weekly or periodic payment arrangement applies, this will be confirmed separately.

By providing payment details and agreeing to recurring tuition, you authorise West Lancs Tutors and its payment provider to collect payments for scheduled lessons in accordance with the confirmed arrangement, until tuition is ended or paused.

West Lancs Tutors then pays the tutor separately. Families must not pay tutors directly.

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13. Failed or overdue payments

If a payment fails, we may contact you and attempt to collect it again.

We may pause or cancel future lessons until outstanding payment has been resolved. This does not remove liability for lessons already supplied or chargeable under the Cancellation Policy.

We will not impose an undisclosed payment fee or penalty.

If you believe a payment is incorrect, contact us promptly so that it can be investigated before initiating a chargeback where reasonably possible.

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14. Cancellations and missed lessons

Our Cancellation Policy forms part of these Terms.

In summary:

• notice received by 9am on the day of the lesson will normally result in the payment becoming credit for a future or rearranged lesson;

• notice received after 9am will normally result in the lesson being charged in full;

• a missed lesson without notice will normally be charged in full;

• each child may receive one genuine emergency waiver per autumn, spring and summer school term; and

• a lesson cancelled by the tutor will be rearranged, credited or refunded as appropriate.

Please read the complete Cancellation Policy for the detailed rules.

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15. Credits and refunds

Valid lesson credits will normally be applied to the next suitable lesson within the same tuition arrangement.

Where a refund is due, it will normally be returned through the original payment method. Payment providers and banks may require additional time to process the transaction.

Nothing in these Terms limits your statutory rights to an appropriate remedy where a service has not been provided with reasonable care and skill.

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16. Ending regular tuition

There is no fixed minimum commitment unless a separate arrangement expressly states otherwise.

Families may end regular tuition by contacting West Lancs Tutors. We ask for at least seven days’ notice wherever reasonably possible so that the tutor can manage their commitments.

Lessons scheduled within the notice period remain subject to the Cancellation Policy.

You should notify West Lancs Tutors rather than relying solely on a message sent to the tutor.

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17. Changing tutors

If you have concerns about a match, contact West Lancs Tutors promptly.

We will discuss the concern and may:

• support the existing arrangement;

• clarify expectations;

• propose an alternative tutor; or

• end the arrangement.

Any replacement depends on suitable tutor availability and cannot be guaranteed.

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18. Direct and private arrangements

A family must not make or accept private tuition or payment arrangements with a tutor introduced through West Lancs Tutors for the purpose of bypassing our service.

This restriction applies:

• while tuition through West Lancs Tutors is ongoing;

• for 12 months after the final lesson arranged through West Lancs Tutors; or

• where no lessons began, for 12 months after the tutor was introduced.

It does not apply where the family can demonstrate that it had an established tuition relationship with that tutor before the West Lancs Tutors introduction.

If a tutor suggests moving the arrangement outside West Lancs Tutors, please inform us.

Keeping introduced arrangements within the service allows us to maintain accurate records, manage payments and cancellations, support both parties and fund the work involved in advertising and matching families with tutors.

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19. Family conduct and responsibilities

Families agree to:

• communicate respectfully with tutors and West Lancs Tutors;

• attend lessons punctually;

• provide an appropriate environment and required equipment;

• avoid placing a tutor in an unsafe or inappropriate situation;

• ensure the child behaves appropriately during lessons;

• follow safeguarding and payment arrangements;

• respect the tutor’s personal information and boundaries; and

• raise concerns promptly.

Discrimination, harassment, threats, abuse or other seriously inappropriate conduct will not be accepted.

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20. Tutor conduct

Tutors are expected to:

• communicate reliably and professionally;

• prepare appropriately;

• deliver tuition with reasonable care and skill;

• maintain suitable professional boundaries;

• handle information confidentially;

• comply with safeguarding requirements; and

• notify West Lancs Tutors of relevant concerns or changes.

Concerns about a tutor should be reported to West Lancs Tutors rather than being left unresolved.

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21. Safeguarding

The welfare of children is a priority.

Families and tutors must follow our Safeguarding Policy. West Lancs Tutors may use or share relevant information where reasonably necessary to protect a child or respond to a safeguarding concern.

Where a child appears to be in immediate danger, emergency services should be contacted by calling 999.

Safeguarding action may take priority over ordinary confidentiality or complaint procedures.

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22. Tutor availability and changes outside our control

Tutors are independent professionals and may become unavailable because of illness, employment, relocation, family circumstances or other commitments.

If a tutor can no longer continue, we will make reasonable efforts to identify an alternative where requested. We cannot guarantee an immediate replacement or identical availability.

Where a lesson cannot proceed because of severe weather, official guidance, widespread disruption or another circumstance outside reasonable control, we will seek a fair solution in accordance with our Cancellation Policy.

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23. Learning progress and results

Tutors will use reasonable care and skill, but educational progress differs between children.

West Lancs Tutors and its tutors do not guarantee:

• a particular grade, test score or examination result;

• admission to a particular school or course;

• progress within a particular timescale; or

• that tuition alone will achieve the family’s objectives.

Progress may be influenced by starting point, attendance, engagement, lesson frequency, school provision and work completed between lessons.

This does not affect the requirement for services to be provided with reasonable care and skill.

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24. Materials and intellectual property

Resources supplied by West Lancs Tutors or a tutor remain the intellectual property of their respective owner unless stated otherwise.

Families may use supplied materials for the child’s personal educational use. Materials must not be:

• sold;

• published publicly;

• uploaded to resource-sharing websites;

• distributed commercially; or

• copied for use by unrelated individuals or organisations

without permission.

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25. Personal information

Personal information is handled in accordance with our Privacy Notice.

The family authorises us to share the information reasonably required to consider and administer a suitable tutor introduction.

Tutors receive family information only for the purpose of assessing, delivering and managing tuition arranged through West Lancs Tutors.

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26. Complaints

Please raise concerns promptly so that we have an opportunity to investigate and respond.

Complaints will be handled in accordance with our Complaints Procedure.

Nothing in these Terms prevents a consumer from exercising statutory rights or seeking independent advice.

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27. Our responsibility to you

West Lancs Tutors is responsible for losses that are a reasonably foreseeable result of our breach of these Terms or failure to use reasonable care and skill.

We are not responsible for loss that:

• was not reasonably foreseeable when the agreement was formed;

• results from inaccurate or incomplete information provided by the family;

• results from circumstances outside our reasonable control where we have acted reasonably;

• is caused by the family’s failure to follow reasonable instructions; or

• relates to a business or commercial activity, as the service is supplied for private educational use.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where it would be unlawful to do so, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or a consumer’s statutory rights.

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28. Suspension or termination by West Lancs Tutors

We may pause or end an arrangement where:

• payment remains outstanding;

• no suitable tutor remains available;

• the family or child’s conduct presents a safety or safeguarding concern;

• a tutor is subjected to abuse, harassment or discrimination;

• private arrangements are made in breach of these Terms;

• materially inaccurate information has been provided;

• these Terms are seriously or repeatedly breached; or

• continuing the arrangement would be unlawful or unreasonable.

Where appropriate, we will explain the reason and provide reasonable notice. Immediate suspension or termination may be necessary in cases involving safety, safeguarding, serious misconduct, fraud or significant non-payment.

Any refund or outstanding payment will be determined fairly according to lessons supplied, valid credits and applicable cancellation charges.

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29. Your statutory cooling-off rights

Where the agreement is formed online, by telephone or away from our business premises, you will normally have a legal right to cancel the overall service agreement within 14 days without giving a reason.

The 14-day cooling-off period begins on the day after the Confirmation Date. It does not begin when you first submit a tutor request or when the first lesson takes place.

You may cancel the agreement by sending a clear statement to admin@westlancstutors.co.uk.

If you ask for tuition to begin before the cooling-off period has ended, you expressly request that the service begins early. If you subsequently cancel during the cooling-off period, you will remain responsible for the proportionate cost of any lessons or services already supplied at your request.

Any refund due following statutory cancellation will be made without undue delay and normally within 14 days, subject to any lawful deduction for services already supplied.

These statutory cooling-off rights are separate from:

• the Cancellation Policy applying to individual scheduled lessons; and

• the request for seven days’ notice when ending ongoing regular tuition after the cooling-off period.

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30. Changes to prices or Terms

We may update prices or these Terms where reasonably necessary because of changes to our service, costs, systems or legal obligations.

Changes will not apply retrospectively to lessons already completed.

Where a change materially affects an ongoing arrangement, we will provide reasonable advance notice—normally at least 30 days. You may end future tuition before the change takes effect if you do not wish to accept it, subject to payment for lessons already supplied or properly chargeable.

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31. General legal terms

If any part of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply.

A delay in enforcing a right does not mean that the right has been waived.

These Terms are between West Lancs Tutors and the parent or carer accepting them. No other person has the right to enforce them except where applicable law provides otherwise.

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Consumers retain any mandatory right to bring proceedings in another UK jurisdiction where applicable.

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32. Contact

Questions about these Terms should be sent to:

David Currie
Trading as West Lancs Tutors
Email: admin@westlancstutors.co.uk