Community Code of Conduct

Shani’s Tutoring provides students with high-quality resources and support in English Language, Literature, History and other Liberal Arts-related subjects, particularly for A-level and IB students.

We encourage you to ask questions, share your struggles and help others succeed. This community works best when everyone participates respectfully and openly. We want you to succeed, and a thriving learning community is a huge part of that.

In return, we expect all users to engage respectfully, follow the guidelines and not hinder the experience of other community and staff members.

By taking part in this community, you agree to follow the Code of Conduct listed below. If you break any of the rules, you may lose access to membership features or live sessions. Serious breaches may lead to a permanent ban, with no refunds.

All students, parents and other non-staff users are bound by this Code of Conduct. Tutors and staff also follow a separate internal Staff Code of Conduct, which holds them to higher standards of professionalism, safeguarding and inclusivity.

This Code of Conduct may be updated. When this happens, a notice will be posted on the forums to include an effective date.

It is your responsibility to stay informed.

No user will be retroactively punished for rules that were not in place at the time of their post or behaviour. However, we reserve the right to remove or edit older content that no longer aligns with current policies.

1. Definitions

In this Code of Conduct, the following terms hve the emanings set out below:

• Harassment: Repeated or targeted behaviour that causes a person to feel distressed, threatened, or unsafe. This can include unwanted contact, intimidation, inappropriate comments, or actions that violate personal boundaries – whether through direct messages, comments, or other forms of communication.
• Community Member: Any real person who interacts with the Shani’s Tutoring platform, including students, parents/guardians, tutors, guest speakers, moderators, and staff.
• Student: Any individual enrolled in a Shani’s Tutoring course, participating in sessions or accessing learning resources.
• Parent/Guardian: Any individual or organisation arranging tutoring for a student, including legal guardians, family members, or educational institutions. This includes anyone who purchases content, sessions, or memberships on behalf of a student.
• Session: A scheduled live lesson, meeting, or class conducted via video, chat, or in person for learning purposes.
• Protected Characteristics: Core aspects of identity that must not be discriminated against (e.g. race, gender, sexuality).
• Gamification Privileges: Points, awards, or badges earned within the platform that offer rewards.
• Social Privileges: Access to interactive tools like forums, messaging, commenting, etc.
• Affected Transactions: Any paid products or services connected to a now-suspended or banned account.
• Appropriate content: Any content reasonably deemed acceptable for those who are 13 or over to view.

1.1. Protected characteristics

No one in the community should be treated unfairly, teased, or excluded because of who they are. That includes, but is not limited to, traits such as:

• Race or ethnicity
• Gender or gender identity
• Sexuality
• Religion or belief systems
• Disability or neurodivergence
• Class background
• Age
• Language or accent

You should also avoid making comments about someone’s appearance or physical traits that they can’t quickly change, including:

• Height
• Weight or body shape
• Facial features
• Skin tone
• Speech patterns or movement differences

These aspects of identity are part of who people are – not opinions to be debated.

We refer to these as ‘Protected Characteristics’.

1.1.1. What Protected Characteristics do not include

Some things are not covered by this policy. For example:

• Political views or opinions
• Opinions about celebrities, public figures, or current events
• Critical interpretations of books, media, or history

You are allowed to share these kinds of views – as long as you do so respectfully and without attacking others. You must not use your opinions to target people or cause harm.

However, some beliefs are never acceptable in this space. These include:

• Beliefs that dehumanise or belittle other people
• Ideas that support discrimination or inequality
• Views that deny people’s rights or dignity

Even if you speak calmly, if your belief causes harm or makes others feel unsafe, it will not be tolerated here. We do not accept hate speech or harmful ideas disguised as ‘just opinions.’

1.2. Community features

When you purchase access to the Shani’s Tutoring platform, you are granted access to features such as:

• Course content
• Groups
• Forums
• Resources
• Private messages
• Group messages
• Your personal profile
• Class social spaces

We refer to these as ‘Community Features’.

These are designed to help you make the most out of your learning. I encourage you to:

• Share thoughts and ideas.
• Ask questions.
• Help other people.
• Share your learning struggles.
• Build a supportive and collaborative learning network for yourself.

However, your use of these services relies on you being respectful at all times.

2. Your responsibilities

At Shani’s Tutoring, we believe everyone plays a part in shaping our learning environment. Whether you’re a student or a staff member, you help define the culture of the community through your everyday choices.

We all share the responsibility of making Shani’s Tutoring a safe, respectful and intellectually curious space. That means upholding the values of integrity, empathy and fairness – even when no one is watching.

When we treat each other with care and respect, it helps us keep the community going strong and keeps the service accessible and affordable for everyone.

2.1. Student responsibilities

As a student at Shani’s Tutoring, you are expected to uphold a standard of respectful and professional behaviour that supports your learning and the learning of others.

You must:

• Treat all community members respectfully and equitably
• Complete all homework, tasks or activities on time unless a valid reason is communicated in advance
• Answer questions when addressed during lessons and courses
• Check that your internet connection, microphone and device are working before each session
• Update any software ahead of the session to prevent delay
• Participate actively and thoughtfully in lessons and discussions
• Give the work your full attention during sessions
• Communicate regularly and professionally
• Keep your personal contact information up to date
• Respond promptly to messages from tutors or staff about your learning, sessions or behaviour
• Use content warnings for sensitive topics
• Follow the Code of Conduct at all times
• Follow online safety practices and guidelines

All communication with tutors and staff members should occur via the approved Shani’s Tutoring platforms or via approved email, unless explicitly agreed otherwise for safeguarding purposes.

2.2. Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

Parents and guardians are an essential part of a student’s success. By enrolling a student or purchasing access to the platform, you agree to uphold the following responsibilities:

• Ensure that your student attends all scheduled sessions punctually and is prepared to learn.
• Support your student in completing homework, tasks, or independent activities on time.
• Actively monitor your student’s progress and engagement.
• Check and respond to messages, reports, or feedback sent by tutors or staff.
• Read and acknowledge any behaviour or performance updates regarding your student.
• Treat all tutors, staff, and other community members with respect and dignity at all times.
• Communicate in a professional and appropriate manner.
• Ensure all payments are made in full and on time.
• Do not share, reproduce, or redistribute paid resources outside of your household.
• Encourage your student to follow the Code of Conduct and model respectful behaviour.

Abuse, harassment, or inappropriate conduct toward tutors or staff – whether via message, email, live session, or any other method – will result in the immediate termination of your membership. In these cases, we will no longer work with the student, and no refunds will be given for any affected services or resources.

3. Community rules and standards

To keep this community safe, inclusive, and productive, all users are expected to follow the rules and uphold our shared standards. The list below highlights key expectations for how to engage respectfully and responsibly. While it covers the most common and important points, it isn’t exhaustive – and we may still take action if behaviour goes against the spirit of these guidelines.

Violation of these rules and standards, or the Code of Conduct in general, will result in sanctions.

3.1. Usernames, avatars and profiles

Usernames, avatars, bios, and display names must be appropriate. You must not use offensive language, slurs, impersonate others, or include misleading or suggestive content. Staff may ask you to change your profile or do so on your behalf.

3.2. Impersonation

Do not impersonate another user, tutor, moderator, or public figure. This includes parody accounts or misleading usernames intended to cause confusion or manipulate others.

3.3. Multiple accounts

Each student is only permitted to have one account.

Students may attempt to use multiple accounts to evade bans, impersonate others, or gain unfair advantages in gamified features. This undermines community trust.

As a result, we strictly prohibit creating multiple accounts.

3.4. Harassment

Harassment means repeatedly bothering, intimidating, or threatening someone. This includes:

• Unwanted private messages
• Trying to continue contact after being blocked
• Following users to other platforms to keep messaging them
• Comments that cross personal boundaries

We take harassment seriously – both on this platform and on external platforms if related.

3.5. Stalking

Stalking refers to repeated, unwanted monitoring or contact that makes someone feel unsafe. This can include:

• Tracking or attempting to track someone’s activity across platforms
• Showing up uninvited in multiple spaces to interact with them
• Collecting or saving someone’s posts, pictures, or personal information without consent
• Obsessively commenting on, replying to, or reacting to someone’s posts in a way that feels invasive

Even if no direct threats are made, stalking behaviour creates a hostile and intimidating environment. It is taken very seriously and may result in a permanent ban.

3.6. Bullying

Bullying is behaviour intended to hurt or humiliate someone – whether physically, emotionally, or verbally. This includes:

• Verbal and emotional bullying:
  • Name-calling
  • Repeated unkind remarks
  • Trolling
• Deliberate isolation:
  • Attempting to exclude community members from discussions that are open to the entire community on forums and groups
  • Teasing other community members about the fact that they have been excluded from private groups and chats
• Threats to a community member’s well-being:
  • Threatening to harm another community member
• Humiliation:
  • Making fun of a community member’s contributions or questions
  • Grouping with other community members to appear as though you are secretly making fun of someone
  • Sharing evidence of things a community member has done in the past to laugh at or make fun of them
  • Public shaming or mocking of someone’s past mistakes

3.7. Doxxing

Doxxing is the sharing of someone’s private information without their consent. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Full name
• Pictures
• Address
• Phone number
• The area where they live
• National Insurance Number, Social Security Number or any other equivalent
• IP address
• ID card or passport number
• Place of work
• School name
• Social media information

Doxxing is dangerous. It puts people at risk in real life and will result in immediate action.

3.8. Hate speech and slurs

We do not tolerate speech that targets or attacks people based on identity. This includes:

• Racial, homophobic, transphobic, or ableist slurs
• Pejorative language aimed at any Protected Characteristic (listed above)
• Statements that generalise, dehumanise, or insult entire communities of people

Even if it’s in a ‘debate’ or shared politely, hate speech is never allowed.

If any prohibited speech is used in a text or article you are discussing, it is your responsibility to speak sensitively and respectfully about the group and talk about the comments from an objective point of view. You are also responsible for censoring any slurs when you quote a text.

3.9. Misgendering

Use the correct pronouns and names for everyone. Profile pictures and usernames may not reflect someone’s gender, so always follow the pronouns listed on their profile if available.

We understand that mistakes happen. If you accidentally use the wrong pronoun or name, simply correct yourself when it’s pointed out. You will not be penalised for genuine errors.

However, if someone sets a pronoun boundary and you continue to ignore it – or repeatedly misgender them after being reminded – this will be treated as a violation of the Code of Conduct.

3.10. Misuse of resources

Our worksheets, quizzes, and other materials are for your learning only. You may not:

• Repost, resell, or share premium content
• Remove branding or copyright markings
• Upload content to other platforms

All educational content is protected by copyright law.

3.11. Spreading of false information

Do not spread things that are factually false or misleading. This includes:

• Conspiracy theories with no evidence
• Health misinformation
• Defamation of people or organisations

If you’re unsure about something, check before you post.

3.12. Unlawful behaviour

All users are expected to follow the laws of their own country or region when using the Shani’s Tutoring platform. Any illegal behaviour, regardless of your location, is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Sharing or accessing pirated materials
• Threats of violence or harm
• Promoting or engaging in illegal activity
• Encouraging or pressuring others to break the law
• Accessing sessions under a false identity or underage account
• Possession or distribution of illegal content
• Attempts to hack, damage, or interfere with the platform’s systems or users

We take these matters seriously and will cooperate with law enforcement and relevant authorities where necessary.

3.13. Inappropriate content

Many A-level and IB texts include mature themes such as sex, violence, death, and trauma. These topics may be discussed on the Shani’s Tutoring platform in a strictly academic context, and only within locked or designated course spaces where appropriate content warnings are provided. Discussions must remain respectful, relevant to the text or topic, and focused on learning.

Outside of those academic contexts, all content must be suitable for a PG-13 audience. This means no graphic, explicit, or unnecessarily distressing material should be posted or referenced in general community areas.

The following are strictly prohibited:

• Sexual, violent, or graphic content shared for shock, humour, or personal expression
• Explicit or suggestive jokes, comments, or images
• References to pornography or illegal substances
• Posts, usernames, images, or bios that contain offensive or triggering material
• Shock content or attempts to frighten, disgust, or disturb others
• Anything that glorifies self-harm, suicide, or eating disorders

This is a professional learning environment. If you’re unsure whether something is appropriate, don’t post it.

Inappropriate content will be removed. In serious cases, your access to the platform may be suspended or permanently revoked.

3.14. Endangerment of self or others

You may not use the Shani’s Tutoring platform to share, promote, or encourage any activity that could endanger yourself or others. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Suicide or self-harm
• Death threats
• Substance abuse
• Gang violence or threats of violence
• Sexual violence or coercion
• Dangerous online “challenges” or trends
• Doxxing or encouraging others to share private information

Any user who encourages or promotes harmful behaviour will face serious consequences, including immediate removal from the platform with no refund. In severe cases, we may also notify the relevant authorities.

If you are struggling with your mental health or feeling unsafe, please prioritise your wellbeing. Reach out to someone you trust or contact a mental health hotline in your country. You can find a list of international crisis lines here.

It is also your responsibility to use the platform in a way that supports your well-being. If the community is causing you distress, it’s okay to take a break or step away temporarily.

If you believe another user is at risk – either to themselves or others – please contact Shani or a moderator directly, or use the reporting tools available. We will do our best to check in and, where needed, help connect them to appropriate support.

Sensitive topics may arise in the academic study of literature, history, or other subjects. When this happens, you must:

• Keep your discussion respectful, analytical, and relevant
• Use content warnings where appropriate
• Quote the text directly and avoid glorifying or sensationalising harmful behaviour

3.15. Promotion and advertisement of content

The Shani’s Tutoring platform is a space for learning, not self-promotion. You may not use the platform to advertise or promote any product, service, or organisation – especially those that compete with Shani’s Tutoring – unless you have received explicit permission from Shani.

This includes:

• Selling tutoring, coaching, or academic services
• Promoting your own website, YouTube channel, or social media for commercial gain
• Sharing invitations to external Discord servers, forums, or study groups not affiliated with Shani’s Tutoring
• Using your profile, messages, or bio to promote a business or service
• Sending unsolicited links or messages to advertise anything

You may share free resources or links that are clearly useful for students – like revision websites, study guides, or videos – as long as:

• They are not behind a paywall
• They are not linked to a competitor
• You are not affiliated with the creator in a way that benefits you
• They do not contain viruses, spyware, or malicious code

Never post suspicious or unverified links. Any content suspected of containing malware or unsafe redirects will be removed immediately, and repeat offenders may be banned.

When in doubt, check with a moderator or Shani directly before sharing a link or resource.

3.16. Organisation of content

To keep the platform useful and easy to navigate, all users are expected to post content in the right place and follow basic organisational guidelines. This includes:

• Posting in the correct course, forum, or group for your topic
• Using appropriate tags or labels when required
• Avoiding duplicate posts or flooding the same question across multiple spaces
• Giving threads clear, descriptive titles
• Staying on topic within discussions
• Not spamming emojis, images, or off-topic messages in academic areas

This helps everyone find the information they need and keeps the platform running smoothly. Repeated misuse of forums or chat features may result in a warning or restrictions on posting.

3.17. Bots and spam

Shani’s Tutoring is a space for real, thoughtful contributions. Automated messages, spam, and irrelevant content disrupt learning and undermine the integrity of our community.

You must not:

• Use bots, scripts, or third-party scheduling tools to post or message
• Send automated or repeated messages across chats or threads
• Post content that is off-topic or irrelevant to the discussion
• Flood discussions with emojis, images, or excessive links
• Share chain messages, viral challenges, or unsolicited forwards
• Promote paid services, products, or platforms that compete with Shani’s Tutoring
• Post or share any link that contains or leads to scams, malware, or viruses

Only links to free, non-competitive educational content (e.g. helpful YouTube videos or tools) are permitted – and only when relevant and used in moderation.

All scheduled content is managed through our inbuilt tools. Any attempt to automate posts or messages outside of this system will be treated as a breach of the Code of Conduct.

3.18. Hacking and malicious content

We take cybersecurity seriously. Any attempt to compromise the safety, privacy, or functionality of Shani’s Tutoring – or any of its users – will be treated as a severe breach of this Code of Conduct.

You must not:

• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to another user’s account or personal information
• Attempt to access, test, or exploit vulnerabilities in the website or platform
• Share, distribute, or link to any software, file, or website that contains a virus, worm, trojan horse, keylogger, spyware, or any other type of malicious code
• Engage in phishing, social engineering, or attempts to steal login credentials
• Impersonate another person, including a staff member, to gain access or influence
• Scam, deceive or mislead users in order to obtain money, services, data or access
• Engage in or encourage any behaviour that could be classified as cybercrime under the laws of your country

Violations of this section may result in immediate removal from the platform and legal action if necessary.

3.19. Academic misconduct

Shani’s Tutoring is a space for learning, growth, and developing your own voice. That includes learning how to think independently, build your arguments, and express yourself with clarity. Mistakes are part of the learning process – shortcuts are not.

Any attempt to undermine that by cutting corners, copying others, or submitting work that isn’t your own is strictly against our Code of Conduct.

The following actions are not allowed for assignments, assessments or tasks set on this platform:

• Plagiarising – using someone else’s words or ideas without proper credit
• Using essay-writing or academic ghostwriting services (paid or unpaid)
• Submitting work generated or written by someone else (including friends, family, tutors, or AI)
• Fabricating or falsifying data, quotes, or references
• Colluding on individual tasks — working together when you were told to work alone
• Cheating in live sessions, including practice assessments or mock exams

You are also prohibited from encouraging, explaining, or sharing details of academic misconduct carried out elsewhere – including in school, college, or university work. This includes:

• Encouraging or advising others to cheat or plagiarise
• Explaining how you or someone else cheated, even as a joke
• Sharing stories or strategies related to past cheating

This applies across forums, sessions, private messages and all other platform spaces.

Violations may result in the immediate failure of the assignment, contact with your parent or guardian, and removal from courses or sessions. We reserve the right to take further disciplinary action depending on the severity.

4. How you express yourself matters

This is a learning community – not just a place to absorb information, but a space to ask questions, challenge ideas, and develop your voice. With that comes a responsibility: to communicate in a way that is respectful, thoughtful, and inclusive.

We expect you to be honest, but not hostile. Passionate, but not aggressive. Clear, but never cruel.

Disagreement is part of deep learning – especially in subjects like English and History. It’s normal to have different views, and it’s healthy to debate them. But how you express disagreement matters. Your tone, your wording, and the way you respond to others all make a difference.

This includes discussions about politics, historical events, public figures, literature, and personal opinions. These are not Protected Characteristics, and they can be challenged. If you choose to share your views, you must do so respectfully and accept that others may disagree with you. Disagreement is not the same as disrespect.

It’s not just what you say, but how you say it.

This section outlines key ways to express yourself in a way that promotes meaningful, constructive, and inclusive conversation – even when the topics are difficult.

4.1. Criticise ideas and actions, not people

You are encouraged to challenge ideas and interpretations – that’s a vital part of learning. But your criticism must always stay focused on the point being made, not the person making it.

Attacking someone’s character, intelligence, or identity is never appropriate. Disagreeing with a view is fine. Dismissing or insulting the person behind it is not.

This includes ad hominem attacks – when you try to discredit someone’s opinion by attacking who they are rather than addressing their argument. For example, saying ‘You would say that, you’re just overly sensitive’ instead of engaging with the point. Ad hominem attacks are not allowed anywhere on the platform.

Do:

• Say, ‘I disagree with that interpretation because…’
• Focus on the evidence, reasoning, or assumptions behind a statement
• Keep your tone calm, open, and constructive

Don’t:

• Make it personal
• Use sarcasm, hostility, or put-downs
• Mock someone’s way of speaking, writing, or expressing themselves

People will make mistakes. That’s how learning works. If you feel the need to correct someone, do it in a way that helps – not a way that humiliates.

4.2. Referencing and credit

When you use someone else’s words, ideas, or work – even informally – you must give credit.

That includes:

• Quoting or paraphrasing from a book, article, website, or video
• Referring to something another student or tutor has said
• Sharing ideas that you got from a post, message, or comment elsewhere

You don’t need to use formal referencing styles unless asked to in a specific assignment – but you should always make it clear where an idea came from. Phrases like ‘As X pointed out…’, ‘According to this article…’, or ‘In Chapter 3 of the book…’ are usually enough in discussion.

You’re encouraged to build on each other’s ideas – that’s how great learning happens. If a fellow student says something insightful, mention them by name and show how your point connects. For example: ‘I really liked what Amina said about power dynamics in Act 2 – it helped me see the character differently.’ Acknowledging each other’s contributions shows respect and strengthens the whole conversation.

Passing off someone else’s work as your own – even by accident – is unfair to the original creator and goes against our values of honesty and integrity. If you’re ever unsure, just say where the idea came from.

Giving credit builds trust, shows respect, and helps you think more clearly by recognising the voices shaping your understanding.

4.3. Censorship of slurs

Some texts we study may contain offensive or discriminatory language. When quoting from these texts, you must censor any slurs or hate speech, even if you’re using them in an academic or analytical context.

This means:

• Do not write the slur in full
• Use partial censorship (e.g. dashes or initials) or paraphrase the line
• Make it clear you are quoting or referencing a harmful word without repeating it

It is never appropriate to write out a slur uncensored, even if it appears in the original source. Repeating offensive language – even in an academic context – can cause harm to others and make the space feel unsafe.

If you’re unsure how to reference a difficult passage, ask your tutor for help. It’s always better to be cautious and considerate.

4.4. Content warnings

Many of the texts we study explore difficult themes – including violence, trauma, discrimination, death, and abuse. If you’ve joined a course that covers such a text, you should expect these topics to come up as part of academic discussion. We won’t avoid or sanitise challenging material, but we will approach it thoughtfully and with care.

However, not all texts deal with these themes. If a space is dedicated to a topic that doesn’t include sensitive content, students may not expect triggering material to appear. The same is true in general areas like forums, class announcements, or social spaces.

If you are raising sensitive topics – especially those involving sexual violence, suicide, or abuse – in a space where they are not already expected, you must include a clear and specific content warning before your message. Avoid vague labels like ‘Trigger warning’ or ‘TW’. Instead, say exactly what the topic is.

Examples:

• Content warning: sexual violence
• Content warning: suicide

This gives others the ability to make informed choices about how and when they engage, based on their own boundaries.

If you’re unsure whether a content warning is needed, include one. It’s a simple but meaningful way to help maintain a respectful and supportive space for everyone.

4.5. Appropriate discussion of bigoted ideas

Sometimes, we study texts, historical events, or theories that include harmful or discriminatory beliefs. These may involve racism, sexism, homophobia, or other forms of prejudice. Discussing these ideas academically is often necessary, especially when analysing how they function in literature or society.

However, these discussions must be handled with care. Quoting or referencing bigoted ideas is not the same as endorsing them, but you still have a responsibility to communicate clearly and respectfully.

You must:

• Keep your discussion analytical, not provocative or performative
• Make it clear when you are describing harmful ideas rather than promoting them
• Use content warnings and slur censorship where appropriate (see 4.3 and 4.4)
• Focus on the context, purpose, and impact of the ideas you’re discussing
• Avoid defending or ‘playing devil’s advocate’ for discriminatory positions

In any discussion of discrimination or oppression, please make space for those with lived experience. You do not need to have experienced something yourself to engage critically – but if someone else in the room has, listen before you speak. Don’t dominate conversations about experiences that are not your own.

This is not a space for debating people’s humanity or rights. We do not tolerate hate speech, denialism, or attempts to ‘test boundaries’ under the excuse of critical thinking.

If you’re unsure whether your contribution crosses the line, pause and ask a tutor or moderator. Academic discussion should be brave – but never careless.

4.6. Responding to feedback

Feedback helps you grow – even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s normal to feel defensive at first, but this community expects you to move past that and engage with feedback constructively.

You don’t have to agree with every comment, but you must:

• Pause and reflect before replying
• Avoid sarcasm, defensiveness or brushing it off
• Ask questions if something’s unclear
• Look for what you can learn, even if it stings

You must not:

• Complain publicly about feedback
• Pressure tutors or peers to change what they said
• Punish anyone for offering honest critique

We don’t tone police here. We allow all kinds of feedback, as long as it’s clear, specific and helpful – even if it’s blunt. Focus on how you can use it, not how it sounds.

Tutors will challenge you. That’s their job. Remember: they’re not trying to hurt your feelings or make you feel bad. They want you to grow.

We aim to give SMART feedback – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-based – so you know what worked, what didn’t, and what to try next.

We also encourage you to give other students helpful, respectful feedback. Don’t just focus on compliments. Think about how they can make their work stronger.

Feedback is a tool, not a shackle. You can still develop your own voice and path. You don’t have to follow every suggestion, but ignoring feedback without thinking it through won’t help you improve. Use what’s useful. Let go of the rest. But always ask yourself why.

5. Language and communication

The way we use language matters. Whether you’re in a live session, writing in a forum, or sending a private message, you’re expected to communicate in a way that is clear, appropriate, and respectful.

This doesn’t mean you have to write in formal academic English all the time – but you should always aim to be thoughtful and inclusive in how you express yourself.

You must:

• Use language that is age-appropriate, professional, and free from slurs or offensive terms
• Avoid sarcasm, passive aggression, or intentionally ambiguous comments
• Speak and write clearly, so others can understand and respond meaningfully
• Be mindful of tone, especially in text-based spaces where intent may be misunderstood
• Avoid using emojis, slang, or humour in ways that could come across as mocking or inappropriate
• Be patient with non-native English speakers or those who communicate differently – this is an inclusive space

If you’re not sure how your words might come across, take a moment before you post. Assume good intent in others, and lead with kindness in yourself.

6. Online safety

Shani’s Tutoring is designed to be a safe and supportive learning space. But like all online platforms, it relies on trust, awareness, and good judgement from every user.

Online safety isn’t just about avoiding harm – it’s about creating a culture where everyone feels respected, protected, and in control of their own experience.

While you are on Shani’s Tutoring, we will do everything in our power to keep this platform safe. However, you also have an important role to play when it comes to keeping yourself and others safe. That includes following basic digital safety rules, respecting boundaries and notifying us when something doesn’t feel right.

We also cannot protect you outside of the bounds of the Shani’s Tutoring ecosystem. While we can and will offer you help and advice where appropriate, you need to make sure you follow good online safety protocols wherever you go.

To protect yourself and others, follow these essential guidelines:

6.1. Staying safe on the platform

• Never share personal information such as your full name, home address, phone number, school name, or passwords – even with people you trust
• Never agree to meet someone in real life that you met through this platform. If anyone suggests this, report it immediately
• Do not assume someone is who they say they are. Even if a user shares photos or personal details, that doesn’t mean they’re telling the truth. Never give them your trust or information based on claims
• Use strong passwords for your account and never share your login with anyone
• Don’t click on suspicious links, especially if sent privately or by someone you don’t know
• Do not continue conversations outside of the platform, including on social media, messaging apps, or gaming platforms. This is a safeguarding issue and will be treated seriously
• Only communicate with tutors and staff via approved Shani’s Tutoring channels. We will never ask you to message us through personal accounts or third-party apps
• Report anything that feels off – whether it’s a message, post, or person. You are never overreacting by raising a concern
• Log out when using a shared device or public computer

6.2. Looking after yourself online

Online safety also means protecting your mental wellbeing and emotional comfort while learning.

• If something feels wrong, it probably is. You have the right to remove yourself from a situation – leave the session, mute yourself, or report the issue. We’ll support you in prioritising your wellbeing
• If a conversation, topic, or user is making you feel anxious or unsafe, please talk to a tutor or staff member directly
• You’re allowed to take breaks from the platform or limit your engagement if it helps protect your focus or mental health
• Don’t let digital spaces overwhelm you. You’re in control of your experience

If we believe that someone’s behaviour – including your own – puts people at risk, we may restrict or remove access to the platform.

7. AI Usage

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, and other writing assistants, can be useful when used carefully. But they are not a substitute for your own thinking, effort, or creativity.

Your work must reflect your understanding, not a machine’s. AI can support your learning, but it must not replace the skills you’re here to develop.

I’ll be honest – I used AI to help me clean up some of the legal documents for this site, including this very Code of Conduct. But I didn’t ask it to write things for me. Every section was drafted by me, then curated and refined with help from AI suggestions. I reviewed and reworded anything that didn’t sound like me.

I’ve never used AI to write educational materials or blog posts – because those need to come from real thinking, real experience, and real understanding. That kind of content needs to be authentic. But there’s a time and place for AI, like when it’s important to be as clear and precise as possible for legal or safeguarding reasons.

Excessive or careless use of AI also contributes to environmental harm. These tools require vast amounts of energy and resources to operate. Using them wisely – and only when they genuinely add value – is part of being a responsible digital citizen.

7.1. AI for research

AI can be a powerful tool when used carefully, but it can also encourage passive learning if you rely on it too heavily. Tools like ChatGPT may help you get started, but they are not a substitute for doing the work of understanding, questioning, and remembering things for yourself.

You are welcome to use AI to support the early stages of your research or revision. For example, you might use it to:

• Brainstorm ideas
• Generate practice questions or essay prompts
• Organise your thoughts
• Summarise basic concepts as a refresher
• Ask questions in plain English if you’re stuck

However:

• AI frequently hallucinates facts, makes up citations, or presents opinions as truth. You must double-check everything.
• The more you rely on AI to do the thinking for you, the less likely you are to retain or understand the material.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that your learning reflects your own effort, not just what a chatbot produces.

Use AI to support your thinking, not to replace it. If you wouldn’t copy and paste from a random blog, don’t do it with AI either.

7.2. Prohibition on AI for work creation

Using AI to generate work for you is strictly against the rules at Shani’s Tutoring. It is dishonest, it prevents you from learning, and it is a waste of both your time and mine.

If you submit an assignment, essay, or task that has clearly been produced by AI:

• The work will receive an automatic fail
• Your parent or guardian will be informed
• You may lose access to coursework-based support

I don’t need you to show me what AI can do – if I wanted to read ChatGPT’s answer, I’d just ask it myself. What I’m interested in is your thinking. Your growth, your questions, your voice.

You won’t have access to AI in your exams, and you will never outperform it if you become dependent on it. The more you rely on it, the more you weaken your own skills.

Asking AI to write something for you is about as meaningful as opening a textbook and pointing to the right page without reading it. You’re not learning, you’re not analysing, and you’re not developing the tools you need to succeed on your own.

This is your education – don’t hand it over to a machine.

7.3. Checks on spelling, punctuation and grammar

It’s perfectly acceptable to use tools like Grammarly and other AI-powered grammar checkers to help with spelling, punctuation, and clarity – as long as you use them to learn, not to shortcut.

Instead of asking AI to rewrite your work for you, get it to suggest corrections – and then go through each one carefully. This helps you:

• Learn what mistakes you’re making
• Understand how to fix them yourself in future
• Spot incorrect suggestions (because AI can get it wrong)
• Keep your voice and phrasing intact

If you write your own work and then use AI to clean up the grammar afterwards, it won’t usually flag on AI checkers – because the syntax, sentence structure, and voice are still yours. You’ve done the thinking. You’re just polishing it.

But if you hand your work over to AI and let it rewrite everything for you, the end result won’t sound like you – and that matters. Even if it’s technically correct, it’s no longer a reflection of your learning.

These tools are just that: tools. They should support your growth, not overwrite it.

7.4. AI limitations

AI is not as clever as it looks. While it can sound confident, it often gets things completely wrong – and you need to know the limits of what it can do.

Most AI tools:

• Hallucinate facts, events, quotes, and even academic sources – often inventing things that sound real but don’t exist
• Can’t analyse tone, nuance, or authorial intent reliably
• Don’t know your exam board, your specific task, or what your tutor is actually looking for
• Struggle to write strong essays – they often follow formulaic structures, repeat clichés, write very descriptively and misinterpret questions
• Give unreliable grading or feedback when asked to mark your work, often missing what actually matters in an academic context

If you ask AI to grade your essay, write a paragraph, or explain what makes something a top band response, it will often give you something that looks right but isn’t. You might walk away feeling confident, only to realise later that you misunderstood the criteria or missed the point entirely.

AI doesn’t know the curriculum. It doesn’t know the mark scheme. It doesn’t know you. That’s why you need to treat it like a searchlight, not a compass – helpful to illuminate your thinking, but dangerous if you let it steer.

8. Intellectual property

All original content on the Shani’s Tutoring platform – including lessons, worksheets, videos, glossaries, quizzes, forums, and blog posts – is protected by copyright. This material belongs to Shani’s Tutoring and may not be copied, shared, uploaded, distributed, or reused without explicit permission.

You may:

• Access content you have paid for or been granted access to
• Take private notes and screenshots for your personal study use
• Quote short sections of materials (with credit) for academic discussion within the platform

You may not:

• Upload materials to other platforms or AI tools
• Share files or recordings with others
• Strip branding or claim content as your own
• Use Shani’s Tutoring content to create your own resources, products, or services – even if you modify it
• Sell, license, or otherwise distribute Shani’s Tutoring content to any third party, including individuals, schools, companies, or content libraries

By using this platform, you agree to respect the intellectual property of both Shani’s Tutoring and other members of the community. That includes not copying the work, ideas, or phrasing of other students or staff without credit.

All user-generated content (e.g. forum posts or submissions) remains the intellectual property of the original author, but by submitting it to the platform, you grant Shani’s Tutoring a licence to display and store that content as part of its educational services.

Intellectual theft – including plagiarism, resale, or unauthorised distribution – may result in your account being suspended or banned. In serious cases, I may also seek legal action to protect my work, brand, or the rights of other community members.

9. Safeguarding

Safeguarding is a core part of how we run Shani’s Tutoring. Everyone deserves to feel safe, supported, and respected – both in their learning and in the wider community. While this is not a school environment, we still hold ourselves to high standards and follow clear procedures to keep students safe.

We take safeguarding seriously across all areas – physical, emotional, and digital. It is a shared responsibility between tutors, staff, and students.

9.1. Our safeguarding commitments

All tutors at Shani’s Tutoring hold enhanced DBS certificates and are registered with the Update Service, meaning their status is kept current and can be rechecked regularly. Shani’s own certificate covers both the children’s and vulnerable adults’ workforces.

These checks are part of our ongoing commitment to student safety, transparency, and professional integrity.

You can expect that:

• We will act quickly if we believe a student is at risk of harm
• We will escalate concerns where appropriate
• We may involve support systems such as schools, parents, or local authorities
• All staff follow strict professional boundaries
• One-to-one sessions may be monitored or recorded for safety, training, and safeguarding purposes

We also ask that you treat safeguarding seriously by communicating openly, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and reporting any behaviour that seems unsafe or inappropriate.

9.2. Your role in safeguarding

Everyone plays a part in creating a safe learning space. You are expected to:

• Report anything that makes you or someone else feel unsafe
• Respect others’ privacy and personal boundaries
• Never share or ask for personal contact information
• Avoid discussions of self-harm, abuse, or unsafe behaviour unless it’s part of an academic topic and clearly signposted with content warnings

If you are ever in danger or believe someone else is at risk, please speak to a tutor or staff member immediately. You can also use the platform’s moderation tools to flag any post, message, or concern.

Where a situation falls beyond our role or expertise, we may refer the matter to a safeguarding lead at a school, college, or external service. We will always act in the best interest of the student, even if that means breaking confidentiality.

Safeguarding is not optional – it’s one of the core values that keeps this space safe, welcoming, and inclusive for everyone.

10. Enforcement

Most students won’t have to worry about this part. However, if you break a rule, we take it very seriously.

The Code of Conduct exists to protect everyone. So, we will act if behaviour puts the safety, well-being or learning of others at risk.

Of course, we are sensitive to neurodiversity in our responses to misconduct. We always do our best to make our rules as transparent as possible so everyone remains on the same page.

Please be aware: severe or repeated violations of the Code of Conduct will result in loss of access to the Shani’s Tutoring platform and content. If this occurs, the student will not be eligible for a refund.

10.1. Responses to misconduct

Our responses will always be proportionate to the situation. We don’t treat every mistake the same, but repeated or serious breaches may lead to removal from the community.

We use a tiered, level-based system to handle Code of Conduct violations across Shani’s Tutoring. The level of response depends on both the severity of the misconduct, the number of rules broken and whether a student has repeatedly violated the Code of Conduct.

These responses apply to all areas of the platform, including the sessions, courses, forums, messaging and social spaces.

Level 0	Private, informal reminder of the rules
Level 1	Formal warning
Level 2	1-day removal and parent/guardian contact
Level 3	3-day silencing and parent/guardian contact
Level 4	1-week suspension and parent/guardian final warning
Level 5	Permanent ban

Level 0: Informal reminder of the rules

We use this level for accidental or first-time minor issues.

This involves:

• A private, informal reminder of the rule from a tutor or staff member through the chat or private messaging function.
• Clarification of the expectations going forward.
• No formal record unless behaviour escalates.

At this level, we communicate in a light, polite tone. We focus on ways to stick to the Code of Conduct, rather than on consequences. So, we may ask you to edit your content or clarify something you’ve said.

As long as you cooperate and help us to maintain the standards of Shani’s Tutoring, there is no reason why we would need to talk about this again.

At this point, it is a good idea for you to go over the Code of Conduct again to ensure that we’re all on the same page.

We know that everyone makes mistakes. So, we hope to keep most of our moderation or rule-breaking conversations to this level.

However, we reserve the right to choose which level will suit the situation. So, students are not entitled to a Level 0 response.

Level 1: Formal warning

We use this for intentional minor rule-breaking or a second offence after we have carried out a Level 0 enforcement.

• We issue a formal written warning.
• Staff or tutors may remove the rule-breaking content.
• Tutors or staff may address the issue in the session or publicly through the forums or announcements.
• We will formally document the infringement.

If you receive a Level 1 response, we will make sure to explicitly mention that it is a formal warning. However, if you are unsure or the message seems ambiguous, please feel free to ask.

At this stage, we will communicate with you in a more formal, stern tone. We will focus on informing you of the further consequences of continuing to violate the Code of Conduct.

Level 2: 1-day removal and parent/guardian contact

We use this for more disruptive behaviour or after a formal warning.

• 24-hour silencing from community spaces (forums, messages, comments)
• If the student was disruptive during a session, we will remove them after a warning. They will not be allowed to rejoin for the rest of the day. They will forfeit their right to a refund or reschedule for that session.
• If the student was disruptive before the session, we will remove their ability to unmute or message anyone but the tutor.
• Temporary removal from gamification and social privileges.
• We will send an email to the parent/guardian to inform them of the issue.

Up until this point, we try not to involve parents or guardians in the enforcement process. This is because we would like to treat our students as adults as much as possible. However, by Level 2, we would have no choice but to contact an adult, particularly because of the financial implications of a Level 2 consequence.

If you are the parent or guardian of a student, please use this warning as an opportunity to go through the Code of Conduct together.

We would like to keep Level 2 enforcements and above at a minimum, and we would appreciate your cooperation in ensuring we are all on the same page.

Level 3: 3-day silencing and parent/guardian contact

We use this for serious incidents or ongoing rule-breaking.

• 3-day silencing from community spaces
• Suspension from the next scheduled session. We will send the student the recorded session for them to catch up after the fact.
• Gamification and social privileges are suspended.
• The student will lose gamification points.
• We will contact the parent/guardian with formal documentation.
• We will not allow the student back into sessions until the parent/guardian has replied to the message to express their understanding of the situation.
• No refund or rescheduling for missed sessions or content.

Of course, we expect to see a change in student behaviour at every point in the enforcement process. However, at this stage, we will communicate specific steps that we require the student to take.

The student’s reintegration into the community will require them to show an understanding of their mistakes and a change in behaviour. As such, they will have to take and pass a compulsory Restorative Justice course through the platform.

Level 4: 1-week suspension and final warning

We use this for persistent disruption, severe breaches or multiple violations.

• Suspension from all platform features, including sessions and course content, for 7 days.
• Removal of gamification and social privileges.
• We issue a final written warning to the parent/guardian.
• No refund or rescheduling applied during the suspension period.

For reintegration at this stage, the student must complete a higher-level Restorative Justice course, including a written assignment and a 15-minute Restorative Justice meeting. In this meeting, the student will discuss their mistakes with a staff member and explain the steps they will take to prevent them in the future.

Level 5: Permanent ban

We use this for extreme breaches of the Code of Conduct or serious misconduct that has continued despite multiple warnings.

• Permanent removal from all platform features, including sessions, course content, and community spaces
• Loss of access to all gamification, messaging, and social privileges
• Closure of the student’s account
• Cancellation of all future payments
• No refund issued for the current billing period
• Final written notice sent to the parent or guardian
• We reserve the right to seek legal action in cases involving harassment, threats, unauthorised sharing of content, or other breaches of law or safety

This decision is final. No appeal or reinstatement is possible.

The platform will immediately ban any bot accounts without exception. However, we understand that sometimes a student account can become compromised. If we have reason to believe that the student is legitimate, we will work with them to restore their account. If we are confident that the student has regained full control, we will restore access.

10.2. Appeals

You have the right to appeal if you believe we made a mistake or missed important context.

• Submit all appeals using our official form
• You must appeal within 30 days of the decision
• You may submit one appeal per offence
• The form asks you to state which enforcement level you’re appealing
• A staff member will review your appeal
• We may decline to respond if the appeal is clearly abusive, dishonest or has no merit

A successful appeal removes the enforcement in question, but it won’t affect any other decisions on your record. Appealing doesn’t delay or pause the enforcement.

10.3. Moderation and reporting tools

At Shani’s Tutoring, we use a range of built-in tools and active staff moderation to keep the community safe and welcoming. If you see something that goes against the Code of Conduct, you must report it. Don’t assume someone else already has.

Our platform includes features to help you protect yourself and others:

• Report – Flag any post, comment or message that breaks the rules. A staff member will investigate and act accordingly.
• Mute – Hide a student’s content from your view if it’s bothering or distracting you.
• Block – Prevent another user from sending you private messages or interacting with your profile.

We treat all reports seriously, which is why you must use them fairly. Reporting someone out of spite or disagreement, rather than for a genuine rule breach, is itself a breach of the Code of Conduct and may lead to consequences.

During live sessions, staff have access to tools to ensure discussions run smoothly and respectfully. These include the ability to:

• Mute students, either individually or all at once.
• Stop students from unmuting themselves if the disruption continues.
• Limit or turn off chat to prevent off-topic or inappropriate messages.
• Remove a student from the session if needed for the safety of the group.

These tools go in tandem with our enforcement policy.

10.4. Changes to the Code of Conduct

We update this Code of Conduct whenever we need to improve clarity, respond to new issues, or keep the Shani’s Tutoring community safe and effective.

We’ll announce major rule changes that affect students on the Forum. We won’t announce minor changes (like fixing spelling and punctuation), but the latest update date will always appear at the bottom of this page.

You’re expected to stay up to date with the latest version. Please check back regularly to make sure you’re following the current rules.

We won’t punish you retroactively for breaking a rule that didn’t exist when you broke it. However, the Code of Conduct isn’t exhaustive. If you go against the spirit of the rules, we may still take action to protect the community, even if you haven’t broken a specific rule.

If this happens, we won’t ban you. We will just let you know that you have to stop. We may also edit or remove the offending content. If you ignore that warning, we will enforce consequences in line with our Enforcement Table.

11. Staff conduct

All tutors and staff members at Shani’s Tutoring are bound by a dedicated Staff Code of Conduct. This ensures they maintain the highest standards of professionalism, care and integrity at all times.

Part of their role is to help safeguard the Shani’s Tutoring community, especially as we work with children and vulnerable adults. Every tutor holds an enhanced DBS certificate and is registered with the DBS Update Service.

All staff receive annual training on safeguarding and data protection. They follow strict confidentiality protocols and will never share your personal information unless required to do so by law or safeguarding procedures.

Shani’s Tutoring is fully insured. We are also registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to ensure we meet legal standards for data protection.

If you’re ever concerned about a staff member’s behaviour, please don’t hesitate to raise it. We investigate all complaints thoroughly and will take appropriate action to uphold the safety and values of the community.

You can make a formal complaint using the process outlined below.

11.1. Complaints

If a tutor or staff member acts inappropriately, report it using our staff complaint form. We take every complaint seriously and will act to keep the community safe.

Here’s how we handle it:

• Students never need to raise issues with staff directly.
• All complaints go to the director(s) of Shani’s Tutoring (e.g. Shani), not to other team members.
• If your complaint is about the director, make that clear on the form. We’re working to put an external process in place to handle this fairly and independently.
• We don’t guarantee anonymity, but we’ll only share your complaint with people who need to know (such as a staff member’s manager or safeguarding lead).
• If your complaint raises a safeguarding issue or involves potentially illegal behaviour, we may need to report it to the police or other authorities.

We don’t sweep complaints under the rug. Staff who breach the Staff Code of Conduct will face clear consequences, including suspension or removal where necessary.

12. Last updated

Last updated: 29 May 2025.