What "PVG-Verified" means on Tutorperch
A PVG-Verified badge on a tutor's profile indicates that a member of our team has:
- Received the tutor's current Confirmation of PVG scheme membership (children's workforce)
- Confirmed the record is clear (no convictions, cautions, or relevant non-conviction police information disclosed)
- Confirmed the record is dated within the last three years
- Confirmed the name on the record matches the tutor's identity-verified name
After the review, Tutorperch records the scheme membership reference, name, date of birth, issue date, and clear status. Tutorperch does not retain a copy of the disclosure document itself.
How it relates to identity verification
Every published tutor on Tutorperch has already passed an identity check before any safeguarding record can be submitted. At PVG review time, the name on the scheme record is cross-referenced against the identity-verified name. A mismatch halts the submission. The two layers together prevent a stolen scheme reference from being used alongside a fraudulent profile.
Why PVG rather than DBS
Scotland's safeguarding regime is separate from that of England and Wales. Anyone doing regulated work with children in Scotland is required by law to be a PVG scheme member under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. PVG and DBS are not interchangeable; they cover different legal frameworks and police records. Tutorperch accepts whichever scheme is appropriate to the tutor's location, with the verified badge labelled per scheme so parents can see at a glance which check applied.
What the badge does not replace
A PVG record is a snapshot at the date of review. Even a record clean today confirms only what was on Disclosure Scotland's records up to that point. For child tutoring specifically, parental due diligence remains appropriate:
- Meet first before booking ongoing lessons, in person if local or by video call if online.
- Ask the tutor to share their current Confirmation of PVG scheme membership with you directly via the same Disclosure Scotland Online Account flow. It is a normal request and most tutors will comply.
- Ask for references, run a trial lesson, and supervise early sessions where possible.
Renewals
Three years after we approved a tutor's PVG record, the badge expires and the tutor shares a current record with us again. PVG scheme membership itself is continuous, so our re-verification cycle is what keeps the badge current. The badge drops from the profile automatically if re-verification is not completed in time.