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 PVG scheme record (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 account
After the review we record the scheme membership reference, name, date of birth, issue date, and clear status. We do not retain a copy of the scheme record document itself.
Why PVG instead of DBS
Scotland's safeguarding regime is separate from England and Wales. Anyone doing "regulated work with children" in Scotland is required by law to be a PVG scheme member under the PVG (Scotland) Act 2007. PVG and DBS aren't interchangeable; they cover different legal frameworks and police records. Tutorperch accepts whichever scheme the tutor holds, with the verified badge labelled per-scheme so parents can see at a glance what was checked.
How verification works
The tutor shares their PVG scheme record with us through Disclosure Scotland's Online Account. A member of our team reads the shared record and logs the outcome. We never download or store the record itself; the badge reflects what we saw on review day.
What the badge doesn't replace
A PVG record is a snapshot at review time. Even a record clean today only confirms what was on Disclosure Scotland's records up to that moment. For child tutoring specifically, we'd suggest layering normal parental due-diligence on top:
- Meet first before booking ongoing lessons: in person if local, video call if online.
- Ask the tutor to share their current scheme record with you directly via the same Disclosure Scotland Online Account flow. It's a normal request and most tutors will oblige.
- Ask for references, do a trial lesson, supervise early sessions where you can.
Renewals
Three years after we approved a tutor's PVG record, the badge expires and they share their current record with us again. PVG scheme membership itself is continuous, with no "expiry" on the membership; our re-verification cycle is what keeps the badge current. We email reminders 60 and 30 days before the badge lapses.
What if a tutor doesn't have the badge?
Some Scotland-based tutors don't submit a PVG record, typically because they only teach adults or because they're new to the platform and haven't gone through the process yet. The absence of the badge isn't a red flag in itself; it's just an absent positive signal. For child tutoring, parents typically filter on Safeguarding Verified or make the request part of the pre-booking conversation.