ALL DANCE STUDIOS POLICIES

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The safeguarding and protection of children is paramount at All Dance Studios while children are in dance class. All Dance Studios has adopted this safeguarding children policy and expects every adult working or volunteering at All Dance Studios to support and comply with it. Consequently this policy shall apply to all staff, volunteers or anyone working on behalf of All Dance Studios. Under this policy the term children shall mean any person who is under the age of 18.

All Dance Studios Staff are responsible for children within dance classes however we cannot take responsibility for children when:

• Waiting outside to be invited into class

• If the child leaves class for a toilet break

• After a class has finished

• In a break between two classes (please be aware of this if you choose to leave your child unattended)

The purpose of this policy statement is:

• To protect children and young people under the age of 18 who receive All Dance Studios services from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services.

• To provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

All Dance Studios believes no child or young person should experience abuse or harm and is committed to the protection and preservation of welfare of children and young people we have a responsibility for.

We recognise that the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take whilst working with children in dance classes. We recognise it is essential to promote the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. These children may be additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues. Extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.

We seek to keep children safe at All Dance Studios by respecting and listening to children. We have a designated safeguarding officer (Alice Langford) who will ensure safeguarding is taken seriously with the best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for adults involved with All Dance Studios.  

This policy is intended to provide guidance and overreaching principles to those who represent or work at All Dance Studios.

 

Legal framework:

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from nspcc.org.uk/childprotection.

 

The risks to children:

Children can be vunerble to different forms of abuse and harm. It is important to recognise that the abuse and harm of children cancover a wide range of circumstances and behviours. For example children can be at risk of:

• physical or emotional abuse

• neglect

• sexual abuse

• female genital mutilation (FGM)

• grooming and exploitation

• trafficking and modern slavery

• exposure to or infliction of domestic abuse

• bullying or cyber bullying

• exposure to other inappropriate content or behaviour, such as violence or criminal behaviour

• self-harm

• physical harm when engaging with activities without adequate supervision

The causal factors of any such harm and/or abuse can also be wide-ranging. For example, children can be paced at risk by family members or by members of the community.

 

Safeguarding principles:

Safeguarding children from harm and abuse is an essential responsibility for All Dance Studios. We are committed to ensuring that every child that comes into contact with our services is properly safeguarded. Every adult that works, volunteers, or works on behalf of All Dance Studios must provide an up to date DBS check. Every person under this policy must ensure they play an active role in ensuring that the children are properly safeguarded and hold responsibility for:

• Remaining alert and aware of possible safeguarding risks to children.

• Guarding children against harmful environments with appropriate actions (for example, adequate supervision or ensuring safe environments).

• Taking positive steps to maintain the safety and well being of children engaging with us as a dance school.

• Reporting concerns expeditiously and appropriately, in line with child protection procedures

• Understanding the duty to report specific concerns (and understanding how this interplay's with confidentiality).

• Challenging any inappropriate or harmful behavior of any other adult and reporting this accordingly.

• Acting appropriately in the presence of children.

• Not taking any inappropriate risks.

• Not smoking, drinking or taking any form of illicit substances in the presence of children.

• Ensuring the door is open when teaching one to one private lessons

• Ensuring children are always supervised by an adult in dance classes, and never leave anyone under the age of 18 in charge of children.

• Ensure physical contact is only used when appropriate as set out in our Appropriate Physical Touch policy to be found at www.alldancestudios.co.uk

 

Safeguarding officer:

The role of the safeguarding officer is to record safeguarding concerns and take the appropriate measures to protect the children they come into contact with. The management and oversight of safeguarding at All Dance Studios falls under the responsibility of Alice Langford.

 

Dealing with and responding to safeguarding concerns:

Where staff, volunteers or anyone working on behalf of All Dance Studios feels a child is at serious immediate risk of harm or abuse 999 must be called immediately. The safeguarding officer should be made aware as soon as possible.

When there is a safeguard concern is not deemed to have an immediate threat of harm or abuse to a child within All Dance Studios the adult who has witnessed or herd the concern the Safeguarding Officer no later than the end of the day.

During a disclosure it is important for the adult to:

• Try to stay calm during the disclosure, listen carefully and show the child their views are being taken seriously.

• Provide appropriate reassurance.

• Refrain from asking leading questions or interrogate the child.

• It is important not to promise the child that their disclosure can be kept confidential (their concern will need to be reported to the safeguarding lead and may need to be reported further to institutions such as child protection services)

After the disclosure the adult must:

• Record the disclosure in writing on a All Dance Studios Safeguarding concern form including times and dates

• Record only the facts and not assumptions

• Try to record the child’s words to the best of your ability using their language

• Give the form to the safeguarding officer by the end of the day

The safeguarding officer must:

• Ensure they understand the disclosure that has taken place

• Decide on what actions if any, need to be taken and contact the appropriate persons and make the appropriate referrals

 

Managing allegations against staff and volunteers:

Where any person has a concern about an adult at All Dance Studios which poses or may pose as a risk to the safeguarding of children such as:

• Harming a child physically or emotionally

• Criminal activity involving a child

• Inappropriate behaviour harming the child emotionally or physically

This must be raised with Alice Langford (safeguarding officer) or where not appropriate with another member of staff or organisation so the next steps can be agreed and actioned.

The usual steps that would be taken after receiving an allegation about an adult at All dance Studios could include:

• Further initial enquiries

• Escalating the concern to the relevant authority

• Investigation into the appropriate disciplinary or formal action

• Referral to the Disclosure Baring Service or any other regulatory body

If an allegation has been made against an adult at All Dance Studios, the adult will be made aware in a formal meeting with the safeguarding officer, or where appropriate with additional services involved such as the police.

Any adult within All Dance Studios that has had an allegation made against them will be treated fairly and appropriately whilst prioritising the safeguarding of the children. Action, investigations and decisions shall be taken in a fair and just manner.

Any adult at All Dance Studios that makes an allegation against another adult at All Dance Studios will be listened to, treated fairly, and their concern will be taken seriously.

 

Confidentiality and data protection:

All personal information All Dance Studios may process relating to children, shall be processed, and stored securely within our data protection privacy policy which can be found at www.alldancestudios.co.uk

 

Record keeping:

All safeguarding concerns and disclosures must be written down and stored securely. The forms must be filled out including the date, time, people involved, nature of concern/disclosure and any additional information. All safeguarding concern forms and disclosures will be kept in a folder and secured in a locked building at the office address.

 

Safeguarding children at shows and events:

Typically we will arrange certain events where the children will need to be safeguarded offsite. These can include dance shows, dance displays and so on.

The safeguarding procedures apply as already laid out in this policy. Chaperones, volunteers and any other staff working with All Dance Studios must present a full DBS check and will be given safeguarding concern forms and first aid forms ready to fill out in the event they may need them during the show or event.

For some events or shows we may issue an additional code of conduct, policy or other information which is specific to that occasion. Any additional documentation will be made available to the adults prior to the event or show. It is the adult’s responsibility to ensure they have read and understood the additional information and adhere to it during the show or event.

 

Recruitment, Training and Support:

 

All adult’s working with All Dance Studios will require a full DBS check prior to being allowed access to working with children.

All Dance Studios will ensure staff, volunteers or any other person representing All Dance Studios have access to an appropriate level of safeguarding training and support.

This awareness training must enable them to:

• Have an understanding of the meaning and purpose of safeguarding.

• Understand their role in safeguarding children at All Dance Studios

• Remain alert to recognise potential safeguarding concerns or risks.

• Feel confident in how to report a safeguarding concern or risk and when to take action.

• Have knowledge of the Safeguarding Children Policy.

 

Wigan Safeguarding Partnership provides free safeguarding training for community groups for this purpose from http://wigansafeguardingadults.org/Professionals/Professional-training.aspx

 

 

Behaviour management of children and young people:

When faced with management of challenging behaviour displayed by children adults at All Dance Studios must:

• Treat each child fairly and equally

• Remain calm and neutral when approaching bad behaviour.

• Do not use physical restraint/intervention unless there is an immediate danger to the child or other children

• Record the incident in writing on an All Dance Studios behavioural incident form.

 

Photography and sharing images:

In some instances, we may use photographs featuring children. All Dance Studios will not unlawfully photograph children without explicit consent from the parent/carer. We will not share any images on our website or social media without the consent of the parent/carer. We will get this consent in the form of a photography permission form.

Photographs will not be taken for any purpose other than legitimate interests, such as photos for advertising on the website or social media. We will always protect the child’s identity as far as is possible for example not including names next to a child’s picture. We will always store photos in accordance to our data protection policy.

Online safety:

All Dance Studios understand the importance of safeguarding online and on social media. Staff, volunteers or anyone involved with All Dance Studios  will not follow students on social media unless they previously know and are friends with the family or are related to the child.

Managing risks proposed by other children:

It is important that adults at All Dance Studios understand that children can cause harm to their peers which is a safeguarding concern.

Risks from peers can include:

• Bullying

• Harassment

• Threats

• Name calling

• Cyberbullying

Any incident named above or of a similar nature needs to be written down and reported to the safeguarding officer. In the first instance this will usually be delt with by having a conversation with the parents and children involved to try to find a resolution. Where the behaviour continues the situation may be escalated, for example a child that is bullying may be asked to leave the school. In serious incidents relevant services may be contacted.

Managing complaints:

If you have a complaint please email the safeguarding officer Miss Alice at alldancestudios@gmail.com to raise your complaint. The usual process for managing complaints is to have a meeting to discuss the issue and agree on actions moving forwards.

Health and safety:

Health and safety is an important part of safeguarding at All Dance Studios. All dance Studios take a risk assessment of every building we work at to reduce the risk of injury and accidents. We ensure fire safety procedures are made clear to all involved at all dance studios.

In the event of an accident or injury that needs first aid the incident should be bought up to the nearest first aider. In an emergency 999 should be called. All health and safety concerns should be reported to the safeguarding officer at the earliest convenience on the same day.

 

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.