Safeguarding Policy

Centre Stage Safe Guarding Policy

Introduction

The purpose of the safeguarding policy is to ensure that every child that attends Centre Stage Academy of Dance is safe and protected from harm. All staff have a responsibility to ensure that children have a safe environment to dance in. All staff have a responsibility to ensure any allegations of abuse are reported to the appropriate authorities. Where children are at a significant risk, staff have a duty of care to take immediate action.

Centre Stage Academy of dance possesses public liability insurance for the protection of staff and students.

⚫️Child safety⚫️

The safety of children during dance classes is of paramount importance to us. Whilst your child is receiving tuition in a studio, they are under the care of one of our teachers. However, can we please remind parents that we are not responsible for the welfare of children at the following times

•Whilst waiting for the studio doors to be opened

•If the child asks to leave the class for a toilet break

•If the class has an interval for refreshments

•After the class has finished or whilst waiting between two classes if attending more than one

Please be aware of this should you choose to leave your child unattended at the centre.

⚫️Safeguarding Policy⚫️

Centre Stage and its volunteers, are committed to ensuring safe environments for children and young people and believe that it is always unacceptable for a child or young person to experience abuse of any kind. We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people, by a commitment to recommend best practice which protects them.

This policy applies to our staff, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of the dance school.

We recognise that:

• the welfare of the child/young person is paramount

• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual

orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse

•working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is

essential in promoting young people's welfare

The purpose of the policy

•to provide protection for the children and young people who participate in our classes, productions or any other activities organised by us.

•to provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a child or young person may be experiencing, or be at risk of harm

We will seek to safeguard children and young people by:

•valuing them, listening to and respecting them

•adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and safe working practice for staff

and volunteers

•recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made

•sharing information about child protection and safe working practice with children, parents, staff and volunteers

•sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately

•providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training

⚫️Roles and Responsibilities⚫️

•Child Wellbeing and safeguarding Officer CPD– (Megan Elliott)

"The designated safeguarding officer will ensure the safeguarding policy is reviewed annually, that staff have completed the appropriate level of safeguarding training for their role, that all staff, assistants, students & guardians are familiar with the safeguarding policy and is the key point of contact for all staff concerning any safeguarding issues they may have."

•Child wellbeing & safeguarding leaders CPD- (Nat Walker, Niamh Bryson, Josh Smith)

"The safeguarding leaders will be a point of contact for anyone in an organisation who is concerned about a child."

⚫️Responsibilities of all members of staff⚫️

All members of staff, assistants and volunteers will become familiar with our safe guarding policy and report any concerns to our safeguarding officer or leaders. However, where a child is in immediate need, to protect the child, the police should be called on 999 or key numbers to appropriate help can be found in the office.

⚫️Prevention ⚫️

At Centre Stage Academy of Dance we will endeavour to ensure that all students are protected from harm whilst they are visiting us or attending our classes.

Centre Stage Academy of Dance will therefore:

•Establish and maintain an ethos where students feel welcome and familiar with their environment and are informed of personal (toilets, dressing rooms etc) and emergency arrangements (fire exits, meeting points etc) and any Health and Safety Procedures (dangerous equipment, First Aid etc)

•Inform each student who the appropriate person or people are to speak to should they have any questions, problems or concerns

•Ensure that all students are treated equally and with respect and dignity

•Always work in an open environment (e.g. avoiding unobserved situations and unnecessary physical contact with students) and involve/allow parents/chaperones/ assistants wherever possible.

•Recognise the individual needs of the student ( e.g. recognising when a student may be tired and may need a break.

•Recognise a change in behaviour/mood in a student.

•Ensure that students are supervised appropriately

•Ensure that staff members hold current DBS, Insurance and relevant qualifications and training.

•Ensure that staff have received appropriate safeguarding training for their role.

•Ensure that all staff and assistants are familiar with the Centre Stage safeguarding policy & procedures

•Ensure a First Aid officer is on site.

•Take all reasonable steps to prevent a member of staff putting any student in a situation that is an unreasonable risk to their health and safety

•Report to the safeguarding officer any evidence or reasonable suspicion that a student has been physically, emotionally or sexually abused in contact with anyone within or without our organisation.