Safeguarding Policy.
1. Statement of Intent (Our Promise)
Welcome to our Dance School!
We want to make sure that everyone who dances with us—from our youngest pre-school students to our adult dancers—feels happy, safe, and welcome.
We promise to listen to you if you are worried or upset.
We promise to treat everyone fairly and make sure no one is hurt, bullied, or made to feel bad.
Our teachers are here to help you learn in a safe, fun, and kind environment.
This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, students, and parents/guardians associated with the school, including during external performances, online classes, or off-site activities.
2. Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL)
For the protection of all persons, any concerns, disclosures, or allegations must be reported to the designated leads.
Lead Designated Safeguarding Lead: Josie Marston (Principal)
Role: Overall responsibility for safeguarding, policy management, and referrals.
Contact: Please contact via the contact staff section on the portal.
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Craig Denkinson
Role: Acts as point of contact in the absence of the Lead DSL and assists with safety procedures and staff support.
Contact: Please contact via the contact staff section on the portal.
3. Key Principles and Legal Framework
Legislation: This policy complies with current United Kingdom legislation and guidance, including the Children Act 1989 and 2004 and Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Definition of a Child: Anyone under the age of 18 years.
Definition of an Adult at Risk: Any person aged 18 or over who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age, or illness, and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.
Welfare First: The welfare of the child or vulnerable person remains paramount in all school operations.
4. Code of Conduct & Safeguarding Procedures
Recognizing Abuse
Staff must be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect (physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect), as well as harmful behaviors such as bullying, discrimination, or pressure to perform.
Communication and Online Safety
To protect both students and staff, all operational communication should be directed through the contact staff section on the official portal or via the phone numbers provided by parents/students.
If a parent or student contacts staff via external channels (such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or the phone number listed on public advertisements), staff must transition the conversation to official school channels as soon as possible and avoid discussing sensitive matters in public or personal messaging spaces.
Digital groups involving students (such as WhatsApp groups) are permitted for older children only with the explicit prior written consent of a parent or guardian. Staff members must ensure all communications within such groups remain professional, transparent, and focused exclusively on school activities.
Personal Relationships and Staff Conduct
Staff who have pre-existing personal friendships or family relationships with students outside of the school may continue to do so, provided that:
It does not reflect, or appear to reflect, in any way on the dance school.
Staff strictly separate their personal communications from school-related business.
Personal communications remain professional and appropriate, ensuring no favoritism or preferential treatment occurs within the teaching environment.
Procedure for Disclosures
If a child or vulnerable person discloses abuse, or if a member of staff has a safeguarding concern:
Listen: Stay calm, take what the individual says seriously, and listen without judgment.
Reassure: Do not promise confidentiality. Explain that you may need to share this with someone who can help keep them safe.
Ask Open Questions: Do not ask leading or probing questions (e.g., use "Tell me what happened" rather than "Did [Name] do this?").
Record: Write down exactly what was said and observed using their own words, with dates and times.
Report: Inform one of the Designated Safeguarding Leads immediately via the portal or in person. They will decide whether to escalate to the Local Authority or Police (in an emergency, always call 999).
5. Operational Policies and Procedures
Supervision, Arrival, and Departure
Very young pupils must not leave the school premises until collected by a parent, guardian, or authorized adult.
A member of staff will remain on the premises until all pupils have left.
If a child is to be collected by an unfamiliar adult, parents must provide the school with a password beforehand.
Should a parent wish for their child to walk home unaccompanied, written and signed permission must be provided to the school principal in advance.
Safe Environment and Health & Safety
The premises and equipment will be checked regularly for any defects or faults that exist or may have developed which might present hazards to any attending the premises.
The premises will be cleaned regularly to prevent any hazard to health from accumulated dirt or rubbish.
Energetic instruction will not be given without pupils undergoing a "warm-up" session, and after an energetic session, completing a "warm-down" session.
The school principal holds adequate public liability and professional negligence insurance.
Smoking is not permitted at any of the venues where we hold classes.
Instruction and Physical Contact
All instruction will be geared to the previous experience and abilities of the pupil(s) and no person will be required to perform movements beyond their intrinsic capabilities. Staff will be sensitive to all pupils' religious beliefs and culture.
The school operates a zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination based on religion, color, background, or any other protected characteristic.
Teachers will avoid unnecessary physical contact with pupils. However, parents should understand that some aspects of teaching involve some contact, especially in gymnastic dance or subjects where partnering or lifts are used. Where it is necessary, teachers will use the utmost discretion.
Teacher Training and Supervision
The dance school acts as a teacher training facility.
Student teachers will only be given the opportunity to teach classes where appropriate after direct assessment by the principal as to their competence to do so.
Any student or trainee assisting or teaching will work under the supervision of a qualified member of staff.
One-to-One Tuition and Supervision
Normally, no member of staff will be alone with a young pupil for any substantial period without the consent of a parent or other authorized person.
If you sign up for one-to-one private lessons or similar, parents or guardians are advised to sit in and watch. Should they choose not to do so, they are agreeing for the teacher to be left with the student on a one-to-one basis.
Safer Staff Recruitment and Vetting
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are to be made for all staff and volunteers with unsupervised access to children.
Only suitably qualified persons will be employed in a teaching capacity, while any student engaged to assist with teaching will only work under the supervision of a qualified member of staff.
Staff are not permitted to drive pupils under 16 years old in their personal vehicles without parental permission, except in the event of an emergency.
If appropriate, changing facilities will be provided. Where possible, parents should supervise their own children in the changing area; otherwise, supervision will be by a person with a clean and up-to-date DBS check and, where possible, not on their own.
Media and Privacy
The school maintains the right to take photos and videos of students for in-class instructional use, practice, and critique.
Permission to use such photographs and videos for external purposes (such as social media, public advertising, and school promotions) is assumed unless an objection or opt-out is registered through the portal.
No child or vulnerable person's image will be used for external advertising or public platforms if a parent or guardian registers an objection via the portal.
Incident and Accident Management
An incident book will be kept allowing records to be kept of any incident in the school, or injuries of any nature to staff, students, or visitors.
Behavior Management
At all times, all staff will endeavor to keep the highest standards of instruction and behavior. The school principal retains the right to discharge from the school any pupil who persistently disrupts classes or the learning of others, uses offensive language, or engages in anti-social behavior.
School Standards and Ethics
The school principal is committed to ensuring that all advertising and public claims about the school are completely accurate and honest.
6. Policy Review and Agreement
This policy is reviewed annually to ensure it reflects current legislation, guidelines from the NSPCC, and best practices within the dance sector.
Date of adoption: 1st May 2026
Review date: 1st May 2027
By clicking "Agree" and submitting this document, I/We acknowledge that I/We have read, understood, and accept all the terms, guidelines, and procedures outlined in this Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy as a parent/guardian or student.
