Child Protection Policy & Safeguarding Policy

We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of all our members. Unique Dance Studios believes it is important that members, coaches, administrators and parents associated with the school should, at all times, show respect and understanding for the safety and welfare of others. Therefore, members are encouraged to be open at all times and share any concerns or complaints that they may have about any aspect of the school with Gina Neal. This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England.

Purpose of this Policy:

  • To protect children and young people who receive Unique 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. This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Unique Dance Studios, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff and students.

We recognise that:

  • All children have the right to receive equal protection from all and any types of harm and abuse, regardless of their age, gender, religious beliefs, race, sexual orientation and disability. Unique Dance Studios will always provide such protection to all children who are in the care of our staff or within our premises.
  • All members of staff are provided with a step-by-step plan that they should follow in scenarios where they suspect the safety or wellbeing of a child is being compromised.
  • We must respond efficiently to all concerns surrounding a child’s wellbeing, allegations of abuse, bullying and online abuse.
  • We seek parental consent on our registration form for any images to be taken, shared or stored of their children. We must remove promptly any such images if a parent or carer changes their choice for this, something they reserve the right to do at any time.
  • Some of our members may be additionally vulnerable to any form of abuse due to factors beyond their control.
  • We must work with children, young people, their parents/carers and other agencies to promote young peoples welfare.

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

  • Valuing, listening and respecting them
  • Appointing a member of staff to be the nominated child protection lead for children and young people
  • Adopting child protection and safeguarding through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and parents.
  • Sharing information about the importance of and about safeguarding and good practice with children and their families through letters, posters, group work and discussions
  • Ensuring that all members, whether it be parents or children know where to for help if they are concerned or vulnerable
  • Keeping all personal records stored in a locked cabinet with monitored access, in line with data protection legislation and guidance. We only collect relevant information that has received signed consent from an appropriate parent, carer or guardian to be used for our use during time of membership. All data is professionally disposed of, upon membership being terminated.
  • Employing all staff safely, carrying out all the required personal background checks and appropriately refreshing courses and qualifications.
  • Using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with approved agencies who may need to intervene, and informing children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
  • Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
  • Creating and actively encouraging an anti-bullying, non-discriminative, safe and inclusive environment and ensuring that we follow our policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that may arise
  • Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
  • Building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns

Point of Contact:

Unique Dance Studios Principal, Gina Neal, is a qualified and accredited teacher and member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. All members of staff have a current Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure and keep up to date with online Safeguarding courses provided by the NSPCC. All conversations regarding any complaints or concerns are taken seriously and are properly documented. When necessary, we will involve a relevant third party.

 

Policy Review:

Unique Dance Studios will be continually reviewing this policy and updating when necessary.