safeguarding policy

Safeguarding Policy

Author: Natalie Mcnamee
Date: (Updated November 2023)

Version 1.0
August 2020
Version 2.0
October 2022
Version 3.0 (This version)
November 2023

Background to this policy:
Dance and Beats works with children as part of its activities. These activities include: teaching dance classes to a wide range of children from ages 3-18, coming in contact with parents/guardians who drop off and pick up children from dance classes.
The purpose of this policy statement is:
• to protect children and young people who receive Dance and Beats’s
services. This includes the children of adults who use our services
• to provide parents, staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide
our approach to child protection.
This policy statement applies to anyone working on behalf of Dance and Beats,
including senior managers, employees, and contractors.

Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to
protect children in England.

1.
Our core safeguarding beliefs (We believe that):
• children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
• we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to
keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

2.
We recognise that:
• the welfare of the child is paramount
• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or
belief, sex, or sexual orientation have a right to equal protection from all types of
harm or abuse
• some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous
experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
• working in partnership with children, their parents/guardians, and schools is essential in ensuring young people’s welfare.

3.
Our Key Principles (We will seek to keep children and young people safe by):
• valuing, listening to and respecting them
• developing child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures which reflect
best practice
• using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with those who need to know (parents/guardians, and schools).
• fostering an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we deal effectively with bullying if it does arise.
• recruiting staff safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
• providing effective management for staff through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures
• using our procedures to manage any concerns or allegations against staff appropriately
• ensuring that we have effective complaints measures in place
• ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, staff, and parents by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
• recording and storing information professionally and securely.

4.
Key safeguarding risks faced in carrying out of our activities
We have identified four specific key safeguarding risks to children under our supervision during the provision of our activities. Whilst there are other risks, we outline these as specifically relevant to safeguarding such that they warrant mitigating procedures explicitly outlining in this document.

• Physical injury of children through improper application of technique, or through misbehaviour. e.g. collision with other children
• Physical injury of children through interaction with the built environment e.g. a building in disrepair causing injury to children
• Medical emergencies not directly caused by 1 and/or 2.
• Transfer of control/supervision of children. i.e. handing children over to parents/guardians at the end of lessons.

5.
Key procedures mitigating key safeguarding risks
We have outlined the following key procedures that seek to mitigate the core safeguarding risks set out. These mitigations are not exhaustive, but serve as a minimum guidance to minimise risk.
4.1.
Mitigating risk of physical injury of children through improper application of technique, or through misbehaviour:
•
We will follow relevant good practice and training to ensure that children are taught proper technique to avoid injury.
•
We will ensure that children are warmed up and stretched at the start of each session.
•
We will ensure that children are suitably supervised during physical exercise to minimise risk of collisions.
•
In the event of physical injury, an accident book will be filled out by the teach in charge, and signed by the relevant parent/guardian.
•
In the event that a minor physical injury occurs, (e.g. light graze to knee), basic first aid (e.g. wet paper towel) will be applied.
4.2.
Mitigating risk of physical injury of children through interaction with the built environment
•
We will ensure that the premises that we use to conduct our services are in a safe state of repair, paying particular attention to the condition of flooring, and the presence of foreign objects on said flooring.
4.3.
Mitigating risks due to medical emergencies not directly caused by the first two risks.
•
Proper organisation of children’s medical data, combined with consistent awareness of this medical data, regular updating, and a means to contact a responsible guardian in event of a medical event occurring.
•
Ensure that in the event of a medical emergency, the parent or responsible guardian is made immediately aware.
•
Document the event as soon as is appropriate, as this can later assist medical personnel to better understand the cause of the event.
4.4.
Mitigating risks in transfer of control/supervision of children.
•
Ensure that we are aware of who the parent or guardian is for each child.
•
Children are lined up at end of each class, ensuring that children are passed to their guardian individually, and visual confirmation of a hand-over is made for each child.
Dance and Beats are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually or sooner if appropriate.

This policy was last reviewed on: 10/11/23
Signed:  Natalie Mcnamee (CEO, Founder)
Date: 10/11/23
Signed: Bethany Saunders (Dance School Manager)
Date: 10/11/23