Safeguarding and Child protection Policy

We believe everyone has a responsibility to promote the welfare of all young people, to keep them safe and practise in a way that protects them. At Wendy Bates School of Dancing we recognise that:

• The welfare of the young person is paramount.
• All young people regardless of age, gender, racial heritage, religious belief or identity have a right to equal protection from types of harm and abuse.

Everyone at Wendy Bates School of Dancing shares an objective to help keep young people and vulnerable adults safe by:

• Providing a safe environment to learn and teach in for all our pupils and staff.
• Identifying and responding to young people and vulnerable adults in need or support.
• Supporting children’s development in ways which will foster a sense of self-esteem and independence.
• Recording and storing information professionally and securely and adhering to the procedures.
• Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO).

Wendy Bates School of Dancing will endeavour to ensure that all young people and vulnerable adults are protected from harm while they are attending classes by:

• Ensuring all staff undergo a DBS check.
• Establishing and maintain an ethos where children and young people feel secure and are encouraged to talk and are listened to.
• Taking all reasonable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of any child or vulnerable adult in contact with us.
• Reporting all incidents to the DSO who will refer relevant information and concerns with the appropriate agencies who need to know and involve children, parents, families and carers appropriately and in a sensitive manner.
• Providing appropriate training for staff in issues of child protection.

Changing area and reception area

Changing, toilets and reception areas are unsupervised and parents/guardians should be mindful of their responsibilities. Parents/guardians must ensure that young people under the age of 18 are accompanied and supervised at all times when not in dance class or rehearsal.

Photographs, video recordings and press photography

From time to time photographs or video recordings may be made by the school staff or appointed professionals for use in archive or in material used in promotion for the school. If any parent/guardian objects to their child appearing in such material, they must notify the principal, Wendy Bates.

Designated Safeguarding officer: Sascha Hurst