Child Protection Policy

• The welfare of children is vital.

• All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse.

• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

• All staff (paid/voluntary) working in dance have a responsibility to report concerns to the Prompt Corner Academy of Dance's Principal Katie Chaldecott-Gill.

Prompt Corner Academy of Dance has a duty of care to safeguard all children involved in dance from harm. All children have a right to protection and the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account.

Prompt Corner Academy of Dance will ensure the safety and protection of all children involved in dance through adherence to the Child Protection guidelines. A child is defined as under 18 years old in The Children Act 1989.

The aim of the Prompt Corner Academy of Dance Protection Policy is to promote good practice:

• Providing children, young people and adults with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of Prompt Corner Academy of Dance

• Allow all staff/volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.

Prompt Corner Academy of Dance will encourage the following:

• Always working in an open environment (e.g. avoid private or unobserved situations and encouraging an open environment i.e. no secrets).

• Treating all young people/disabled people/adults equally, and with respect and dignity.

• Always putting the welfare of each young person first, before winning or achieving goals.

• Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust which empowers children to share in the decision making process.

• Making dance fun, enjoyable and promoting fair play.

• Keeping up to date with the technical skills, qualifications and insurance in dance.

• Involving parents/carers wherever possible (e.g. for the responsibility of their children in the changing rooms). If groups have to be supervised in the changing rooms, always ensure parents/teachers/coaches/officials work in pairs and chaperones will hold DBS certificates.

• Being an excellent role model - this includes not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of young people and not using swear words.

• Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.

• Recognising the developments/ needs and capacity of young people and disabled adults - avoiding excessive training or competition and not pushing them against their will.

• Securing parental consent in writing to act in loco parentis, if the need arises to give permission for the administration of emergency first aid and/or other medical treatment.

• Keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given.

• Requesting written parental consent if dance centre officials are required to transport young people in their cars.

The following should be avoided except in emergencies. If cases arise where these situations are unavoidable they should only occur with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge at Prompt Corner Academy of Dance or the child’s parents. For example, a child sustains an injury and needs to go to hospital, or a parent fails to arrive to collect a child at the end of a session:

• Avoid spending excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others.

• Avoid taking children to your home where they will be alone with you.

The following should never be sanctioned. You should never:

• Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games.

• Share a room with a child.

• Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching.

• Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged.

• Make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun.

• Reduce a child to tears as a form of control.

• Allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.

• Do things of a personal nature for children or disabled adults that they can do for themselves.

Videoing as a training aid: there is no intention to prevent teachers using video equipment as a legitimate coaching aid. However, dancers and their parents/carers should be aware that this is part of the coaching programme and care should be taken in the storage of such films. Prompt Corner Academy of Dance will adhere to the following Rules and Guidelines with regards to:

Photography and Filming:

• Images of children posted online or in printed matter will be not be identified by name and with no other personal details, unless previously agreed by parent.

• To reduce the risk of inappropriate use of images only images deemed suitable will be used.

• Anyone with any complaints about images posted can speak to the Principal Katie Chaldecott-Gill of Prompt Corner Academy of Dance and the images will be removed.

• Anyone concerned about inappropriate use of images can report the matter to Prompt Corner Academy Of Dance and procedures will be followed to report the matter to the appropriate authority.

• Parents are not permitted to video or take photographs during performances at Prompt Corner Academy of Dance. Acceptances during class tuition can be made upon full agreement of all parents concerned.

Prompt Corner Academy of Dance recognises that anyone may have the potential to abuse children in some way and that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure that unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. When undertaking pre selection checks the following should be included:

• All volunteers/staff should have a valid Disclosure and Baring Service check (formerly known as a CRB). Evidence of identity (passport or driving licence with photo).

• It is not the responsibility of anyone working for Prompt Corner Academy of Dance in a paid or unpaid capacity to take responsibility or to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place. However, there is a responsibility to act on any concerns through contact with the appropriate authorities.

• Prompt Corner Academy of Dance will assure all staff/volunteers that it will fully support and protect anyone, who in good faith reports his or her concern that a colleague is or may be abusing a child.

• Take all signs of bullying very seriously.

• Encourage all children to speak and share their concerns.

• Help the victim to speak out and tell the person in charge or someone in authority.

• Create an open environment.

• Investigate all allegations and take action to ensure the victim is safe.

• Speak with the victim and the bully/ies separately.

• Reassure the victim that you can be trusted and will help them, although you cannot promise to tell no one else.

• Keep records of what is said (what happened by whom, when etc).

• Report any concerns to the child protection officer.

Talk with the bully/ies explain the situation and try to get the bully/ies to understand the consequences of their behaviour.

Seek an apology to the victim/s.

Inform the bully's parents.

Provide support for the teacher of the victim.

Impose sanctions as necessary.

Encourage and support the bully/ies to change behaviour.

Hold meetings with the families to report on progress.

Inform all appropriate members of the action taken.

Keep a written record of action taken.

Prompt Corner Academy of Dance states that unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated at the dance studio or event/competition where Prompt Corner Academy of Dance is being represented.

Unacceptable behaviour may result in a pupil being removed from the school.

Unacceptable behaviour includes, swearing, spitting, bullying, fighting and or derogatory comments towards others.

Most importantly while at competitions you are all representatives of Prompt Corner Academy of Dance and we expect you to behave in an appropriate and positive manner.

You are encouraged to fully support the school and all the pupils within it.

Should any issues arise causing concern please see a member of staff immediately to resolve the situation.