Safeguarding Policy

Designated safeguarding lead- Miss Clare Liddle

This policy applies to all staff and volunteers at Elevate Ballet and Stage Company. We are committed to the safeguarding and wellbeing of all of our students and this policy reflects current legislation, current best practice and complies with the government guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2022), Keeping Children Safe (2004) and Northumberland Children and Adults Safeguarding partnership guidance

Purpose

We recognise the fundamental importance of safeguarding and is central to our work. All our children have the right to learn and be nurtured in a safe environment. Safeguarding the wellbeing of children is everyone’s responsibility. In order to execute this responsibility effectively, all professionals must ensure their approach is child centred. This means that the best interest of the child is considered at all times and central to every decision we make. All staff and volunteers must understand how to keep a child safe, identify risk signs of harm or potential harm and how to seek advise/support from the schools designated safeguard lead (Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022).

Definition

We follow the definition set out in the Children Act (2004) and Working Together to Safeguard Children (2022). The key points are

  • Protecting Children from maltreatment

  • preventing the impairment of children’s health or development

  • Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consitent with the provision of safe care

  • Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

This relates to multifaceted aspects which are often interrelated including

  • Health and Safety

  • Attendance and Wellbeing

  • Meeting the needs of children with medical conditions

  • Safe use of images

  • Safe recruitment and DS checks

  • First Aid

  • Fire safety

  • Equality and Diversity

Procedure

We follow the procedure set out by Northumberland County Council Child safeguarding board and take account of guidance set out by the Dfe to

  • Ensure we have a designated safeguarding lead

  • Ensure every member of staff including volunteers knows the name of the safeguarding lead, their role and how to contact them.

  • Ensure that all staff and volunteers understand their role and responsibility in being alert to the signs of abuse and their responsibility to referring any concerns on the the designated lead

  • Keep records of concerns about children , even where there is a need to refer the concern immediately.

  • Ensure all records are kept secure

  • Develop and follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff of volunteer. Safe will be suspended to further safeguard the child and the member of staff while further investigation is undertaken. It should be reported to the Local Authority Designated Safeguarding Lead (LADO), as appropriate

  • Ensure that all staff and volunteers have an Enhanced DBS check, have first aid training and fire safety awareness.

Ensuring a child’s safety whilst taking a class

  • Once all children have been received and marked as “ in attendance” then external doors must be locked. This is to ensure the safety of the children and manage safe access to the classroom.

  • Staff will not assist with toilet requirements, therefore any child who is not independent at using the toilet should have a parent on site to assist where necessary.

  • Children should be collected by the designated adult who is known to the teacher and emergency contact details have been provided for. Should an alternative adult need to collect your child then this should be made explicit to the principle/teacher and a suitable code word given, known only by the responsible parent, receiving adult and the teacher. If the teacher is not satisfied that identify has been confirmed then the child will not be released from class and the responsible guardian will be contacted.