Safeguarding Policy

Rachael Reynolds School of Dance is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people up to the age of 18. A “child” is anyone who has not reached their 18th birthday.

We believe everyone has a responsibility to promote the welfare of children and young people, keep them safe from harm, abuse and exploitation, and practise in a way that protects them.

This policy applies to paid staff, guest teachers, volunteers, dancers and anyone working on behalf of Rachael Reynolds School of Dance.

1. The purpose of this policy

The purpose of this policy is to:

• protect children and young people who attend Rachael Reynolds School of Dance;
• support children and young people in regular classes, performances, workshops and any other activities linked to the dance school;
• provide parents, carers, staff and volunteers with guidance on our approach to child protection;
• explain what should happen if someone suspects a child or young person may be experiencing, or at risk of, harm;
• make clear the responsibilities of staff, volunteers and those working with children at the school.

2. Our safeguarding commitment

We will take reasonable steps to keep children and young people safe while they are in our care. We recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

We aim to create an environment where children feel safe, respected, listened to and able to speak up if they are worried about anything.

We give equal priority to keeping all children and young people safe regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexuality, background or economic circumstance.

We recognise that some children may be additionally vulnerable because of previous experiences, communication needs, disability, dependency, family circumstances or other factors.

3. Legal and guidance framework

We recognise our duty to act appropriately in response to allegations, reports or suspicions of abuse or harm.

This policy is informed by relevant legislation and guidance, including:

• the Children and Young Persons Act 1963;
• the Children Act 1989 and 2004;
• the Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014;
• Working Together to Safeguard Children.

4. Designated Safeguarding Lead

Rachael Reynolds School of Dance has a Designated Safeguarding Lead, also known as the DSL. The DSL is responsible for overseeing safeguarding practice, recording concerns and ensuring that concerns are shared with the correct authorities where appropriate.

DSL training

Training for this role includes:

• DSL New to Role / Refresher: 28 September 2017;
• Paediatric First Aid: 29 September 2023;
• Emergency First Aid at Work: 28 June 2024;
• Emergency First Aid Refresher: 13 January 2025;
• NSPCC Child Protection & Safeguarding Training: 11 May 2020;
• DSL Level 3: 2 December 2025.

5. Staff and volunteer responsibilities

All teachers and volunteers at Rachael Reynolds School of Dance will read and have access to this policy. They must understand their legal and moral responsibility to protect children and young people from harm, abuse and exploitation.

Staff and volunteers must:

• understand how to safeguard children in their care;
• know how to report concerns about a child or young person;
• know how to report concerns about the conduct of an adult working with children;
• report safeguarding concerns to the DSL at the next available opportunity;
• confirm concerns in writing as soon as possible where the initial report is verbal;
• take practical steps to keep children safe from harm and hazards in class;
• respond appropriately in the event of an accident or emergency;
• not disclose sensitive or personal information unnecessarily.

Any changes or updates to safeguarding procedures will be communicated to staff by the DSL.

6. DBS checks and safer practice

It is our requirement that teaching staff, and volunteers over the age of 18 who work with children, have a clear and up-to-date enhanced DBS check and are aware of this safeguarding policy.

All staff and volunteers have a strict obligation never to subject a child or young person to harm or abuse. Allegations or suspicions of abuse will be taken very seriously and may be treated as gross misconduct.

7. How we seek to safeguard children and young people

Rachael Reynolds School of Dance will seek to safeguard children and young people by:

• recognising that everybody has the right to dance;
• providing a safe space where dancers are valued and treated with respect and dignity;
• putting the welfare of each child first;
• treating all dancers and parents with respect;
• never accepting bullying of any form;
• ensuring adult members provide a positive role model;
• taking action to stop inappropriate behaviour;
• keeping informed of changes in legislation and safeguarding practice;
• keeping contact and medical details up to date and available at the place of teaching or performance;
• reporting concerns to the DSL and, where necessary, onwards to children’s social care or another appropriate authority;
• fostering an environment of communication, transparency and trust.

8. Consent to share information

There are some circumstances where we ask parents or carers for consent, such as photo and video permissions or performance permissions.

If a teacher shares information with the DSL and there are concerns about the safety of a child that may need to be referred to Surrey Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, we will seek consent from the parents or carers involved where appropriate.

Parents or carers will usually be informed that we are referring a case and why. However, if consent is refused, we may still make a referral where this is necessary to protect a child. The reason consent was not given must be recorded.

When consent may not be sought

There are some situations where consent may not be sought before sharing information, including:

• where a child is in immediate danger and medical attention is required;
• where obtaining consent from a parent or carer could place the child or another family member at risk;
• where discussing the concern with parents or carers could put a staff member or another person at risk.

It is our legal duty to disclose necessary information to relevant authorities as part of our child protection responsibilities. Any decision to share information to protect a child from harm must be recorded, including the reason for disclosure, what was shared and who it was shared with.

9. Child protection

Child protection is part of safeguarding. It focuses on protecting individual children who are identified as suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm.

Significant harm may occur where a child is abused or neglected, where harm is inflicted, or where there has been a failure to act to prevent harm.

Children may be abused by people known to them, such as family members or people in a school or community setting, or by people unknown to them, including online. Abuse can be carried out by adults or by other children.

All teachers and volunteers must be able to recognise and know how to act upon signs of harm or abuse where a child’s health or development may be impaired. Any concerns must be recorded and shared with the DSL.

10. Allegations against staff

Any report of concern about the behaviour of a member of staff, or allegation of abuse against a member of staff, must immediately be reported to the DSL.

Where an allegation suggests that a member of staff may have caused harm to a child, the DSL will refer to the appropriate Local Authority Designated Officer, also known as the LADO.

The member of staff who reports the allegation, and the member of staff who is the subject of the allegation, must not take part in any further investigation, including questioning children.

11. Safer recruitment

When recruiting teachers and volunteers, we follow a safer recruitment process to help ensure that new staff are suitable to work with children.

We will:

• advertise vacancies appropriately;
• ask for identification;
• ask for original copies of relevant qualifications;
• conduct interviews with at least two people present where possible;
• ask for evidence of a clean, enhanced DBS check or apply for one;
• ensure new staff are knowledgeable about our policies and safeguarding procedures.

12. If a child discloses abuse

If a child tells you that abuse has taken place, you should:

• remain calm and in control;
• listen carefully and allow the child to speak at their own pace;
• ask questions only for clarification;
• avoid questions that suggest a particular answer;
• not promise to keep the information secret;
• explain that you need to share the information with people who can help;
• reassure the child that they did the right thing by telling someone;
• tell the child what will happen next;
• speak immediately to the DSL;
• make a written note as soon as possible using the child’s own words;
• record the date, time, names involved or mentioned, and who the information was passed to;
• sign and date the record.

You must never investigate or take sole responsibility for a situation where a child makes a disclosure. The DSL will liaise with the relevant authorities, usually Children’s Social Care or the Police.

If the disclosure relates to something a parent or carer has done, the DSL should seek advice from Children’s Social Care first.

13. Types of abuse

The following examples are included to help staff and volunteers recognise possible concerns. This is not a complete list. It is not the responsibility of staff or volunteers to determine whether abuse has taken place, but they must share concerns with the DSL.

Neglect

Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic physical or psychological needs. This may include physical neglect, educational neglect, emotional neglect or medical neglect.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse is when a child is forced or persuaded to take part in sexual activities, whether or not they understand what is happening. It can include physical contact, non-contact activities, online abuse, grooming or sexual exploitation.

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is emotional maltreatment that has a serious and persistent negative effect on a child’s emotional development. It may include humiliation, criticism, rejection, isolation, threats, bullying or frightening a child.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is deliberately hurting a child and causing physical harm. It may include hitting, kicking, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning or otherwise causing non-accidental harm.

14. Access to this policy

This policy can be viewed by parents and carers of children who attend Rachael Reynolds School of Dance. A copy will also be kept available on site.

15. Contact