Safeguarding Policy


Mar 29, 2024 02:10 AM



CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Freedom Performing Arts values young people and children as being a vital part of our school and wishes to see them grow, mature and be trained in a healthy and safe environment.
The child protection officer for Freedom Performing Arts is Amy Meikle
Purposes
The purpose of Freedom Performing Arts is to offer children a safe and welcoming environment with fun activities where the children can grow and learn.
Aims
To provide classes for children and young people to help them develop into better performers whilst providing a supportive and safe environment.

To enable the children to express themselves freely.

To help children/young people appreciate the diversity of their fellow classmates.

Child Protection Representative
Freedom Performing Arts has appointed Amy Meikle as our child protection representative. If any teacher has any child safety concerns, they should discuss them with her. She will take on the following responsibilities:
Ensuring that the policy is being put into practice;
Being the first point of contact for child protection issues;
Keeping a record of any concerns expressed about child protection issues;
Bringing any child protection concerns to the notice of the Local Authority if appropriate;
Ensuring that paid staff and volunteers are given appropriate supervision;
Ensuring that everyone involved with the organisation is aware of the identity of the Child Protection Representative.

The policy will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that it is meeting its aims.
Personal/Personnel Safety
A group of children or young people under sixteen should not be left unattended at any time.

Avoid being alone with an individual child or young person for a long time. If there is a need to be alone with a child or young person (e.g. first aid or he/she is distressed) make sure that another worker knows where you are and why.

At no time should a volunteer or worker from any external organisation arrange to meet a young person away from the activity without someone else being there.

Teenage assistants should always be supervised


Child Safety
Make sure that the area you are using for classes is fit for the purpose

Make sure that all teachers and assistants know
Where the emergency phone is and how to operate it
Where the first aid kit is
Who is responsible for First Aid and how to record accidents or injuries in the incident book
What to do in the event of a fire or other emergency

Do not let children go home without an adult unless the parent has specifically said they may do so. Never let a child go with another adult unless the parent has informed you that this will happen.

Teachers will need to use occasional hands on contact to assist students with learning new skills. This may vary and may include holding hands in a circle, placing hands on shoulders to guide students and hands on contact to help students stretch. By accepting our terms you agree for appropriate hands on contact to be made.

What is child protection?
Child protection is the response to the different ways in which a young person’s or child’s physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual health are damaged by the actions of another person.
What we will do
Listen to the child/young person

Look at them directly and do not promise to keep any secrets before you know what they are, but always let the child/young person know if, and why, you are going to tell anyone

Look at them directly and do not promise to keep any secrets before you know what they are, but always let the child/young person know if, and why, you are going to tell anyone

Take whatever is said to you seriously and help the child/young person to trust his/her own feelings. Take notes of exactly what is said to you avoiding assumptions and conjecture.

It is not the role of the worker to investigate any allegations (this would contaminate evidence if a situation went to court). Any disclosure by a child/young person must be reported to the named child protection officer.

Speak immediately to the Local Authority or NSPCC for further advice and guidance.

What we will not do
Teachers/volunteers should not begin investigating the matter themselves.
Do not discuss the matter with anyone except the correct people in authority.
Do not form your own opinions and decide to do nothing.
We will not ask leading questions when a child/young person discloses information.