JMDS Child Protection Policy

 
At JMDS we believe that no child or young person should be the subject of neglectful or abusive behaviour. We will promote and maintain the welfare of every child in our care and seek to protect them from harm regardless of race, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief or any other form of identity or creed. Please see General School Policies for policies regarding unsupervised children.

In short, we will create a safe and welcoming environment for all.

This policy applies to all our teachers and volunteers and children under the age of 18.

To protect children and young people in our care, we will:

•  Value and respect children and listen to what they have to say
•  Work with children, parents and relevant  organisations
• Share our policy with all staff, parents and students
•  Ensure all required checks are made when hiring staff and that those in regular contact with children hold a current DBS certificate
• Provide appropriate training and support to all staff
• Take responsibility for children and young people’s safety when in our care
• Inform parents of all new students that photographs and film will be taken at various points throughout the year and seek their permission for these images to be used on public social media
• Report suspected neglect or abuse to Miss Hollie on 07809 294195 / misshollie@jmdancingschool.com.
• Ensure Miss Hollie has up-to-date safeguarding training.
• Ensure that this policy is regularly updated

JMDS 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. JMDS 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 as per The Children Act 1989.

Policy Aims

The aim of JMDS’ Child Protection Policy is to promote good practice:

  • Providing children and young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of the studio

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

Promoting Good Practice

JMDS will encourage the following:

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

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

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

  • Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with dancers (e.g., it is not appropriate to have an intimate relationship with a child)

  • Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust, which empower children to share in the decision-making process

  • Making dance fun, enjoyable and promoting fair play

  • Ensuring that if any form of manual/physical support is required, it should be provided openly and according to guidelines provided by the ISTD. Care is needed, as it is difficult to maintain hand positions when the child is constantly moving. Young people should always be consulted and their agreement gained. Some parents are becoming increasingly sensitive about manual support and their views should always be carefully considered

  • 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 ensuring parents/teachers/coaches/officials work in pairs

  • Being an excellent role model

  • Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism

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

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

Guidelines for use of photographic filming at dance events

Videoing as a training aid: there is no intention to prevent the use of 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 will be taken in the storage of such films. If any other kind of photographic material or video of your child is required, e.g. DVD of a performance or for advertisement material, then parental permission will be sought. Students/parents/carers are not allowed to record or take photos during classes or performances.

 Recruitment and selecting staff and volunteers

JMDS recognises that anyone may have the potential to abuse children in some way and, as such, will take all reasonable steps to ensure that unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. When undertaking preselection checks we will obtain:

  • Information from the Disclosure and Barring Service​ (DBS CHECK)

  • Evidence of identity (passport or driving licence with photo)

 Reporting suspected neglect or abuse

 Concerns regarding a child’s welfare can be reported by:
• Parents
• Teachers
• Friends
• The child or young person

 All allegations of neglect or abuse will be taken seriously. If a concern is reported directly by the child or young person we will not seek to disagree, ask probing or leading questions, or do anything else which may discourage them.

 We will make it clear that reported concerns cannot be kept confidential but will need to be shared with a nominated member of staff or external organisation. Parents or guardians will also be involved if appropriate.

We will ensure we do not add our own assumptions, opinions or judgements.

We recognise that early action is vital. Any concerns will be reported immediately. If the child or young person is in immediate danger of harm, we will contact the police on 999. In all other cases, we will report concerns to the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership on 0300 123 4043.

 Appropriate physical contact in dance

Teaching dance is a physical activity, and a teacher will sometimes need to make physical contact with a student to show an idea or to correct the student’s position. This can include:
• Lifting
• Adjusting arms, legs, rib cage, hips, feet, hands
• Moving one student in relation to another

Where contact is needed, we will remain sensitive to the student’s wishes and put their welfare first. In all cases, we will say why and how we will be correcting the student’s position before making any contact. We encourage students to report any concerns.

Chaperoning children

Registered chaperones and parent volunteers in receipt of an enhanced DBS certificate chaperone students at JMDS shows and show rehearsals. We adhere to adult:child ratio guidance.

 Use of photographs and film of children

The parent of every new student is required to sign a document giving us permission – or not – to use photographs and/or film of JMDS students in JMDS publicity, including on public websites and social media.

· Where we have publicly displayed images, parents and students may withdraw their permission at any time. In such cases, the images will be removed as soon as is reasonable and without question.
·  We ask that any parent wanting to take photographs or film at our events only post these online or on social media if they have the permission of all parents concerned.
· Please note that some parents or students may have refused permission without your knowledge: do not assume.

Bullying policy

We do not tolerate bullying. In case of bullying, we will:

  • Talk with the bully/ies to 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 record