SAFEGUARDING & CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

1: The Purpose and Scope of this Policy
The purpose of this policy statement is:

·       to protect children and young people who receive Taylor’s Dance Company’s services from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services. 

·       to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Taylor’s Dance Company LTD, including directors, managers, employees, subcontractors, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff and students.

2: Legal Framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from nspcc.org.uk/childprotection.

 3: Supporting Documents
This policy statement should be read alongside our organisational policies, procedures, guidance and other related documents:

·       code of conduct for staff and volunteers

·       pupil behaviour policy

·       photography policy

·       complaints policy

·       whistleblowing policy

·       health and safety policy

·       dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child or young person

·       managing allegations against staff and volunteers 

·       recording concerns and information sharing

·       child protection records retention and storage

·       safer recruitment

4: We Believe That:

·       children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind

·       we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

 5: We Recognise That:

·       the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take. 

·       working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies are essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

·       all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.

·       some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.

·       extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse. 

 6: We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

·       Valuing, listening to and respecting them.

·       Appointing a nominated designated child protection officer for children and young people, and a lead director for safeguarding.

·       Adopting child protection and safeguarding best practices through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers.

·       Provide effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently. 

·       Recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.

·       Recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance [more information about this is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office: ico.org.uk/fororganisations].

·       Making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern.

·       Using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately.

·       Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately

·       Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise.

·       Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place.

·       Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.

·       Building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.

 7: Contact Details
Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO):
Sophie Hunt, Office Manager
sophie@taylorsdancecompany.co.uk
07868 656307

Director Lead for Safeguarding and Child Protection:
Niki Taylor, Principal/Director
Niki@taylorsdancecompany.co.uk
07900 661885 

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO):
lado@essex.gov.uk
03330 139797
Essex Safeguarding Children Board: https://www.escb.co.uk/ 

NSPCC Helpline: 
0808 800 5000

 8: Declaration
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. 

This policy was last reviewed on 30/01/2024.

Niki Taylor
Director
30/01/2024