TDA Child Safeguarding Policy
This policy applies to all staff, including teachers, student teachers, visiting professionals & volunteers or anyone working on behalf of The Drama Academy.
The Drama Academy acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and requirements.
The policy recognises that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances. It aims to ensure that regardless of age, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, disability, sexual orientation or identity, all children
• have a positive and enjoyable experience of participating in the performing arts at The Drama Academy in a safe and child centered environment
• are protected from abuse whilst participating in performing arts classes at The Drama Academy or outside of the activity.
The Drama Academy acknowledges that some children can be particularly vulnerable to abuse and we accept the responsibility to take reasonable and appropriate steps to ensure their welfare. We will do this by working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies in order to promote young peoples welfare.
As part of our safeguarding policy The Drama Academy will
• promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people by valuing them, listening to and respecting them
• ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people
• ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents/concerns of abuse and support provided to the individual/s who raise or disclose the concern
• ensure that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored
• recruit staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.
• ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation.
• share information about child protection and good practice with children’s, parents, staff and volunteers
• Share concerns with agencies who need to know, and involve parents and children appropriately
The policy and procedures will be widely promoted and are mandatory for everyone involved in The Drama Academy. Failure to comply with the policy and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from the organisation.
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
The policy will be reviewed annually or in the following circumstances.
• changes in legislation and/or government guidance
• as required by the Local Safeguarding Children Board
• as a result of any other significant change or event
This Policy has been drawn up on the basis of the law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:
• Children act 1989
• United Convention of the Rights of the child 1991
• Data Protection Act 1998
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Sexual Offences Act 2003
• Children Act 2004
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
• Children and Families Act 2014
• Relevant government guidance on safeguarding children.
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This Policy was last reviewed on 10/01/2022
Signed: Mrs D Cunningham
Principal TDA
Designated Safeguarding Officer: Louise Clarke
TDA Child Safeguarding Policy - Best Practice
TDA will encourage the following
• Always working in an open environment (e.g. avoid private or unobserved situations and encouraging an open environment i.e. no secrets).
• Treating all young people/disabled 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 students (e.g. it is not appropriate to have an intimate relationship with a child or to share a room with them).
• Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust which empowers children to share in the decision making process.
• Making performing arts 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.
• Being an excellent role model – this includes not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of young people.
• Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
• Recognising the developments/ needs and capacity of young people and disabled adults – avoiding excessive training or competition and not pushing them against their will.
• Securing parental consent in writing to act in loco parentis, if the need arises to give permission for the administration of emergency first aid and/or other medical treatment.
• Keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given.
• Requesting written parental consent if TDA centre officials are required to transport young people in their cars.
Practice to be avoided
The following should be avoided except in emergencies. If cases arise where these situations are unavoidable they should only occur with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge at TDA or the child’s parents. For example, a child sustains an injury and needs to go to hospital, or a parent fails to arrive to
collect a child at the end of a session –
• Avoid spending excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others.
• Avoid taking children to your home where they will be alone with you (with the exception of scheduled one-one lessons with parental permission).
Practice never to be sanctioned
• The following should never be sanctioned. You should never:
• Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay.
• Share a room with a child.
• Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching.
• Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged.
• Make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun.
• Reduce a child to tears as a form of control.
• Allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.
• Do things of a personal nature for children or disabled adults that they can do for themselves.
• Invite or allow children to stay at your home unsupervised.
Guidelines for use of photographic filming at events
• TDA will adhere to the following Rules and Guidelines with regards to
Photography and Filming:
• All parents will have completed the registration form agreeing to Images of their child being used. Images of children posted online or in printed matter will be identified by their first name only and with no other personal details.
• To reduce the risk of inappropriate use of images only images deemed suitable will be used.
• Anyone with any complaints about images posted can speak to the TDA Child Protection Officer and the images will be removed.
• Anyone concerned about inappropriate use of images can report the matter to the TDA child protection officer and procedures will be followed to report the matter to the appropriate authority.
• The expectations for parents or spectators who wish to take photographs or film at an event are to avoid inappropriate or intrusive photography.
• Any child or parent who has concerns regarding inappropriate or intrusive photography must report there concerns to the TDA Child Protection Officer who will act in the same manner as they would with any other child protection concern.
Recruitment and selecting staff and volunteers
• All TDA staff who work alone with children are required to posses a full enhanced DBS certificate.
• All student teachers and trainee staff will posses a full enhanced DBS where possible. Where this is not possible, staff without a DBS must never be left alone with a child or group of children without the presence of a person with a DBS certificate.
• All senior staff have completed Safeguarding training.
• At all shows and events where Chaperones and dressers are required only licensed Chaperones and others who have an enhanced DBS will be allowed to chaperone children and/ or be present backstage or in the dressing room.
Insurance
• TDA has full Public Liability Insurance & Employers Liability Insurance.
If you have any questions about this policy please contact the Child protection Officer, Louise Clarke.
This document was reviewed and updated on 10/01/2024