Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Downland Dance believes 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 or young person in our care and seek to protect them from harm regardless of race, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religious belief or any other form of identity or creed. We acknowledge our duty to act appropriately to any allegations, reports or suspicions of abuse.

We recognise that some children are additionally vulnerable and/or have additional needs due to past experiences, their level of dependency, being a member of a minority ethnic group, disabled children, and understand the barriers these children may face, for example with communication or the impact of discrimination.

Downland Dance believes in embracing difference and diversity, and expects all staff and volunteers involved with the dance school to respect the rights of all children, young people and adults. We will create a safe and welcoming environment for all.

This policy applies to all our staff/teachers/volunteers/dancers and anyone working on behalf of Downland Dance, and covers children under the age of 18 and/or vulnerable adults.

The purpose of this policy:

To protect children and young people who dance at Downland Dance, including those who participate in regular classes, performances, workshops, master classes or any other activities linked to the school.

To provide teachers, staff, parents and volunteers with guidance to our approach to child welfare, and what they should do if they suspect a child or young person is experiencing or is at risk of harm.

• To protect children and young people in our care, we will:
• Value and respect all children and listen to what they have to say
• Ensure that everybody has the right to dance
• Put the welfare of each child first
• Work with children, parents and relevant organisations
• Encourage enthusiastic teaching practises which promote constructive criticism as opposed to negative criticism
• Encourage a safe and healthy approach to studying dance for all students
• Highlight the benefits of dance to any individual both personally and socially, as well as physically
• Share our policy with all staff, parents and students
• Ensure all required checks (including safeguarding training) are made when hiring staff or accepting help from volunteers, and that those in regular contact with children hold a current DBS check
• Provide appropriate training and support to all staff
• Take responsibility for children and young people’s safety when in our care
• Maintain an adequate level of insurance to cover all teaching activities
• Seek permission from parents before taking images (photographs or film) of students and inform them how and where the images will be used, as detailed in our Photography and Video policy
• Take action to stop any inappropriate behaviour
• Report suspected neglect or abuse to the nominated member of staff, relevant organisation, or police
• Never accept bullying in any form
• Keep informed of changes to legislation and policies regarding the welfare and protection of children
• Ensure that this policy is reviewed at least annually.

Concerns about a child’s welfare or safety can be reported, in confidence, to our designated safeguarding lead, the deputy safeguarding lead, or the child’s teacher as set out in our Reporting Suspected Neglect or Abuse policy.

Downland Dance Safeguarding Lead: Adam Harris Contact: adam@downland-dance.co.uk,
Deputy Safeguarding Lead: Suzanne Simcox Contact: suzanne@downland-dance.co.uk,

Additional guidance can be found in the following documents:

• Policy for Reporting Suspected Neglect or Abuse
• Policy of Appropriate Physical Contact in Dance
• Photography and Video Policy
• Health and Safety Policy

This policy was last reviewed on 31/08/2020

Policy for Reporting Suspected Neglect or Abuse

Concerns regarding a child’s welfare can be reported by:

• Parents
• Teachers
• Friends
• The child or young person

Concerns regarding a child’s welfare can be reported to:

• The child’s teacher
• The Downland Dance Safeguarding Lead
• The Downland Dance Deputy Safeguarding Lead

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 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 acknowledge that it may be helpful to write down what is being reported. We will never add our own assumptions, opinions or judgements, and any written reports will be kept strictly confidential.

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 by dialling 999

If we believe the child or young person’s safety to be of immediate concern, for example if:

• There are allegations/concerns that the child has been sexually/physically abused.
• There are concerns that the child is suffering from severe neglect or other severe health risks.
• There is concern that a child is living in or will be returned to a situation that may place him/her at immediate risk.
• The child is frightened to return home.
• The child has been abandoned or parent is absent.

We will call the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on:
a) 0345 050 7666 (during office hours), or
b) 0800 833 408 (outside office hours)

In all other cases, we will report concerns to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), on: 01865 815956 (if an adult needs to be investigated), or

01865 815843 (in other cases), or

We will make an online referral to MASH at the following URL: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/business/information-providers/multi-agency-safeguarding-hub

This policy was last reviewed on 31/08/2020

Policy of Appropriate Physical Contact in Dance

Dance, and in particular classical ballet is a physical activity which, if done incorrectly could cause physical injury and/or harm. Therefore, in order to help students better understand their body’s alignment and maintain safe practice, appropriate physical contact between students and teachers in class is essential to ballet training.

A teacher will sometimes need to use their hands, and occasionally a foot or knee, to illustrate a concept to a student or to adjust parts of a student’s body (especially with the younger students). This can include:

• Lifting/Supporting
• Adjusting arms, legs, rib cage, hips, feet, hands
• Moving one student in relation to another

Ballet posture often requires adjusting the rib-cage and the buttock area simultaneously, and it is sometimes necessary to touch the inner thigh.

Downland Dance recognises that such physical contact is a potentially complex area; and the school also fully recognises its responsibilities for safeguarding students and teachers and for protecting their welfare.

All touching will only be undertaken if the student is willing to receive a correction by touch, or if the student’s welfare is best served by it.

Downland Dance will ensure that appropriate physical contact is only undertaken in a safe and effective manner in the following ways:

• Contact will be made with particular awareness of the needs of each individual, to assist the young dancer in correcting placement
• All teachers will treat any physical contact with due sensitivity and care
• Contact will not involve force or the use of any instrument
• Teachers will be mindful of location and avoid situations where they are isolated with a student; all classes should be held in studios and dance areas. In the case of there being only one student in a class, the studio door will remain open
• 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, parents or teachers to report any concerns to the Safeguarding Lead (see the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy for details).

This policy was last reviewed on 31/08/2020

Health and Safety Policy

This is a statement of general policy and arrangements for Downland Dance Ltd.

We will actively maintain and promote good health and safety procedures and will:

• Maintain safe and healthy work conditions
• Provide adequate control of the health and safety risks at our school
• Be open to comments and suggestions from our employees, students and their parents on matters relating to health and safety
• Provide information, instruction and supervision for employees and students and make them aware of this policy
• Ensure all teachers are capable of doing their tasks, hold any required qualifications, and that they receive adequate training
• Record any harm or injuries that occur in an Accident Book and make changes where required to avoid similar incidents in the future
• Regularly review and update this policy

Adam Harris has overall responsibility for health and safety.

Suzanne Simcox has day-to-day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into practice.

A First Aid box is located at:

Abingdon West Wing Studio: In the cupboard above the sink in the waiting area.
Didcot Girls School: In the Downland Dance swap box (stored behind the curtain in the studio).

An Accident Book is located at:
Abingdon West Wing Studio: In the cupboard above the sink in the waiting area.
Didcot Girls School: In the Downland Dance swap box (stored behind the curtain in the studio).

In the case of an emergency or serious injury, please contact the emergency services on 999

This policy was last reviewed on 31/08/2020

COVID-19 Student/Parent Guidelines – Returning to the Studio

Essential guidelines for ensuring a safe return to dance classes in the studio. Please follow the following carefully.

Arriving at the studio/setting up for classes

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND CLASSES IF YOU OR ANYONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAS EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 IN THE PAST 14 DAYS. IF YOU EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS AFTER ATTENDING CLASS, PLEASE LET US KNOW IMMEDIATELY.

• Please arrive at the studio ready dressed for classes. This should include hair, as you will not be able to use the changing rooms.
• Bring as little with you as possible (no bags, excess outdoor clothing, personal belongings etc.)
• Please only bring character skirts/shoes or any props with you if they have been requested by your teacher.
• Make sure you bring a water bottle with you from home, which is already filled.
• Please wait outside the main entrance for your teacher to collect you. Maintain a safe distance between yourself and other students and their families whilst you are waiting.

Before classes

• Your teacher will collect you from outside. Please maintain a good distance whilst walking to the studio.
• Please arrive promptly as your teacher will not be able to collect any latecomers.
• Please leave your coats and any outdoor clothing with your parents where possible.
• Make sure you sanitize your hands at both the main entrance and the entrance to the studio.
• Parents should not come inside the building, and should maintain a distance if waiting outside.
• You are required to wear a face covering whilst walking through the building or when using the toilets.
• Your teacher will hold open any closed doors for you. Please do not open them yourselves.
• Your teacher will show you where to leave your outdoor shoes. Make sure you leave a good distance between yours and other’s shoes. At DGS, please do not leave belongings on the green steps as these are hard to clean.
• Do not use the swap boxes.
• Do not use water stations or beakers from the cupboards in Abingdon. Your teacher will fill up your water bottle for you if needs be.
• You will be required to wear a face mask if the size of the class you attend is greater than the following:
  • Abingdon – 7
  • Didcot – 10.

During classes

• You may wear a mask or face covering if you wish. For classes where the number of students is greater than those listed above, you must wear a face mask at all times, except briefly when taking a drink.
• Please maintain an adequate social distance at all times.
• Your teacher has been instructed to keep a 2m distance from you at all times. Please do not come too close to her.
• Do not touch the music player, mirrors or any other surfaces that are not necessary.
• Character skirts and shoes will not be used for the time being. Please leave these at home.
• Do not use any props (with the exception of a Swiss Ball for PBT, which each student must bring from home, and sanitize on entry to the studio).
• Latecomers will not be allowed to join the class.
• Do not share water bottles or any other personal belongings.
• If you need to use the bathroom, you may only do so one at a time.

Leaving the studio

• Please sanitize your hands once again as you leave the studio.
• Your teacher will escort you back to the main entrance to be collected by your parents.
• Make sure you take all personal belongings with you as any lost property will be thrown away. We are unable to store lost property at the moment.
• Everyone in your class must have left the studio before the next class will be permitted to enter. Please help us to keep classes running on time.
• We will clean the studio between each class, and more deeply between bubbles. Extra time has been added to the timetable to ensure that students do not meet with those of other bubbles.

Downland Dance will continue to monitor class sizes and may need to make adaptations to the timetable in case of a class growing too large.

We may need to add to/amend these guidelines at any point as we deem necessary.

Remember, if you do not feel safe joining in with a class in person, or if you would like to attend a class which is outside of your bubble, you will still be able to join in virtually using Zoom. Some classes will also be available on demand in the closed ‘Members Area’ of our website.

To see of COVID-19 Studio Dance Classes Risk Assessment, CLICK HERE.

COVID-19 Health and Wellbeing Policy

Introduction
We are committed to fulfilling our duty of care to protect the health, safety and welfare of our students, carers and teachers during this pandemic.

We will keep our students, carers and teachers as up to date as we can with all current World Health Organisation and UK government guidance where they impact upon our working activities.

We recognise that this is a unique situation and may cause some level of stress and anxiety. We will therefore look to provide information, guidance and instruction to support our students’ wellbeing as much as we can during such times.

Director responsibilities

• Maintain an up-to-date Covid-19 risk assessment.
• Monitor the studios and classes to assess any further changes required as the situation develops.
• Ensure good communication with the teachers and the students and their carers, particularly where there are organisational and procedural changes.

Teacher responsibilities

• Follow the guidelines in the Covid-19 Teacher Guidelines document.
• Ensure students and carers are fully aware of, and follow, the organisational and procedural changes.
• Raise any issues or concerns with one of the Directors of the school.

Student and Carer responsibilities

• Follow any information and instruction provided regarding the health and safety of you and the other students and carers during the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Raise any issues or concerns with your teacher or one of the Directors of the school.

This policy was last reviewed on 31/08/2020

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