Safeguarding Policy

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At LCM Dance our first priority is to provide a safe and caring environment  for the children and young people we teach.  We recognise we have a duty of care and this policy sets out our responsibilities and best practice for child protection and welfare and applies to all teachers, volunteers, students and anyone working in any capacity on behalf of the school.

We aim to establish an environment where children can learn and develop.  We will do this by:

Recruitment

Ensuring that all staff and volunteers are recruited safely and all DBS checks are made to ensure they are current and suitable to work with children.

All potential applicants are interviewed by the Principal and observed teaching before an appointment is offered.

Appointments are subject to a probationary period.

Safeguarding procedure

Valuing children, listening to their concerns. showing respect towards them and ensuring children know there are adults in the school who they can approach if needed.

Ensuring that all staff and volunteers understand the signs of abuse and their responsibilities to refer any concerns to the safeguarding lead :  Miss Lucy Malin . Principal LCM Dance.

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

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

Teachers will keep written records of concerns about children without adding assumptions, opinions or judgements.

Confidentiality

All matters relating to a child will always be treated confidentially and will only be disclosed to a teacher if it would benefit the student teaching.

Behaviour 

At LCM Dance we have a no  bullying policy and will not tolerate bullying of any kind.  We would expect that parents would support us in this and in speaking to their child about behaviour.

We encourage students to build relationships within dance classes and to show mutual respect for one another.

We ask all students to treat others how you would wish to be treated themselves.

We ask that all students show self-discipline and support to others by being polite and showing good manners to Teachers and fellow students.

We encourage all students to be respectful of each other's property whilst on the premises.

Equality

We welcome all children to our classes without discrimination.

We will make provision for all types of learning techniques to be used to access all types of learners.

We must insist that all children under the age of 12 years are collected by a parent or guardian and will be kept by the class teacher until collected.  Please ensure your child is collected on time.

Corrections and body positions

The nature of dance requires that it is sometimes necessary to  show an idea or physically correct positions of the body, head, arm, leg, foot, adjusting hips, lifting etc when necessary and this is always done with care and professionalism and respect for the students wishes and welfare.  We will say why and how we will be correcting the student’s position before making any contact.

Photographs, film, video

All new parents are required to complete a registration form which states whether or not you give your permission for photographs, video and publicity material to be used on public social media for LCM Dance Academy.

Parents may withdraw their permission at any time and images will be removed as soon as reasonable and without question.

Any parent who wishes to take photographs / video's at an LCM Dance Academy event must first obtain the permission of the Principal.  Only then if the Principal agrees and all parents concerned give their permission may a photograph or video be posted on social media.  

Failure to comply with this policy will result in the parent concerned being asked to remove all evidence of photography / filming. Any parent / guardian who does not permit the use of photography or recording as stated above must put this in writing to the Principal.

This policy was last updated on 25/02/2024 and will next be reviewed on 24/02/2025.