Teddington Dance Studio recognise that we have an explicit duty to safeguard and protect children from abuse as defined in the Children Act 2004 and the Education Act 2002.

Everyone at our organisation shares an objective to help keep children, young people and vulnerable adults safe by:

• Providing a safe environment to learn in.
• Identifying and responding to children, young people and vulnerable adults in need or support and / or protection.
• Supporting children’s development in ways which will foster a sense of self-esteem and independence.
• Fostering a learning environment in which every pupil feels valued and able to articulate their wishes and feelings in their preferred method of communication in an atmosphere of acceptance.

Teddington Dance Studio will endeavour to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are protected from harm while they visit or are attending classes on our property. We will do this by:

1. Making sure our staff are carefully selected.
2. Providing appropriate training for staff in issues of child protection.
3. Ensure all staff (including teaching staff, administrators and ancillary staff) undergo an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure.
4. To establish and maintain an ethos where children and young people feel secure and are encourage to talk, and are listened to.
5. Taking all reasonable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of any child or vulnerable adult in contact with us.
6. Not physically, emotionally or sexually abusing any child or vulnerable adult in contact with us.
7. Taking all reasonable steps to prevent any staff member, persons working for us or member of the public from putting any child or vulnerable adult in a situation in which there is an unreasonable risk to their health and safety.
8. Taking all reasonable steps to prevent any staff member, persons working for us or member of the public from physically, emotionally or sexually abusing any child or vulnerable adult.
9. Reporting to the Principal, Manager or other designated officer any evidence or reasonable suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult has been physically, emotionally or sexually abused in contact with us or anyone in our organisation.
10. Referring to statutory authorities all incidents reported to the Principal, Manager or Designated Safety Officers.
11. Implementing this policy in conjunction with our Health and Safety guidelines already in place.

Everyone working or applying to work for Teddington Dance Studio is to be made aware of our policy for children’s welfare. Furthermore, this document should be issued to all staff and other people who are likely to have contact with children as part of their work with us. Copies of the policy will be held by the Principal of Teddington Dance Studio.