Policy’s Page

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  1. Child Protection Policy
  2. Complaints Procedure
  3. Safeguarding Policy
  4. Equal opportunities policy
  5. Health & Safety Policy
  6. Private Policy

1.Child Protection Policy

Holly’s School of Dance & Hip Hop Inc is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people. It recognises its responsibility to take all reasonable steps to promote safe practice and to protect children from harm, abuse and exploitation. Holly’s School of Dance & Hip Hop Inc acknowledges its duty to act appropriately to any allegations, reports or suspicions of abuse. Paid staff and volunteers will endeavour to work together to encourage the development of an ethos which embraces difference and diversity and respects the rights of children, young people and adults.

Holly’s School of Dance & Hip Hop Inc recognises its duty of care under the Children and Young Persons Act 1963, the Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014, the Children Act 1989 and 2004 and the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (in Scotland Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003), Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018.

Holly’s School of Dance & Hip Hop Inc believes that:

  • The welfare of the child is paramount;
  • All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse;
  • All suspicions and allegations of abuse should be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately;
  • All members and employees of the organisation should be clear on how to respond appropriately

Holly’s School of Dance & Hip Hop Inc will ensure that:

  • all children will be treated equally and with respect and dignity;
  • the welfare of each child will always be put first;
  • a balanced relationship based on mutual trust will be built which empowers the children to share in the decision-making process;
  • enthusiastic and constructive feedback will be given rather than negative criticism;
  • bullying will not be accepted or condoned;
  • all adult members of the organisation provide a positive role model for dealing with other people;
  • action will be taken to stop any inappropriate verbal or physical behaviour;
  • it will keep up-to-date with health & safety legislation;
  • it will keep informed of changes in legislation and policies for the protection of children;
  • it will undertake relevant development and training;
  • it will hold a register of every child involved with the organisation and will retain a contact name and number close at hand in case of emergencies.

The organisation has safeguarding procedures which accompany this policy. This policy should also be read in conjunction with the organisation’s Equal Opportunities Policy and Health & Safety Policy.

The organisation has a dedicated Child Protection/Welfare/Safeguarding Officer, who is in charge of ensuring that the safeguarding policy and procedures are adhered to. That person’s name is Holly Machemedze and he/she can be contacted on 07950040152.

In implementing this child protection policy Holly’s School of Dance & Hip Hop Inc will:

  • Communicate to all workers/members their legal and moral responsibility to protect children and young people from harm, abuse and exploitation
  • Communicate to all workers/members/volunteers/members their responsibility to work to the standards that are detailed by the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership, and the need to work at all times towards maintaining high standards of practice in protection of children
  • Ensure that all workers/members understand their duty to report concerns that arise about a child or young person, or a worker’s conduct towards a child/young person, to the organisation’s named person for child protection
  • Ensure that the organisations named person for child protection understands his/her responsibility to refer any child protection concerns to the statutory child protection agencies (i.e. Police and/or Children’s Social Care)
  • Ensure that any procedures relating to the conduct of workers/members are implemented in a consistent and equitable manner
  • Facilitate opportunities for children and young people to express their ideas and views on a wide range of issues in connection with the service they are provided with and to have access to the organisation’s Complaints Procedure.
  • Facilitate involvement of parents or carers in the work of the organisation and to make child protection policies and procedures available to them
  1. Complaints Procedure:

Contact the member of staff you first dealt with, giving details of what you wish to complain about. If the complaint is made in writing or through an answer message, we will inform you that we have received it within three working days. The member of staff will investigate your complaint with the aim to settle the complaint as quickly as possible. Please tell us how you would like to be contacted to receive our response.

In most cases you will receive a full reply to your complaint within 10 working days of making the complaint. If we cannot give you a full reply in this time, we will tell you why and inform you of when you are likely to receive it.

  1. Safeguarding Policy

‘Safeguarding is Everyone’s Business’

Holly’s School of Dance & Hip Hop Inc recognises our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.

We make every effort to provide an environment in which children and adults feel safe, secure, valued and respected, and feel confident to talk is they are worries, believing they will be effectively listened to.

In implementing this child protection policy Holly’s School of Dance & Hip Hop Inc will:

  • Maintain an attitude of “It could happen here”
  • Maintain a “zero-tolerance” approach to sexual violence and sexual harassment.
  • Children have a right to feel safe and secure, they cannot learn effectively unless they do so.
  • All children have a right to be protected from harm and abuse.
  • All staff have a role in the prevention of harm and abuse and an equal responsibility to act immediately on any suspicion or disclosure that may indicate a child is at a risk of harm, either in the setting or in the community, taking into account contextual safeguarding, in accordance with statutory guidance.

Photographs/Images and Recording of children is allowed only after each child’s parent has given consent in advance.

Mobile phones are allowed in case of emergency in each class/at shows/exam settings, use of these devices is strictly for emergencies only. If an emergency arises the individual is expected to seek the responsible adult on site advice if under 18, if over 18 find a suitable location to use devices away from others after alerting the adult in charge.

All Teachers of Holly’s School of Dance are Enhanced DBS checked.

  1. Equal Opportunities Policy

Holly’s School of Dance & Hip Hop Inc is fully committed to the principles of equality and is responsible for ensuring that no job applicant, employee, volunteer or member receives less favourable treatment on the ground of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, parental or marital status, pregnancy, religious belief, class or social background, sexual preference or political belief.

Holly’s School of Dance will ensure that there will be open access to all those who wish to participate in our dance classes, workshops, exams and performances.

  1. Health & Safety Policy

It is the responsibility of all Holly’s School of Dance & Hip Hop Inc staff/volunteers to help maintain the safety and security of the pupils and working/dancing environment – being aware of the risks, identify any potential safety issues and know the appropriate action to take. Taff must be aware of and comply with this Health & Safety policy and all emergency procedures in place at the individual settings used.

Dance Studio Safety Checks

Law protects everyone’s health, safety and welfare at work but we also have the responsibility to look after others and ourselves.

  • Checks to be made before pupils enter the studio includes – but not limited to making plug sockets safe, ensure mirrors are unbroken, the floor is clean and obstacle free, doors and exits are secure and nothing is blocking the emergency exits, light switches are working and not loose.

Risk assessment has been completed and all staff/volunteers have their own copies.

Staff and volunteers are aware of, and have copies of, each settings Fire Evacuation Procedure. In the event of a fire, raise the alarm, take registers and ensure all students exit the building in a calm and orderly manner to the fire assembly point.

Accidents to be recorded in the accident book/form provided to all staff/volunteers an parent’s informed.

  1. Privacy Policy

In order for Holly’s School of Dance to carry out our dance education and training we need to hold certain information about our students.

You can see the information we need by clicking on our “Register Here” page.

Completing the above forms means you consent to Holly’s School of Dance contacting you via the details you have provided and confirm that you accept these details will be kept for as long as your child/children/the individual continue to take part in Holly’s School of Dance classes/workshops.

The information you have provided is only accessible to Holly’s School of Dance staff, including dance teachers and licensed chaperones.

Holly’s School of Dance will not disclose this information to any third parties except where the law allows/requires, or where parents/the individual have given permission to do so.

All data is held upon Holly’s School of Dance staff person or placed in a secured location.

These policies will be regularly monitored by the Executive Committee of the organisation and will be subject to annual review.