Contents
1. Child Protection Policy
2. Complaints Procedure
3. Safeguarding Policy
4. Equal Opportunities Policy
5. Health & Safety Policy
6. Privacy Policy
7. Data Protection & Retention
8. Online Safety & Social Media Policy
9. Whistleblowing Policy
10. Anti-Bullying Policy
1. Child Protection Policy
Holly’s School of Dance 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, and 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 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, the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (in Scotland, the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003), Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018, and Keeping Children Safe in Education (most recent statutory guidance).
Holly’s School of Dance 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 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 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, contactable on 07950 040152.
In implementing this child protection policy, Holly’s School of Dance 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 their responsibility to work to the standards detailed by the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership, and the need to maintain high standards of practice in the protection of children
• Ensure that all workers/members understand their duty to report concerns about a child, young person, or a worker’s conduct towards a child/young person, to the organisation’s named person for child protection
• Ensure that the organisation’s named person for child protection understands their responsibility to refer any child protection concerns to the statutory child protection agencies (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 matters connected with the service provided, and to have access to the organisation’s Complaints Procedure
• Facilitate involvement of parents or carers in the work of the organisation and make child protection policies and procedures available to them
• DBS checks for all staff and volunteers in regulated activity are renewed at least every three years, or sooner where required by changes in role or guidance
2. 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 a voicemail message, we will confirm receipt within three working days. The member of staff will investigate your complaint with the aim of settling it 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.
Escalation
If you are not satisfied with the response received, you may escalate the complaint directly to Holly Machemedze, Director, who will personally review the matter and provide a final written response within a further 10 working days.
Where a complaint involves a safeguarding concern, it will be handled in line with the Child Protection and Safeguarding Policies and may be referred to external statutory agencies regardless of the stage of this procedure.
3. Safeguarding Policy
“Safeguarding is Everyone’s Business”
Holly’s School of Dance 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 if they have worries, believing they will be effectively listened to.
In implementing this policy, Holly’s School of Dance will:
• Maintain an attitude of “It could happen here”
• Maintain a zero-tolerance approach to sexual violence and sexual harassment
• Recognise that children have a right to feel safe and secure, and cannot learn effectively unless they do so
• Recognise that all children have a right to be protected from harm and abuse
• Ensure 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 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 are permitted only after each child’s parent has given consent in advance.
Mobile phones are permitted in class/at shows/exam settings in case of emergency; use of these devices is strictly for emergencies only. If an emergency arises, the individual is expected to seek advice from the responsible adult on site if under 18; if over 18, to find a suitable location away from others after alerting the adult in charge.
All teachers and volunteers of Holly’s School of Dance are Enhanced DBS checked. All teachers are fully insured.
4. Equal Opportunities Policy
Holly’s School of Dance 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 grounds of age, gender or gender reassignment, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, parental or marital status, pregnancy or maternity, religious belief, class or social background, sexual orientation, or political belief, in line with the Equality Act 2010.
Holly’s School of Dance will ensure that there is open access to all those who wish to participate in our dance classes, workshops, exams and performances, and will make reasonable adjustments where required to support access for disabled pupils, staff and family members.
5. Health & Safety Policy
It is the responsibility of all Holly’s School of Dance staff and volunteers to help maintain the safety and security of pupils and the working/dancing environment — being aware of risks, identifying any potential safety issues, and knowing the appropriate action to take. Staff 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
The law protects everyone’s health, safety and welfare at work, but we also have a responsibility to look after others and ourselves.
Checks to be made before pupils enter the studio include, but are not limited to:
• Making plug sockets safe
• Ensuring mirrors are unbroken
• Ensuring the floor is clean and obstacle-free
• Ensuring doors and exits are secure and nothing is blocking emergency exits
• Ensuring light switches are working and not loose
Risk assessments have been completed for each venue and all staff/volunteers have their own copies. Staff and volunteers are aware of, and have copies of, each setting’s 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.
Accident & Incident Reporting
All accidents are recorded in the accident book/form provided to all staff and volunteers, and parents are informed. Where an injury meets the threshold for reporting under RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013), it will be reported to the Health and Safety Executive by the designated person without delay.
6. 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 visiting our “Register Here” page.
Completing the registration 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, and for a limited period afterwards where required for legal, insurance or safeguarding purposes.
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 or requires it, or where parents/the individual have given permission to do so.
7. Data Protection & Retention
Holly’s School of Dance processes personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Data is retained only for as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected, is stored securely (either held by Holly’s School of Dance staff in person or in a secured digital/physical location), and is securely deleted once no longer required.
Individuals have the right to request access to, correction of, or erasure of their personal data, subject to any legal or safeguarding obligations that require certain records to be retained. Requests can be made to Holly Machemedze using the contact details provided at registration.
These policies will be regularly monitored by the Executive Committee of the organisation and are subject to annual review.
8. Online Safety & Social Media Policy
Holly’s School of Dance recognises that safeguarding extends to pupils’ safety online, and that social media and digital communication are a normal part of promoting the school and celebrating pupils’ achievements. This policy sets out how these are managed responsibly.
• Photographs and videos of pupils will only be shared publicly (including on social media) where written parental consent has been obtained in advance
• Staff and volunteers must not contact pupils, or accept contact from pupils, via personal social media accounts or personal messaging apps
• All official communication with pupils and parents takes place through Holly’s School of Dance’s official channels (studio email, official social media accounts, or in person)
• Staff and volunteers must not share, save, or forward images of pupils outside of official school platforms
• Any concerns about a pupil’s online safety, or about inappropriate online contact, should be reported immediately to the Child Protection/Safeguarding Officer
9. Whistleblowing Policy
Holly’s School of Dance is committed to the highest standards of openness and accountability. Staff, volunteers, and members are encouraged to raise any genuine concerns about malpractice, safeguarding, or wrongdoing within the organisation, without fear of adverse consequences.
• Concerns should be raised, in the first instance, with the Child Protection/Safeguarding Officer, Holly Machemedze, either verbally or in writing
• Where a concern relates directly to the Safeguarding Officer, it should instead be raised directly with the relevant Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or the Police
• All concerns will be treated seriously, investigated promptly, and handled with appropriate confidentiality
• No individual raising a genuine concern in good faith will be subject to any form of retaliation or detriment as a result of doing so
10. Anti-Bullying Policy
Holly’s School of Dance is committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all pupils, so that they can learn and dance in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Bullying is defined as deliberately hurtful behaviour, repeated over time, which may be physical, verbal, or online/via social media, and where it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves.
Holly’s School of Dance will:
• Take all reports of bullying seriously and investigate them promptly
• Support the pupil who has experienced bullying and ensure they feel safe
• Work with the pupil responsible for bullying behaviour to understand and change that behaviour
• Keep parents/carers of all pupils involved informed as appropriate
• Record all reported incidents of bullying and the action taken
Any pupil, parent, or member of staff who is aware of bullying taking place is expected to report it to a member of staff or the Child Protection/Safeguarding Officer.
Reviewed: August 2026 | Next review due: August 2027 | Prepared by: Holly Machemedze
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