CWS Dance has a duty of care to safeguard all children involved in its activities. It recognises its responsibility to take all reasonable steps to promote safe practice and to protect children from harm, abuse and exploitation. CWS acknowledges its duty to act appropriately to any allegations, reports or suspicions of abuse. Paid staff, volunteers and the CWS Dance community 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.

Physical Contact Statement

At times, it may be necessary for a teacher or assistant to make appropriate physical contact with a student to adjust their movements during class.  All genre of dance are very physical in nature and require accuracy of physical placement to ensure correct posture and prevent injury.

Good Practice

• It is the policy of the school to provide efficient, up-to-date, enjoyable and safe instruction in dance to all pupils who enrol in the school or join in the classes or activities.
• The premises and equipment will be checked regularly for any defects or faults that exist or may have developed which might present hazards to any attending the premises, any issues will be immediately reported to the studio manager.
•  CWS Dance will keep up-to-date with health & safety legislation
• All instruction will be geared to the previous experience and abilities of the pupil(s) and no person will be required to perform movements beyond their intrinsic capabilities.
• Staff will be sensitive to all pupils’ religious beliefs and culture.
• The welfare of each child will always be put first.
• Bullying will not be accepted or condoned.
• No form of discrimination will be tolerated in the school. Treating all children and young people equally, with respect and dignity.
• At all times, all staff will endeavour to keep the highest standards of instruction and behaviour. The school principal retains the right to discharge from the school any pupil who persistently disrupts the tuition, uses offensive language, or other anti-social behaviour
• No energetic instruction will be given without pupils undergoing a “warm-up” session, and after an energetic session completing a “warm-down” session.
• Enthusiastic and constructive feedback will be given rather than negative criticism;
• An accident book will be kept to allow records to be kept of any incident in the school, injuries of any nature to staff or pupils.
• No very young pupil will be allowed to leave the school premises until collected by a parent, guardian or other adult authorised to do so by a parent or guardian. A member of staff will remain on the premises until all pupils have left.
• No pupil will be left unattended.
• No pupil under age 16 will be driven home by a member of staff in his/her car without the permission of a parent or guardian except in the event of an emergency.
• Only suitably qualified persons will be employed in a teaching capacity while any student engaged to assist with teaching will only work under the supervision of a qualified member of staff.
• All staff, volunteers will be required to have Criminal Records Bureau clearance (CRB)
• The school principal will ensure that she and the members of staff are properly covered against incidents involving public liability and professional negligence insurance.

Actions to be taken if child protection concerns are identified

A member of CWS Dance team will notify principal, Angelina Spurrier, 07974682123  of any concerns immediately. The principal will contact Southwark Social Services Department with any concerns raised.  Social Services Departments are responsible for investigating any concerns and decide on the course of action to be taken.

Recording of information

In all situations, including those in which the cause of concern arises from a disclosure made in confidence, the details of an allegation or reported incident will be recorded, regardless of whether or not the concerns have been shared with a statutory child protection agency.

An accurate note shall be made of the date and time of the incident or disclosure, the parties involved, what was said or done and by whom, any action taken to investigate the matter, any further action taken e.g. suspension of an individual, where relevant the reasons why the matter was not referred to a statutory agency, and the name of the persons reporting and to whom it was reported.

 The record will be stored securely and shared only with those who need to know about the incident or allegation.