Child Protection Policy

Creative Dance Studios (Creative) is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children in its care. It recognises the responsibility to promote safe practice and to protect children and young people from harm, abuse and exploitation.

Staff and volunteers will work together to embrace difference and diversity and respect the rights of children and young people.

This document outlines Creative commitment to protecting children and young people.

These guidelines are based on the following principles:

• The welfare of children and young people is the primary concern.
• All children and yong people, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, socio-economic status, religious belief and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from all forms of harm and abuse.
• Child protection is everyone’s responsibility.
• Children and young people have the right to express views on all matters which affect them, should they wish to do so.

Creative will:

• Promote the health and welfare of children and young people by providing opportunities for them to take part in dance classes safely.
• Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of children and young people.
• Promote and implement appropriate procedures to safeguard the well-being of children, young people and protect them from abuse.
• Recruit, train, support and supervise its staff, members and volunteers to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect children and young people from abuse and to reduce risk to themselves.
• Require staff, members and volunteers to adopt and abide by this Child Protection Policy and these procedures.
• Respond to any allegations of misconduct or abuse of children or young people in line with this Policy and these procedures as well as implementing, where appropriate, the relevant disciplinary and appeals procedures.
• Observe guidelines issued by local Child Protection Committees for the protection of children and young people.
• Regularly monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Policy and these procedures.

Review

This Policy and these Procedures will be regularly reviewed:

• In accordance with changes in legislation and guidance on the protection of children and young people or following any changes within Creative.
• Following any issues or concerns raised about the protection of children or young people within Creative.
• In all other circumstances, at least every three years.