Safeguarding Policy Statement

Introduction

The child protection policy applies to all individuals engaged with the Susan Roberts Academy of Performing Arts (SRA), including our teachers, volunteers, workers, and managerial staff. It extends protection to children below the age of 18 and/or vulnerable adults under the age of 24.

SRA is unreservedly dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of every child, young person, and vulnerable adult involved in the Academy. We acknowledge our obligation to foster a nurturing environment that is devoid of harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. We firmly recognize our responsibility to respond diligently and appropriately to any allegations, reports, or suspicions of abuse. This commitment mirrors our ethos enabling students to access the performing arts where they can grow in self-confidence, self-esteem, and motivation for life.

The objectives of this policy are:

• To shield children and young people involved in the Academy from any form of harm
• To provide a comprehensive framework for our staff, volunteers, parents, families, and visitors with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
  

Legal Framework

This policy has been drawn up based on legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from https://nspcc.org.uk/childprotection

Our Safeguarding Principles

1. A Safe and Nurturing Environment
   1. SRA is committed to creating an environment where children feel safe, are encouraged to learn and develop at their own pace, and are cognizant of the trustworthy adults around them whom they can confide in.
2. Equality and Respect
   1. Every child will be treated equally, with utmost respect and dignity, irrespective of their background or abilities.
3. Child Welfare Priority
   1. The welfare of each child is our paramount concern and will always be prioritized.
4. Positive Reinforcement
   1. Constructive and encouraging feedback will be the cornerstone of our interaction, steering clear of negative criticism.
5. Anti-Bullying Stance
   1. Bullying, in any form, will not be tolerated or condoned. We will foster an anti-bullying environment in line with our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Policy.
6. Role Model Conduct
   1. All staff and volunteers are expected to serve as positive role models in their interactions with others, exhibiting respect, understanding, and professionalism.
7. Prevention of Inappropriate Behaviour
   1. Prompt action will be taken to cease any inappropriate verbal or physical behaviour.
8. Secure Venue Collaboration
   1. We will collaborate with the venues we utilize to ensure a safe and secure environment conducive to the positive engagement of our students.
9. Continuous Improvement
   1. We will strive to keep abreast of contemporary best practices, legislation, and guidance pertaining to child protection and safeguarding.
10. Safeguarding Officers
    1. Appointing a safeguarding officer and a deputy officer to ensure the meticulous adherence to our policies and procedures concerning child protection and safeguarding.
11. Whistleblowing and Escalation Procedures
    1. Establishing clear procedures for whistleblowing and escalation to relevant authorities to address concerns promptly and effectively.
12. Safe Recruitment and Training
    1. Ensuring safe recruitment, vetting, and provision of requisite supervision, support, and training for our staff in relation to child protection and safeguarding best practices.
13. Open Partnership with Parents/Guardians
    1. Working transparently and collaboratively with parents and guardians concerning child protection and safeguarding matters.
14. Physical Safety Measures
    1. Implementing robust health and safety measures to provide a safe physical environment for our children in accordance with legal and regulatory guidelines.
15. Professional Data Management
    1. Recording and securely storing information in a professional manner, abiding by our Data Protection Policy and prevailing legal frameworks.

Key Procedures

1. The principal teacher is designated as the Safeguarding Officer to advise on procedures ensuring that SRA and its members are cognisant of their child protection responsibilities.
2. The Safeguarding Officer will maintain an updated list of all SRA teachers, volunteers, and any other individuals who may have access to child records or may engage in activities involving supervisory contact with children, whether on a voluntary or paid basis.
3. All teachers at SRA will undergo a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check to ascertain their suitability for supervising, protecting, and safeguarding the welfare of children.
4. SRA will strive to ensure that no adult without a DBS check has unsupervised contact with children or works alone with them.
5. A copy of the Child Protection Policy document along with guidelines on good practice will be provided to all individuals teaching or volunteering with SRA activities or events. A safeguarding policy statement will be publicly available from our website https://srapa.co.uk
6. The principal will ensure that the policy and its implementation are reviewed annually, with any amendments or changes communicated to parents, teachers, and volunteers.
7. The principal will ensure that the policy and its implementation are reviewed annually, with any amendments or changes communicated to parents, teachers, and volunteers.
8. A register of every child involved with SRA will be kept, with parental information and key contact details for emergencies, stored securely.
9. Staff and volunteers understand their legal and moral responsibility to protect children and young people from harm and abuse, as well as their duty to report concerns about a child or any misconduct towards a child at the Academy.
10. SRA ensures photographic consent for students by seeking written parental agreement prior to capturing images, clarifying the usage of images, avoiding personal identifiers, and allowing for consent withdrawal, alongside strict guidelines for photography and filming during events, all aimed at mitigating risks and ensuring the safe and respectful handling of imagery.

Designated Safeguarding Team

The principal Susan Roberts acts as the designated safeguarding officer and can be contacted in person or on:
Email:            susan@susanrobertsacademy.co.uk
Phone:          07766 761267

To support the day-to-day care and wellbeing of students, the designated safeguarding officer is supported by two deputies, Jane Du Toit and Georgia Merridan who can be reached in person or by emailing safeguarding@susanrobertsacademy.co.uk

The safeguarding officer is responsible for ensuring adherence to policies and awareness training for wider staff and volunteers. They will document and report any incidents as well as escalate and coordinate with relevant authorities as appropriate and always work in the best interests of the child.

Parents can obtain a full copy of the child protection policy by contacting safeguarding@susanrobertsacademy.co.uk

This policy was last reviewed in August 2023