Child protection policy
Safe Guarding & Child Protection
This policy must be read and understood by all staff and volunteers at EJB Dance Company. We will make sure this policy is accessible to all staff, parents and students. All staff and volunteers must adhere to this policy and understand their duties and responsibilities regarding safeguarding and child protection.
Our Responsibility
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people means: Protecting children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of a child’s health or development, ensuring that children are growing up with the provision of safe and effective care and taking action to ensure that children have the best life chances.
At EJB Dance Company we are committed to the highest standard of safeguarding practice and believe all children have the right to learn in a safe environment. “Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. The term ‘Children’ includes everyone under the age of 18. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all practitioners should make sure their approach is child centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child” (Keeping children safe in education 2024).
To do this staff and volunteers at EJB Dance Company must know how to keep children safe and are able to identify risks or signs of harms. Staff and volunteers know how to seek advice from the designated safeguarding lead and report safeguarding or child protection issues.
At EJB Dance Company we will do this by:
• Identify and responding to concerns about a child or young person
• Provide a safe and happy dance environment
• Thinking about equality and diversity, representation and support within the Company
• Using safer recruitment strategies, ensuring all staff have an up to date DBS check and using references before they join our team
At EJB Dance Company all concerns and allegations of abuse and child protection will be taken seriously. It is the responsibility of staff and volunteers to take steps to protect children, to keep them safe and to take appropriate action in the event of an incident. It is the responsibility of all staff and volunteers to take reasonable steps to protect child and young people whilst in contact with our school. All staff and volunteers must know how to report any incident of or suspicion of abuse to the Designated Safeguarding Person.
EJB Dance Company Designated Lead
At EJB Dance company our designated safeguarding lead is Miss Eve Barnett.
Procedures for dealing with disclosures
All reports of any incidents of or suspicion of abuse should be reported as soon as possible to the designated lead. If staff members or volunteers are unsure or have any doubts they should always consult the designated lead. The designated lead will plan a course of action as a matter of urgency and ensure that a written record is made. All records relating to child protection incidents will be maintained by the designated lead
and stored securely. Pupils and their families are entitled to confidentiality but staff have a duty to share information with other professionals if a pupil is at risk. If a member of staff receives a disclosure from a child or young person they should:
1. Listen
Take what the child or young person says seriously, accept what the child or young person is saying and remain open minded.
2. Stay Calm and reassure
Remain in control and ensure the child feels safe. Be certain the conversation takes place in private to ensure the confidentiality for the child or young person.
3. Use open questions
Do not ask leading or promoting questions, it is not our job to investigate.
4. Make notes
Make notes of what’s said so you are able to pass on the correct information. Noting the position of any physical injuries/marks if appropriate.
5. Don’t promise confidentiality
Reassure the child or young person that they have done the right thing however explain sensitively whom you’ll have to inform (designated safeguarding lead) and why you have to do this.
6. Inform the designated lead
Policy written by Designated Safeguarding Lead, Miss Eve Barnett.
Date of Policy: September 2025