Section A

Aim: It is the aim of The Jill Stew School of Dance, in co-operation with parents and guardians, to ensure as far as reasonably practicable the health and safety of the children (under the age of 18) and vulnerable adults to which it supplies a service to teach dance, drama and musical theatre. In this policy Child will mean, children under the age of 18 and/or vulnerable adult.

Responsibilities

The Principals:

• Are responsible for this policy and ensuring it is brought to the attention of all teaching, support staff, parents and guardians
   
• Are responsible for ensuring any issue or concerns brought to their attention in relation to child protection are investigated thoroughly and sensitively
   
• Ensuring where reasonable practical no child is discriminated against in terms of medical condition, religion, faith and/or disability
   
• Ensuring all children are treated equally and with respect and dignity
   
• Ensuring the welfare of each and every child is of paramount importance
   
• Ensuring the health and safety of the children under their care during lessons, show rehearsals and performances, including using responsible and appropriate chaperones as deemed necessary
   
• Never allowing any form of inappropriate touching (due to the nature of dance training, physical corrections may be required)

Teaching and Support staff are responsible for:

• Ensuring their teaching methods are anatomically safe, and they are competent to teach
   
• Ensuring where physical corrections are required these are appropriate and carried out in a safe and sensitive manner. (Due to the nature of dance training physical corrections may be required)
   
• Ensuring they act at all times in the best interest of the health and safety of the children in their care.

Parents/Guardians are responsible for:

• Informing the principals and/or a staff member, in writing of any issues, including medical conditions that may have an affect on the child’s health and safety whilst in the care of The JSSOD, either on the premises or during external events
   
• Ensuring the health and safety of their children when not in the care of a teacher or support staff. Please note that the changing room and toilets are not supervised; all reasonable precautions will be taken to safe guard these areas, but the school is not responsible for your child outside of their lesson times. To this effect doors to the premises are keypad locked to prevent unauthorised access

Photography, videotapes and press photography:

Any form of photography, video, sound recording is prohibited during shows, in changing areas and/or lessons without the consent of the principals. During show performances photography and/or video may be carried out by authorised personnel. It is with great regret we are unable to accommodate removing individual children from group photographs, and to this effect you are requested not to allow your child to take part in the show/s if you do not wish them to be photographed. 

Photos and videos from class work, festivals and examinations may be taken & used for advertisement on our social media page and website alongside documentation of your child/childrens successes. Please inform us in writing should you not wish a photograph to be used on such an occasion. 

Review:

The policy will be reviewed and updated in line with changes in regulations and/or school policies and procedures.