Child Protection

1. Child Protection

All adults who are looking after students at the classes need to be aware of child abuse issues and understand that it can happen in all kinds of settings. All teachers and assistants who help at the classes will be police checked. References will be taken up for all volunteers and those over the age of 18 years will be police checked. They all need to know what is meant by abuse.

Abuse can take several forms and these are detailed in the Hertfordshire County Council Child Protection procedures as the following:-

Physical Abuse
May involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.

Emotional Abuse
Is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child such to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.

Sexual Abuse
Involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in a sexual activity, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact or non-contact activities such as involving students in the looking at pornographic material or watching sexual activities or encouraging children to behave in a sexual way.

Neglect
Is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and psychological needs. The result is a serious impairment of the child’s health and development. This may involve failing to provide adequate food, warmth or clothing or failure to protect a child from physical harm or danger.

If you see or suspect any of the above then it is imperative that you take the following action:

Act swiftly
Speak to the person in charge and ring the nominated co-ordinator, Suzie Scambler telephone number 07890 539 230/ 01707 338373.

Tell them your concerns
Pass on any information relayed to you by the student or by another adult. Fill out the Incident Book describing the events and giving times and dates of any incident or disclosure.

The nominated co-ordinator will be responsible for informing the relevant authorities. Our local authority is Children, School and Families, Duty Officer, telephone number 01483 737500.

DO NOT
Do nothing
Question the student any further
Put words in the student’s mouth
Give your own interpretation

Training in Child Protection Issues will be sought for each member of the Company. This document will be provided in full to each person working with an ActOne group.

2. Child/Adult Ratio

The legal ratio of adults to children is:
3-7 years, 1 adult to 8 children
No legal requirements after age 7 years

3. Collecting Students

Collecting times will be made clear to all parents and they will be responsible for the safe collection of their children. Students must be collected inside the hall by a recognised adult. Students must be signed in and out on the register. If parents are unable to collect their children themselves, they must inform the person in charge that a named person is to collect. If a student is not collected, it is the responsibility of the person in charge to return the student home or make appropriate arrangements to ensure the security of the student.

4. Guidelines for Touching and Physical Contact

Students have the right to decide how much physical contact they have with others except in medical emergencies. Touching should be appropriate for the age of the student, and generally started by the student rather than by the leader or assistant. Keep everything public. A hug in the context of a group is different from a hug behind closed doors. If a student needs “time out” in another room, doors should remain open. Generally, touch only when the student needs it. Sometimes a student may initiate inappropriate touching with an adult or another student and this should be discouraged.

5. Toileting

Toileting needs will be discussed with each parent and forms completed. Students who need accompanying should be accompanied by two adults.

6. Lifting and Handling

Where these issues occur, they will be discussed with parents and appropriate forms completed. The safety of both the student and handler must be paramount.

7. Medication

A Medical Form should be completed by each parent. No medication should be given to students without the prior permission of parents.

8. First Aid

The Artistic Director and teachers should have attended a recognised First Aid Course. A properly stocked First Aid Kit will be available and all adults should know where it is. The contents should be checked regularly.

9. Food Allergies

Parents should complete a form to notify the company of any food allergies.

10. Accidents

An Accident Book should be kept to record the time, place and circumstance of any accident or injury, the action taken and by whom. Parents should be told what happened and asked to sign the Accident Book.

11. Incidents

An Incident Book should be kept to record details of any unusual events which might take place during class times. In these cases, each leader in the activity should record what they witnessed.

12. Safety of Premises

A Risk Assessment will be carried out on the premises used by the Company.

13. ActOne Behavioural Policy

The ActOne Behavioural Policy is to be observed during the Company’s activities.