Safeguarding Policy

At Energy Dance School, our focus is making sure that every young person in our dance community feels safe and well. This policy is our way of showing our dedication to their safety and happiness.

Our Mission Statement:

We're all about creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive space for young people at Energy Dance School. Our mission is simple: we put young people at the heart of everything we do, celebrate their uniqueness, and encourage their resilience and creativity, not just in dance, but in life. We're a friendly and supportive dance school that believes in being open and honest. Our passionate team of teachers loves working with children and young people, and we're committed to helping them shine in dance and beyond. Our goal is to help our members be their very best, both on the dance floor and in their lives.

Our Aim:

Our aim is to offer as many opportunities as possible for young people to realize their full potential in dance, no matter their background. We encourage all our young dancers to develop a strong work ethic and commitment to training, helping them build a strong foundation in dance and life skills.

Purpose of the Policy:

To boost the social, physical, and emotional well-being of all young people at Energy Dance.
To ensure that every individual feels valued, respected, and treated fairly.
To maintain the safety of everyone involved, our staff, and the environment we

use.
To keep a close eye on safety in the places where we dance.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):

Our DSL is Debbie Koroma, who is responsible for overseeing safeguarding at Energy Dance School. Debbie ensures all staff are trained in safeguarding, handles all concerns, and liaises with external agencies when necessary. You can contact Debbie at 07914528052.

Procedures:

If we ever notice that a young person or adult is at risk or feeling unsafe, here's what we'll do:

1. Identify and Report: Staff will remain calm, reassure young people or vulnerable adults that they’ve done the right thing if they’ve made a disclosure and report concerns to the DSL.

Record Keeping: Maintain accurate records of concerns and actions taken.
Engage with Families: Work with families to ensure the child's safety, unless

this puts the child at further risk.
Professional Consultation: Contact relevant professionals if necessary.
Follow-Up: Maintain communication with families and monitor the situation.

Exceptions where we may not inform parents/carers include:

If the child is in immediate danger from their own family or parent/carer.
If a child shares serious information about a family member or parent/carer.

In such cases, we'll follow the safeguarding procedures laid out by Trafford Council.

Training and Awareness:

All staff receive regular safeguarding training to ensure they can identify and respond to concerns appropriately.

Bullying:

At Energy Dance School, we don't tolerate bullying at all. Bullying can seriously affect a young person's well-being and sense of safety. We take all forms of bullying seriously and work closely with everyone involved, including parents and carers, to resolve the issues. If things don't get better after we've tried some helpful steps, it could mean missing a few group sessions or, in extreme cases, not being part of group sessions anymore.

Bullying can take many forms, including physical or psychological hurtful behaviour. It might make someone feel unwelcome, excluded, or powerless because of their race, culture, faith, gender, or disability. It can also include spreading rumours, using offensive language, and even inappropriate behaviour on social media.

Code of Conduct:

All staff and volunteers are expected to maintain professional boundaries and follow the school's code of conduct, ensuring appropriate interactions with children and young people at all times.

Parental Involvement:

We believe in transparent communication with parents. They will be informed promptly of any concerns or incidents involving their child, except in cases where this may put the child at further risk.

Review and Updates:

This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as needed to comply with changes in legislation and best practices.

If parents or carers have any concerns about our staff, please feel free to get in touch with Chelsea Pimblott, our Company Director, at 07508109147, or Debbie Koroma, our Designated Safeguarding Lead, at 07914528052.

Key contacts:

Chelsea Pimblott (Director) – 07508109147

Debbie Koroma (DSL) – 07914528052

For more info and resources, please reach out to info@energydance.co.uk.

We appreciate your trust in Energy Dance School and would like to reiterate our commitment to keeping all young people safe, happy, and helping them grow.