Farnham Music and Drama Safeguarding Policy
This policy applies to teachers, administration staff, directors and any volunteers or temporary assistants or anyone working on behalf of Farnham Music and Drama (FMD).
The purpose of this policy:
- To protect children and young people who receive FMD’s services. This includes the children of adults who use our services.
- To provide teachers and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection.
Farnham Music and Drama believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. We are committed to practise in a way that protects them.
We recognise that:
- The welfare of a child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989
- All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
- Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experience, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
- Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
- Valuing them, listening to and resecting them
- Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children and young people and another staff member for safeguarding
- Adopting child protection and safeguarding practises through procedures and a code of conduct for teachers and staff or volunteers
- Developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures
- Providing effective management for teachers and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures
- Recruiting teachers and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
- Recording and storing information professionally and securely, and sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children, their families, teachers and volunteers via leaflets, posters, one to one discussions where applicable
- Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
- Using our procedures to manage any allegations against teachers or volunteers appropriately
- Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
- Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
- Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, teachers and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.
Please click below to download a copy of this policy.