Policies

Ascend Dance Child Protection Policy

We believe that no child or young person should be the subject of neglectful or abusive behaviour.

We will promote and maintain the welfare of every child in our care and seek to protect them from harm regardless of race, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief or any other form of identity or creed. We will create a safe and welcoming environment for all.

This policy applies to all our staff and volunteers and covers children under the age of 18 and/or vulnerable adults under the age of 24.

To protect children and young people in our care, we will:

• Value and respect children and listen to what they have to say

• Work with children, parents and relevant organisations

• Share our policy with all staff, parents and students

• Ensure all required checks are made when hiring staff and that those in regular contact with children hold a current PVG / DBS check

• Provide appropriate training and support to all staff

• Take responsibility for children and young people’s safety when in our care

• Seek permission from parents before taking images (photographs or film) of students and inform them how and where the images will be used

• Report suspected neglect or abuse to the nominated member of staff, relevant organisation, or police

• Ensure that this policy is regularly updated

Additional guidance can be found in the following documents at the end of this policy:

• Reporting Suspected Neglect or Abuse
• Appropriate Physical Contact in Dance
• Chaperoning Students to and from Dance Events

• Use of Photographs and Film of Children

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Reporting suspected neglect or abuse

Concerns regarding a child’s welfare can be reported by:

• Parents

• Friends

• Teachers

• The child or young person

All allegations of neglect or abuse will be taken seriously. If a concern is reported directly by the child or young person we will not seek to disagree, ask probing or leading questions, or do anything else which may discourage them.

We will make it clear that reported concerns cannot be kept confidential but will need to be shared with a nominated member of staff or external organisation. Parents or guardians will also be involved if appropriate.

We recognise that early action is vital. Any concerns will be reported immediately.

If the child or young person is in immediate danger of harm, we will contact the police on 101

In all other cases, we will report concerns to the local Protection Team 01382 307940

Appropriate physical contact in dance

Teaching dance is a physical activity and a teacher will sometimes need to make physical contact with a student to show an idea or to correct the student’s position.

This can include:

• Lifting

• Adjusting arms, legs, rib cage, hips, feet, hands

• Moving one student in relation to another

Where contact is needed, we will remain sensitive to the student’s wishes and put their welfare first. In all cases, we will say why and how we will be correcting the student’s position before making any contact.

We encourage students to report any concerns.

Chaperoning to and from dance events

When chaperoning students to an event, we will:

• Provide parents and students with information about what the event is for

• Provide parents and students with the full address of the event

• In cases where the event is taking place in a large building, we will also give the room or studio number where possible

• Have a planned journey route that is shared with parents, students and chaperones

• Make sure that students are aware of what they should do if they get lost

• Ask parents and students for their contact details in case of emergency

• Have a clear idea of how students will be cared for while at the event

We will ensure that chaperones hold all required checks and licences and are aware of our Child Protection Policy.

Use of photographs or film of children

We recognise that taking images of students in our care may not always be appropriate and that some children and parents may not want images taken at any time. Therefore, before taking images of a child or young person, we will:

• Make clear to the child and parent where and when the image will be taken

• Clearly identify the person who will be taking the image

• Explain how the image will be used, e.g. whether it will be posted on social media or printed to be displayed at the school

• Seek written agreement from parents that images can be taken of their child.

Where we have publicly displayed images at our school or on social media, parents and students may withdraw their permission at any time. In such cases, the images will be removed as soon as is reasonable and without question.

We ask that any parent wanting to take photographs or film at our events only do so with our prior permission. Permission will only be granted on
the agreement of all present.

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General Data Protection Regulations 2018

In accordance with the GPDR Statement

GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation and replaces the previous Data Protection. It was approved by the EU Parliament in 2016 and comes into effect on 25th May 2018. GDPR states that personal data should be ‘processed fairly & lawfully’ and ‘collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes’ and that individuals data is not processed without their knowledge and are only processed with their ‘explicit’ consent. GDPR covers personal data relating to individuals. Ascend is committed to protecting the rights and freedoms of individuals with respect to the processing of children’s, parents, visitors and staff personal data. The Data Protection Act gives individuals the right to know what information is held about them. It provides a framework to ensure that personal information is handled properly.​

What we do at Ascend:

• We do not disclose or sell personal data to third parties.

• We do not disclose personal data to other members of the School and their families.

• The School uses contact numbers and emails for newsletters, updates, whole school and individual communication, invoices and general information.

• Emergency Parent contact numbers are given to teachers termly for the sole use of emergency contact only.

• Personal data is stored in a password protected document

• Paper registration forms are stored in a secured filing cabinet at the Principal’s office.

• Hard copy information is destroyed.​

Information about individual children is used in certain documents, such as, a weekly register, medication forms and examination documentations. These documents include data such as children’s names, date of birth and emergency contact numbers. These records are shredded after the relevant retention period.​

Ascend collects a large amount of personal data every year including; names and addresses of those on the waiting list. These records are shredded if the child does not attend or added to the child’s file and stored appropriately.​

Ascend stores personal data held visually in photographs or video clips or as sound recordings. No names are stored with images in photo albums, displays, on the website or on the Ascend social media sites, unless agreed with the pupil(s) parent/carer.​

Access to School Email account, Website, personal Data, Social Media Accounts, Newsletters and Examination Details is password protected and is not available to members of the Public, members of the School and or it’s staff. The Principal has sole access to all this data. When a member of staff leaves The School these passwords are changed in line with this policy and our Safeguarding policy. Any portable data storage used to store personal data, e.g. USB memory stick, are password protected and/or stored in a locked filing cabinet.

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GDPR includes 7 rights for individuals

1) The right to be informed

Ascend is registered with the Imperial Society of Teachers in Dance (ISTD) and as so, is required to collect and manage certain data. The School collects parent’s and or guardian’s names, addresses, emergency telephone numbers and email addresses. We also collect children’s’ full names, addresses, date of birth along with any SEN requirements and are stored securely and paper registration forms are stored in a secured filing cabinet in the Principal’s office.​

This is in respect of our Health and Safety and Safeguarding Policies.

As an Employer of Self Employed practitioners, Ascend is required to hold data on its Teachers such as names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers and bank details. Information such as Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS), personal Public Liability insurance, First Aid, Membership details and any qualification’s. This information stored securely and paper forms are stored in a secured filing cabinet at the School’s office.​

2) The right of access

At any point an individual can make a request relating to their data and Ascend will need to provide a response (within 1 month). Ascend can refuse a request, if we have a lawful obligation to retain data but we will inform the individual of the reasons for the rejection. ​

3) The right to erasure

You have the right to request the deletion of your data where there is no compelling reason for its continued use. However Ascend has a legal duty to keep student and parents details for a reasonable time*. Ascend retain records relating to student’s accident and injury records for 19 years (or until the child reaches 21 years), and 22 years (or until the child reaches 24 years) for Child Protection records. Self Employed Teaching records will be erased when the member of leaves their position. All hard copy information is destroyed.​

* Ascend holds personal data while the student is registered at the School. The School requires a written notice to leave the School to put into action the erasure of your data. If records of this is not found, The School will continue to use your data for School purposes only.​

4) The right to restrict processing

Parents, visitors and staff can object to Ascend processing their data. This means that records can be stored but must not be used in any way, for example School Newsletters, General Emails about School news and updates and text service. In this situation, The School has no obligation to refund any classes missed or cancelled due to ‘lack of communication’. It will be the parents responsibility to ensure they are informed about the Termly event’s happening at the School.​

5) The right to data portability

Ascend requires data, for example registration forms to be transferred from student, to teacher, to School Principal. The School also requires to provide data such as student DOB and exam pin number’s to be able to enter students in ISTD Exams. In this case recipients use secure file transfer systems and have their own policies and procedures in place in relation to GDPR.​

6) The right to object

Parents, visitors and staff can object to their data being used for certain activities like marketing or research. Ascend does not use personal data for such purposes.

7) The right not to be subject to automated decision-making including profiling.

Automated decisions and profiling are used for marketing based organisations. Ascend does not use personal data for such purposes.