Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy

TS Training Academies is committed to providing a safe, professional, and supportive environment where dancers can progress and develop their skills. The welfare, safety, and protection of all children in our care is our highest priority.

We will ensure:

1. Minimising Risk: All reasonable measures are taken to protect children from harm.
2. Appropriate Action: Concerns about a child's welfare are addressed promptly, following local safeguarding policies and working in partnership with relevant agencies.
3. Safe Recruitment: All staff, volunteers, and contractors are carefully vetted and made aware of this policy.

We recognise that some children may be at risk of neglect, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Through regular contact and familiarity, staff are often best placed to identify concerns and provide support.

We aim to:

• Create an atmosphere where children feel safe, valued, and heard.
• Recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse.
• Respond swiftly and effectively too suspected abuse.
• Monitor and support children at risk.
• Build children's awareness, confidence, and personal safety skills.
• Work closely with parents/carers and external safeguarding agencies.
• Ensure all adults with access to children have been DBS-checked.

Designated Senior Person (DSP): Tom Shilcock

Deputy DSPs: Matthew Banks, Matthew Grieh, Nadine Kennedy, Gabby Russell, Ellie Cobb, Charlie Bruce, Dani McLaren, David Winters, Ryan Lee Seager, Jack Brownhill

Other Relevant Person: Claire Hayes

Everyone working with children at TS Training Academies has a duty to safeguard them. This includes:

• Being trained to recognise signs of abuse.
• Listening to children without judgment or leading questions.
• Reporting concerns immediately to the DSP
• Recording concerns accurately, using the child's own words.
• Maintaining confidentiality and sharing information only on a need-to-know basis.

We recognise that dealing with safeguarding concerns can be stressful. Support will be offered through:

• Discussions with the DSP.

The DSP is responsible for:

• Following Nottingham Safeguarding Children Board procedures.
• Making referrals to Social Care Services when required.
• Keeping accurate, secure, and confidential records.
• Liaising with social services, police, and other agencies.
• Ensuring safeguarding training is delivered and updated.

• All concerns must be reported to the DSP immediately.
• Complete an Incident Report Form and attach original notes, signed and dated.
• The DSP logs the incident in the Incident Book and cross-references with the report form.
• Maintain strict confidentiality at all times.

• Allegations must be reported to the DSP.
• The subject of the allegation must not be informed until appropriate.
• Staff may be suspended while investigations take place — this is a neutral act.
• Follow related policies including: Risk Assessment, Equal Opportunities, Anti-Bullying

• Incident Report Forms (catalogued and cross-referenced to the Incident Book).
• Incident Book (bound, consecutively numbered entries, signed and dated by reporting staff and DSP).
• Annual safeguarding report provided to relevant personnel.

• Our safeguarding policy is available on our website and on request.
• Parents and carers will be informed of safeguarding principles and procedures.

• Activities will raise children's awareness of personal safety.
• Display safeguarding information, including helpline contacts.

• All staff receive safeguarding training, refreshed every 3 years.
• DSP and deputies complete core training and refresher training every 3 years.
• Training includes: appropriate touch, behaviour management, risk assessment, safe restraint, and e-safety.

Safeguarding summary and DSP contact details will be displayed on our website.

• This policy will be reviewed annually by Tom Shilcock.
• Adopted by Tom Shilcock, Head of TS Training Academies.