Steppin Out Stars (2025) Limited

Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding Children in Our Care at Steppin Out is dedicated to developing the potential of children in an environment of safety and security.

We have our own Safeguarding and Sen Lead Hayley Richardson who is extremely experienced within this field.

The knowledge and experience of an expert like Hayley has proven crucial in the development of protocols that will protect children in our care.

Child Abuse

Child abuse is an all-encompassing term that encapsulates many ways that other people can damage a child’s health or development. Anything that prevents a child achieving their full potential, or contradicts the dignity and rights of a child, is abusive behaviour. Irrespective of Government requirements, our concerns about having an 'Aware Culture’ have always been at the top of our agenda.

We have a duty of care to our students, teachers, managers, office team, VAs and Principals. Parents need to feel confident that, as a company, we have the safety of their children as our primary concern.

Any areas of abuse of any kind will be reported internally and then to the police/ safeguarding LADO if needed.

Child Protection Policy (Full policy to be seen above)

Our CEO or Duty Manager must ensure that all team members read the policy and confirm they have read it and are bound by it.

The CEO, Duty Manager and Vice Principal should consider asking team members questions about the policy to ensure they have absorbed the information, and we recommend this review takes place on a termly basis.

Yearly the child protection policy is reviewed, and all team members must sign, date and return this.

If you think no action is being taken and that a child is in danger, has been failed by our school, or that students are not being kept safe, nothing should stand in the way of you speaking out.

Recruitment Process

We ensure that the job specification includes specific reference to suitability to work with children.

We obtain and scrutinise applicant information and check for any discrepancies or anomalies.

We require character and or Professional references that answer specific questions to help assess an applicant’s suitability to work with children and follow up any concerns.

We have a face-to-face interview that explores the candidate’s suitability to work with children as well as their suitability for the post and investigates any gaps in employment.

We verify the successful applicant’s identity by way of Chaperone licence through Wokingham Borough Council accompanied by a relevant First Aid and Enhanced DBS and criminal reference check.

We Verify the successful applicant’s academic or vocational qualifications.

We Check their previous employment history and experience and discuss the most recent employment.

We Verify that the successful applicant has the health and physical capacity for the job.

We Obtain the mandatory criminal record checks for working with children and young people in your region/country.

 A Safe Environment

We aim to create a safe environment, so we have drawn on the work of experts to create a safe zone for our students and their teachers.

We aim to control who comes into our schools and, ensure doors can be locked where possible and to challenge any unidentified people from entering and students from leaving without our knowledge.

Unless consent has been communicated beforehand we only allow students to be collected by an individual known to the school, and will only allow students to be collected where this individual is in clear sight of the entry/exit point.

Teachers should give clear instructions to students as to toilets and rules around their use. It is not realistic to escort children to the toilet on all occasions, and if the toilets are within the safe zone (ie only the Team/students can attend)

If the toilets are elsewhere or in a shared space then team members should make a judgement about escorting a student. Be aware that potential abuse can come from outside as well as from older, more capable students.

Toilets should be clearly labelled

To support our policy, parents and carers are not permitted inside the classroom space. Where reasonable adjustments are required for an underlying medical condition or a Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND), we actively encourage parents and carers to consult with the school Principal to develop a practice which places the child’s ability to access learning and prosper from their journey at the forefront of any decision making. Whilst our priority is keeping our students safe, we must also recognise teachers or team members can also be subject to intimidation and bullying, and we must be aware of any concerns.

Shows

An adequate BOPA is undertaken and child exemption certificates filled in.

No parent is allowed backstage

Sugnificant breaks are taken by the children and we adhere to the Chaperone training all of our team of teachers must take prior to commencing work.

All our chaperones are licensed backstage.

First Aid

First aid given is recorded in writing and reported to the Principal or Manager who should then will inform the parent or carer.

We keep a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given.

We ensure that we complete the relevant accident recording of all details.

Standards of Professional Behaviour and Boundaries

Everyone working within Steppin Out needs to demonstrate safe behaviour in order to protect the students in our care and also to protect ourselves from allegations of misconduct.

We set an example, and we are role models for our students and we expect our team to act appropriately. We always aim to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in and around any public areas within the Steppin out environment and venues.This includes behaviour that takes place online.

We aways work in an open environment.

We avoid private or unobserved meetings with students and never allow ourselves  to be left alone with a student.

There may be rare occasions when a confidential interview or a one-to-one meeting/ lesson is necessary and, in such circumstances, the interview should be conducted in a room with an open door or one with visual access. If this is not possible, the teacher, Manager or Principal  ensures that there is another adult nearby. This is particularly relevant with regard to training in 1-1 singing lessons, which can by its nature be one-to-one led.

Appropriate touch.

It is unrealistic and inappropriate for us to prohibit physical contact between teachers and students. Touch is very much part of what we do and it is an essential part of the creative interpretation of roles as well as a means of directing movement, encouraging performance and providing comfort and reassurance. Where physical contact is necessary, the teacher will explain the reason. However our teachers must bear in mind that even innocent actions can be misconstrued. It is important for us to be sensitive to a student’s reaction to physical contact and to act appropriately. No student should ever be touched on a part of their body or in a way that is indecent. The areas covered by bra and underpants should never be touched, except in case of emergency and then this will be reported immediately to our safeguarding lead.

Touch must always be related to the needs of the student.

Diversity and inclusion.

We aim to treat all students equally, with respect and dignity and encourage students to speak out about attitudes or behaviour that makes them uncomfortable.

We aim to Challenge any discriminating comments and behaviour and take positive action to eliminate discrimination against anyone.

We ensure that students are protected from discrimination on any grounds, including ability, gender, sexual orientation, culture, race, ethnicity, disability, and religious belief systems. We need to appreciate that all participants bring something valuable and different to our school.

Activities ARE designed to include all students and to promote positive attitudes towards diversity.

We must be an excellent role model and conduct ourselves in a manner that sets a good example to students.

We demonstrate and promote relationships that are based on openness, honesty, trust and respect.

We avoid showing favouritism and are patient with others.

We give enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.

We always question and challenge any unknown adult who enters the premises and/or who attempts to engage with the students.

We maintain a safe environment and act in a responsible manner with regard to the care of students.

Bad Practice

The following practices should never be sanctioned, and these sorts of behaviours give rise to serious concerns about an individual worker, these are:

• Entering into an intimate relationship with a student or share a room with students during residential events.

• Using physical force against a student unless it constitutes reasonable restraint to protect them or another person or to protect property. This incident should be recorded in writing, with witness statements (where possible), immediately afterwards.

• Engaging in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay.

• Using physical punishment

.• Engaging in any form of inappropriate touching.

 • Tolerating a student’s inappropriate use of language and/or behaviour. This should always be challenged.

 • Making sexually suggestive comments to a student, even in a light-hearted manner.

 • Using sarcasm and bad language and/or reducing a pupil to tears as a form of control.

 • Failing to report an allegation made by a student.

• Doing things of a personal nature for students who can do it for themselves (e.g. apply sunscreen).

• Allowing students access to your personal social media/networking sites.

·       Exchanging personal mobile phone numbers or other contact details with students.

• Inviting or allowing students to stay with you at your home or arrange meetings with them away from the school.

All of the above are deemed as gross misconduct and should be reported.

Code Of Conduct for Students Good behaviour and personal discipline

We expect the highest standards of behaviour from one another both inside and outside of our environment. Courtesy, good manners and consideration for others, together with self-discipline, are encouraged at all times, and are important if we are to make Steppin Out  a true, caring community. We place great emphasis on praising students for their achievements, politeness and kindness to others. All students are encouraged to make a full contribution to support the positive endeavours of all our members and  collect badges to align this.

Rules are essential for the benefit of all and we try to keep these as simple as possible, but we do expect them to be followed.

All students should always act in a responsible manner by:

Taking pride in your appearance and having respect for other people and their possessions.

• Doing nothing to endanger a healthy, safe and secure environment.

• Ensuring forbidden items are not brought to school e.g. Phones, Jewellery and sharp objects

• Not fighting, name-calling or any form of bullying, this includes cyber bullying of other students both inside and outside of the school.

Calling out and reporting any instances of bullying immediately to a member of the teaching team.

• If you are worried about a teacher’s behaviour, including taking photographs of students or using their mobile phone, then report it immediately to the Principal/ CEO

We ask our students to:

·       Show respect

·       Tell the truth

·       Be polite and respectful to adults and other children

·       Don’t upset or hurt others

·       Try to get on well with each other and work together as a team

·       Help other people whenever you can 2. Be safe

·       Walk quietly and sensibly round the school

·       Don’t run or jump down the stairs

·       Don’t climb on things like stages, chairs and tables

·       Don’t throw anything at other people

·       To listen and learn

·       To always listen to the teacher and other children. or other pupils in the class.

·       Try not to distract other children

·       Be honest

·       Never touch or take other people’s property unless the owner says you can

·       Be kind

·       Use kind words

·       No bullying

·       No fighting or play-fighting at any time

·        Don’t do things you know are wrong

·       Don’t make fun of other people

·       Set a good example and tell the teacher if anything is wrong

·       If someone is being unkind to you, or to someone else, tell the teacher and an appropriate course of action will be decided upon.

·       If our Code of Conduct is repeatedly breached, a Principal reserves the right to ask a student to leave in line with our Terms and Conditions.

·       If a child is being Neglected/ has reported abuse of any kind or if we feel a child is being mistreated outside of our environment then we would report this to our safeguarding lead in the first instance who would then depending on the situation take appropriate action.

If you have concerns about anyone involved with who shows signs of bad practice

·       Please see our complaints policy. All team members have a duty to discuss any concerns about the welfare of a student immediately with the Principal or Manager, who will then refer to our Designated Safeguarding Lead.

·       If a student discloses something to us or if we observe any of the behaviour that may lead us to think that abuse is taking place It is important that our actions do not abuse the student further.

·       We would:

·       Listen to the student if they are telling us something

·       If we are shocked by what is being said, we would try not to show it.

·        If a child shows us visiible bruises, they can but we would not ask a student to remove or adjust their clothing to observe them.

·       We would allow the student to dictate the pace when they are telling us something.

·       The child should not feel pressed or pressurised to give us details.

·       We will avoid asking such questions as “what did they do next?” or “where did they touch you?” if an abuse claim was being made

·       We would acknowledge how hard it was for them to tell us of the abuse  

·       We would not criticise the alleged perpetrator as this may be someone they may love

·       We would not promise confidentiality.

·       We would reassure the student that they have done the right thing, explain that we will have to tell the Principal or Manager and and explain why)

·       We aim to help parents understand that we, like other schools, have  a responsibility for the welfare of all students and we have a duty to refer appropriate cases to the Police and/or Social Services in the interest of the child.

Confidentiality 

·       Teachers have a professional responsibility to share relevant information about the safeguarding of children with other professionals, particularly investigating agencies. If a student confides in a member of the team and requests that the information is kept secret, it is important that the team member tells the student sensitively that they have a responsibility to speak to the Principal or Manager.

Social Media

·       We do not consider our students as friends as this would fundamentally change the relationship.

·       We also consider what material we have on our own social networking sites and these do not include material that might cause offence or undermine our positions.

·       We periodically remind our students that we do not allow contact between students and teachers out of the school environment or allow us to be friends on social media or followers of their own sites or pages.

·       Students need to be re-assured that it is in no way a snub if they ask and are declined as a friend, and that we do so in order to be clear about the safeguarding of those in our care.

The Use of Cameras, Mobile Phones, and Digital Recording Equipment

Increasingly sophisticated technology makes it easy for video pictures and images to be shared on the internet and on mobile phones. We adopt a common-sense approach to the use of cameras and other recording equipment used to film students during performances and at the school.

There will be occasions where parents, teachers and managers will wish to take photographs or make video recordings of their child/children taking part in a performance. In order for Steppin Out to ensure that use of photography and video is safe we will ask parents if we have their permission to take photographs and videos of their child/children during performances.

This information should be given prior to joining the school, in writing, to allow for any parents who might object to make their views known to you.

We make it clear to parents that we may use pictures of their child or children for marketing purposes.

Parents should complete a media consent form via our website when joining and we regularly ask for termly updates on preferences around this.

There  are no videos to be taken backstage.

Our photographers and Videographers must have a DBS to show us prior to any work taking place.

We operate a no mobile phone policy for shows and at the schools.

If a child should  use their mobile phone for any other reason and any images are taken then we would ask that any images of other children are removed and that the CEO is contacted immediately.

Whistleblowing Policy

We are committed to conduct a business with honesty and integrity, and we expect all our  team members to maintain high standards. However, all organisations face the risk of things going wrong from time to time, or of unknowingly harbouring illegal or unethical conduct. A culture of openness and accountability is essential in order prevent such situations occurring or to address them when they do occur. The aims of this policy are set out in our complaints procedure and we also:

•  We encourage team members and anyone to report suspected wrongdoing as soon as possible, in the knowledge that their concern will be taken seriously and investigated as appropriate, and that their confidentiality will be respected.

• We provide our team members with an openness so that they can raise concerns and our families and students.

If you have encountered a serious issue please see our detailed complaints procedure on the home page of our website. I

In the event of a complaint

We will respond within 48 hours

We will bring the matter to the CEO if required

The CEO will arrange a meeting with you as soon as possible to discuss your concern.

You may bring a colleague to any meetings under this policy. Your companion must respect the confidentiality of your disclosure and any subsequent investigation. We will take down a written summary of your concern and provide you with a copy after the meeting.

 We will also aim to give you an indication of how we propose to deal with the matter.

We hope that everyone in the company will feel able to voice whistleblowing concerns openly under this policy. However, if you want to raise your concern confidentially, we will make every effort to keep your identity secret. If it is necessary for anyone investigating your concern to know your identity, we will discuss this with you. We do not encourage anyone to make disclosures anonymously. Proper investigation may be more difficult or impossible if we cannot obtain further information from you. It is also more difficult to establish whether any allegations are credible. Whistle-blowers who are concerned about possible reprisals if their identity is revealed should come forward to a member of the Board of Directors stated in our complaints procedure and appropriate action will be taken.

The aim of this policy is to provide a mechanism for reporting, investigating and remedying any wrongdoing in the workplace. In most cases you should not find it necessary to alert anyone externally, other than for safeguarding concerns. The law recognises that in some circumstances it may be appropriate for you to report your concerns to an external body such as a regulator. It will very rarely if ever be appropriate to alert the media.

We strongly encourage you to seek advice before reporting a concern to anyone external.

We will inform you of the outcome of our assessment.

You may be required to attend additional meetings in order to provide further information.

In some cases, we may appoint an investigator or team of investigators including staff with relevant experience of investigations or specialist knowledge of the subject matter.

 The investigator(s) may make recommendations for changes to enable us to minimise the risk of future wrongdoing.

We will aim to keep you informed of the progress of the investigation and its likely timescale. However, sometimes the need for confidentiality may prevent us giving you specific details of the investigation or any disciplinary action taken as a result. You should treat any information about the investigation as confidential.

Malicious allegations or allegations which have been made with a view to personal gain will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken and even legal if deemed necessary.

 If your are not satisfied

While we cannot always guarantee the outcome you are seeking, we will try to deal with your concern fairly and in an appropriate way.

By using our complaints policy you can help us to achieve this

We aim to encourage openness and will support anyone who raises a genuine concern in good faith under this policy, even if they turn out be mistaken.

No-one must suffer any detrimental treatment as a result of raising a concern in good faith at the school.

 Detrimental treatment including, termination of services, threats or other unfavourable treatment connected with raising a concern will be taken very seriously.