Studio INSTAR Child Safeguarding Policy
Our aim
1. For parents and guardians to see how INSTAR keeps children safe.
2. To make clear where INSTAR expects parents and guardians’ support to provide a safe space in which to enjoy our art workshops.
3. This policy is for children at school or up to 18 years old and does not apply to adults.
General
All children and young people have the same protection regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religious belief, or sexual orientation. The policy was developed with reference to NSPCC guidelines, who see child welfare as paramount, as enshrined in The Children Act 1989.
INSTAR delivers personalised create opportunities for young people that requires a reasonable degree of calm and an atmosphere within which the majority can concentrate within a group environment. Our studio aims to maintain this atmosphere for the safety and comfort of all attendees equally and will raise any concerns initially with the child, and if problems persist, with parents/guardians or carers.
Children are required to be left without parents/guardians the workshop at Studio INSTAR for the duration of session. Delaying leaving by more than a couple of minutes or returning before the appointed finish time is not allowed for the safety of all children- unless by prior arrangement which can be verbally arranged on the day.
INSTAR are experienced in child safeguarding to identify and query early signs of concern, including any absences from sessions and/or behavioural changes. Any concerns are recorded and reported. As part of our duty of care, we record attendance at each session. We collect two emergency contacts per child where possible and update this information when advised to ensure prompt communication in emergencies.
INSTAR Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Trish Evans who has attended appropriate training.
Young people will be working in an open-plan shared space, and parents/guardians can expect no child to be isolated in the normal course of events.
We expect a working mobile phone number to be listed under ‘Emergency Contact’ to be able to call the parent/guardian at any time during the art session. If for any reason this mobile is not available, a second number should be registered on our booking system so that another trusted adult can be contacted by staff.
INSTAR are responsible for the safety of children, and any concerns should be reported to them. For many of these occasions, it is hoped that concerns can be resolved between the parent/guardian and INSTAR. INSTAR are aware that anything that requires a level of child protection outside the boundaries of normal day-to-day support, may be reported to social services.
INSTAR has undergone DBS checks.
Photo consent
We frequently celebrate young people’s art by taking photographs and videos and posting them to INSTAR’s website and social media pages. These will only be taken after prior recorded permission is given.
Drop off/ pick up
Parents/guardians with children under 16yrs will be expected to accompany young people across the threshold of the studio area at drop-off. They will also be expected to collect their young person from the studio promptly at pick-up.
We will not knowingly allow a young person at or below year 6 to walk out of the club without the parent/guardian acknowledging with the staff that the pupil is safely in their care. If the pupil has left, and we have grounds for concern, we will call the parent/guardian to confirm.
Physical contact
There may be occasions when physical contact is necessary, such as assisting a young person with cleaning art materials from hands, face or clothes, which can be done at the basin available in each art club. These are exceptions and pupils will normally clean themselves, or just have to remove those materials after leaving the club.
There may be occasions when a young person gets upset. Depending on the severity of the upset, we may call the parent/guardian during the session, discuss with the parent/guardian at pick-up time, or in extreme cases call 999.
Studio INSTAR has toilet facilities on site. These are not covered by our CCTV. When a visit to the bathroom is required, staff can direct young people to the location, but on no occasion can they assist in any way. If a child has a toilet-related accident, a member of staff will call the parent/guardian immediately.
Safe eating practices
At INSTAR we recognise the importance of safe eating practices as part of our safeguarding responsibilities. We require that parents/guardians inform us of any allergies, dietary needs, or food intolerances upon signing up. These are recorded on our booking system and shared with relevant staff. It is the responsibility of INSTAR to take suitable precautions. If there are any concerns, INSTAR will contact the parent/guardian and conduct a risk assessment, to ensure that the parent/guardian understands the risks of their child attending.
All food handling, lunch and snack times are supervised by staff, and we ensure that children with known allergies only eat food provided by their parents/carers. Where there are no allergies made known, staff will not prevent children from sharing food.
Medical conditions
Studio INSTAR has a basic first aid kit.
INSTAR has in-person first aid training, so that they are equipped to respond to medical emergencies. Minor first aid (eg, administering plasters) will be discussed with parents/guardians at the end of the lesson. Any medical issue considered to be an emergency will be communicated immediately to parents/guardians via the emergency contacts given on sign-up.
Medications (both prescriptive and over-the-counter) can only be administered by staff with prior written consent from a parent/guardian. Where a student may need to be given a time-sensitive medication during their workshop, a consent form is available upon request and must be completed and signed before any medication can be administered. Students may take medications themselves during a lesson, with a written note of it to INSTAR in advance. In the event of what is considered to be a medical emergency by a non-medical professional (INSTAR), we reserve the right to administer medication on the basis of ‘Good Samaritan’ where it is believed to be acting in the best interest of the child even where consent has not informally or formally been given.
Where medical conditions are disclosed on a young person’s profile, INSTAR will call parents/guardians ahead of the child’s first lesson to clarify any risks and determine whether special accommodations are needed.
If a child is obviously sick or distressed on entering a workshop, INSTAR may request the child not attend that day.
Disclosures by children while with INSTAR
All businesses working with children have a duty of care. In the event of a disclosure, staff will tell the child that because they have a duty of care, they have to tell someone else about what was disclosed.
After the session, INSTAR will phone the local Council Child Protection Service (either the normal daily service or out of hours service) to give details of the child, their parents, and other details the child protection service may require. Important aspects of the report may include but not limited to:
· What exactly was disclosed
· Is the child an only child
· Were there any marks or injuries
· What was the emotional behaviour
· Who collected the child
· How was the child when they left
· Is the child due to return to art-K
· Did they say anything else
· Is the person who the child named living at the child’s home
In reporting disclosures, it is recognised that child protection is a higher priority than data protection.
Where the behaviour and disclosure gives rise to immediate concern over the child returning home after the session, INSTAR will call 999 and request immediate assistance.
Unless it is a time sensitive issue, lessons will not be cancelled or disrupted while an Art Leader responds to a safeguarding concern.
