BECKENHAM BALLET ACADEMY SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Policy reviewed: September 2026
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Linda Walsham, Principal
1. Our Commitment
Beckenham Ballet Academy (BBA) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child and young person in our care.
The safety, welfare and wellbeing of our students are of paramount importance. Every child has the right to participate in dance and performing arts in a safe, positive and supportive environment and to be protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation and harm.
This policy applies to all children and young people under the age of 18 attending BBA and to all members of staff, visiting teachers, assistants, volunteers, chaperones and other adults working on behalf of the Academy.
BBA will:
treat all children and young people with dignity and respect;
listen to children and take their concerns seriously;
provide a safe and welcoming environment in which children feel able to speak to a trusted adult;
take appropriate steps to prevent children from being harmed;
respond promptly and appropriately to safeguarding concerns;
recruit staff using appropriate safer recruitment procedures;
ensure appropriate DBS checks are obtained where required;
provide staff with appropriate safeguarding information and training;
maintain appropriate professional boundaries between adults and students;
work with parents, carers and relevant statutory agencies where necessary; and
review our safeguarding arrangements regularly.
Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone working at BBA.
2. Equality and Inclusion
BBA is committed to safeguarding all children equally.
No child should experience less favourable treatment because of their age, disability, race, nationality, ethnic background, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, family circumstances or any other characteristic.
We recognise that some children may be particularly vulnerable to abuse or may face additional barriers when trying to communicate that something is wrong. Staff should be alert to the individual needs and circumstances of every child.
3. Designated Safeguarding Lead
The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Beckenham Ballet Academy is:
Linda Walsham – Principal
The Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for:
acting as the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns;
ensuring concerns are recorded appropriately;
deciding, where necessary, whether concerns should be referred to Children’s Services, the Police or another appropriate agency;
liaising with external safeguarding agencies;
ensuring staff understand BBA’s safeguarding procedures;
maintaining appropriate safeguarding records;
ensuring safeguarding procedures are reviewed regularly; and
promoting a culture in which children’s safety and welfare are central to the Academy.
If a safeguarding concern relates to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, the concern must not be reported to that individual. Appropriate advice should instead be sought directly from the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), Children’s Services or the Police as appropriate.
4. Staff Responsibilities
All BBA staff have a responsibility to safeguard children.
Staff are expected to:
maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times;
remain alert to possible signs of abuse, neglect or exploitation;
listen to and take children seriously;
report safeguarding concerns promptly;
never promise a child that information concerning their safety will remain secret;
avoid behaviour which could reasonably be considered inappropriate;
follow BBA’s procedures regarding physical contact, communication, photography, changing facilities and supervision; and
raise concerns about the conduct of another adult working with children.
Staff must never assume that someone else will report a safeguarding concern.
5. Recognising Abuse and Neglect
Safeguarding concerns can arise in many different ways. Abuse may occur within a child’s family, community, peer group, online or within an organisation.
The main recognised categories of abuse are:
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse may include hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise deliberately causing physical harm to a child.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is persistent emotional maltreatment which may adversely affect a child’s emotional development.
It may include humiliation, intimidation, threats, persistent criticism, rejection, bullying, placing inappropriate expectations upon a child or making a child feel frightened, worthless or unloved.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activity.
It may involve physical contact or non-contact activity and may take place in person or online. It can include grooming, sexualised communication and the creation, viewing or sharing of sexual images.
Sexual abuse can be perpetrated by adults or by other children and young people.
Neglect
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs and may result in serious impairment of the child’s health or development.
This may include failing to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, supervision, medical care or protection from harm.
Child-on-Child Abuse
Children can abuse other children.
This may include bullying, cyberbullying, physical abuse, sexual harassment, sexual violence, inappropriate sexualised behaviour, coercion, intimidation or the sharing of sexual images.
Such behaviour will never be dismissed as “banter”, “just having a laugh” or an inevitable part of growing up.
Any concerns regarding child-on-child abuse will be taken seriously and dealt with under BBA’s safeguarding procedures.
Online Abuse
Safeguarding concerns can also arise through social media, messaging services, gaming, image sharing and other online activity.
Staff should be aware that online and offline safeguarding issues are often interconnected.
6. Responding to a Disclosure
If a child tells a member of staff something which raises a safeguarding concern, the member of staff should:
remain calm;
listen carefully;
take the child seriously;
allow the child to speak without interruption;
reassure the child that they have done the right thing by speaking;
avoid expressing shock or disbelief;
not ask leading or investigative questions;
not make assumptions or offer opinions about what may have happened;
not confront the person who is alleged to have caused harm;
explain that the information cannot be kept secret and will need to be shared with somebody who can help keep them safe;
make an accurate written record as soon as possible, using the child’s own words wherever possible; and
report the matter immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Staff must not investigate allegations themselves.
The responsibility of BBA is to recognise, record and report concerns. Any formal investigation will be undertaken by the appropriate statutory authorities.
7. Recording Safeguarding Concerns
Safeguarding concerns and disclosures must be recorded as soon as reasonably possible.
Records should include:
the child’s name;
date and time of the concern or disclosure;
what was observed or reported;
the child’s own words wherever possible;
the name of the person making the record;
any action taken; and
details of who the concern was passed to.
Records must distinguish clearly between fact, observation and opinion.
Safeguarding information will be stored securely and shared only with those who need the information in order to protect the child.
8. Reporting a Safeguarding Concern
Any member of staff who has concerns about the welfare or safety of a child must report them immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Where appropriate, BBA will seek advice from or make a referral to the Bromley Children and Families Hub.
Current contact details are:
Bromley Children’s Services
Monday-Friday, 8.30am-5.00pm
020 8461 7373 / 020 8461 7379
Out of hours, weekends and public holidays
0300 303 8671
If a child is believed to be in immediate danger, 999 must be called immediately and the Police requested.
BBA will not delay making a referral where a child may be at risk of significant harm.
Where appropriate, parents or carers will normally be informed that a safeguarding referral is being made. However, BBA may seek advice or make a referral without first informing a parent where doing so could place the child at greater risk, interfere with an investigation or otherwise be contrary to the child’s welfare.
9. Allegations or Concerns About Staff
Any allegation or safeguarding concern involving a member of staff, teacher, assistant, volunteer, chaperone or other adult working with children at BBA will be taken seriously.
BBA will conduct its own investigation before seeking appropriate safeguarding advice.
Where appropriate, advice will be sought from the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and BBA will cooperate fully with Children’s Services, the Police and any other relevant authority.
Where an allegation concerns the Principal/Designated Safeguarding Lead, the matter should be referred directly to the appropriate external safeguarding authority.
Appropriate steps may be taken to prevent an adult who is the subject of a safeguarding concern from having unsupervised contact with children while advice is sought and the matter is considered.
10. Safer Recruitment
BBA is committed to ensuring that adults working with children are suitable to do so.
Appropriate recruitment procedures may include:
identity checks;
employment and qualification checks where relevant;
references;
Enhanced DBS checks where the role is eligible;
safeguarding questions during recruitment;
confirmation of the individual’s suitability to work with children; and
appropriate induction and safeguarding information.
All staff are expected to disclose anything which may affect their suitability to work with children.
11. Professional Conduct and Boundaries
Staff must maintain clear and appropriate professional boundaries with students.
Staff must not:
engage in inappropriate or sexualised conversation with students;
make sexually suggestive comments;
share inappropriate material;
form inappropriate relationships with students;
communicate privately with children in a way which bypasses parents or BBA’s normal communication arrangements;
give preferential treatment or inappropriate gifts to individual students;
invite students to their homes without an appropriate authorised reason and safeguarding arrangements; or
behave in any way which could exploit the trust, authority or influence associated with their role.
Where individual communication with an older student is genuinely necessary for Academy purposes, it must remain professional and transparent.
12. Physical Contact in Dance Teaching
Dance is a physical discipline and appropriate physical contact may sometimes be necessary for teaching, correction, demonstration, partnering, injury prevention or safety.
This may include correcting the alignment or position of a student’s arms, legs, feet, hands, shoulders, back, ribcage or hips, or assisting a student with a movement.
Teachers must ensure that physical contact:
has a clear teaching or safety purpose;
is appropriate to the child’s age and the activity;
is carried out professionally and sensitively;
is no more extensive than necessary;
takes account of the student’s comfort and wishes; and
stops if a student indicates that they are uncomfortable.
Where appropriate, teachers should explain the purpose of a physical correction before making contact.
Students are encouraged to tell their teacher if they are uncomfortable with physical contact at any time.
Physical contact must never be secretive, punitive or for the gratification of the adult.
13. One-to-One Teaching and Situations
There may occasionally be legitimate reasons for a teacher to work individually with a student, for example private coaching, examination preparation or competition work.
Where one-to-one teaching takes place, reasonable safeguards should be maintained. Wherever practicable, the lesson should take place in an environment where the teacher and student are observable or where other adults are present within the building.
Teachers should avoid unnecessarily placing themselves in isolated situations with individual children.
14. Parents and Access to the Building
For safeguarding reasons, parents and carers are not permitted to enter BBA premises unless invited or authorised to do so by a member of staff.
Parents must not enter reception areas, studios, changing rooms or toilets without permission from BBA staff.
This is particularly important because children may be changing clothing within the building and BBA must be able to control which adults have access to areas used by children.
Parents attending performances, open classes, meetings or other invited events must follow staff instructions regarding which areas of the premises they may access.
These restrictions apply to all parents and carers and are intended to provide a consistent and safe environment for every child.
15. Changing Rooms and Toilets
Changing rooms and toilets require particular safeguarding consideration.
Parents, carers and other unauthorised adults must not enter children’s changing rooms or toilets.
Staff will only enter a changing area where there is a genuine need to do so, for example because of a safeguarding concern, emergency, supervision requirement or to assist a child where appropriate.
Children should be encouraged to change independently wherever their age and ability allow.
Where a younger child or a child with additional needs requires assistance, appropriate arrangements should be agreed with the parent/carer and managed sensitively.
No photography or filming is permitted in changing rooms or toilets under any circumstances.
Mobile phones and other camera-enabled devices must not be used to photograph or film in these areas.
16. Arrival, Collection and Supervision
Parents and carers are responsible for ensuring that children arrive safely at the Academy and are collected appropriately after class.
BBA’s responsibility for a child begins when the child has been accepted into the care of the teacher or member of staff for their class and ends when the class or supervised activity finishes and the child leaves in accordance with the Academy’s collection arrangements.
Young children must be collected promptly.
Parents must inform BBA if somebody different will be collecting their child where this is relevant to the child’s normal collection arrangements.
Older students who are permitted by their parents to arrive or leave independently may do so in accordance with arrangements agreed by their parent/carer.
Parents should ensure BBA has current emergency contact details.
17. Photography, Video and Social Media
BBA may photograph or film students for legitimate purposes including performances, examination preparation, educational use and promotion of the Academy.
Appropriate consent will be obtained from parents/carers in accordance with BBA’s registration and consent procedures.
Images will be selected and used responsibly.
BBA will not knowingly publish an image which it considers inappropriate or which could reasonably place a child at risk.
Staff must not take or store photographs or videos of students for personal use.
Photography and filming are strictly prohibited in changing rooms and toilets.
Parents and audience members must follow any photography or filming instructions given by BBA at performances, open classes or events.
Where photography or filming is restricted or prohibited, this must be respected.
Images and information relating to children must not be used in a way which unnecessarily identifies or exposes a child to safeguarding risks.
18. Mobile Phones and Electronic Devices
Staff should use mobile phones appropriately and professionally while responsible for children.
Children and young people who bring mobile phones to BBA remain responsible for their devices.
Phones, cameras and other recording devices must never be used to photograph or film another person in a changing room or toilet.
Any inappropriate use of a mobile phone or recording device may be treated as a safeguarding matter.
19. Communication With Students
Communication relating to younger students should normally take place through their parent or carer.
Staff should not use private or disappearing-message accounts to communicate secretly with students.
Where direct communication with an older student is necessary for legitimate Academy purposes, communication must remain professional and appropriate.
Staff must not engage with students through personal social media in a manner which compromises appropriate professional boundaries.
20. Bullying and Behaviour
BBA does not tolerate bullying, intimidation, harassment or deliberately humiliating behaviour.
This includes behaviour in person and online.
Students are expected to treat one another, staff and visitors with respect.
Any behaviour which causes another child to feel unsafe, threatened or humiliated will be taken seriously.
Where behaviour raises a safeguarding concern, it will be dealt with under this policy rather than solely as a disciplinary matter.
21. Children With Additional Needs
BBA recognises that children with disabilities, communication difficulties or additional needs may face increased safeguarding vulnerabilities or additional barriers to communicating concerns.
Reasonable consideration will be given to individual needs, including communication, changing arrangements, physical assistance and supervision.
Parents and carers are asked to provide BBA with relevant information which enables us to support their child safely.
22. Injuries, First Aid and Medical Information
Parents and carers are responsible for providing accurate and current medical and emergency contact information.
Where a child is injured or becomes unwell during a BBA activity, appropriate first aid or emergency assistance will be provided.
Where an injury, explanation for an injury or pattern of injuries raises a safeguarding concern, staff will follow BBA’s safeguarding procedures.
23. Performances, Examinations, Competitions and External Events
BBA’s safeguarding expectations apply when children are participating in Academy-related activities away from the usual premises.
Appropriate supervision arrangements will be made according to the nature of the event, age of the children and venue.
Where a performance requires children to be licensed under child performance legislation, BBA will comply with applicable licensing and chaperone requirements.
Children must follow the instructions of BBA staff and authorised chaperones while participating in such events.
Parents and carers must also respect any backstage, dressing-room and restricted-access arrangements put in place to safeguard children.
24. Visitors and Contractors
Visitors, contractors and other adults who are not members of BBA staff should not have unsupervised access to children unless appropriate safeguarding arrangements have been made.
Access to areas occupied by children may be restricted while classes or activities are taking place.
All visitors are expected to follow instructions given by BBA staff.
25. Confidentiality and Information Sharing
Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and shared only where there is a legitimate need to do so.
The safety and welfare of the child will take priority when deciding whether information should be shared.
Staff must never promise complete confidentiality to a child who discloses a safeguarding concern.
Information may be shared with Children’s Services, the Police, the LADO or another appropriate safeguarding agency where necessary to protect a child.
26. Whistleblowing
All staff have a responsibility to raise concerns about unsafe, inappropriate or potentially harmful behaviour by another adult.
No member of staff should feel prevented from raising a genuine safeguarding concern because of the seniority or position of the person involved.
BBA expects safeguarding concerns to be reported promptly and will take such concerns seriously.
27. If a Child Is in Immediate Danger
If there is reason to believe that a child is at immediate risk of serious harm:
Call 999 and ask for the Police.
Safeguarding concerns which do not require emergency Police assistance should be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and, where appropriate, to Bromley Children’s Services.
Bromley Children’s Services:
020 8461 7373 / 020 8461 7379
Out of hours:
0300 303 8671
Children and young people can also contact Childline on 0800 1111.
Adults seeking independent safeguarding advice can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000.
28. Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner where:
safeguarding guidance or legislation changes;
BBA’s activities or premises change;
a safeguarding incident identifies a need for amendment; or
BBA considers that additional safeguards are required.
All members of staff are expected to understand and comply with this policy.
Beckenham Ballet Academy
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Linda Walsham, Principal
Reviewed: September 2026
Next review: September 2027