Safeguarding Policy

Last Review: December 2024

Purpose and aim of the policy

Learning Through Theatre (hereafter known as LTT) is committed to creating a culture of safeguarding that prioritises the protection of children and vulnerable adults in all settings, including one-to-one interactions and online environments. We will uphold the principles of Keeping Children Safe in Education (2024) by continuously monitoring and adapting our practices to align with evolving statutory guidance and best practices.

Cheryl Stapleton, Artistic Director is responsible for all self-employed staff/volunteers working as part of the LTT team and also the safeguarding of children that the team works with. The policy and procedures are consistent with Local Safeguarding Children Board guidance and Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024.

Policy Statement

  • We believe everyone has a responsibility to safeguard and protect children (anyone under 18) and vulnerable adults.

  • We will take all necessary steps to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safe at all times and we will encourage the prevention of abuse through following safe working practices and adhering to published rules and guidelines in Keeping Children Safe in Education (2024).

  • We will give equal priority to keeping all children and vulnerable adults safe regardless of their age, disability, cognitive diversity, gender, race, ethnicity, belief, sexual orientation, economic background.

  • We also recognise that some children and vulnerable adults are additionally vulnerable and may have specific needs. We will be mindful of the barriers they may face, for example with communication, movement or the impact of discrimination, and do all we can to ensure we safeguard against maltreatment and enable participation safely and equitably.

  • Our EDI statement outlines our belief in creating a safe environment for everyone to feel supported and able to be their authentic self and communicate their needs, regardless of

LTT encounters children/vulnerable adults as audience members, as workshop participants in practical workshops, one-to-one in coaching and LAMDA sessions and via online platforms (solo and groups). The setting maybe a school, community organisation, a venue hired by LTT, the individual’s home, Cheryl Stapleton’s home-office or online platforms.

We will seek to keep children/vulnerable adults safe by:

  • Adopting effective safeguarding practices and ensuring all team members follow these;

  • Making all team members aware of the safeguarding procedures in place at every school/institution we work in and ensuring these are adhered to;

  • Providing effective management for team members through supervision, support and training, overseen by Cheryl Stapleton;

  • Recruiting freelance staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary security checks are made and records are kept securely;

  • Ensuring risk assessments are made for all venues used and for individuals, where necessary;

  • Building a safeguarding culture where all team members know how they are expected to behave and feel comfortable about sharing concerns;

  • Taking forward any concerns and sharing these with schools, teachers and other agencies as appropriate.

At the core of our safeguarding practice is the legal principle that when LTT works in a school, the school remains in loco parentis and the same applies when teaching online specifically for an educational establishment.

  • At each educational establishment that LTT visits for a performance or a workshop, or where an online lesson takes place at a school’s request, the LTT team will ensure that they familiarise themselves with the safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures for that educational establishment.

  • All workshops, performances, online teaching forums should be supervised by a teacher of the school/institution where the pupil is registered. It is acknowledged that it is not always possible to have a teacher present, therefore all staff working with LTT have undergone enhanced DBS checks.

  • Where children are joining an online workshop remotely, independent of an institution, the parent/guardian are responsible for the safeguarding of that child and their presence nearby must be acknowledged at the start of each online session.

Confidentiality

  • We recognise the importance of confidentiality but also recognise our professional responsibility to share relevant information with other professionals where we believe it is necessary to ensure the protection of children.

  • We believe that information sharing is vital to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Information however should only be shared with those who need to know (usually, the designated safeguarding lead at the young person’s educational establishment or directly to the Local Safeguarding Children Board), in line with GDPR article 6 & 9 and the Data Protection Act 2018.

  • The safety and well-being of the child is our top priority. We will seek advice from other practitioners if we are in any doubt about sharing the information concerned, without disclosing the identity of the individual where possible.

  • Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) emphasises the importance of early information sharing and that fear about sharing information cannot be allowed to stand in the way of promoting child welfare and protecting child safety. We will be proactive in sharing information as early as possible to help identify, assess, and respond to risks or concerns about the safety and welfare of children. We also understand that Information sharing is also essential for the identification of patterns of behaviour when a child is at risk of going missing or has gone missing, including being missing from education.

  • The Data Protection Act 2018 contains ‘safeguarding of children and individuals at risk’ as a processing condition that allows practitioners to share information where a child or vulnerable adult are thought to be at immediate risk of harm. This includes allowing practitioners to share information without consent if it is not possible to gain consent, or it cannot be reasonably expected that a practitioner gains consent, or if to gain consent would place a child/vulnerable adult at risk. This is also in line with UK GDPR Article 6 and Article 9, that state “processing is necessary in order to protect the vital interests of the data subject”.

  • We will never promise to keep secret information that is given to us by a child/vulnerable adult. We will explain that we may need to pass the information on to those who need to know and can help if we feel a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of harm.

  • Effective information sharing between parents, schools, colleges and local authorities is critical to ensuring that all children are safe and receiving suitable education. Providing it is safe to do so for the child/vulnerable adult, we aim to be as transparent as possible by telling families what information we are sharing and with whom.

Safeguarding Procedure

As part of this safeguarding policy, we will adhere to the following procedure to respond to child protection concerns:

  • If a child / vulnerable adult in the UK* is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.

  • If a concern is not urgent, the nominated safeguarding lead will contact the school designated safeguarding officer or, if not within a school setting, the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

  • NSPCC Helpline may also be contacted for advice and guidance on 0808 800 5000 or by emailing help@nspcc.org.uk  

*if the workshop is conducted abroad or the workshop participant is in another country, local emergency safeguarding procedures will be followed

Online Group Workshops

LTT team members will adhere to the following principles:

  • We will make sure everyone feels comfortable, safe and protected.

  • We will verbally set appropriate boundaries in terms of behaviour and language at the start of an online meeting

  • Professional conduct will be maintained throughout avoiding personal conversations and familiarity that could be misconstrued.

  • LTT team will not share personal contact details, including personal social media details. All details that need to be shared must be shared a teacher or the child’s parents or carers.

  • All communications must go through professional channels; no direct messaging between LTT team members and children will occur outside of the agreed session framework.

  • No recordings or photographs will be taken without prior explicit consent from the educational lead for the group, in loco parentis. If recording is required for reference/revision, the recording should ideally be made at the client’s side on the client devices.

(see also Online Behaviour Code)

Low-Level Concerns

Any low-level concerns identified will be reported and handled confidentially, in accordance with KCSIE guidance. Staff must report any concerns, even if they do not meet the threshold for harm, to the safeguarding officer to maintain a culture of vigilance.

Additional Safeguarding Provisions for One-to-One Coaching

  • A written risk assessment will be completed beforehand to identify and mitigate risks. This will risk assessments for the location of the session and for the individual themselves where additional needs are notified to us.

  • For in-person sessions: Where possible, we will ensure sessions are conducted in spaces that are visible and/or audible to others.

  • For online sessions: A parent or carer is required to be present at the start of the session and aware of the ongoing session.

  • Written parental consent is mandatory for one-to-one sessions. Clear details will be outlined about the purpose, format, and duration of the session.

  • Online sessions will take place on secure, approved platforms with password protection.

  • No recordings or photographs will be taken without prior explicit consent from parent or carer. If recording is required for reference/revision, the recording should ideally be made on the student’s device.

  • All communications must go through professional channels; no direct messaging between LTT team members and children will occur outside of the agreed session framework.

  • One-to-one sessions will be recorded in a log of dates, times, topics covered, and any incidents of concern.

  • Any disclosures or concerns raised during the session will be reported immediately to the LTT safeguarding officer or the DSL at the associated educational establishment.

  • Professional boundaries will be maintained during one-to-one sessions, avoiding personal conversations, physical contact, and familiarity that could be misconstrued.

  • LTT acknowledges that physical guidance may occasionally be required in drama and voice coaching to ensure effective learning and safety. Such guidance will always be conducted transparently, with the student’s and their parent’s/carer’s consent, and in adherence to safeguarding best practices. Our commitment to safeguarding ensures that all physical interactions are respectful, purposeful, and limited to the educational context, in line with guidance from KCSIE 2024, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and NSPCC Best Practices on Physical Contact.

Allegations Against LTT Staff

  • There may be times when an individual makes an allegation against a member of LTT staff.  In this situation decisions for action will be made by the school/ institution that the individual is attending/part of. These would be carried out in accordance with the Local Safeguarding Children Board Manual of Child Protection Procedures;

  • If such an allegation is made, the member of staff receiving the allegation will immediately inform the designated safeguarding officer at the school/institution that the pupil is attending and their LTT manager.

Whistleblowing

  • We will aim to provide an environment in which children and adults feel confident enough to express concerns regarding the practice and behaviour of a member of LTT staff;

  • LTT is committed to maintaining a culture of openness, accountability and integrity and takes all concerns seriously;

  • Any concerns should be brought to Cheryl Stapleton without fear of reprisal.

  • If the concern is regarding Cheryl Stapleton, the child’s school DSL or your Local Safeguarding Children Board should be contacted for assistance.

Training

  • We are committed to ensuring our workshop leaders keep up to date with regular safeguarding training;

  • We are committed to providing safeguarding training tailored to the specific challenges of one-to-one and online interactions;

  • Cheryl Stapleton is responsible for keeping updated records of safeguarding training, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, and acts as the primary contact for local safeguarding partnerships.

Policy Review and Updates

This policy will be reviewed annually or more frequently if required due to changes in legislation or best practices.

We are committed to adhering to this policy and operating effective safeguarding practice.

Nominated Responsible Adult for Safeguarding: Cheryl Stapleton

Contact: info@learningthroughtheatre.co.uk

Appendix:

Physical Assistance During Drama and Voice Coaching

In the context of drama and voice coaching, it may occasionally be necessary to provide physical guidance or assistance to support a student's learning, such as adjusting posture, demonstrating breathing techniques, or ensuring safe movement. To ensure this practice is conducted appropriately and within safeguarding guidelines:

  1. Consent:

    • Physical contact would only occur when absolutely necessary for the educational purpose of the session.

    • The reason for any physical assistance will be explained clearly to the student beforehand, and their verbal consent obtained. For students under 18 or vulnerable adults, this would also be communicated to their parent or carer in advance.

    • If a student expresses discomfort or refuses, their wishes will always be respected.

  2. Professional Boundaries:

    • Any physical contact would be conducted in an open and professional manner, avoiding any area of the body that could be considered inappropriate.

    • Physical guidance would be minimal, purposeful, and time-limited.

  3. Transparency:

    • Where possible, physical demonstrations will be modelled by the coach on themselves, and verbal instructions used to guide the student.

    • If the student is unable to achieve the required alteration without assistance, physical guidance may be given, where possible ensuring the presence of another adult in the space (e.g., a teacher, carer, or parent).

    • Where physical assistance is given, the session will be appropriately logged in session records.

  4. Training and Awareness:

    • All LTT team members undergo safeguarding training that includes guidance on appropriate physical contact with children and vulnerable adults.