Safeguarding

As an out-of-hours provider of pre-vocational dance training, the National Centres for Advanced Training in Dance (CATs), alongside their host organisations’ safeguarding policies and procedures, adhere to the Department for Education’s (DfE) non-statutory guidance:

Keeping Children Safe During Community Activities, After-School Clubs, and Tuition
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-out-of-school-settings-code-of-practice

This guidance supports:

  • Creating a safe environment for children in out-of-school settings (OOSS)
  • Giving parents and carers confidence in the safeguarding practices of OOSS providers

Definition of Safeguarding (DfE)

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children means:

  • Protecting children from maltreatment
  • Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
  • Ensuring that children grow up in safe and effective care environments
  • Taking action to identify and protect children at risk of harm

All CATs are committed to taking reasonable steps to ensure children’s safety while using our services.

What are Out-of-School Settings (OOSS)?

Out-of-school settings include organisations and individuals providing tuition, training, or instruction to children without parental or carer supervision, outside normal school hours (e.g. evenings, weekends, holidays).

Each CAT operates in professional venues focused on vocational dance training. Each host organisation assesses the following risks:

  • Activity type
  • Venue and location
  • Hours of operation
  • Supervision and safeguarding arrangements

Legal and Policy Requirements for CATs

All CATs meet the expectations for providers with five or more staff. The following policies and procedures are in place:

  1. Health & Safety
  • A written health & safety policy, including risk assessments
  • A named first aid lead and at least one trained first aider on site
  • Fire safety measures and evacuation plans
  • Regular review of safety protocols and emergency contacts
  • Awareness of student allergies or medical needs
  • All staff trained in general health and safety
  1. Safeguarding and Child Protection

Each CAT:

  • Has a safeguarding and child protection policy aligned to DfE and local safeguarding partners
  • Ensures policies are understood by all staff
  • Provides regular safeguarding awareness training, including:
    • Peer-on-peer abuse
    • Emotional abuse
    • Physical/sexual abuse
    • Neglect
    • Extremism/radicalisation (as per Prevent Duty)
  • Appoints a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) trained to advanced (level 3 or equivalent) level
  • Provides safeguarding contact details to students and families
  1. Suitability of Staff and Volunteers

CATs ensure:

  • All staff and volunteers complete enhanced DBS checks with barred list check (if eligible)
  • Verification of identity, references, right to work in the UK
  • Regular training refreshers
  • Staff performance reviews and supervision
  • Use of safer recruitment principles
  1. Governance & Whistleblowing

All CATs operate with:

  • A clear, accessible complaints policy
  • A robust whistleblowing policy compliant with Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) 1998
  • Oversight by designated leaders or boards within host organisations
  1. Duty of Care

Providers have a legal duty of care to ensure the environment is safe for its intended use. This includes:

  • Regular risk assessment reviews (living documents)
  • Monitoring controls and risk mitigation effectiveness
  • Emergency response plans (e.g., evacuation, first aid, critical incidents)
  1. Parental Consent and Attendance Monitoring

CATs:

  • Collect and review parental/carer consent forms, updated at least annually
  • Request two emergency contacts per student where possible
  • Record medical conditions, allergies, or access needs
  • Track attendance via registers at every session
  • Encourage advance notice for absences
  • Record this information as part of each student’s Individual Training Plan (ITP)

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL)  

Each host organisation has their own Designated Safeguarding Leads, please see below the DSL for each CAT and a contact email. 

Policy Statement Updated 17/07/2025