Policies

Last reviewed August 2025

Child Protection Policy

We believe that no child or young person should be the subject of neglectful or abusive behaviour.  We will promote and maintain the welfare of every child in our care and seek to protect them from harm regardless of race, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief or any other form of identity or creed. We will create a safe and welcoming environment for all.  This policy applies to all our teaching staff and volunteers and covers children under the age of 18 and/or vulnerable adults under the age of 24. 
To protect children and young people in our care, we will:
      
  • Value and respect children and listen to what they have to say
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  • Work with children, parents and relevant organisations
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  • Share our policy with all staff, parents and students
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  • Ensure all required checks are made when hiring staff and that those in regular contact with children hold a current DBS check (or non-UK equivalent)
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  • Provide appropriate training and support to all staff
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  • Take responsibility for children and young people’s safety when in our care
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  • Seek permission from parents before taking photograph or video of students and inform them how and where the images will be used
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  • Report suspected neglect or abuse to the relevant organization or police
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  • Ensure that this policy is regularly updated
Additional guidance can be found in the following documents:
We will actively maintain and promote good health and safety procedures and will:
  • Maintain safe and healthy work conditions.
  • Provide adequate control of the health and safety risks at our school.
  • Be open to comments and suggestions from our employees, students and their parents on matters relating to health and safety.
  • Provide information, instruction and supervision for employees and students and make them aware of this policy.
  • Ensure all employees are capable of doing their tasks, hold any required qualifications, and that they receive adequate training.
  • Record any harm or injuries that occur in an Accident Book and make changes where required to avoid similar incidents in the future.
  • Regularly review and update this policy.

JoAnn Latus has overall responsibility for health and safety.
JoAnn Latus has day-to-day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into practice & is the lead safeguarding appointed person.

This policy was last reviewed in August 2025.

Concerns regarding a child’s welfare can be reported by:
  • Parents
  • Friends
  • Teachers
  • The child or young person

All allegations of neglect or abuse will be taken seriously. If a concern is reported directly by the child or young person we will not seek to disagree, ask probing or leading questions, or do anything else which may discourage them.

We will make it clear that reported concerns cannot be kept confidential but will need to be shared with a nominated member of staff or external organisation. Parents or guardians will also be involved if appropriate.

We recognise that early action is vital. Any concerns will be reported immediately. If the child or young person is in immediate danger of harm, we will contact the police. In all other cases, we will report concerns to the local Protection Team.

This policy was last reviewed in August 2025.

Teaching Classical Ballet is a physical activity and appropriate physical contact between students and teachers in class is essential to Ballet training. Teachers will use their hands, and occasionally a foot or knee, to illustrate a concept to a student or to adjust parts of a student’s body (especially with the younger students). Ballet posture often requires adjusting the ribcage and the buttock area simultaneously and it is sometimes necessary to touch the inner thigh, especially with younger students. In choreographic teaching teachers demonstrate positions and movements to the students by moving parts of the students’ bodies and by moving dancers in relation to each other: this often involves a good deal of contact with students.
The JoAnn Latus School of Dance recognises that such physical contact is a potentially complex area; and the school also fully recognises its responsibilities for safeguarding students and teachers and for protecting their welfare.


The following principles and procedures are in place to fulfil the school’s obligations:

  • Contact by the teacher is made with awareness of the needs of everyone, to assist the young dancer iin correcting placement
  • All teachers will treat any physical contact with due sensitivity and care
  • Contact will not involve force or the use of any instrument
  • Teachers will be mindful of location and avoid situations where they are isolated with a student; all classes should be held in studios and dance areas
  • Teachers and students should feel free to report any concerns to the principal – JoAnn Latus

This policy was last reviewed in August 2025.

When chaperoning students to an event, we will:
  • Provide parents and students with information about what the event is for
  • Provide parents and students with the full address of the event
  • In cases where the event is taking place in a large building, we will also give the room or studio number where possible
  • Have a planned journey route that is shared with parents, students and chaperones
  • Make sure that students are aware of what they should do if they get lost
  • Ask parents and students for their contact details in case of emergency
  • Have a clear idea of how students will be cared for while at the event
  • Ensure that chaperones hold all required checks and licences and are aware of our Child Protection Policy

This policy was last reviewed in August 2025.

We recognise that taking images of students in our care may not always be appropriate and that
some children and parents may not want images taken at any time. Therefore, before taking
images of a child or young person, we will:
  • Make clear to the child and parent where and when the image will be taken
  • Clearly identify the person who will be taking the image
  • Explain how the image will be used, e.g. whether it will be posted on social media or printed to be displayed at the school
  • Seek written agreement from parents that images can be taken of their child where necessary

Where we have publicly displayed images at our school or on social media, parents and students may withdraw their permission at any time, they should email info@jolatusdance.co.uk to withdraw this consent. In such cases, the images will be removed as soon as is reasonable and without question. Students names will never be posted without explicit written consent from their parent or guardian.

We ask that any parent wanting to take photographs or film at our events only do so with our prior permission. Permission will only be granted on the agreement of all present.

This policy was last reviewed in August 2025.