Safeguarding

National Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) in Dance

Safeguarding Statement

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

Out-of-School Settings: Safeguarding Guidance for Providers
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-out-of-school-settings-code-of-practice

This guidance supports providers in creating safe environments for children and young people attending community activities, after-school provision, tuition, sports training, and other out-of-school settings. It also helps parents and carers understand the safeguarding arrangements that should be in place within these settings.

Definition of Safeguarding

The DfE defines safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children as:

  • Protecting children from maltreatment
  • Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
  • Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
  • Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

All CATs are committed to taking reasonable steps to safeguard and promote the welfare of every child and young person accessing our programmes.

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

Out-of-school settings include organisations and individuals providing tuition, training, instruction, or activities for children and young people outside normal school hours and without direct parental or carer supervision.

Examples include:

  • Sports training
  • Performing arts training
  • Music tuition
  • Youth and community activities
  • Holiday programmes
  • Supplementary education

Each CAT operates within professional arts and educational venues and undertakes risk assessments appropriate to:

  • The type of activity being delivered
  • The venue and location
  • Hours of operation
  • Staffing and supervision arrangements
  • Specific safeguarding requirements

Legal and Policy Requirements

Health and Safety

Each CAT and host organisation maintains:

  • A written Health and Safety Policy
  • Appropriate risk assessments for activities and venues
  • Fire safety procedures and evacuation plans
  • A named First Aid Lead and trained first aid provision during activities
  • Emergency procedures and incident reporting arrangements
  • Systems for recording allergies, medical conditions, and access requirements
  • Regular review of health and safety practices
  • Staff training and awareness of health and safety responsibilities

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Each CAT:

  • Maintains a safeguarding and child protection policy aligned with current DfE guidance and local safeguarding partnership arrangements
  • Ensures safeguarding policies are accessible and understood by all staff and volunteers
  • Provides regular safeguarding training and updates for staff and volunteers
  • Appoints a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with appropriate training and support to fulfil the responsibilities of the role
  • Shares safeguarding contact details with students, parents, and carers
  • Has clear procedures for reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns

Training and awareness include:

  • Abuse and neglect
  • Emotional abuse
  • Physical abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Child-on-child (peer-on-peer) abuse
  • Online safety
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
  • Exploitation
  • Extremism and radicalisation, including the Prevent Duty
  • Managing disclosures and responding to concerns

Suitability of Staff and Volunteers

CATs are committed to safer recruitment practices and undertake checks appropriate to the role.

These include:

  • Identity verification
  • Right to work checks
  • References
  • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks at the appropriate level for the role
  • Safeguarding training and induction
  • Ongoing supervision and performance review
  • Management of allegations and concerns relating to staff or volunteers

Governance and Accountability

All CATs operate with:

  • A clear and accessible complaints procedure
  • A whistleblowing policy compliant with relevant legislation
  • Appropriate oversight through the governance structures of the host organisation
  • Regular review of safeguarding arrangements, policies, and procedures

Duty of Care

Each CAT recognises its duty of care to provide a safe environment for all participants.

This includes:

  • Maintaining and reviewing risk assessments
  • Monitoring the effectiveness of control measures
  • Providing suitable supervision
  • Planning for emergencies, including evacuation, first aid, and critical incidents
  • Taking appropriate action where concerns about a child’s welfare arise

Parental Consent and Attendance Monitoring

CATs:

  • Obtain and maintain parental/carer consent and emergency information
  • Request at least two emergency contacts where possible
  • Record medical conditions, allergies, disabilities, and access requirements
  • Maintain student attendance registers for every session
  • Monitor patterns of absence and encourage advance notification where students are unable to attend
  • Record relevant safeguarding, wellbeing, and support information within Individual Training Plans (ITPs) where appropriate

Online Safety

Where digital platforms, online learning, communication tools, photography, or social media are used, CATs implement appropriate measures to safeguard children and young people.

This includes:

  • Appropriate staff conduct online
  • Safe communication with students
  • Responsible use of photography and video
  • Compliance with data protection requirements
  • Reporting procedures for online safety concerns

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)

Each host organisation has its own Designated Safeguarding Lead(s). Contact details are provided below:

Host Organisation Designated Safeguarding Lead Contact
Northern School of Contemporary Dance Tracy Witney safeguarding@nscd.ac.uk
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance Jonathan Peel j.peel@trinitylaban.ac.uk
Northern Ballet Leanne Kirkham and Annemarie Donoghue leanne.kirkham@northernballet.com / annemarie.donoghue@northernballet.com
Swindon Dance Viv Slayford viv.slayford@swindondance.org.uk
DanceEast Tom Bowes safeguarding@danceeast.co.uk
The Place Vicky Evans vicky.evans@theplace.org.uk
FABRIC Hayley Arthur hayley@fabric.dance
National Centre for Circus Arts Dan Cowdrill [insert current safeguarding email]
Dance City Lorna Chadwick [insert current safeguarding email]

Policy Statement Reviewed: August 2026

References

Department for Education, Out-of-School Settings: Safeguarding Guidance for Providers (updated February 2026).