Child Protection Policy
Suzuki Hub is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children in its care. It recognises the responsibility to promote safe practice and to protect children from harm, abuse and exploitation. For the purposes of this policy and associated procedures a child is recognised as someone under the age of 18 years.
Staff and volunteers will work together to embrace difference and diversity and respect the rights of children and young people, and their parents and wider families.
This document outlines Suzuki Hub’s commitment to protecting children. These guidelines are based on the following principles:
· The welfare of children is the primary concern.
· All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, sex, gender, gender expression, language, racial origin, socio-economic status, religious belief and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from all forms of harm and abuse.
· Child protection is everyone's responsibility. Every adult at Suzuki Hub should look out for the children around them and report any concerns they have to a member of staff or a Designated Safeguarding Lead (see below).
· Suzuki Hub teachers and staff are not in ‘loco ‘parentis’ at any time. Our students are the responsibility of their parents at all times and if they are left unaccompanied at Suzuki Hub the parent needs to organise somebody who is not a Suzuki Hub staff member to look after them.
· Children have the right to express views on all matters which affect them, should they wish to do so.
· Organisations shall work in partnership together with children and parents/carers to promote the welfare, health and development of children.
Suzuki Hub will:
· Promote the health and welfare of children by providing opportunities for them to take part in all of our activities safely.
· Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of children.
· Promote and implement appropriate procedures to safeguard the well-being of children and protect them from abuse.
· Recruit, train, support and supervise its staff, members and volunteers to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect children from abuse and to reduce risk to themselves.
· Require staff, members and volunteers to adopt and abide by this Child Protection Policy and these procedures.
· Respond to any allegations of misconduct or abuse of children in line with this Policy and these procedures as well as implementing, where appropriate, the relevant disciplinary and appeals procedures.
· Observe guidelines issued by local Child Protection Committees for the protection of children.
· Regularly monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Policy and these procedures.
Review
This Policy and these Procedures will be regularly reviewed:
· In accordance with changes in legislation and guidance on the protection of children or following any changes within Suzuki Hub.
· Following any issues or concerns raised about the protection of children within Suzuki Hub.
· In all other circumstances, at least every three years.
Nominated Child Protection Leads:
Kate Conway, 07946 474 320, kate@suzukihub.com
Ella Conway, 07903 846 974, ella@ellaconway.com
Nominated Deputy Child Protection Leads:
All Suzuki Hub teachers and reception staff
NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000
Online Music Tuition Safeguarding Policy
During this difficult period of social-distancing and Hub closures, we are keen to find ways to ensure that our students can continue with their learning, and that the Suzuki community remains connected to their teachers and one another. To that end we have established many opportunities for tuition to continue online using video conferencing software (Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp, etc).
The safeguarding of children and young people is the highest priority during any remotely streamed video lesson. This Online Music Tuition Safeguarding Policy has been developed with reference to the Department for Education guidance for online safety.
General safeguarding guidelines and conditions for online teaching
Communications and lesson set up
All lessons will be timetabled between parents, teachers, and Suzuki Hub and once the timings are established will be considered a permanent lesson time.
Tutors must use an appropriate communications username on Zoom and other video conferencing software.
Tutors should only contact students with the permission of their parent or carer and should cc all parents in email communication directly with the student. Text messages between tutors and students should only take place once permission has been established between tutor and parent/carer and all communications between tutor and students should be solely for the purposes of the student’s musical education.
WhatsApp groups established to keep students in touch with each other during lockdown and online learning should be monitored by the tutor and should include all parents/carers as well as students.
At any point Kate Conway or Rick O’Connor can request access to an online lesson for observation, just as can happen in person.
Tutors must only share musical content over social media with explicit permission and should not friend or follow pupils on their personal social media accounts.
Tutors must report any safeguarding concerns to Kate Conway at Suzuki Hub.
Lesson Environment, Presentation and professionalism
Tutor must deliver the lesson from a suitable and safe space for online tuition and, ideally, against a neutral background.
Tutors should check that the student is accessing the live streamed lesson in an appropriate space in the home and a parent or carer must be present at the start of the lesson and remain within earshot to monitor the live stream throughout.
Tutors and students must wear suitable clothing, as should anyone else in the household.
Tutors’ language and behaviour must always be professional and appropriate, just as it would be in a face-to- face lesson.
Technical matters
At the end of each group lesson, the tutor, as the host, should end (close down) the online lesson for all participants.
If for any reason the tutor is planning to record part or all of the lesson, the students should be given the choice of turning off their cameras. Everyone should be told about recording even if they have previously given photo & video permission to Suzuki Hub.
All teachers must use a password for Zoom group classes. All teachers should know how to eject somebody if there is inappropriate behaviour online.
PARENTS/CARERS: ADDITIONAL ONLINE SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS
Parents of young students must participate in the lessons just as they do at Suzuki Hub. Parents of independent students must present themselves at the start and end of the lesson, and remain nearby during the lesson so that they are able to monitor the conversation. They are welcome to stay on camera while the lesson is taking place, as long as this does not disrupt the lesson itself.
Parents must ensure that their child’s language is always appropriate, including from any family members (siblings, other relatives) who might be in the background.
Your child must be physically located in safe learning space that is appropriate for online lessons. The space should be quiet and not have private personal items in shot.
You will need to provide your child with a suitable device for taking lessons. This would ideally be a desktop or laptop computer, but it can be a tablet or iPad – mobile phones are not the best and should only be used as a last resort. The device will need to have a working camera with audio / microphone and should be tested before the lesson begins.
Your device will need to be connected to the internet with notification and alerts turned off (so that they do not disrupt the lesson.) Ensure that there is a stable online connection with the tutor before the start of each lesson.
DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD: Kate Conway