Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

Club: Quad Skates School
Activities: Children’s roller-skating classes
Age range: Primary school children, Years 1–6 ,
Policy owner: Club Owner / Lead Coach / Designated Safeguarding Lead

Policy review: Annually

 

1. Our commitment to safeguarding

Quad Skates School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child who takes part in our roller-skating sessions.

We believe every child has the right to participate in a safe, welcoming and supportive environment.

The welfare and safety of children will be the club’s primary consideration.

We will take reasonable and appropriate steps to:

• Protect children from harm
• Provide safe and properly supervised skating sessions
• Recognise and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
• Work with parents, carers, schools and relevant authorities where necessary
• Ensure that safeguarding responsibilities are understood and followed

 

2. Who this policy applies to

This policy applies to:

• The club owner and lead coach
• Any future coaches or instructors
• Volunteers or helpers
• Temporary staff or assistants
• Anyone else working with or supervising children on behalf of the club

As the club is currently operated by one person, the club owner and lead coach has overall responsibility for safeguarding.

 

3. Designated Safeguarding Lead

As the club is operated by one person, the club owner and lead coach is responsible for safeguarding and will act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Club Owner / Lead Coach

Personal contact details are not included in this policy. Contact details for the person responsible for safeguarding are available to parents and carers on request.

The DSL is responsible for:

• Responding to safeguarding concerns
• Recording and securely retaining safeguarding information
• Making appropriate referrals to children’s social care, the police or other relevant agencies where necessary
• Ensuring safeguarding procedures are followed
• Keeping safeguarding knowledge and training up to date
• Ensuring appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place for club sessions
• Ensuring appropriate supervision and safety arrangements are in place when teaching children alone
• Taking appropriate action if a child is injured, becomes unwell or requires urgent assistance during a session
• Ensuring children are supervised safely if the coach needs to leave the group briefly
• Maintaining appropriate emergency contact and collection arrangements for all children attending sessions

When teaching a class alone, the coach will take reasonable steps to ensure that children remain supervised, safe and within the designated activity area.

The coach will follow the club’s health and safety procedures and will contact a parent, carer or the emergency services where necessary.

If the coach needs to leave the group briefly, children will remain in a safe and supervised area wherever possible. If adequate supervision cannot be maintained, the session will be paused or ended until appropriate arrangements can be made.

If a safeguarding concern relates to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, they must not investigate the concern themselves. The concern should instead be referred directly to the appropriate external safeguarding authority.

If a child is believed to be in immediate danger, 999 should be called.

The club will maintain appropriate safeguarding arrangements even though it is operated by a single person.

 

4. Safeguarding when teaching alone

Because the club may operate with one coach, particular attention will be given to maintaining safe supervision.

The coach will:

• Keep children within the designated skating/activity area
• Maintain appropriate visual supervision
• Avoid unnecessary isolation of an individual child
• Keep the session environment as open and observable as reasonably possible
• Maintain appropriate emergency contact information
• Ensure parents/carers understand the arrangements for drop-off and collection
• Ensure children are not left unsupervised
• Have appropriate arrangements for dealing with accidents or injuries
• Contact emergency services where necessary

If the coach needs to deal with an individual child, for example because they are injured or upset, the coach will, where reasonably possible, remain in an observable area and maintain awareness of the other children.

If a situation occurs where adequate supervision of the group cannot be maintained, the session will be paused or ended and parents/carers contacted where appropriate.

 

5. Recognising safeguarding concerns

Safeguarding concerns may include, but are not limited to:

• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Bullying
• Harassment
• Discriminatory behaviour
• Domestic abuse
• Exploitation
• Online abuse
• Inappropriate behaviour by an adult towards a child
• Harmful behaviour by one child towards another
• Concerns about a child’s home circumstances
• A significant or concerning change in a child’s behaviour or presentation

A safeguarding concern does not have to involve an obvious injury.

 

6. If a child tells the coach something concerning

If a child discloses something that causes a safeguarding concern, the coach will:

1. Stay calm and listen.
2. Allow the child to speak in their own words.
3. Take the child seriously.
4. Avoid asking unnecessary or leading questions.
5. Reassure the child that they have done the right thing by speaking to an adult.
6. Explain that the information may need to be shared with someone who can help keep them safe.
7. Not promise to keep the information secret.
8. Make a factual written record as soon as reasonably possible.
9. Take appropriate safeguarding action.

The coach will not attempt to investigate or establish whether an allegation is true.

 

7. Recording safeguarding concerns

Safeguarding concerns will be recorded as soon as reasonably practicable.

Records should include, where relevant:

• Date and time
• Child’s name
• What was seen, heard or disclosed
• The child’s own words where possible
• Any relevant observations
• Who was present
• Action taken
• Who the concern was reported or referred to
• Date and time of any referral

Records will be factual and objective.

Safeguarding records will be kept securely and confidentially.

 

8. Information sharing and confidentiality

Safeguarding information will be treated sensitively.

Information will only be shared with people or organisations who need it for safeguarding purposes.

Confidentiality will not prevent information being shared where this is necessary to protect a child from harm.

Parents or carers will normally be informed about relevant matters concerning their child, unless doing so could increase the risk of harm or interfere with appropriate safeguarding action.

 

9. Immediate danger or emergency

If a child is believed to be in immediate danger or requires urgent medical assistance, the emergency services will be contacted by calling 999.

The parent or carer will be contacted as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

The club will not delay contacting emergency services where immediate action is required.

 

10. Safer recruitment

If additional coaches, volunteers or helpers are appointed in the future, the club will take reasonable steps to ensure that they are suitable to work with children.

Depending on the role, this may include:

• Identity checks
• References
• Relevant qualifications
• Appropriate DBS checks where required
• Safeguarding checks and training
• Consideration of relevant concerns or information

The club will follow the safeguarding and DBS requirements applicable to the role.

 

11. Professional boundaries

Adults working with children must maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

Adults must not:

• Behave in a sexualised or inappropriate manner towards a child
• Use threatening, humiliating or abusive language
• Deliberately embarrass or humiliate a child
• Show inappropriate favouritism
• Give inappropriate gifts
• Communicate with children inappropriately
• Take inappropriate photographs or videos
• Arrange unnecessary private meetings with children
• Behave in a way that could reasonably cause concern about a child’s safety

 

12. Physical contact during skating

Roller skating instruction may sometimes require appropriate physical contact to assist with balance, positioning or safety.

Any physical contact must be:

• Necessary for the activity or safety
• Appropriate and proportionate
• Professional
• Respectful of the child’s personal boundaries

Where practicable, the coach will explain what they are going to do before physical contact is used.

Physical contact must never be inappropriate or unnecessary.

 

13. Toileting and changing

Children should normally use toilet and changing facilities independently.

The coach will not normally enter a child’s toilet or changing area.

If a child requires assistance because of an emergency, medical need or other exceptional circumstance, the child’s dignity and privacy will be respected and appropriate safeguarding considerations will be followed.

 

14. Photography and video

The club may use photographs or video for legitimate club purposes, such as promoting roller skating activities.

Appropriate parental/carer consent will be obtained where required.

The club will:

• Respect parental wishes regarding photography
• Avoid unnecessary identification of children
• Not publish a child’s personal information alongside their image where this could create a safeguarding risk
• Not take or share inappropriate images
• Store images appropriately
• Ensure images are used only for legitimate club purposes

Parents and carers will be informed about the club’s photography arrangements.

 

15. Communication with children

Communication between the coach and children must remain professional and appropriate.

Where electronic communication is necessary, the club will use appropriate club channels wherever possible.

The coach will not engage in inappropriate, secretive or personal communications with children.

Parents/carers should be included in relevant communications wherever reasonably practicable.

 

16. Drop-off and collection

Parents and carers are responsible for ensuring that children arrive safely at the agreed session location and are collected at the agreed time unless different arrangements have been agreed with the club or school.

The club will maintain appropriate emergency contact information for children attending sessions.

A child will not simply be left unattended because a parent/carer is late.

If a child is not collected as expected, reasonable attempts will be made to contact the parent/carer.

If there are concerns about the child’s safety or no appropriate adult can be located, appropriate safeguarding or emergency services will be contacted.

 

17. Missing child procedure

If a child is believed to be missing during a session:

1. The coach will immediately establish when and where the child was last seen.
2. The immediate activity area and appropriate nearby areas will be checked.
3. Exits and relevant areas will be checked where this can be done safely.
4. The parent/carer will be contacted where appropriate.
5. If the child cannot quickly be located or there is concern that they may be at risk, the police will be contacted.
6. If the circumstances indicate immediate danger, 999 will be called.
7. The incident will be recorded.

The safety of the other children will remain a priority during any search.

 

18. Accidents, injuries and illness

Roller skating involves physical activity and carries a risk of minor injuries such as falls, bumps and bruises.

The club will maintain appropriate first-aid arrangements.

If a child is injured or becomes unwell:

• The coach will assess the situation and provide appropriate first aid within their level of training.
• A parent/carer will be contacted where appropriate.
• Emergency services will be contacted where necessary.
• Serious incidents will be recorded.
• The child will not be expected to continue skating if doing so would be unsafe.

 

19. Bullying and discriminatory behaviour

Bullying, harassment and discriminatory behaviour will not be tolerated.

This includes behaviour relating to:

• Race or ethnicity
• Religion or belief
• Disability
• Sex
• Sexual orientation
• Gender
• Appearance
• Ability
• Skating ability
• Any other personal characteristic

Concerns will be addressed promptly and appropriately.

 

20. Safeguarding between children

Safeguarding concerns may involve one child causing harm to another.

The club will take concerns about inappropriate or harmful behaviour between children seriously.

Such behaviour will not automatically be dismissed as ordinary childish behaviour.

The circumstances will be considered and appropriate safeguarding action taken where necessary.

 

21. Social media and online safety

Club social media accounts will be managed appropriately.

Children should not be contacted privately through the coach’s personal social-media accounts.

Club photographs, videos and information will be shared responsibly.

Any online safeguarding concern involving a child should be reported to the DSL.

 

22. Parents and carers

Parents and carers are encouraged to raise safeguarding concerns with the club.

Concerns will be taken seriously and dealt with appropriately.

Parents and carers will be provided with information about the club’s safeguarding arrangements where appropriate.

 

23. Allegations concerning the coach or another adult

Any allegation or concern regarding the behaviour of the coach, volunteer or another adult involved with the club will be taken seriously.

If the concern relates to the DSL, the DSL will not investigate the concern themselves.

The concern should be referred to the appropriate external safeguarding authority.

The club will cooperate with any appropriate external safeguarding investigation.

 

24. Safeguarding training

The DSL will maintain appropriate safeguarding knowledge and undertake relevant safeguarding training.

If additional coaches or volunteers are appointed, they will receive appropriate safeguarding information and training for their role.

Safeguarding knowledge will be refreshed regularly.

 

25. Health, safety and safeguarding

Safeguarding forms part of the club’s wider responsibility for children’s health and safety.

The club will maintain appropriate procedures relating to:

• Safe skating
• Protective equipment
• Venue safety
• First aid
• Emergency procedures
• Collection arrangements
• Accident reporting
• Supervision
• Safeguarding

 

26. External safeguarding support

Where a safeguarding concern cannot appropriately be dealt with within the club, the DSL will contact the relevant external safeguarding service, children’s social care, police or other appropriate organisation.

If there is immediate danger, 999 will be called.

For non-emergency police matters, 101 may be used where appropriate.

The NSPCC Helpline and Childline may also provide safeguarding support and advice.

NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000

Childline: 0800 1111

Local Children’s Social Care: ______________________________

 

27. Policy review

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner if there is a significant change to:

• Safeguarding guidance or legislation
• Club activities
• The venue
• Staffing arrangements
• The age or needs of participating children
• The club’s operating arrangements

Next review date: September 2027______________________________

 

Declaration

Quad Skates School is committed to creating a safe environment in which children can enjoy learning and developing their roller-skating skills.

The club will take all reasonable steps to safeguard children and will respond appropriately to concerns about their welfare.