The purpose of Karate by Chris Safeguarding Policy is to establish our responsibilities with regard to children’s safety and welfare.
We recognise it is our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.
We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued.
We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.
Our core safeguarding principles are:

∙ It is the setting’s responsibility to take all reasonable steps to safeguard and protect the rights, health and well-being of all children who are in our care.
∙ The setting will ensure that the welfare of children is given paramount consideration when developing and delivering all activities.
∙ All children, regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual identity, have equal rights to protection.
∙ All staff have an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may suggest a child is at risk of harm in accordance with this policy.
∙ The policy will be reviewed annually, unless an incident or new legislation or guidance suggests the need for an earlier review date.
∙ All children and staff involved in child protection issues will receive appropriate support from the manager of the setting who will follow the procedures set out in this policy. Aims our aims are to:

∙ To provide staff with the necessary information to enable us to meet our statutory responsibilities to promote and safeguard the wellbeing of children.
∙ To ensure consistent good practice across the setting.
∙ To demonstrate the setting’s commitment to safeguarding children. Context ∙ The Children Act 1989 states that the child’s welfare is paramount and that every child has a right to protection from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
∙ This policy seeks to promote effective multi-agency working in the light of the Children Act 2004 and 2006 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013.
∙ We will ensure every staff member and governing body or committee members know the name of the Safeguarding and Child Protection designated person. Key 

Personnel the Designated Safeguarding and Child Protection person in this setting is: Name: Chris Brown Job title: Karate instructor, Contact details: 07734103226
The procedure to meet and maintain our responsibilities towards children, Karate by Chris Classes agrees to the following standards of good practice:

∙ To treat all children with respect.
∙ To be a good listener.
∙ To ensure staff are positive role models to children and other members of the team and never engage in rough physical or sexually provocative games.
∙ To maintain appropriate standards of conversation and interaction with and between children and avoid the use of sexualised or derogatory language.
∙ To be alert to changes in a child’s behaviour.
∙ To recognise that challenging behaviour may be an indicator of abuse.
∙ To raise awareness of child protection issues and equip children with the skills they need to keep themselves safe
. ∙ To involve children in decision-making which affects them (taking into account their age and stage of development).
∙ To ask the child’s permission before doing anything for them which is of a physical nature, such as assisting with dressing or administering first aid.
∙ To read and understand all of the setting’s safeguarding and guidance documents on wider safeguarding issues, for example, physical intervention and information-sharing.
∙ To be aware that the personal and family circumstances and lifestyles of some children lead to an increased risk of neglect and or abuse. Responding to specific child protection concerns about a child at risk of significant harm

Taking action:
∙ Report any concerns we have to the Designated Safeguarding and Child Protection person or deputy immediately.
∙ If the Designated Safeguarding and Child Protection person or deputy is not available, ensure the information is shared with the most senior person in the setting that day and ensure action is taken to report the concern to children’s social care.
∙ Inform the parent/carer about what has been observed, so long as it does not put the child at increased risk. We will also ask the child if he/she is old enough, and note what they tell us and how they behave.
∙ If we decide not to discuss our concerns with the child’s parents we will record this and the reason why we made that judgement.
∙ Take action to obtain urgent medical attention for the child, if required.
∙ Record what we have heard or seen, what has been said, and what we did. We will use a body map, but will not take photographs.
∙ Keep the notes taken at the time, without amendments, omissions or addition, whatever subsequent reports may be written (dated and signed on each page).
∙ If the Designated Safeguarding and Child Protection person has any reason to believe that a child is subject to either physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect, he/she will immediately report these concerns to the Richmond SPA team on 020 8891 7969 or out of hours the Emergency Duty team on 020 8744 2442 who will refer to a duty social worker.

However, if we are seriously concerned about a child’s immediate safety, we will dial 999. The setting will keep records of all decisions or actions agreed in discussion with SPA. LBRuT Single Point of Access (SPA) Telephone: 020 8891 7969: Email: spa@richmond.gov.uk
RBK Single Point of Access (SPA) Telephone: 020 8770 5000: Email: SPA@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Use of mobile phones Mobile phones have a place in settings, especially those without a landline, and on outings. They are often the only means of contact available in settings and can be helpful in ensuring children are kept safe.

To protect children we will: 

∙ Only use mobile phones appropriately, and ensure staff have a clear understanding of what constitutes misuse and know how to minimise the risk
. ∙ Ensure the use of a mobile phone does not detract from the quality of supervision and care of children. ∙ Ensure all mobile phone use is open to scrutiny.
∙ Ensure staff are vigilant and alert to any potential warning signs of the misuse of mobile phones.
∙ Ensure staff are responsible for their own behaviour regarding the use of mobile phones and should avoid putting themselves into compromising situations, which could be misinterpreted and lead to potential allegations.