Health and Safety Policy
DramEd considers health and safety to be of utmost importance. We comply with The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 at all times.
We conduct a Health and Safety health check [monthly/quarterly/yearly].
DramEd has appropriate insurance cover, including Public Liability insurance.
Each member of staff follows the DramEd Health and Safety policy and is responsible for:
- Maintaining a safe environment
- Taking reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others attending the activities
- Reporting all accidents and incidents which have caused injury or damage or may do so in the future
- Undertaking relevant health and safety training when required to do so by the manager.
Any member of staff who disregards safety instructions or recognised safe practices will be subject to disciplinary procedures.
Responsibilities of the registered person
The registered person for the setting holds ultimate responsibility and liability for the safe
operation of activities. The registered person will ensure that:
- DramEd has a designated health and safety officer
- All staff receive information on health and safety matters, and receive training where necessary
- The Health and Safety policy and procedures are reviewed regularly
- Staff understand and follow health and safety procedures
- Resources are provided to meet the DramEd health and safety responsibilities
- All accidents, incidents and dangerous occurrences are properly reported and recorded. This includes informing Ofsted, child protection agencies and the Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995) where appropriate.
- All reported accidents, incidents and dangerous occurrences are reviewed, so that preventative measures can be taken.
Responsibilities of the manager
The DramEd manager is responsible for ensuring that at each session:
- Premises are clean, well lit, adequately ventilated and maintained at an appropriate temperature
- All the DramEd equipment is safely and securely stored
- A working telephone is available on the premises at all times
- Chemicals and cleaning materials are stored appropriately, and in accordance with CoSSH data sheets.
- External pathways are cleared in severe weather
- Daily venue and environment checks are carried out in accordance with our Risk Assessment policy.
Security
Children are not allowed to leave the DramEd premises during the session unless prior permission has been given by the parents (for example, to attend other extra-curricular activities).
During DramEd sessions all external doors are kept closed, with the exception of fire doors which are alarmed. Staff monitor the entrances and exits to the premises throughout the session.
All visitors to the venue must sign in and give the reason for their visit. Visitors will never be left alone with the children. If a visitor has no reason to be on the premises we will escort them from the premises. If the visitor refuses to leave, we will call the police. In such an event an Incident Record will be completed and the manager will be immediately notified.
Security procedures will be regularly reviewed by the manager, in consultation with staff and parents.
Toys and equipment
All furniture, toys and equipment are kept clean, well maintained and in good repair. We select toys, equipment and resources with care, and we carry out risk assessments before the children are allowed to use them. Broken toys and equipment are disposed of promptly.
We ensure that any flammable equipment is stored safely.
Food and personal hygiene
Staff at DramEd maintain high standards of personal hygiene, and take all practicable steps to prevent and control the spread of infection.
- A generally clean environment is maintained at all times.
- Toilets are cleaned daily and soap and hand drying facilities are always available.
- Staff are trained and follow appropriate guidelines.
- Waste is disposed of safely and all bins are kept covered.
- Staff ensure that children wash their hands before handling food or drink and after using the toilet.
- Cuts and abrasions (whether on children or staff) are kept covered.
Staffing levels
Staff ratios and levels of supervision are always appropriate to the number, ages and abilities of the children present, and to the risks associated with the activities being undertaken.
DramEd operates a strict Staff to Child ratio at all times, as follows:
0 – 2 years one adult to three children.
2 – 3 years one adult to four children.
4 – 8 years one adult to six children.
9 – 12 years one adult to eight children.
Safeguarding Policy Statement
DramEd takes child safeguarding very seriously. All our team members have up to date enhanced DBS checks, which are kept on file and are available to view by clients on request.
All children and young people who participate in our workshops, clubs, classes and activities are provided with a safe and positive experience. We are committed to safeguarding their safety and well being.
We work with a team of expert staff, who are extremely experienced at working with children and young people. Our team will work alongside school staff complying to the school’s safeguarding policy for pupils.
The purpose of this policy statement is:
- to protect children and young people who receive DramEd’s services
from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services
- to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with
the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of DramEd, including senior managers, paid staff, sessional workers, and agency staff.
Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England.
We believe that:
- children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
- we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them
safe and to practise in a way that protects them.
We recognise that:
- the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take
- all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or
sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse
- some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their
level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
- working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is
essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
- valuing, listening to and respecting them
- appointing a nominated child protection lead for children and young people, a deputy, or a
lead trustee for safeguarding
- adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and
code of conduct for staff
- developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures
- providing effective management for staff through supervision, support,
- training and quality assurance measures so that all staff know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently
- recruiting and selecting staff safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
- recording, storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data
protection legislation and guidance sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and their families via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions
- making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they
have a concern
- using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant
information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents,
families and carers appropriately
- using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff appropriately
- creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and
procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
- ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
- ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, and staff, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory
guidance
- building a safeguarding culture where staff, children, young people and their
families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.
Contact details
Nominated child protection lead
Name: Grace
Phone/email: 07886267323
This policy statement came into force on 8th July 2019
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
This policy statement and accompanying procedures were last reviewed on 28th September 2020
Signed: GRACE FRANCIS
[this should be signed by the most senior person with responsibility for safeguarding and child
protection in your organisation, for example the safeguarding and child protection lead on your board
of trustees].
Date: 28th September 2020
