Policies and Procedures

Child Safety Code of Conduct and Student Wellbeing Policy

(updated January 2023)

Chile Safety Policy

At the Sarah Louise School of Dance, we are committed to having a dance school that is safe for all children, where child abuse and harm are not tolerated. Child Safety is a priority for the Sarah Louise School of Dance and the prevention and reporting of abuse is supported and encouraged. All staff, volunteers and contractors are responsible for promoting the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children. The Sarah Louise School of Dance recognizes that discrimination can harm children, and we treat all children with dignity and respect.

We adhere to the Australian and Victorian Safety Standards.

Each Teacher has a Working with Children Check, a Level 2 First Aid and a clear understanding of what keeping kids safe in dance means. The Code of Conduct identifies positive child safe behaviour's and we ask our Staff, Contractors and Volunteers to adhere to at all times.

The Sarah Louise School of Dance is a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.

The Sarah Louise School of Dance condemns all forms of child abuse, exploitation of children and discrimination against children. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment that promotes safety for people involved in our programs, including all children. All dance teachers are responsible for promoting the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children and young people.

All Sarah Louise School of Dance teachers are responsible for promoting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people by agreeing to and adhering to the below standards of behaviour:

1. Establishing a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.

2. Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.

3. Children and young people are empowered by their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

4. Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

5. Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in policy and in practice.

6. People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

7. Processes for complaints or concerns are child focused.

8. Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

9. Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.

10. Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

11. Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

To protect the wellbeing of my Students, I and my Teaching Staff will:

1. Take all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse.

2. Take all disclosures of harm or abuse made by a child seriously.

3. If risks to child safety are identified, report and act on concerns or breaches of this Code of Conduct.

4. Participate in all compulsory training and professional development, including training on child safety and wellbeing.

5. Treat all children and young people with respect, regardless of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, nationality, cultural background, financial situation, disability or other characteristics.

6. Consider the different needs of all children, support them to participate fully in our programs and help them and their families feel included.

7. Make Aboriginal children and families feel included welcome and support Aboriginal children to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights.

8. Never be racist towards anyone and report any circumstances of racism I become aware of.

9. Help the Sarah Louise School of Dance be a place where people of all cultures feel safe and included.

10. Listen to children and respond to them if they feel unsafe.

11. Value children and young people’s ideas and opinions

12. Promote friendships and encourage children and young people to support their peers.

13. Unconditionally support the health and safety of all children at the studio
14. Positively impact the lives of all children in my classes. I can do this by:
- treating all students equally and fairly
- supporting the beliefs and values of all children
- teaching in a positive and supportive manner
- using kind language and a supportive tone
- helping children to feel good about themselves
15. Speak with respect to all children, parents, staff and other teachers
- no yelling
- no indecent language
- no abusive tone
- no singling out
16. Report any incidents of bullying or abuse immediately
17. Discuss any concerns privately and calmly
18. Be a positive member of the studio’s community and offer support where possible
19. Adhere to all policies and procedures including
- Physical Contact policy
- Photography and Filming Children Policy
- Costumes and Dancewear Policy
- Music Policy
- Toilet Policy
- Change Room Policy
- First Aid and Injury Policy

I will not:
1. Force a child to dance injured or sick
2. Speak negatively about the staff, teachers or studio in a way that creates a toxic and unhealthy environment
3. Speak negatively about students or to students
4. Post pictures of children publicly via social media or any other platforms without the express consent from a parent or guardian
5. Threaten staff, students, parents or other teachers in any way
6. Leave a child unattended at any time

Parent and Guardian Code of Conduct

Parents and guardians are an important and valued part of our organisation. We have developed strict guidelines for everyone in our organisation on how to behave around children in our care.

Parent’s and Guardian’s will:

Unconditionally support the health and safety of all children at the studio
Speak with respect to all children, staff and teachers

- No yelling
- No indecent language
- No abusive tone

- No singling out

3. Report any incidents of bullying or abuse immediately to the studio owner

4. Allow staff and teachers to make decisions in the best interest of the students. I will discuss any concerns privately and calmly with the teacher and/or studio owner.
5. Encourage my child(ren) and other children at the studio in a positive and supportive manner
6. Be a positive member of the studio’s community and offer support where possible
7. Keep children home from dance class if they are unwell or injured and seek appropriate medical advice
8. Communicate directly with staff of a students absence and provide detailed information of illness or injury if appropriate and has an impact on their lessons or other children
9. Work with the studio to manage my child's injury in a positive and supportive way
10. Follow all codes of conduct in place for special events including concerts
11. Collect my child(ren) from classes and rehearsals on time and communicate with staff directly if I will be late

I will not:

Force my child(ren) to dance if they do not want to
Force my child to dance injured or sick
Speak negatively about the staff, teachers or studio in a way that creates a toxic and unhealthy environment
Post pictures of other children publicly via social media or any other platforms.
Threaten staff, students or teachers in any way
Touch another student in an aggressive or abusive way
Behave in a competitive manner in front my child(ren) or other children within or outside of the studio including on social media platforms

Private lesson policy

This code of conduct has been developed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students and teachers.

All private lessons have the option of the parent sitting in on the class.
Filming students in a private lesson must have the consent of the parent or guardian.
Any approved filming must be sighted by the parent or guardian and must be deleted from a teachers personal device if requested by the parent, guardian or child.
Filming or photography will not be presented online in any format or on any platform without the express consent of the parent or guardian
As in all classes, teachers are expected to use appropriate language at all times in a private lesson.
When choosing music consideration must be given to age appropriateness including language, message, corresponding music video, adult themes and violence.
If choosing/designing costumes for your solo’s please see our policy on costumes and dance wear

Physical contact policy

Physical contact with children is often necessary when teaching dance and we will stay within the guidelines.

Teachers will first ask a student before they touch them and students must agree to this contact and feel safe
No touching ever in private areas of a child’s body
No touching in a sexual manner
When guiding or correcting students, we never push them past their physical limits
If a student is visibly uncomfortable or asks you to stop you must do so immediately
Ensure students feel comfortable and safe before any partner work including contact improvisation. Students must be taught safe and correct lifting and weight taking techniques

Photographing or filming children

Photography or filming of students does not take place without written consent.
Parents, guardians, students, family members or friends must not post pictures of other children publicly via social media or any other means.
No photography or filming at concerts. Professional Services are engaged to do this.
Adult and Teen students: No mobile phones in class, no sharing on social media platforms.
Teachers may film students in class for teaching purposes however these images may not be posted without the express consent of the studio owner and parents or guardians of the children.
Under no circumstances is there photography or filming of any kind in change rooms

Costumes and dance wear Policy

Private parts of a child's body are to be covered at all times
Stockings are used when practical
Support clothing is offered and encouraged to young people such as a bra under a costume which offers support, underwear and body stockings
No fabrics, styles or accessories that project adult sexuality.
No fabrics, styles or accessories that project adult sexuality
Students always have an opportunity to rehearse in their costumes and are able to provide feedback that will be considered and fixed.

Choreography Policy

Hypersexualised movements are never choreographed in a routine
Any leg tilts, split actions or other open positions are performed away from the audience
Children are not asked or encouraged to use adult gestures or facial expressions such as winks, kisses, finger licks, crotch grabbing, open crotch drops or positions etc.

Music Policy

Music is chosen to suit the age of the student
Music is edited when certain lyrics are inappropriate
When uncertain, teachers always ask for parent opinions
Teachers are always open to parent feedback

Toilet Policy

Preschool children are taken to the toilet by the Parent Supervisor
Primary School children go to the toilet in 2’s

Change room Policy

1. Students have access to get changed in private

Pickup and Drop Off Policy (before and after classes)

Preschool children must be walked in and collected by a parent or grandparent where the teacher can see and recognise a familiar face.
If Preschool children are being collected by someone else, the teacher needs to be informed prior
Junior School aged children must be walked in by a parent and collected by a parent
If the Junior School children are being collected by someone else, the teacher needs to be informed prior
Pre Teen and Teen students may be dropped off and collected without the parent entering the building

First Aid and Injury Policy

All staff and teachers hold a current first aid certificate.

Staff and teachers will administer appropriate First Aid to injured or sick children and will call 000 in an emergency.

Parents and Guardians will be called immediately (after appropriate emergency procedures have been followed).

Sarah and her teachers cannot be held liable for injuries. Sarah and her teachers take the upmost care to prevent injuries.

Privacy Statement

During the process of entering into the contract with you and during the term of the contract we will obtain access to certain types of your personal information, such as information relating to your health and financial position. The studio and its staff will only access this information on a need to know basis and all information shared with us will be kept privately between you and the studio. Any private information shared will not be made available to a third party without your consent.

Teacher Code of Conduct