Question 1

Admissions policy

Accepted Answer

To join Performanze you must be aged between 2 and 21 years old
Entry  is subject to class availability
Performanze is non-selective; however we are not able to cater for the needs of children with significant behavioural and learning difficulties in group classes - please discuss with Miss Rosie as we may be able to offer one-to-one coaching for children with additional needs
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Question 2

Allegation of staff abuse policy

Accepted Answer

It is important that all staff uphold the values of our school by behaving in a proper and professional manner.  If a student or parent feels that there has been an incident of staff abuse or unprofessional behaviour, the following procedure should be followed immediately:

Email directly to the Principal Rosie Baker:  performanze@live.co.uk 
If Miss Rosie is unavailable – or is involved - the deputy head Jill Burnett or administrative lead Annie Jacobs accounts@performanze.co.uk should be informed 
An impartial and fair investigation will be performed to try and establish what has happened
If any party feels this is a safeguarding issue, it is advised to contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (01865 810603) 
https://www.oscb.org.uk/concerned-about-a-child/

Question 3

Anti-bullying policy

Accepted Answer

We aim to develop a school ethos that encourages civilised behaviour, recognises everyone’s individual strengths, and deems bullying of any type to be unacceptable.

It needs to be made clear to all pupils that it is important to speak up about anything that is troubling them - bullying can only exist and thrive in an atmosphere of secrecy
Staff provide an environment where differences are not only accepted but are be embraced
If a there is a report of bullying then every incident will be taken seriously and followed up - the student should feel they can approach any member of staff and be heard
Allegations about bullying will be followed up with vigour and sensitivity. Under some circumstances, it may not be appropriate to identify the pupil making the allegation, but all those involved will usually be interviewed and, with the everyone's consent, might be brought together to help everyone appreciate the impact of the behaviour
Attempts will be made to defuse tensions between pupils and to repair relations so that the bullying does not develop
If the pupil continues to feel bullied, they must continue to seek help. Written statements from both sides may be asked for, and sanctions (e.g. moving classes or sitting out for a period) are likely to be imposed
Parents/carers are kept informed as necessary throughout the victim support process

Question 4

Behaviour and discipline policy

Accepted Answer

Good behaviour is a necessary condition for effective teaching and learning to take place.

It is our aim to:

Ensure that staff and pupils know and understand what is meant by good behaviour and that they aspire to this 
Encourage the development of self-discipline and sense of responsibility
Encourage good relationships between pupils and teachers
Ensure that pupils respect others feelings, values, and beliefs - encouraging an environment where differences are not only accepted but embraced

Staff will be clear, fair, and friendly.  Teachers need to be consistent in the behaviour that they will accept or not accept.  They will maintain discipline throughout the class to ensure noise levels don't get too high and that children are following instructions safely. We will confidentially communicate with parents/carers where sanctions are necessary or poor behaviour choices have been shown.

Parents/carers are expected to ensure that their children arrive at class on time and that their children are dressed appropriately. Parents/carers are expected to support the staff in maintaining positive class behaviour and may be called into class if their child’s behaviour is poor. Parents/carers are  responsible for children outside the classroom, prior to, and after each class.

Question 5

Child protection policy

Accepted Answer

Performanze fully recognises its responsibilities for Safeguarding and Child Protection. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, regardless of age, ability, culture, religion, ethnicity, gender, or sexuality. The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Rosie Baker. 
 
If there is immediate danger to a child contact 999.

If there is immediate concern for example:

Allegations/concerns that the child has been sexually/physically abused
Concerns that the child is suffering from severe neglect or other severe health risks
Concern that a child is living in or will be returned to a situation that may place him/her at immediate risk
The child is frightened to return home
The child has been abandoned or parent is absent

Please contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 0345 050 7666 during office hours (8.30am – 5pm, Monday to Thursday, 8.30am – 4pm, Friday) or call the Emergency Duty Team 0800 833 408 during outside office hours.

If there are concerns or allegations about a professional working with children please contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) on 01865 810603  or email lado.safeguardingchildren@oxfordshire.gov.uk

More details about our policy:
 
This policy aims:
To ensure all our pupils are safe and protected from harm
To allow children to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse 
To raise the awareness of the whole school community (including staff, governors, volunteers, and contractors) of the importance of Safeguarding and Child Protection and of their responsibilities for identifying and reporting actual or suspected abuse
 
Prevention: Establish and maintain a positive and safe environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk, and are listened to, where there is accessible pastoral care, careful and vigilant teaching, and good adult role models.
Protection: Agreed procedures are followed; staff are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to any safeguarding concerns.
Support: For pupils who may have been at risk of significant harm, for staff and the way they respond to concerns, and for any subsequent work that may be required.
 
All staff

Are:
familiar with this safeguarding policy and have an opportunity to contribute to its review
alert to the signs and symptoms of possible abuse
able to record and report concerns as set out in this policy
able to deal with a disclosure of abuse from a pupil
involved in the implementation of individual education programmes, integrated support plans, child in need plans, and inter-agency child protection plans as required
 
Do:
create a safe environment by offering the child a private and safe place if possible
stay calm and reassure the child, and stress that he/she is not to blame
tell the child that they were right to tell you, and that you know how difficult it must have been to confide in you
listen carefully and tell the child that you believe them and are taking what is being said seriously, and that you have to speak to someone who can help to keep them safe
keep questions to a minimum and encourage the child to use their own words; questioning should only include T. E. D. questions: 
			o Tell me more about.... 
			o Explain to me...
			o Describe to me...
and/or use the mirroring technique: i.e. ‘My dad hit me last night’ respond with ‘Your dad hit you last night?’
tell only the Designated Safeguarding Lead and contact any of the above numbers if deemed necessary
record in detail using the Child Welfare/Child Protection Incident or Concern Form without delay, using the child’s own words where possible, what you heard or what you saw
explain what the next steps are to the child
 
Do not:
take photographs of any injuries
postpone or delay the opportunity for the child to talk
take notes while the pupil is speaking or record the conversation on any device
ask the child to write down what they said or repeat it to another adult
promise confidentiality, e.g. saying you will keep ‘the secret’/promising not to tell anyone else
investigate the allegation yourself
approach or inform the alleged abuser

Question 6

Collection, non-collection, and missing children policy

Accepted Answer

At the end of the class, children will be handed over to the parents/carers or other authorised adults from a designated area outside the dance studio. Parents/carers are reminded that once the handover has taken place, they are responsible for their children’s safety, behaviour, and well-being.

In the event that a child is not collected by an authorised adult at the end of a class, Performanze puts into practice agreed procedures. These ensure the child is cared for safely by an experienced teacher/adult who is known to the child.

Procedures for non-collection

Parents/carers of children starting at Performanze are asked to provide specific information which is included in our registration form, including home address and telephone numbers
On occasions when parents/carers or the persons normally authorised to collect their children are not able to do this, parents can email in advance or speak directly with the teacher at drop off to discuss who will be collecting and when (such information will not be accepted verbally from young children (primary age) themselves)
If a child is not collected at the end of class, parents/carers are contacted using the contact details they have given us
If this is unsuccessful, the adults who are authorised by the parents to collect the children, and whose telephone numbers are recorded, are contacted
While the above procedures are taking place, children are kept safe in the next class within the studio 
At the end of the dance school time and after every effort has been made to make contact with parents/carers and as a last resort, we would contact Children’s Services of the Local Authority in accordance with agreed inter-agency procedures

Procedures for missing children

The missing child will be looked for thoroughly and efficiently. Other children will be supervised by a senior student teacher. 
Parent/carers will be contacted
If there is no response, or the parent/carer does not have knowledge of the child's whereabouts, the police will be called and their missing child protocols will be followed

Question 7

Complaints policy

Accepted Answer

Performanze is committed to ensuring that complaints will be treated seriously and that there are no impediments to anyone with a legitimate interest making representations or complaints.

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction by a parent with a real or perceived problem. At all times, the aim will be to resolve concerns as quickly as possible and at the right level.  Procedures will be applied with the aim of enabling individuals to raise any concerns and to allow a full and open evaluation of all the relevant issues.

Complaints against staff will generally be dealt with by the Principal Rosie Baker - performanze@live.co.uk .  If Miss Rosie Baker is unavailable – or is involved - the deputy head Jill Burnett or administrative lead Annie Jacobs accounts@performanze.co.uk should be informed as soon as once.

Stage 1:  Informal Resolution:  It is hoped that most complaints and concerns will be resolved quickly and informally. If parents/carers have a complaint, they should contact their child’s class teacher. Each complaint will be taken seriously and investigated impartially. In many cases, the matter will be resolved straight away, in an informal manner, and to the parent/carer’s satisfaction. 
Stage 2:  Formal Resolution:  If the complaint cannot be resolved on an informal basis, then the parent/carers will be asked to put their complaint in writing to the Principal (or as above, if Miss Rosie is involved to either Miss Jill or Annie Jacobs), who will decide, after considering the complaint, the appropriate and next action to take. In most cases, the investigating member of staff will speak to the parents/carers concerned within forty-eight hours of receiving the complaint to discuss the matter. If possible a resolution will be reached at this stage. It may be necessary for the the investigating member of staff to carry out further investigations; these will be completed in seven working days.

Question 8

Equal opportunities policy

Accepted Answer

Promoting equal opportunities is fundamental to the aims and ethos of Performanze. Indeed, we value the individuality of all within our community. We are especially committed to giving children and adults every opportunity to achieve the highest standards. Applications from candidates with a diverse a range of backgrounds are welcomed. This enriches our community and is vital in preparing our pupils for the world. We concentrate on educating the individual and providing a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, where each individual feels valued and can flourish.

Performanze is committed to equal treatment for all, regardless of an individual’s ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability, learning difficulty, body image, or social background. Bursaries are offered in order to make it possible for as many local children to attend - please speak to Miss Rosie performanze@live.co.uk if you are struggling financially.

Question 9

GDPR policy

Accepted Answer

GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation and replaces the previous Data Protection. GDPR states that personal data should be ‘processed fairly and lawfully’ and ‘collected for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes’ and that individuals' data is not processed without their knowledge and is only processed with their explicit consent. The Data Protection Act gives individuals the right to know what information is held about them. It provides a framework to ensure that personal information is handled properly.
​
What we do at Performanze

We store our registration data on software 'Club manager' (which is being phased out) and 'ClassForKids' - each software is an encrypted online database and is password-protected
Hard copy information is shredded 
We do not disclose or sell personal data to third parties
In the interest of child safety, as per our safeguarding policy, details may be shared with relevant authorities
Where children need licences for events, details are passed to relevant companies with parents'/carers' prior permission
The school uses contact numbers and emails for newsletters, updates, whole-school and individual communication
Please note that parents/carers have various WhatsApp groups; these are optional groups that you can choose to join and it should be noted that we cannot maintain GDPR for your telephone information if you add yourself to these WhatsApp groups. 
Emergency parent/carer contact numbers are given to teachers for the use of emergency contact only
Performanze stores personal data held visually in the form of photographs or video clips, or as sound recordings. No names are stored with images in photo albums, displays, on the website or on Performanze social media sites

Question 10

Photography and filming policy

Accepted Answer

Photography & Filming Policy1. PurposePerformanze uses photography and filming to record and celebrate our students’ achievements, support the administration of the school and, where appropriate, promote Performanze and its activities.We recognise that families have different preferences about how images of their children are used and will respect those preferences.2. Photography permissionsWhen registering, parents/carers are asked to select either Photos Allowed or No Photos using our registration system.Photos AllowedIf Photos Allowed is selected, Performanze may photograph or film the child during classes, rehearsals, performances and events. Images may also be used for:·         sharing privately with Performanze parents/carers;·         the Performanze website;·         advertising and promotional material; and·         Performanze social media.If a parent/carer is happy for their child to be photographed but does not want one of these particular uses, they should contact Performanze so that this can be recorded.No PhotosIf No Photos is selected, the child will be added to our No Photo List and relevant staff will be made aware of the restriction.We will then contact the parent/carer to establish exactly what they are and are not comfortable with. This may include whether their child can appear in:·         class, rehearsal or performance photographs;·         photographs shared privately with parents/carers;·         website or advertising photographs; and·         social media.These preferences will be recorded by Performanze and can be changed by the parent/carer at any time.3. Secure database photographsPerformanze will take a photograph of every child for our secure school database and administrative systems. This is for internal identification and administration only and is separate from publicity or parent-sharing photographs.Where No Photos has been selected, the database photograph will still be taken for this specific internal purpose and will not be used for any other purpose unless separately agreed with the parent/carer.4. Classes, performances and eventsPerformanze may take photographs and/or film during classes, rehearsals, performances, shows and other events.Staff will have access to the relevant photography restrictions. At performances and other events, children with photography restrictions may also be given a discreet paper wristband as an additional visual reminder to staff.We will take reasonable steps to avoid including children whose parents/carers have requested that they are not photographed or filmed.5. Photographs shared with parents/carersPhotographs from performances and events may be shared privately with Performanze families through a password-protected Dropbox link.The link will be:·         available through the parent area of the Performanze website;·         password protected;·         shared with parents/carers via the ClubLink App; and·         set to expire after six months.Parents/carers will be directed to the relevant website area by email.These photographs are for private use by Performanze families. Parents/carers must respect the privacy of other children and must not post photographs containing other children on social media or other publicly accessible platforms without appropriate permission.6. Photography and filming by parents/carersParents/carers may photograph or film classes, rehearsals or events only with permission from the Principal and the relevant teacher.Where photography or filming is permitted, parents/carers must respect the photography preferences of other children and must not publicly share images of other children without appropriate permission.Performanze may restrict or prohibit parent/carer photography or filming at particular events where necessary.7. Changing permissionsParents/carers can contact Performanze at any time to change or clarify their child’s photography or filming preferences.Any changes will be recorded and relevant staff informed.Where permission is withdrawn, Performanze will stop using the child’s image for that purpose going forward. We will take reasonable steps to remove images from our own website or social media where appropriate, although we cannot control images that have already been printed, distributed or shared by others.8. StoragePhotographs and films will be stored securely and accessed only by those who need them.Private event photographs will be available through the password-protected system for a maximum of six months.

Question 11

Adverse weather policy

Accepted Answer

The decision to close  in adverse weather conditions is not taken lightly and is always a last resort. In the event of closure we aim to inform parents by lunchtime if it is necessary to close. We will do this by texting on WhatsApp, posting on Facebook, putting a message on our website, and emailing.

The welfare of the children, parents/carers and staff is always paramount. We do not want people unnecessarily placed at risk.

Question 12

Illness policy

Accepted Answer

Performanze dance school provides physical activity and involves aerobic activity in an enclosed space; with this is in mind it is important that children who are feeling unwell (beyond mild cold symptoms) should be kept at home.

If your child has:

had sickness or diarrhoea in the last 48 hours
needed paracetamol during the day
flu like or Covid symptoms
a fever
not been in school

then it is really important that they do NOT attend the dance school.   Similarly, if a parent is symptomatic - we ask that they do not come into the building.  If you send the teacher a WhatsApp message on the correct group, they will walk them out to the car for you.

As a school, we ask parents to also do the following to help us reduce the risk of spreading the winter bugs by:

bringing your own named water bottle and encourage children not to share
naming all your items 
having a dance bag or basket for your items to go in
wearing the correct uniform and bring ballet cardigans/Performanze jackets to stay warm
bringing personal hand sanitiser
bringing tissues and a plastic bag to dispose of the dirty tissues

If you need any dance bags, cardigans, uniform or Performanze jackets please email Jill@performanze.co.uk