online safety policy

ONLINE SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT

Implemented: 11^th March 2020 

This policy should be read alongside KtS Dance’s policies and procedures on child protection and safeguarding (outlined above and at https://www.ktsdance.com/info/safeguarding-policy/ and our privacy policy: https://www.ktsdance.com/info/privacy-policy/). 

More information about safeguarding and child protection can be found at https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection

The purpose of this policy statement

KtS Dance works with children and families as part of its activities. These include: Dance classes, workshops and events, including dance examinations and performances (including, but not limited to, shows, carnivals, fetes). 

During the COVID-19 situation (particularly the period of “lockdown” commencing on Friday 20^th March 2020) KtS Dance has also provided online support and activities, including live dance sessions and pre-recorded videos using online tools.  

KtS Dance understands the importance of its pupils being able to use the internet for education and personal development in their dance training. This includes social media platforms, games and apps. We aim to support children and young people in making use of these in our work. However, we also recognise that safeguards need to be in place to ensure children are kept safe at all times. 

The purpose of this policy statement is to:

• ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people is paramount when adults, young people or children using the internet, social media or mobile devices
• provide team members and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to online safety
• ensure that, as an organization, we operate in line with our values and within the law in terms of how we use online devices

The policy statement applies to the Principal, all team members, volunteers, children and young people and their families involved in KtS Dance’s activities.    

Legal Framework

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of the legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. Summaries of the key legislation and guidance are available on:

• online abuse  https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse-and-neglect/online-abuse
• bullying https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse-and-neglect/bullying
• child protection https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-protection-system

We believe that:

• children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
• children should be able to use the internet for education and personal development in their dance training, but safeguards need to be in place to ensure they are kept safe at all times

We recognise that:

• the online world provides everyone with many opportunites; however it can also prevent risks and challenges
• we have a duty to ensure that all children, young people and adults involved in our organisation are protected from potential harm online
• we have a responsibility to help keep children and young people safe online, whether or not they are using KtS Dance’s network and devices
• all our pupils, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
• working in partnership with our pupils, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies including our own team members is essential in promoting young people’s welfare and in helping young people to be responsible in their approach to online safety.

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

• appointing an online safety coordinator
• providing clear and specific directions to team members and volunteers on how to behave online through our safety code of conduct and briefings
• supporting and encouraging the young people and responsible adults of our younger pupils using our service to use the internet, social media and mobile devices in a way that keeps them safe and shows respect for others
• supporting and encouraging parents and carers to do what they can to keep their children safe online
• developing an online safety code of conduct for use with parents/carers and young people
• developing clear and robust procedures to enable us to respond appropriately to any incidents of inappropriate online behaviour, whether by an adult or child/young person
• reviewing and updating the security of our information systems regularly
• ensuring that user names, logins, email accounts and passwords are used effectively
• ensuring personal information about the adults and children who are involved in our organisation is held securely and shared only as appropriate
• ensuring that images of children, young people and families are used only after their written permission has been obtained, and only for the purpose for which consent has been given
• providing supervision, support and training for team members and volunteers about online safety
• examining and risk assessing any social media platforms and new technologies before they are used within the organisation
• ensuring that an online policy statement specific to the online tools we are implementing is sent directly to parents/carers and is reviewed regularly (you can find this specific online policy statement at the end of this document )

If online abuse occurs, we will respond to it by:

• having clear and robust safeguarding procedures in place for responding to abuse (including online abuse)
• providing support and training for all team members and volunteers dealing with all forms of abuse, including bullying/cyberbullying, emotional abuse, sexting, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation and recognising signs of abuse that may become apparent during online lessons
• making sure our response takes the needs of the person experiencing abuse, any bystanders and our organisation as a whole into account
• reviewing the plan developed to address online abuse at regular intervals, in order to ensure that any problems have been resolved in the long term

Contact Details and Further Sources of Information:

Online Safety Coordinator and Designated Safeguarding Officer

Name: Mrs Katy Atzberger

Email: enquiries@ktsdance.com

Tel. 07752 014 554

NSPCC Helpline:

0808 800 5000

NSPCC website:

https://www.nspcc.org.uk