Canterbury Dance Festival
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL FESTIVAL CO-ORDINATORS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS WHO ARE ENTERING THEIR PUPILS AND CHILDREN INTO THE CANTERBURY DANCE FESTIVAL HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THE CHILD PROTECTION POLICY THAT IS NOW IN PLACE.
THIS IS FOR THE WELFARE AND PROTECTION OF YOUR PUPILS AND CHILDREN.
The Canterbury Dance Festival has compiled this policy to provide a safe and caring environment for all the competitors in compliance with the current Child Protection Policy and to work with all parents, teachers and Festival staff to implement this policy.
1. Purpose and Function of Organisation
The Canterbury Dance Festival provides a stage for amateur performers to compete against each other
publicly. The chosen professional adjudicators presence represents an artistic standard against which
the competitors are willing to be measured, with an educational element.
2. Environment
It is our policy to involve parents/guardians/carers or teachers in partnership with the Canterbury Dance
Festival to ensure a safe environment at the Festival as far as practically possible.
3. Application:
This policy relates to both children under the age of 18 and those vulnerable adults who are identified
to the organiser prior to their arrival at the Festival. The Festival recognises the needs of children who
are disabled or from ethnic minorities, and will seek to meet any specific needs notified to the Festival in
advance by parents/guardians/carers or teachers.
4. Personnel
The Canterbury Dance Festival is run by volunteers all of whom have independent references, and have
been briefed on the terms of this policy. All volunteers are known as Canterbury Dance Festival Officials
and are clearly identified by wearing black and white badges with their individual names on them and a
uniform. Please make sure you are aware who the officials are in case any problems should arise over
the course of the Festival. Every problem will be taken seriously, dealt with discreetly, documented and
dated.
5. Preparation
All teachers and organisers of participants in this Festival will be expected to have read this policy. In accordance with this
policy it is essential that parents/guardians/carers not attending the Festival make sure that their children are accompanied by
licensed chaperones at all times. The Canterbury Dance Festival will not undertake this role apart from the backstage area
where we provide our own licensed Chaperones to take care of them.
6. Changing Areas
The female changing room is clearly marked. There is a separate boys changing room provided clearly marked. Generally it is
mothers and/or teachers that change their children- both male and female competitors. On the rare occasion that a father
wishes to assist his daughter get ready the organiser must be told in advance of the Festival to make appropriate arrangements.
Elder brothers and Fathers are not permitted in the female changing room at any time. (UNDER FIVE BOYS ARE ALLOWED WITH
MOTHER ONLY)
7. Photography, Video Photography, Press Photography and Mobile Phones
The Canterbury Dance Festival prohibits the use of any means of photography and video anywhere in the vicinity of the Festival
inside and outside of the building. The organiser will confiscate any equipment if this rule is breached. Competitors/parents etc
will be advised when a press photographer is in attendance and be given the opportunity not to participate. The Canterbury
Dance Festival provides a professional photographer and video technician for services if the parent/guardian/ teacher etc
requires them. Once the product has been processed and bought the evidence will be erased from memory. Both photographer
and video technician have been police checked and have provided adequate references.
8. The Legislation and Guidance that supports this Policy
The Children Act 1989; The Police Act 1997; The Data Protection Act 1998; The Human Rights Act
1998; The Protection of Children Act 1999; The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000; Children
Act 2004.
9. Policy Review
The Canterbury Dance Festival will review this policy at regular intervals enhancing it when necessary,
and will look to other agencies for good practice, most notably the NSPCC and the Arts Council of
England policy guidelines.
NB: Any queries regarding this policy should be placed in writing and sent to:
MRS. W. MURRAY (Festival Secretary)
Willow Mead, Borstal Avenue, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 4NX.
01227 273338 / 07966 376675