Safeguarding Policy
MAKE, DO & TREND | April 2026 | Review due April 2027
Policy owner and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Kirsty Pearce
1. Purpose, scope and status
Make, Do & Trend is committed to a safe, inclusive and child-centred culture in which children are protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, radicalisation and other harm. The welfare of the child is paramount. All concerns will be taken seriously and acted upon promptly.
This policy applies to drop-off arts and crafts workshops, holiday clubs, after-school clubs, parent-accompanied Little Crafters sessions, children's parties, private events and off-site activities, and to the owner, staff, assistants, volunteers, contractors and visiting performers. Children are anyone under 18.
Make, Do & Trend currently operates as a non-Ofsted-registered provider. This policy does not itself establish exemption from registration. The owner will review each activity against Ofsted registration rules, including children's ages, session length, nature of tuition and venue, and obtain clarification before offering provision where necessary. Any school or venue-specific safeguarding requirements also apply.
2. Safeguarding responsibilities
Kirsty Pearce is the DSL and is responsible for safeguarding procedures, training, recording, referrals and liaison with agencies. A safeguarding lead must be contactable throughout each session; the DSL will make arrangements for an appropriately briefed responsible adult when absent. No safeguarding concern may wait for the DSL if a child is at immediate risk.
Every adult working with children must follow this policy, remain alert to signs of harm, report concerns promptly and maintain professional boundaries. Children and parents may raise concerns directly with the DSL, Children's Social Care, the police or the LADO where relevant. Allegations concerning the DSL must be reported directly to the LADO and/or Children's Social Care; the DSL must not investigate allegations about herself.
3. Recognising abuse and harm
Physical abuse includes hitting, shaking, poisoning, burning, suffocating and fabricated or induced illness. Emotional abuse includes persistent humiliation, threats, rejection, intimidation or exposure to domestic abuse. Sexual abuse includes contact and non-contact abuse, grooming, exposure to sexual content and abuse online. Neglect is persistent failure to meet basic physical or emotional needs, including adequate food, shelter, supervision and medical care.
Concerns may also involve domestic abuse, coercive control, child sexual or criminal exploitation, trafficking, bullying, discriminatory abuse, harmful practices including female genital mutilation (FGM), online harm or radicalisation. Abuse can occur at home, in the community, online or within activities. A child may experience several harms simultaneously.
Possible indicators include unexplained injuries, changes in behaviour, fearfulness, withdrawn behaviour, sexualised behaviour that is concerning for age or development, persistent hunger or poor hygiene, worrying comments or a pattern of missed attendance. Signs are not proof; concerns must be recorded and assessed, not ignored.
Children may struggle to disclose due to age, disability, communication differences, language, fear, threats or shame. Staff must be alert to non-verbal communication and avoid assumptions or discrimination.
4. Responding to disclosures or concerns
Stay calm; listen carefully; take the child seriously; reassure them they have done the right thing. Do not promise secrecy, interrogate, investigate, confront an alleged abuser or ask leading questions. Ask only limited open questions if essential for clarity. Explain that information will be shared with people who can help keep them safe.
Record the child's words as accurately as possible, distinguishing fact, observation and opinion. Report to the DSL immediately or as soon as safely practicable. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent West Sussex safeguarding concerns requiring same-day action, contact the Integrated Front Door on 01403 229900 (office hours) or Emergency Duty Team on 033 022 26664 (out of hours). Anyone may refer directly; do not delay because the DSL is unavailable or disagrees.
Do not automatically inform parents if doing so may increase risk, compromise an investigation or place a child or adult at risk; seek advice from Children's Social Care. Record advice, decisions, actions and outcomes and follow the receiving agency's instructions for written referral or follow-up.
5. Child-on-child abuse
Child-on-child abuse is never dismissed as banter, teasing or an inevitable part of growing up. It can include bullying, discriminatory abuse, sexual harassment, harmful sexual behaviour, coercion, sharing intimate images, physical abuse and online abuse. Behaviour must be considered in light of age, development, power imbalance, consent and vulnerability.
Separate and safeguard those involved, listen without blame, record facts, notify the DSL and refer to Children's Social Care or police where appropriate. Support all affected children while avoiding promises of confidentiality. Never view, copy or circulate suspected child sexual abuse imagery; seek specialist advice.
6. FGM, exploitation and radicalisation
FGM is a serious form of abuse. Any concern that a girl has experienced or is at risk of FGM must be referred through safeguarding procedures without delay. The separate mandatory police-reporting duty for known cases in under-18s applies to teachers and regulated health/social care professionals within the statutory definition; anyone to whom it applies must fulfil it personally. Staff must never examine a child to establish FGM.
Concerns about grooming, exploitation, trafficking or radicalisation are safeguarding matters. Staff should record specific behaviours or disclosures rather than making assumptions based on religion, ethnicity, disability or political views. The DSL will seek advice from Children's Social Care, local Prevent contacts or police as appropriate. Make, Do & Trend adopts proportionate Prevent safeguarding practice without assuming it is a specified authority under the statutory Prevent duty.
7. Allegations or concerns about adults
Any allegation that an adult working with children has harmed or may harm a child, committed an offence against a child, or behaved in a way indicating risk to children must be reported promptly to the DSL, unless the concern is about the DSL. Seek LADO advice without conducting an internal investigation first; preserve relevant evidence and ensure immediate safety. Contact police/Children's Social Care where urgent.
Where the allegation concerns Kirsty Pearce, report directly to West Sussex LADO via its current referral portal and/or Children's Social Care. The person concerned must not manage their own allegation. Low-level concerns that do not meet the LADO threshold will still be documented and addressed, with LADO advice sought if uncertain. Any suspension or restriction will be considered proportionately with advice; it is not automatic.
Make a DBS referral when the legal duty applies, including when an individual is removed from regulated activity because relevant conduct or the harm test conditions are met. Ofsted notification is required only where an applicable registration or legal obligation exists; non-registration does not create a blanket Ofsted notification duty.
8. Safe recruitment, suitability and conduct
Check identity, references, relevant experience and suitability before allowing adults to work with children. Obtain the appropriate level of DBS check, including barred-list information only where legally eligible; review the role against current regulated-activity guidance. Brief all helpers, volunteers and visiting providers on reporting and conduct, and clarify supervision responsibilities in advance.
Adults must maintain professional boundaries, avoid unnecessary one-to-one isolation, use appropriate language and physical contact, and never use personal messaging or social media to establish private relationships with children. Staff must not use humiliating punishment, restraint except where lawful and necessary for immediate safety, or favouritism that compromises safeguarding.
9. Supervision and activity-specific arrangements
Drop-off sessions: maintain an attendance register, emergency contacts, medical/allergy information and authorised collection arrangements. Check children in and out with an authorised adult, unless an age-appropriate independent-departure arrangement has been expressly agreed and risk assessed. Do not release a child to an unauthorised or apparently unsafe adult; seek advice and emergency assistance where needed.
Parent-accompanied Little Crafters: parents/carers remain responsible for direct supervision unless explicitly agreed otherwise. The team still has safeguarding responsibilities and must report concerns.
Parties/private events: confirm in writing who is responsible for supervision, toileting, handover and any non-participating siblings; never assume that a host or parent is supervising without agreement.
Off-site/public venues: risk assess entrances, exits, public access, toilets, missing-child procedures, hazards, staff deployment and visiting entertainers. Children must not be left unsupervised during transitions or collection. For a missing child, search immediate safe areas, alert venue staff, contact police promptly when risk warrants, inform parents as appropriate and document events.
10. Toileting, personal care and first aid
Support children's dignity, privacy and independence. Agree personal-care needs with parents beforehand and record relevant adjustments. Avoid isolated adult-child situations where possible and use appropriate, proportionate assistance. Never deny toilet access or leave a child unsupervised in an unsafe area.
Maintain suitable first-aid arrangements and access to emergency contacts, medicines and allergy information relevant to each session. Record accidents separately from safeguarding concerns, while recognising that an injury may also require a safeguarding referral.
11. Photography, phones and online safety
Obtain clear parent/carer consent before taking or publishing identifiable children's images, and respect refusals. Use designated business devices/accounts where practicable, with secure storage and controlled access. Do not take photographs in toileting/changing areas, use personal accounts to share children's images, or publish names and identifying details unnecessarily. Explain expectations to parents, staff and visitors.
Do not contact children through personal social media or messaging. Report inappropriate online communications, image-sharing, cyberbullying or suspected grooming as safeguarding concerns. Preserve evidence safely without downloading or forwarding illegal images. Follow the separate Mobile Phone and Wearable Technology Policy.
12. Inclusion and respectful practice
Provide reasonable adjustments and accessible communication wherever possible. Treat every child fairly regardless of disability, race, religion, sex, family background or other protected characteristic. Challenge discriminatory behaviour and bullying. Where a child has additional needs, plan supervision and safe participation with parents while respecting the child's voice and confidentiality.
13. Recording, information sharing and retention
Complete a safeguarding concern record promptly, noting child name/date of birth where known, event and recording dates/times, location, people present, exact words, observations, actions, advice, referrals, decisions and the author's name/signature. Add follow-up and outcomes. Records must be factual, dated and not altered retrospectively without an audit trail.
Store safeguarding records separately from routine attendance and accident records, securely in locked storage or access-controlled encrypted systems. Access is limited to those who need it. Share information lawfully and proportionately where necessary to protect children; safeguarding information may be shared without consent where justified. Apply the UK GDPR/Data Protection Act 2018, an appropriate retention schedule and secure disposal. Never promise absolute confidentiality.
14. Training, monitoring and review
The DSL will maintain appropriate safeguarding and child-protection training and refresh knowledge in line with current guidance and local recommendations. Adults assisting sessions receive induction before work, including disclosures, reporting, conduct, child-on-child abuse, online safety and relevant Prevent awareness. Provide regular updates and record attendance.
The owner will review this policy at least annually and sooner after a serious incident, change in law/guidance, significant activity change or lessons learned. Ensure every adult knows where the policy and concern form can be accessed. This policy should be read with risk assessments, accident/first aid, missing-child, collection, photography, complaints and safer-recruitment procedures.
15. Emergency and referral contacts
Immediate danger: Police 999. Non-emergency police: 101.
West Sussex Integrated Front Door (Mon–Fri 9am–5pm): 01403 229900.
West Sussex Emergency Duty Team (out of hours): 033 022 26664.
West Sussex LADO: use the current LADO referral portal linked from West Sussex Safeguarding in Education / West Sussex safeguarding partnership website; check the portal details before adoption.
NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 5000.
Prevent concerns: seek local authority safeguarding/Prevent advice or contact police as risk requires.
Where activities are held outside West Sussex, use the relevant local authority children's services referral arrangements.
16. Guidance and approval
Guidance consulted: Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026; Department for Education Out-of-school settings: safeguarding guidance for providers (updated 9 February 2026); Ofsted Registration exemptions; West Sussex Integrated Front Door guidance; DBS legal duty to refer and regulated activity guidance; FGM mandatory reporting guidance; Prevent duty guidance.
Adopted by: Make, Do & Trend
Policy owner: Kirsty Pearce
Date adopted: 12/04/26 Next review: April 2027
Signature: K. Pearce
Official reference links
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/registration-exemptions
https://schools.westsussex.gov.uk/Page/6863
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-guidance-leaflets/the-legal-duty-to-refer-to-dbs