Note from Enchant Dance Academy, not part of the policy:This is written for our staff and volunteers rather than for parents, and it is published as written — what you read here is what a teacher in the studio is bound to do. If anything in it raises a question, email contact@enchantdanceacademy.com. Our safeguarding policy and the rest of what we publish are on the policies page.

Statement of intent and general principles

Enchant Dance Academy is fully committed to providing and maintaining safe, healthy working conditions, equipment, and work systems for all staff, students, and visitors. We accept full legal responsibility for the health and safety of anyone who may be affected by our activities while participating in classes or events at our academy.

As far as reasonably practicable, our policy is designed to ensure:

A safe working environment with secure and unobstructed access routes.
Safe protocols for handling, utilising, and storing all equipment.
Adequate instruction, information, training, and supervision so that all staff are well-equipped to avoid hazards and actively contribute to workplace safety.

This policy is kept under regular review to ensure full compliance with:

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
All other relevant current legislation

Staff and volunteer responsibilities

Maintaining a secure and safe environment is a collective duty shared by all staff and volunteers. Personnel must remain vigilant, recognise potential hazards, and take appropriate action.

Every teacher and teaching assistant has a duty of care to:

Exercise reasonable care during all activities to prevent accidents or injuries to themselves, students, and colleagues.
Strictly follow all safety instructions and protocols outlined in this policy document.
Report any potential hazards immediately to Kayleigh Pelling (Principal).
Log all accidents properly by completing the official accident report form.

Accidents and first aid procedures

Reporting. All accidents must be formally reported to Kayleigh Pelling (Principal) using the designated accident form.

Consent for treatment. Unless there are urgent circumstances, first aid should not be administered without parental or guardian consent (as children cannot give legal consent). Always attempt to phone parents if they are not on site.

Serious injuries. If a child is alone and severely injured, handle the situation immediately without delay. Qualified first aiders should administer treatment whenever possible.

Administration guidelines:

Whenever feasible (and without increasing risk), ensure another adult is present when administering first aid.
Always explain to the child what you are doing and why.
Check for known allergies by speaking to the child and cross-referencing their enrolment and medical forms.

Note from Enchant Dance Academy, not part of the policy:What a parent tells us about a medical condition, allergy, injury or additional need, and what happens to it, is set out in the privacy notice.

We will not administer any medication of any kind for minor injuries. If unsure about assisting a student with their own prescribed medication, we will seek guidance immediately. Treatment will be kept to the minimum necessary without compromising the child's wellbeing.

Providing comfort. If a student seeks comfort due to a minor injury or fright, physical reassurance (such as holding a hand or placing an arm around them) is acceptable provided that:

You understand the injury and will not exacerbate it.
The physical contact is wanted by the child.
You remain within clear sight of other adults at all times.

Note from Enchant Dance Academy, not part of the policy:Whether a teacher may offer a hand to hold or a sideways hug at all is answered by the parent for each child, separately from every other consent, and can be changed at any time. The privacy notice lists all five of those answers and where a parent changes them.

Emergency medical care. If hospital treatment or a doctor is required, call 999 immediately. Stay with the child until paramedics arrive and contact their parents. Staff must never transport students to the hospital in their own vehicles except under extraordinary, unavoidable circumstances.

Routine safety checks

Equipment. All equipment must be inspected prior to every class, set up correctly and safely, and stored away properly after use. Any damage must be reported directly to Kayleigh Pelling for repair or replacement.

Dance studio pre-class checks:

Ensure floors are clean, dry, and free of trip hazards.
Confirm that all doors and emergency exits are completely clear.
Report any facility issues immediately to the caretaker on duty.

Student safety:

Verify that all students are wearing correct dance attire and footwear, and have removed hazardous items such as jewellery and watches.
Instruct all students to keep their phones inside a bag on silent or off.
Ensure mandatory protective gear (such as knee pads) are worn for contemporary floorwork.

Note from Enchant Dance Academy, not part of the policy:What each class needs, and why hair goes in a low bun rather than a high one, is on the classes page and under In the studio in the terms. A child who is not dressed safely for a class may not be able to take part in it.

Fire safety and emergency procedures

Staff and students must strictly follow the venue's official fire procedures. Fire doors must never be propped open by parents or students.

In the event of a fire alarm during class:

Evacuate immediately via the nearest safe fire exit.
Do not allow parents to pull children directly from the class line; students must remain with their teacher.
The teacher will lead all children out of the designated exit — either from the main hall out the north exit to assemble in the car park, or from the Shelley Room into the garden by the iron gate.

Security, and collecting a child

Because our classes take place in a shared public building, external visitors may enter the premises. Staff must observe these security guidelines:

Never allow unverified strangers into active classrooms.
Report any suspicious or concerning behaviour immediately to venue staff and notify Kayleigh Pelling as soon as possible.

Child release protocols

Never release a child to an adult unless you are certain they are authorised to collect them. Never allow a child to leave with someone if the child appears distressed or uncomfortable without first verifying the situation. If there is any doubt, do not release the child — keep them with you and contact Kayleigh Pelling.

All Enchant Dance Academy staff and volunteers are contractually bound to adhere to this policy.

Note from Enchant Dance Academy, not part of the policy:Where we are legally required to, we pass information to somebody else — a safeguarding referral, or a medical emergency where paramedics need to know about a condition. That is set out in the privacy notice, and what a concern is and who it goes to is in our safeguarding policy.

Note from Enchant Dance Academy, not part of the policy:Last updated 24 August 2026.