Safeguarding Policy
Overview
This Safeguarding Policy describes expected behaviours for Guitar and Drum tutors working for Music in Schools within a music education setting.
Where Music in Schools Tutors are working in a setting with its own safeguarding policy (e.g. a school), or for a third-party engager (e.g. a music service), other codes of conduct or policies may also apply.
Our Safeguarding policy is designed to ensure the safety and protection of children and vulnerable adults who engage in music lessons led by our tutors. It aims to prevent risk to all parties, provide advice on how to proceed if risk is identified, and set out our tutor’s safeguarding responsibilities.
It is provided by Music in Schools for use by Music in Schools tutors. Music In Schools is committed to upholding the highest standards of safeguarding within a music education setting.
Key Behaviours
Tutors should:
1. Commit to upholding the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection, knowing that creating a safe environment for all is everyone’s responsibility.
2. Maintain high standards of personal behaviour. Be friendly and approachable but professional in your interactions. Never use inappropriate language, sexual or otherwise, including in writing. Do not befriend students on any social media platform or share details of their private life with them.
3. Never work under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or smoke in front of students.
4. As well as following Music In Schools Safeguarding Policy, be aware of other safeguarding policies that may also apply to them – e.g. a school safeguarding policy – and also follow these.
5. Develop an understanding of the various issues that can cause students harm, using this knowledge to remain vigilant to risks and promote a safe environment for learning
6. Report any concerns or disclosures to an appropriate authority.
7. Keep records about children and vulnerable adults securely protected and retain them for no longer than necessary, whether records are physical or digital.
8. Ensure that consent is gained from all relevant parties for all photos or film of students, and that these are stored securely and retained no longer than necessary.
9. Maintain an up-to-date DBS check using the online DBS Update Service (England and Wales only).
Communications
Music In Schools Tutors should:
1. Communicate all information with guardians via an agreed channel (i.e. email or phone), avoiding direct communication with the student unless agreed with guardians.
2. Use professionally appropriate photographs for email, text messaging, social media profiles and so on, making every effort to avoid inappropriate photographs being seen by students.
3. Where possible, use a professional email address or point of contact that is specifically for teaching and education work.
4. Restrict profiles on social media so that these do not automatically accept contact requests and cannot be viewed by students.
5. Similarly, restrict profiles when teaching online via Zoom or other video calling apps. Encourage students to do the same.
6. Never communicate with a student via social media such as Snap Chat, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc, or give unnecessary personal details to a student.
Delivering lessons in person
Music In Schools Tutors should:
1. Dress appropriately and professionally.
2. Respect students’ personal space and avoid inappropriate physical contact.
3. Tutors will avoid teaching in a room that is far away from other people or activity. A room with a window is advisable to promote a feeling of openness and transparency.
4. If teaching in a school, other venue or student’s home, discuss any concerns about the room with an appropriate person, with a view to making alternative arrangements or adaptations if necessary.
5. Avoid a room layout where you are positioned between the student and the door.
6. Try to match the student’s eye level as far as possible when teaching, rather than standing over them or sitting below them on a low chair, for example.
7. Never make suggestive or inappropriate remarks to a child, such as innuendo, swearing, or discussing intimate relationships. Avoid sarcasm or remarks that could be misinterpreted.
8. All tutors that teach and represent Music in Schools UK Ltd should have an up-to-date enhanced DBS; Public Liability Insurance and the right to work
Delivering Lessons Online
When teaching online, Music In Schools tutors should:
1. Ensure that guardians are fully informed that online teaching is happening and are given information about appropriate practice relating to it.
2. Use video calling apps for lessons only and no other purposes.
3. Dress appropriately and professionally as for a face-to-face lesson.
4. Use a neutral background and/or a background blurring setting.
5. Terminate the call if the student wears excessively informal attire, has an inappropriate background or behaves inappropriately, and communicate the reason with guardians and/or line manager (as appropriate) afterwards.
Reporting Disclosures and concerns
Music In Schools Tutors should report the following via the appropriate channels:
1. A safeguarding disclosure made by a student (after first responding to the disclosure according to the following section).
2. Other concerns such as:
a. bruising or evidence of physical injury on the student, not obviously the result of a normal accident.
b. Unusual behaviour by the student.
c. Suspicious or worrying conduct of another adult, including a teacher or guardian.
Responding when a disclosure is made
Music In Schools Tutors should:
1. Listen carefully, openly and without judgement.
2. Reassure the student that they are doing the right thing by disclosing and will be taken seriously.
3. Tell the student that it will be necessary to report what they are saying, and that confidentiality cannot be promised. If this causes the student to end the disclosure, report this.
4. Allow the student to make the disclosure at their own pace, asking questions for clarification only.
5. Try to avoid excessive emotion, even if what is being disclosed is distressing.
6. Tell the student what will happen next and who the information will be shared with.
7. Make a written record of what was said as soon as possible, noting the date and time and using the student’s own words as far as possible. Anonymise student information on written notes as far as possible, e.g. by using initials.
8. Ensure that no information about the disclosure is shared outside of the reporting process.
Reporting a disclosure
Music In Schools Tutors should:
1. Report any disclosure as soon as possible, as follows:
a. If working in a school, report to the designated safeguarding lead (DSL). Note that this person may be referred to as the designated safeguarding officer or other title.
Music In School Tutors should:
1. Keep notes with dates and times, e.g. when unusual behaviour took place, or when/where an unusual injury was noted.
2. If serious, follow the same process as for reporting a disclosure.
3. If less serious, use judgment. It may be more appropriate to speak to a student’s classroom teacher, for example, than to go to the DSL.
Reporting other concerns
Have a question about our Safeguarding Policy?
You can contact Jody, our Director and Administrator, directly by phone or email, or via the contact form below.
Jody Manders
Director, Administrator & Enrolment Coordinator
Jody holds a vast amount of experience in both music and office administration, and has worked in secretarial roles and schools for many years.
Jody now operates Music in Schools UK Ltd, overseeing enrolments, organising timetables, and handling daily emails and enquiries.
In addition to her administrative roles, Jody has also made a name for herself as a professional singer, leading a popular wedding and party band in the Buckinghamshire region. As a session singer, she has performed with a small choir alongside artists including Emeli Sande, Tom Walker and Ed Sheeran.
Jody is in the office between the hours of 10:30am -2:30pm Monday to Friday during term time. Outside of work Jody enjoys walking Ozzie, her wired haired standard dachshund along the Cornish coastal paths and beaches.