Safeguarding Kit for Music and Drama Groups

Overview

Music and drama settings involve unique safeguarding considerations: rehearsals and performances may run late, costumes and changing arrangements require careful management, one-to-one tuition is common, and the creative environment can blur professional boundaries. Whether you run a Saturday theatre school, a choir, a dance class, or a private music teaching practice, this kit helps you put clear protections in place.

Key Risks

• •One-to-one instrumental or vocal tuition creating opportunities for inappropriate behaviour or false allegations.
• •Changing and costume areas lacking adequate supervision or privacy safeguards.
• •Late rehearsals and performances creating unsupervised waiting periods for children.
• •Physical contact during dance, stage combat, or movement coaching being misinterpreted or misused.
• •Online sharing of performance recordings or photographs without adequate consent protocols.

Policies

• •A safeguarding and child protection policy tailored to performing arts settings, reviewed annually.
• •A code of conduct covering physical contact during rehearsals, appropriate language, and professional boundaries.
• •A photography, filming, and recording policy covering rehearsals, performances, and promotional materials.
• •A late collection policy outlining procedures when parents are late to collect children after rehearsals or performances.

Adult Conduct Boundaries

• •One-to-one tuition must take place in a room with a window or open door, and parents should be informed of session times and locations.
• •Physical demonstrations in dance or drama should be explained verbally first, and physical contact should be minimal, necessary, and with the child's consent.
• •Adults must not be alone with children in changing or costume areas — same-gender supervision should be available.
• •Instructors must not offer private transport to children without prior written parental consent and, ideally, a second adult present.

Communication Boundaries

• •All communication with children and parents should go through official group channels, not personal accounts.
• •Rehearsal schedules, venue changes, and collection arrangements should be communicated to parents directly.
• •Social media promotion should use official accounts only, and children should not be asked to follow instructors' personal profiles.
• •Group messaging platforms should be monitored by at least two adults.

Image Guidance

• •Written parental consent must be obtained before photographing, filming, or recording children — specifying the intended use.
• •Performance recordings shared online should not include children's full names without explicit consent.
• •Photographs and videos must be stored securely on official devices and deleted when no longer needed.

Emergency Escalation

Safeguarding Checklist

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