Safeguarding Policy for Drum Lessons with Lauren Greaves – Jam Jar Music

I declare I will always adhere to all the necessary guidelines to keep every single student and their information safe to the highest standard. I will be observing the Incorporated Society of Musician’s (ISM) safeguarding and child protection policy, code of practice and procedures. This information in full can be found at https://www.ism.org/about/safeguarding and I have highlighted some of the most relevant points for my own teaching below. 

Contractual arrangements:

 1.     I will use the ISM agreement for private music tuition as a pre-written agreement and seek to ensure that the terms of the contract are clearly understood, either by the pupil or, where the pupil is a child, by the pupil’s parent or guardian, before lessons commence.

2.     I understand my responsibility to provide tuition to pupils in a professional manner. This includes ensuring that the teaching methods, procedures, facilities and equipment used are of an appropriate standard. 

3.     If extra lessons of any kind are needed, arrangements should be mutually agreed in accordance with the conditions of the written agreement. 

4.     I will not solicit as pupils anyone known to be a pupil of another teacher. However, members of the public have the right to choose their own teachers and, if they wish, transfer from one teacher to another. 

5.     When a student of one teacher wishes to transfer to another, it is the responsibility of the new teacher to be satisfied that the pupil has satisfactorily terminated all obligations with the previous teacher. New teachers should therefore ensure that all fees have been paid and any property such as books or audio-visual material returned to the previous teacher and that there is no professional reason why that pupil should not be taken on.

Communicating with pupils and parents:

1. I will not, other than in exceptional circumstances, communicate directly with children by email or text messages and only then with the prior consent of the child’s parent or guardian. If electronic communication is necessary best practice would be to communicate directly with parents or guardians.

2. I will never communicate with children via Twitter, Facebook or other social media. Children, with the permission of the parent or guardian, are welcome to follow Jam Jar Music’s social media pages but I will not accept requests from my personal account. Children, with the permission of the parent or guardian, are welcome to comment on any social medial activity of Jam Jar Music but it I will not other than in exceptional circumstances, communicate directly with children by email or text messages and only then with the prior consent of the child’s parent or guardian. If communication via private message is necessary, best practice would be to communicate directly with parents or guardians.

3. I will initiate and maintain good communications with parents, schools and other private teachers, as well as with pupils, and to communicate clearly and openly at all times. In the case of child pupils, teachers must maintain appropriate direct communication with the parent or guardian. It is not appropriate to rely on information being passed on by the child pupil.

4. In the case of child pupils, I will offer parents regular progress reports. This could include a written progress report, a discussion with parents, or both, at least once a term.

5. In the case of adult pupils, information on progress should be conveyed during the process of giving tuition.

6. Where I have entered pupils for examinations as a teacher, I will pass on certificates promptly to pupils and parents. On no account should results be withheld pending payment of tuition fees or settlement of any dispute.

7. I will advise pupils and parents or suggest reliable sources of information for making choices about (a) the purchase of instruments and educational resources, (b) the appropriate schools for music education and (c) courses in further and higher education. While there are many matters on which I as a teacher may be asked to advise, I will only do so where I feel I am professionally competent to do so, or otherwise suggest where an expert opinion can be obtained.

Teaching content:

1.     I will provide a varied and balanced course of study appropriate to the age and ability of each pupil, with regard to both technique and repertoire.

2.     I will make an ongoing commitment to professional development and seek to ensure that my teaching methods reflect continuing developments in my field and are consistent with current best practice.

3.     When appropriate, I will make it clear to pupils (and parents) whether theory and aural training are specifically included in lessons, whether and when extra lessons will be necessary, or whether theory lessons will replace instrumental or singing lessons when needed.

4.     I will make it clear whether or not I am preparing pupils for graded examinations and will advise on alternative approaches to studying music.

5.     I will make myself aware if a pupil has overlapping musical interests, for example whether the pupil learns other instruments, is studying for GCSE or A/AS Level Music, or belongs to an orchestra, band, choir, music club, etc.

6.     I will provide performing opportunities for pupils.

 Child protection:

1.     I am an ISM Registered Private Teacher as an ISM Registered Private Teacher I required, to apply for a DBS Enhanced Disclosure check every three years.

2. I will avoid physical contact with children. Physical contact is only appropriate in very limited circumstances for the purpose of teaching and will be discussed with the pupil and parent before the lesson. Other methods of teaching physical movements such as demonstration for the pupil to copy will always be used as a preference to physical contact.

3. I will not take children alone in a car on journeys, unless with the prior consent of the child’s parent or guardian, and then only in exceptional circumstances. 

4.     As I teach children alone I encourage parents or guardians either to sit in on lessons, or to wait in the adjacent waiting room while the lesson is taking place.

5. I will not make suggestive or inappropriate remarks to or about a child, even in fun, as this could be misinterpreted. Inappropriate remarks include innuendo, swearing, and discussing their or your own intimate relationships.

 6. I will not engage in behaviour which could be construed as ‘grooming’ a child (for example giving a child money, presents or favours or talking or behaving in an inappropriate or unprofessional manner towards children).

 7. I will take a disclosure of abuse from a child seriously. It is important not to deter children from making a ‘disclosure’ of abuse through fear of not being believed. I will listen to what they have to say. I will follow ISM guidance on responding to an allegation of abuse and if the allegation gives rise to a child protection concern I will follow the ISM’s procedure for reporting such concerns, and not to attempt to investigate the concern myself.

 8. I will report any concerns immediately to the ISM’s Designated Safeguarding Person regarding the conduct of another ISM member in relation to children or vulnerable adults.

 9. I acknowledge that those who abuse children can be of any age (even other children), gender, ethnic background or class, and it is important not to allow personal preconceptions about people to prevent appropriate action taking place.

 10.  Good practice includes valuing and respecting children as individuals, and the adult modelling of appropriate conduct - which will always exclude bullying, shouting, racism, sectarianism or sexism.

Teaching facilities:

1.     I have a suitably equipped studio with access to facilities for pupils’ use and a waiting area for pupils and parents.

Health and safety:

1.     Where pupils are being left alone for lessons I will discuss and health needs with parents and ask parents to fill in a form on any health needs and allergies the pupil may have that may require physical attention. I will ask parents to be clear about who is collecting pupils and not allow pupils to leave by themselves without a parent’s or guardian’s permission. I will ensure they have emergency contact details for a parent or guardian.

Insurance:

1.     I have adequate insurance provisions in place to cover any potential liabilities. This includes public liability, professional indemnity and employer’s liability insurance.

 Video Lessons:

1.     I declare that I will only be using the ZOOM APP for online teaching purposes only. All email addresses and contact lists shall be kept private and not shared for any purpose with expressed written permission.

 2.     The email address I will be using to send out invitations to scheduled meetings is info@jamjar-music.com.

 3.     All correspondence will be done between myself and the ZOOM account / contact details of a parent or guardian where the pupil is under 18 unless express permission is given in writing by the parent.

 4.     I will send you a link to the lesson via email. When it comes to your lesson time you should click on the link to join the meeting and I will admit you into the meeting. I am operating a back-to-back lesson timetable with 5 minutes between lesson to hopefully curve any late starting issues at either end.

 5.     There is an option to record meetings in Zoom. I will not record any lessons as standard but I will record lessons upon request of the pupil or parent/guardian for the purpose of progress tracking and documenting work. Once it has been agreed that I will record lessons I will inform the pupil verbally before commencing each new recording.