Safeguarding Policy

July 2025

Review date: July 2026

This policy is to be read in conjunction with Wavepower 2024 – Swim England Child Safeguarding Policies and Procedures. Daddy Shark Swim School is in the process of adopting the provisions of Wavepower 2024 in full, with the full guidance and consultation of Swim England during this process.

1. Safeguarding commitment
2. Principles
3. Definition of a child
4. Important
5. Definition of abuse
6. Possible indicators of abuse
7. Reacting, recording and reporting concerns
8. Best practice

1. Safeguarding Commitment

Daddy Shark Swim School believes that all children and young people have the right to protection from harm, abuse and exploitation. We are committed to safeguarding and the protection of children and vulnerable adults. As part of this we have developed a working safeguarding policy to which all members of staff must agree to adhere. This document covers both our legal and moral obligations towards protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and to help make our sessions safer for all who attend. Throughout this document wherever children are mentioned adults can also be vulnerable. This is especially true of adults who may have specific learning abilities or be disabled in any way.

2. Principles

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We recognise our duty to safeguard children and we recognize that working in partnership with other organisations, children and their parents/carers is essential to this.
Children’s safety and welfare is paramount.
All children, regardless of their background, have the right to be protected from abuse, exploitation or harm.
All concerns and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously, reported and responded to appropriately.

3. Definition of a Child

A child is anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. The fact that a child has reached 16 years of age and may be living independently does not change his or her status or entitlement to services or protection. It is also important to note that any Daddy Shark Swim School staff who have not yet reached 18 years of age will also be covered by this policy.

4. Important Contacts

Always remember – if you are, or someone else is, in immediate danger call 999 and ask for the police.

Designated Safeguarding Officer – Emma Ireland 07306 386968

Designated Safeguarding Deputy – Neil Ireland 07879 496689

Swim England County and Regional Welfare Officer – Brian Boyle brianboyle1@sky.com

Children’s Social Care / Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) – 0300 123 6720, out of hours 0300 123 6722

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) – 01772 536 694 Lado.admin@lancashire.gov.uk

Swimline 0808 100 4001

Safeguarding in Sport Unit 0116 234 7278 cpsu@nspcc.org.uk

NSPCC Safeguarding Line 0808 800 5000

Kidscape 020 730 3300

5. Definition of Abuse

The NSPCC categorises the following as types of abuse:

Bullying and Cyber Bullying

is behaviour that hurts someone else – such as name calling, hitting, pushing, spreading rumours, threatening or undermining someone.

Bullying can happen anywhere – at school, at home or online. It is usually repeated over a long period of time and can hurt a child both physically and emotionally.

Bullying that happens online, using social networks, games and mobile phones, is often called cyber bullying. A child can feel like there is no escape because it can happen wherever they are, at any time of day or night.

Child Trafficking

children are recruited, moved or transported and then exploited, forced to work or sold. Children are trafficked for CSE, benefit fraud, forced marriage, domestic servitude, forced labour and criminal activity such as pickpocketing and begging.

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

is a type of sexual abuse. Children in exploitative situations and relationship[s received something such as gifts, money or affection as a result of performing sexual activities or others performing sexual activities on them. Children or young people may be tricked int o believing they are in a loving, consensual relationship. They might be invited to parties and given drugs and alcohol. They may also be groomed and exploited online. Sexual exploitation can also happen to young people in gangs.

Domestic Abuse

is any type of controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behaviour between people in a relationship. It is not just physical violence; domestic abuse includes emotional, physical, sexual, financial or psychological abuse.

Abusive behaviour can occur in any relationship. It can continue after the relationship has ended. Both men and women can be abused or abusers.

Domestic abuse can seriously harm children and young people. Witnessing domestic abuse is child abuse, and teenagers can suffer domestic abuse in their relationships.

Emotional Abuse

is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child that adversely affects their development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless, unloved and/or inadequate, or where inappropriate expectations are put upon them. In a sporting context this may include severe parental or coaching pressure to succeed or perform in a certain way. Racially and sexually abusive remarks constitute emotional abuse and it can be a feature of bullying.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

is the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is also known as female circumcision or cutting.

Religious, social or cultural reasons are sometimes given for FGM. However, FGM is child abuse. It is dangerous and a criminal offence.

There are no medical reasons to carry out FGM. It does not enhance fertility and it does not make childbirth safer. It is used to control female sexuality and can cause severe and long-lasting damage to physical and emotional health.

Grooming

is when someone builds an emotional connection with a child to gain their trust for the purposed of sexual abuse, CSE or trafficking. Children can be groomed online or face-to-face, by a stranger or by someone they know, for example a family member, friend or professional. Groomers may be male or female. They could be any age.

Many children don’t understand that they have been groomed or that what has happened is abuse.

Harmful Sexual Behaviour

includes using sexually explicit words and phrases, inappropriate touching, using sexual violence and threats and full penetrative sex with other children and adults.

Children who develop harmful sexual behaviour harm themselves and others.

Sexual behaviour between children is also considered harmful if one of the children is much older (usually more than two years) or if one is pre-pubescent and the other is pubescent. Younger children, however, can abuse an older child, particularly if they have power over them, for example if the older child is disabled.

Neglect

is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs. This is likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development and can include failing to provide shelter, food, clothing or unresponsiveness to a child’s basic emotional needs. A child can also suffer neglect if a parent/guardian does not seek medical aid or prevent injury where possible. In a sporting context it can also mean failing to ensure they are safe, or exposing them to harm.

Online Abuse

is any type of abuse that happens on the web, whether through social networks, playing online games or using mobile phones. Children may experience cyber bullying, grooming, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or emotional abuse.

Children can be at risk of online abuse from people they know, as well as from strangers. Online abuse may be part of abuse that is taking place in the real world (for example bullying or grooming). Or it may be that the abuse only happens online (For example persuading children to take parti n sexual activity online).

Children can feel like there is no escape from online abuse – abusers can contact them at any time of the day or night, the abuse can come into safe places like their bedrooms, and images and videos can be stored and shared with other people.

Physical Abuse

may involve hitting, sharking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm or deliberate ill health to a child. It might also occur if a child is forced to train beyond their capabilities.

Sexual Abuse

involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. It may involve physical contact, including penetrative or non-p-penetrative acts, involving children looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

6. Possible indicators of abuse

There are many indicators that a child may be suffering from abuse. They may include, but are not limited to:

Unexplained changes in mood or behaviour
Nervousness, watchfulness
Inappropriate relationships with peers and/or adults
Inappropriate sexual language
Attention-seeking behaviour
Scavenging, compulsive stealing
Persistent fatigue
Running away
Inappropriate photos sent by email or phone text
Unexplained bruising or marks, or marks that are in places difficult to hurt (for example the back of the legs)

Further information on the signs of abuse can be found at www.nspcc.org.uk.

7. Reacting, Recording and Reporting Concerns

There are a number of reasons to have a concern, including:

Something a child has said
Signs or suspicions of abuse
Significant and/or unexplained changes in a child’s demeanour or behaviour, including self-harm
Allegations made against staff or a volunteer
Allegations made about a parent/guardian or someone outside of Daddy Shark Swim School
Concerns about inappropriate behaviour
Allegations or observations of bullying

If a child says or indicates that he or she is being abused, or information is obtained which gives concern that a child is being abused, the person receiving this information should:

React calmly so as not to frighten the child
Tell the child they are not to blame and that it was right to tell someone
Take what the child says seriously, recognising the difficulties inherent in interpreting what is said by a child who is very young, has a speech disability and / or differences in language
Keep questions to the absolute minimum necessary to ensure a clear and accurate understanding of what has been said
Any questions used should be open ended (Eg: what happened? When did it happen? Where did it happen? NOT: this has happened, before hasn’t it? Who else is involved? Did this happen at x?)
Reassure the child, but do not make promises you cannot keep, including confidentiality which might not be feasible in the light of subsequent developments
Make a full record of what has been said, heard and/or seen as soon as possible.

In the first instance any concerns, whether reported by a child or suspected, should be recorded and reported to the designated safeguarding officer. If the child is considered to be at immediate risk of harm then contact the police on 999.

A record should ideally include:

Name, address and date of birth of the child
Name, address and contact details of the parent/guardian
Is the parent/guardian aware of the referral?
Full details of the referral, using the referrer’s own words
Details of who the allegation is about, if possible their name, relationship with the child concerned and any known contact details
Details of any visible injuries
Details of any witnesses
Any other relevant information
Your own contact details

Do not delay reporting your concern to capture any missing information.

We will never ignore or make light of your concerns or worries. So, if you see or hear anything that doesn’t feel right please make sure to report it to us as soon as possible.

We will not decide if the concern or incident is child abuse or a failure to safeguard a child. We will refer the concern to seek advice from the appropriate agency so they can make that decision.

We will only tell individuals who need to know and can help in managing the concerns.

If parents/guardians are not implicated in the concern we will ensure they are made aware at the earliest opportunity.

8. Best Practice

We have a series of measures in place to help create a safe and inclusive environment for children. These include:

Recruitment and selection processes to assess the suitability of staff and volunteers to work safely with children
The provision of a safeguarding induction to all members of staff and volunteers
Safeguarding training for staff and volunteers
A clear, accessible reporting mechanism that supports all staff, volunteers and children to safely report safeguarding concerns or allegations
Guidance for all staff, volunteers, parents/carers on the behaviour expected for any activity with children.

The following should help staff work as safely as possible with all children while not compromising our ability to do our job effectively.

Supervision

When you assess the level of supervision needed at a particular time you should take into account the level of risk involved by considering the:

Activity being carried out by the children
Adult/child ratio
Other activities going on at the same time
Stage of development of the children concerned
Constraints and opportunities offered by the setting
Experience of the adults concerned
Children’s behaviour at the time
Feelings and wellbeing of the adults at the time

Physical Contact

Physical contact should be kept to a minimum of what is necessary to prevent injury or assist the child. Where possible speak to the parents of all children before physically helping or touching any child. Older children can give their own consent over physical contact. Even when consent has been gained from parents it is still important to ask a younger child for consent to touch them unless doing so puts them in danger (hitting head etc, but this should be explained to the child afterwards as to why you have done so). Where possible try only to touch neutral areas where other people can see (shoulder blades etc) and in front of others.

Behaviours and Attitudes

The Daddy Shark Swim School environment should allow children to feel comfortable in developing and learning at their own speed. The atmosphere within the group should contribute to the growth of every child’s self-esteem through recognition of both effort and achievement. Children should feel that they can share their feelings, fears and problems.

Staff should:

Be aware of individual needs and personalities and never make any humiliating or discouraging remarks
Never use physical force on a child for example hitting or slapping a child.
If a child with a sensory disorder benefits from pressure being applied to help calm them down consent from a parent/guardian and, if possible, the child, should be gained prior to doing this.
Never allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching
Never reduce a child to tears as a form of control
Never use physical exercises as a form of humiliation or punishment eg making a child perform sit ups poolside in front of their peers
Use appropriate language
Never allow children to use inappropriate language or behaviour without challenging it
Ensure all children are appropriately supervised until collected by their parent/guardian
Never ignore or trivialise bullying
Be aware of the impact of behaviour and opinions of others (helpers, other volunteers/staff, parents etc). The opinions, prejudices, actions and comments of adults, particularly those in authority, can easily influence children
Avoid showing favouritism or singling individuals out in any way

Photographs, mobile Phones and Websites

Photographs must not be taken without explicit consent of the parents/guardians of the children being photographed. This is for the safety of our swimmers, parents/guardians and staff. This information is relayed to all parents/carers during their enrolment period. Staff should actively monitor the use of cameras and other camera/recording devices during sessions. We also require that staff do not use mobile phones in the pool room unless in an emergency and request that should they need to, wherever possible move outside of the pool room and changing rooms. We recognise that staff may need to use their mobile phone to access software which provides details which may be needed during lesson times including class registers, swimmers’ medical conditions and emergency contact information. The use of mobile phones is not permitted in communal changing roo

Staff Who Are Under The Age of 18

Where staff under the age of 18 are employed it is necessary for staff to use discretion in regards to normal safeguarding procedures (not sharing phone numbers, etc). Disclosures or concerns must be reported in the same way as any other disclosure.

Changing Facilities

At Ormskirk C of E Primary School we have two communal changing rooms (one male, one female) and two small private rooms which may be used as changing facilities. We have carefully considered the guidance that anyone aged 9+ must use the correct changing room for their gender. Where a child is brought to their swimming lesson by a parent/carer of the same gender, they should use the changing room of the supervising adult’s gender. Where a child is brought to their swimming lesson by a parent/carer of opposite gender: if under the age of 9 they should use the changing room of the adult’s gender, and if age 9+ they should use one of the small changing rooms, which are private, or to “robe and go”, ie change into a dressing gown poolside and leave via the brown double doors poolside. Anyone over the age of 9 is not permitted to enter the changing room of the opposite gender. There may be times where the changing rooms are occupied pre-lesson and swimmers should be prepared to arrive “swim ready” and change poolside or use one of the small changing rooms if necessary, for which they may need to wait if occupied. Should you have any concerns about a child in the changing rooms or the availability for a child to use a changing room to get ready for lessons please speak to a member of staff. Phones must not be used in changing rooms. Where adults are getting changed with children, they should be mindful that children are present and change appropriately. We ask that parents be vigilant in regards to this for all our users’ safety. Should you have any concerns about this please do not hesitate to speak to a member of staff.

Supervision of Children on the Premises

Children who are not in the water remain the responsibility and under the supervision of the parent/carer at all times. Parents/carers must ensure all children are kept away from poolside until their teacher calls them forward for their lesson. Children must not be left unattended poolside, teachers are responsible for children in the water and cannot also be responsible for children waiting poolside for their lesson. Parents/carers must not allow any child, including siblings, to walk, run or play around the perimeter of the pool. Parents/carers are responsible for the safety and behaviour of children who are not swimming, which includes but is not limited to ensuring that children do not run poolside, climb on chairs or on the side of the pool, throw equipment or toys into the water during lessons, or come into contact with any children who are taking part in a lesson. Parents/carers must not assist in the teaching of a child during a lesson unless for medical reasons and with the prior agreement of the teacher. Parents/carers must remain on the premises whilst their child is in their lesson.