1. Purpose and Scope of this Policy Statement

Hags Pottery (“we,” “us,” or “our”) provides workshop-based art and pottery activities in a home, garden studio setting.

The tutor Annabel Johnson works with a group of up to 5 children alone.

Annabel is a trained teacher holding a PGCE an enhanced DBS certificate and has been trained in Child Protection procedures by The Courtauld Gallery where she currently works as an Educator. She has extensive experience in school settings, holding the position of Head of Art at Donhead Preparatory school until 2021 where her Child Protection training was regularly updated.

The studio is located a few meters from the main house and is accessed by two lockable side gates – which should be locked after all children have arrived. The studio is equipped with a toilet and first aid kit.

There is a working kiln in a separate shed and a pottery wheel. The kiln is never fired while children are in attendance, and the wheel is only used where one to one supervision available.

The purpose of this policy statement is:

• to protect children and young people who receive Hags Pottery’s services from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services.

• to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Hags Pottery including volunteers, sessional workers and students.

2. Legal Framework

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England.

A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from nspcc.org.uk/childprotection.

This policy statement should be read alongside current guidelines surrounding

• role description for the designated safeguarding officer

• dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child or young person

• managing allegations against staff and volunteers

• recording concerns and information sharing

• child protection records retention and storage

• code of conduct for staff and volunteers

• behaviour codes for children and young people

• photography and sharing images guidance

• safer recruitment

• online safety

• anti-bullying

• managing complaints

• whistleblowing

• health and safety

• induction, training, supervision and support

• adult to child supervision ratios.

3. We believe that:

• children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind

• we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

4. We recognise that:

• the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take

• working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare

• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse

• some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues

• extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.

5. We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

• valuing, listening to and respecting them

• appointing a nominated child protection lead for children and young people

• adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers

• recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance.
  (More information about this is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office: ico.org.uk/for-organisations)

• sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and their families via our website and one-to-one discussions

• making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern

• using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately

• using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately

• creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have guidelines to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise

• ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place

• ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance

• building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.

6. Contact Details

Nominated Child Protection Lead: Annabel Johnson
Phone: 07808 168 543
Email: annabel@hagspottery.org

7. We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually

This policy was last reviewed on: 25/3/2025