1. Introduction
Jigsaw Arts is committed to creating a safe and secure environment for all children and young people participating in our activities.
This Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy outlines our commitment to promoting the welfare of children, preventing abuse, and responding effectively to any concerns or allegations.
We will give equal priority to keeping all children and young people safe regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
2. Legal Framework
Our commitment to safeguarding is underpinned by the following key legislation and guidelines:
•2.1 Children Act 1989 and 2004: We adhere to the principles and provisions of the Children Acts, which set out the legal framework for the protection and welfare of children.
• 2.2 Working Together to Safeguard Children: We follow the guidance outlined in the government’s “Working Together” document, promoting effective multi-agency working to safeguard children.
• 2.3 Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS): All staff and volunteers working with children will undergo the necessary DBS checks in accordance with legal requirements.
3. Responsibilities
• 3.1 Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Jigsaw Arts has appointed a Designated Safeguarding Lead who will take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection across the whole network. The DSL will undergo appropriate training to fulfil their role.
The DSL is Rachel Lochhead. She can be contacted by email dsl@jigsaw-arts.co.uk
3.2 Franchisees: Each franchisee will be appointed as Child Protection Officer for their own school and undergo safeguarding and child protection training. Where a manager is employed to oversee the running of the school at the weekend, they will also attend safeguarding training and act as the Child Protection Officer in absence of the franchisee.
•3.3 Staff and Volunteers: All other staff, teachers, assistants and volunteers have a responsibility to safeguard children and report any concerns to the Child Protection Officer or DSL. They are made aware of this policy during the induction and teacher training and will be reminded of this policy at the beginning of each term in the pre term meeting run by their franchise owner. All staff must be aware of and adhere to this policy.
• 3.4 Parents and Guardians: Parents and guardians are encouraged to communicate any concerns regarding the welfare and safety of their children with the DSL.
4. Code of Conduct
• 4.1 Professional Conduct: All staff and volunteers will adhere to a code of conduct that emphasises appropriate and professional behaviour when working with children. See Staff Code of Conduct Policy.
5. Recruitment and Training
• 5.1 Recruitment: Robust recruitment procedures, will be in place for all staff and volunteers working with children.
a) References – All employees must provide two references of previous employers.
b) Enhanced DBS – All employees must provide an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services Certificate dated within 3 months of the interview date. All employees with out of date certificates are submitted by Jigsaw Arts for an updated DBS certificate.
c) Update Service – Jigsaw Arts encourages employees to join the DBS Update services which allow employers to check a DBS status at any time without delay.
d) Jigsaw Arts never allows a member of staff to work with children without the above checks complete. Our DBS checks are carried out by Capita Recruitment Vetting Service.
•5.2 Training: Staff and volunteers will receive regular safeguarding training to ensure they are aware of signs of abuse, reporting procedures, and their responsibilities. As we have a high turnover of staff due to the nature of the business, this will be communicated with all teachers at the beginning of every term during the pre-term meeting.
6. Recognizing and Responding to Concerns
• 6.1 Signs of Abuse: Staff will be trained to recognize signs of abuse, neglect, or other safeguarding concerns.
• 6.2 Reporting Procedures: Clear procedures will be in place for reporting concerns to the CPO at the school or the DSL, who will follow the appropriate channels for further action. You can also contact NSPCC Helpline or Childline for further advice.
7. Confidentiality
• 7.1 Information Sharing: Information will be shared on a need-to-know basis only, and confidentiality will be maintained in line with legal requirements.
8. Communication with Parents/Guardians
• 8.1 Transparency: Jigsaw Arts will maintain open and transparent communication with parents and guardians, informing them about the safeguarding policy and procedures.
9. Taking photographs and videos
All parents and guardians are asked at the booking stage to give permission for us to take photos and videos of their children while in sessions at the school. If they do not wish us to take photos or videos of the children at this point, they are asked to let us know this in writing. The franchisee/manager of the school will ensure no photos are taken of this child.
Teachers and assistants are not permitted to take photos or videos of the students at the school. Only the franchisee/manager will be permitted to do so.
If teachers need to record any of the work, they should ask the manager.
10. Mobile Phones
Teachers are permitted to use their mobile phones for music purposes only. No photography, phone calls or messaging is permitted during class time except in case of emergencies. Students may bring their phones into Jigsaw; however they must be kept securely inside their bags for the duration of the session.
Students are not permitted to take photos on site of other students, and must be mindful that we have a wide age range of children on the premises.
11. Review and Revision
This Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy will be reviewed annually, or more frequently if there are changes in legislation, best practices, or other relevant factors.
Last Updated: 19th March 2026
