Online Safety Policy

This policy should be read alongside Revolution Performing Arts’ policies and procedures on child protection and safeguarding.

The Purpose of This Policy Statement

Revolution Performing Arts works with children and families as part of its activities.

These activities include singing, dancing and drama at after-school clubs, holiday clubs, residentials and alternative provision.

The purpose of this policy statement is to:

• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people is paramount when adults, young people or children are using the internet, social media or mobile devices.
• Provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to online safety.
• Ensure that, as an organisation, we operate in line with our values and within the law in terms of how we use online devices.

This policy statement applies to all staff, volunteers, children, young people and anyone involved in Revolution Performing Arts’ activities.

Legal Framework

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

Summaries of the key legislation and guidance are available concerning:

• Online abuse.
• Bullying.
• Child protection.

What We Believe

We believe that:

• Children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind.
• Children should be able to use the internet for education and personal development, but safeguards must be in place to ensure they are kept safe at all times.

What We Recognise

We recognise that:

• The online world provides everyone with many opportunities; however, it can also present risks and challenges.
• We have a duty to ensure that all children, young people and adults involved in our organisation are protected from potential harm online.
• We have a responsibility to help keep children and young people safe online, whether or not they are using Revolution Performing Arts’ network and devices.
• Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare and helping them to be responsible in their approach to online safety.
• All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.

How We Will Keep Children and Young People Safe

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

• Appointing an Online Safety Coordinator.
• Providing clear and specific directions to staff and volunteers on how to behave online through our behaviour code for adults.
• Supporting and encouraging the young people who use our services to use the internet, social media and mobile phones in a way that keeps them safe and shows respect for others.
• Supporting and encouraging parents and carers to do what they can to keep their children safe online.
• Developing an online safety agreement for use with young people and their parents or carers.
• Developing clear and robust procedures that enable us to respond appropriately to incidents of inappropriate online behaviour, whether involving an adult, child or young person.
• Reviewing and updating the security of our information systems regularly.
• Ensuring that usernames, logins, email accounts and passwords are used effectively.
• Ensuring personal information about the adults and children involved in our organisation is held securely and shared only where appropriate.
• Ensuring that images of children, young people and families are only used after written permission has been obtained and only for the purpose for which consent was given.
• Providing supervision, support and training for staff and volunteers concerning online safety.
• Examining and risk-assessing social media platforms and new technologies before they are used within the organisation.

Responding to Online Abuse

If online abuse occurs, we will respond by:

• Having clear and robust safeguarding procedures in place for responding to abuse, including online abuse.
• Providing support and training for all staff and volunteers on dealing with all forms of abuse, including bullying, cyberbullying, emotional abuse, sexting, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.
• Making sure our response takes into account the needs of the person experiencing abuse, any bystanders and our organisation as a whole.
• Reviewing the plan developed to address online abuse at regular intervals to ensure that any problems have been resolved in the long term.

Related Policies and Procedures

This policy statement should be read alongside our organisational policies and procedures concerning:

• Child protection.
• Responding to concerns about a child or young person’s wellbeing.
• Dealing with allegations of abuse made against a child or young person.
• Managing allegations against staff and volunteers.
• The code of conduct for staff and volunteers.
• Anti-bullying policies and procedures.
• Photography and image-sharing guidance.

Contact Details

Online Safety Coordinator

Fiona Da Silva-Adams
Email: fi@revolutionpa.co.uk

Deputy Online Safety Coordinator

Laura Barnes
Email: laura@revolutionpa.co.uk

Senior Lead for Safeguarding and Child Protection

Fiona Da Silva-Adams
Telephone: 07586 754528
Email: fi@revolutionpa.co.uk

NSPCC Helpline

Telephone: 0808 800 5000

Policy Review

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

This policy was last reviewed on: 16 August 2024

Signed:

Date: 16 August 2024