Safeguarding Policy

Teaching Driving Limited is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children, young people and adults who may be considered vulnerable. It recognises its responsibility to take all reasonable steps to promote safe practice and to protect people from harm, abuse and exploitation.

Teaching Driving Limited acknowledges its duty to act appropriately to any allegations, reports or suspicions of abuse.

Employed staff and self-employed driving instructors (operating the LDC driving school franchise from Teaching Driving Limited) will endeavour to work together to encourage the development of an ethos which embraces difference and diversity and respects the rights of children, young people and adults.

Teaching Driving Limited recognises its duty of care under the Children and Young Persons Act 1963, the Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014, the Children Act 1989 and the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (in Scotland Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003). Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015, Keeping Children Safe in Education September 2016.

Every self-employed driving instructor operating an "LDC driving school" franchise from Teaching Driving Limited will have the required DBS check and appropriate licence in place as awarded and required by the Government body Driver Vehicle Standard's Agency (DVSA). Any franchisee living within Scotland will also have the appropriate PVG scheme application in place. The PVG application number will be made available for members of the public to view.

The organisation believes that:

• The welfare of the child is paramount;
• All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse;
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse should be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately;
• All franchised instructors and employees of the organisation should be clear on how to respond appropriately.

The organisation will ensure that:

• Everyone will be treated equally and with respect and dignity;
• The welfare of each person will always be put first;
• A balanced relationship based on mutual trust will be built which empowers the person to share in the decision-making process;
• Enthusiastic and constructive feedback will be given rather than negative criticism;
• Bullying will not be accepted or condoned;
• All members of the organisation provide a positive role model for dealing with other people;
• Action will be taken to stop any inappropriate verbal or physical behaviour;
• It will keep up-to-date with health & safety legislation;
• It will keep informed of changes in legislation and policies for the protection of children;
• It will undertake relevant development and training;
• All data provided to Teaching Driving Limited will be kept securely and processed lawfully. All franchised driving instructors have received training in how to deal with data securely and lawfully.

Franchised driving instructors will ask for an "ICE" (in case of emergency) contact for each pupil that undertakes driving lessons with them. If details are provided, this information will be stored and easily accessible.

In implementing this child protection policy, Teaching Driving Limited will:

• Communicate to all employees and franchised instructors their legal and moral responsibility to protect children and young people from harm, abuse and exploitation.
• Communicate to all employees / volunteers / members their responsibility to work at all times towards maintaining high standards of practice in protection of children.
• Ensure that all employees and franchised driving instructors understand their duty to report concerns that arise about a child, young person or vulnerable adult to the organisation's named person for child protection.
• Ensure that the organisation's named person for child protection understands her responsibility to refer any child protection concerns to the statutory child protection agencies (i.e. Police, DVSA and/or Children's Social Care).
• Ensure that any procedures relating to the conduct of employees and franchised driving instructors are implemented in a consistent and equitable manner.
• Facilitate opportunities for children, young people and vulnerable adults to express their ideas and views on a wide range of issues in connection with the service they are provided with and to have access to the organisation's Complaints Procedure.
• Facilitate involvement of parents, guardians or carers in the work of the organisation if permission is provided from the pupil, and to make child protection policies and procedures available to them.

The organisation has a commitment to allow staff and volunteers to access appropriate training. All staff who have regular contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults should undertake basic safeguarding awareness training, which should be updated regularly.

This policy will be regularly monitored by the management team at Teaching Driving Limited and will be subject to annual review.

This policy should also be read in conjunction with the organisation's Equal Opportunities Policy and Health & Safety Policy.

The organisation has a dedicated Child Protection / Welfare Officer, who is in charge of ensuring that the child protection policy and procedures are adhered to. That person's name is Gemma McArdle and she can be contacted on 01977 691800 or gemma.mcardle@learnerdriving.com.