Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Applies to: All students aged 11–17
Effective date: 25 September 2026
Review date: 25 September 2027
Version: 1.0

1. Purpose

Motion Film Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child and young person who participates in its activities.

The academy recognises that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All adults working with students are expected to act promptly and appropriately if they have a concern about a child’s safety or welfare.

This policy applies to academy staff, freelance tutors, volunteers, contractors and any other adults working with or on behalf of the academy.

2. Our commitment

Motion Film Academy will:

  • Put the safety and welfare of children at the centre of its activities.
  • Maintain a safe, respectful and inclusive environment.
  • Take concerns about abuse, neglect, exploitation or other forms of harm seriously.
  • Respond promptly to safeguarding concerns and disclosures.
  • Maintain appropriate professional boundaries between adults and students.
  • Ensure appropriate safeguarding checks and procedures are in place for adults working with children.
  • Work with parents, carers and relevant safeguarding agencies where appropriate.
  • Share safeguarding information where necessary to protect a child.
  • Maintain appropriate safeguarding records securely and confidentially.

3. Types of safeguarding concern

Safeguarding concerns may include, but are not limited to:

  • Physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
  • Neglect.
  • Child sexual or criminal exploitation.
  • Online abuse or exploitation.
  • Bullying and harmful behaviour.
  • Domestic abuse affecting a child.
  • Self-harm or other significant welfare concerns.
  • Abuse or inappropriate behaviour by an adult working with children.
  • Any other circumstance in which a child may be at risk of harm.

4. Reporting concerns

Any adult working for or with Motion Film Academy who has a safeguarding concern must report it promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

Adults must not investigate concerns themselves or promise a child that information will be kept secret.

Where a child is in immediate danger, the appropriate emergency services should be contacted without delay.

Detailed instructions for responding to disclosures, allegations and specific safeguarding situations are contained in the academy’s separate safeguarding procedures.

5. Designated Safeguarding Lead

Motion Film Academy will appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead who has responsibility for coordinating safeguarding arrangements.

Designated Safeguarding Lead:
Name: Mark Murphy
Telephone: 07510 458 230
Email: safeguarding@motionfilmacademy.com

The DSL will ensure that safeguarding concerns are appropriately recorded, acted upon and escalated where necessary.

Separate Designated Safeguarding Lead Arrangements set out the DSL’s responsibilities and arrangements in greater detail.

6. Professional conduct

All adults working with students must maintain appropriate professional boundaries and behave in a way that protects children and maintains public confidence.

The academy will not tolerate inappropriate, abusive, threatening, sexualised or discriminatory behaviour towards students.

The separate Staff and Volunteer Code of Conduct sets out these expectations in detail.

7. Safeguarding procedures

Motion Film Academy maintains separate procedures covering:

  • Designated Safeguarding Lead arrangements.
  • Staff and volunteer conduct.
  • Missing children.
  • Disclosures and allegations.
  • Student behaviour.
  • Bullying.
  • Online safety.

All staff, volunteers and freelance tutors must familiarise themselves with the procedures relevant to their role.

8. Information sharing and confidentiality

Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and shared only where there is a legitimate safeguarding reason to do so.

Confidentiality will not prevent information being shared when this is necessary to protect a child from harm.

The academy will maintain appropriate records of safeguarding concerns and actions taken.

9. Review

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner if there are significant changes to legislation, statutory guidance, academy activities or safeguarding arrangements.

Next review: September 2027

This is the master policy. The other seven documents should now contain the practical detail, so we do not duplicate it here.