Fit AS Gym Ltd is committed to providing a safe, respectful and appropriately supervised environment for children taking part in organised classes. Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone involved in the session.

This policy applies to owners, employees, instructors, contractors, volunteers, parents/carers, spectators and any other adult present during a children's session.

· Adult open-gym training will not take place during designated children's sessions.

· Only the children taking part, the class coach(es), authorised Fit AS staff and waiting parents/carers may be present in the relevant areas.

· Parents/carers must remain on the premises for the full duration of the session. Fit AS does not operate a drop-off childcare service.

· Staff supervise and coach the activity; they are not babysitters and do not take over the parent/carer's wider childcare responsibility.

· The internal access door is kept locked/controlled to prevent children leaving the premises without supervision. It must remain capable of safe emergency egress and must never compromise a fire escape route.

A responsible adult must remain on site for every child throughout the session.

· Parents/carers must wait in reception or in the designated spectator area to the side of the main gym area.

· Parents/carers must remain attentive, available and able to respond if their child needs them.

· Routine mobile phone use by waiting adults is not permitted during children's sessions. If an urgent call is unavoidable, the adult must remain on the premises and must not compromise the supervision arrangements.

· Parents/carers must not interfere with coaching unless asked to assist or where immediate action is required to protect a child.

· A child must not be left before the class starts or after the class finishes.

Staff and coaches delivering or supervising children's sessions are DBS checked as appropriate to their role and must follow this safeguarding policy.

· Maintain professional boundaries and use appropriate language and behaviour.

· Avoid unnecessary physical contact. Where physical guidance is genuinely required for safety or technique, it must be appropriate, proportionate and explained.

· Do not arrange private or personal contact with children outside the legitimate gym context.

· Avoid isolated one-to-one situations. Sessions should remain observable and open.

· Do not provide transport, intimate care or babysitting as part of the class unless a separate, specifically agreed safeguarding procedure exists.

· Any concern about another adult's behaviour must be reported; it must not be dismissed because the adult is known to staff or the family.

· Children should be checked into the session in accordance with the class register or booking record.

· Relevant medical, emergency contact or participation information supplied by the parent/carer should be available to the coach where needed for safe delivery.

· Children must not leave the class area or premises without the knowledge of the coach and their parent/carer.

· At the end of the session, responsibility returns directly to the parent/carer who has remained on site.

Photography and filming are tightly controlled during children's sessions.

· Parents/carers may photograph or film only their own child and only for personal/private viewing.

· Images should be framed so that other children are not deliberately included.

· No livestreaming is permitted.

· A photograph or video showing another child must not be posted, uploaded or shared on social media or other public/online channels unless prior consent has been obtained from that child's parent/carer and the use is consistent with Fit AS rules.

· No photography or filming is permitted in toilets, changing areas or any private area.

· Fit AS staff may only take or use official photographs/videos of children where the appropriate parent/carer consent has been obtained and the child's wishes are respected.

· Parents/carers remain on site and should assist younger children with toilet needs where necessary.

· Staff should not routinely provide intimate care.

· Where an emergency requires assistance, staff must act in the child's best interests, maintain dignity, keep the situation observable where possible and report the incident to management.

· The class area must be checked before the session for trip hazards, unsafe equipment, unsuitable temperatures and other obvious risks.

· Equipment used by children must be suitable for their age, size, ability and the activity being delivered.

· Class size and activities must remain within what the coach can safely supervise.

· Children must not access adult gym equipment or areas outside the planned session without specific instruction and supervision.

· Open-gym members must not be admitted to train during designated children's sessions.

· The internal access door must remain shut and access controlled during children's classes to prevent unsupervised exit or unauthorised entry.

· Staff must know how to release/open the door immediately in an emergency.

· Fire doors and emergency exits must never be wedged, blocked or locked in a way that prevents immediate escape.

· Any unknown or unexpected adult seeking access must be challenged through the door access system or referred to management before entry is allowed.

A safeguarding concern may arise from something a child says, an injury or behaviour observed, an adult's conduct, online/image concerns, neglect, suspected abuse, bullying or any situation that causes concern for a child's welfare.

1. Make the child's immediate safety the priority. Call 999 if there is an immediate danger or medical emergency.

2. Listen calmly. Do not interrogate the child, promise secrecy or attempt to investigate the allegation yourself.

3. Record the facts as soon as possible, using the child's own words where relevant. Record date, time, people present and action taken.

4. Report the concern immediately to Alexandria Walker or Stacey Cummings. Staff hold management contact numbers.

5. Management will determine whether referral to children's social care, the police, the relevant governing body or another appropriate authority is required. A person may contact emergency/statutory services directly if delay would place a child at risk.

· Any allegation or concern about a member of staff must be taken seriously and reported immediately to one of the Owners.

· If the concern relates to one Owner, it should be reported to the other Owner and, where appropriate, directly to the relevant safeguarding authority or police.

· If a concern relates to both Owners, or there is a risk that internal reporting would be unsafe or ineffective, the person raising the concern should contact the appropriate statutory safeguarding service or police directly.

· No person should attempt to conduct their own investigation or confront a suspected person in a way that could place a child at further risk.

· Safeguarding information must be shared only with people who need it to protect the child or meet legal/safeguarding responsibilities.

· Records must be factual, dated and stored securely.

· Safeguarding records are not to be discussed casually with members, parents or other staff who are not involved.

A coach or owner may stop a session, remove an adult from the session area, prevent access, contact a parent/carer or contact emergency services where reasonably necessary to protect a child.

· All staff involved in children's sessions must read this policy.

· The policy will be reviewed after any safeguarding concern, serious incident, material change to the premises or change in operating model.

· Formal review will take place at least annually.