Anchors Aweigh Art Studio is committed to creating a safe, supportive and understanding environment for young students who engage with any activity at the studio, whether that be online or onsite.
Any person who is employed or operates a workshop at Anchors Aweigh Art Studio must look out for any child’s wellbeing and safety while that child is under their care.
1) All tutors who teach to people under the age of 18yrs at Anchors Aweigh Art Studio must have a current Working With Children Check.
2) Parent/Guardian contact details will be double checked when a child is dropped off at the studio for the first time. Parents/Guardians are advised to tell the tutor if a different person from themselves will be collecting the child at the end of the lesson or if their contact details change while the child is attending Anchors Aweigh Art Studio.
3) Anchors Aweigh Art Studio staff aim to make children feel safe in the studio. New students will be given a tour around the studio so they can familiarise themselves with their surroundings, know where the amenities are and where they can safely store their belongings while the workshop is running.
4) Anchors Aweigh Art Studio only runs small onsite classes for children. A maximum of 10 students are in any one workshop. This insures that all children get assistance, are listened to and receive meaningful and purposeful education.
5) The tutor will clearly introduce themselves at the start of a workshop and strive to create a relaxed, positive and inspiring environment.
6) The tutor will let students know how they can ask for assistance, whether that be in relation to the lesson or due to the student requiring assistance for a personal reason.
A student can get assistance by:
• Raising a hand
• Calling the tutor by name
• Approaching the tutor
• Passing the tutor a note (onsite) or sending a comment in a live zoom class (online)
• Going to the safe seat
7) Anchors Aweigh Art Studio has a safe seat area. The safe seat is a place where a child can go and sit if they need a time-out due to feeling overwhelmed, anxious or needing assistance from the tutor but being too shy to ask. The safe seat is in a wing of the main workshop area that is clearly visible from the tutor’s desk, presentation area but is partially hidden from the main student sitting area. This ensures that if a student feels bullied, anxious or requires help they can talk to the tutor with some privacy from other students, while the tutor still being able to monitor the main workshop area.
8) If a student requests that their parent/guardian be contacted at any time the tutor will follow through with the child’s request.
9) Anchors Aweigh Art Studio has a large communal workshop table that seats 10 students comfortably. This is to encourage sharing, discussion and friendships to form. However if a child feels more comfortable sitting at their own table or at a table of 2 or 3 students this can usually be arranged.
10) Anchors Aweigh Art Studio does not, under any circumstance, tolerate bulling, harassment or discrimination. Any student who is found to be intimating and/or disruptive of the lesson will have their parent/guardian called and that child will have to be collected.
11) Any tutor at Anchors Aweigh Art Studio will discuss safety and best practices before starting any project that has the potential to cause injury (ie – when using a craft knife, spray paint, lino tools).
12) Anchors Aweigh Art Studio has a First Aid Kit onsite and emergency contact numbers are listed inside the entrance doorway.
13) Anchors Aweigh Art Studio has set-up the main workshop space to mitigate risks for children. Equipment, tools and materials that could be dangerous to children will be stored in locked cabinets or out-of-bound areas. Children will only be able to go into these areas or use this equipment when under the direct guidance from the tutor (eg screen printing mezzanine).
14) Any tutor and/or staff member of Anchors Aweigh Art Studio must comply with the code of conduct and act with
- Integrity
- Objectivity
- Professional competence
- Confidentiality
- Professional behaviour
Any tutor / staff member found to not follow the code of conduct or any tutor / staff member found to have purposefully endangered a child will no longer be part of Anchors Aweigh Art Studio.
The Anchors Aweigh Art Studio Child Safe Policy is managed by studio owner Trina Collins.
This policy came into effect January 2022. The policy will be updated as required.