The Darling Theatre Company is dedicated to providing a safe, joyful, and creatively enriching space for young people. This handbook is designed to help parents and guardians understand our safeguarding principles, how we protect children, what you can expect from us, and how you can support your child’s wellbeing during their time with us.

We believe theatre should be a place of belonging, confidence-building, and imagination — and safety is the foundation of all creative work.

OUR APPROACH TO SAFETY

Your child’s safety is our top priority.
We follow clear, transparent policies to ensure that all young participants feel supported, respected, and protected.

Our commitments:
• Children are treated with dignity, kindness, and respect.
• All teaching artists and staff working with minors hold current Working With Children Checks.
• All spaces are supervised, open, and observable.
• All activities are designed to be age-appropriate, safe, and inclusive.
• We maintain an open, collaborative relationship with parents and guardians.

WHAT SAFEGUARDING MEANS

Safeguarding includes:
• Protecting children from harm or neglect
• Creating safe physical and emotional environments
• Supporting children to speak up if something worries them
• Ensuring staff are properly trained and vetted
• Clear procedures for responding to concerns

Safeguarding is not only about preventing harm — it is also about nurturing confidence, creativity, emotional wellbeing, and healthy communication.

OUR STAFF AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES

All staff who work with young people:
• Hold current Working With Children Checks
• Receive safeguarding and child-safety training
• Follow a clear Code of Conduct
• Maintain professional boundaries at all times
• Report any concerns immediately to the Safeguarding Lead

The Safeguarding Lead oversees all child-safety matters.
Parents may contact this person directly at any time with questions or concerns.

OUR PROGRAM ENVIRONMENT

We aim to make every rehearsal, workshop, and performance safe, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate.

What this means for your child:
• Rehearsal rooms are open, visible, and supervised.
• Staff-to-child ratios ensure safe oversight.
• Children are never left alone with a single adult unless pre-approved and unavoidable.
• Language and material used in class is suitable for their age group.
• We do not include romantic intimacy, violence, or emotionally extreme material in youth work.

Your child has the right to:
• Feel safe and respected
• Say no to any activity that makes them uncomfortable
• Ask questions
• Speak privately to a trusted adult if something feels wrong
• Be supported without judgement

SIGN-IN, SIGN-OUT, AND SUPERVISION

To ensure safe transitions:
• Parents or guardians must sign their child in and out of each session unless otherwise arranged in writing.
• Children will only be released to authorised adults.
• Please notify us in advance of any changes to pick-up arrangements.
• Late pick-ups must be communicated as early as possible.

During sessions:
• Children remain under supervision at all times.
• Breaks occur in designated areas with staff present.
• No staff member will transport a child alone unless formally approved and documented.

COMMUNICATION

We maintain clear, professional communication with both children and parents.

With children:
• Staff speak kindly, respectfully, and appropriately.
• No direct one-to-one digital communication is allowed (e.g., texting, private messaging).
• All communication happens in the group or through parents.

With parents:
• We will inform you about schedules, expectations, performances, and events.
• We will contact you promptly about any incidents, concerns, or injuries.
• You are always welcome to discuss your child’s progress or wellbeing.

PHYSICAL CONTACT

In theatre training, physical contact may occasionally be necessary — for safety, demonstration, or partnered exercises.
Our approach is always:
Explain
Ask
Agree
Respect

We ensure that:
• All contact is appropriate, professional, and limited.
• Children may decline any physical contact.
• Staff model respect for personal boundaries at all times.

PHOTOS, VIDEO, AND MEDIA

We respect your family’s privacy.

We will only photograph or film your child:
• With your explicit written permission
• For specific purposes (e.g., class documentation, marketing, archival)
• With the option to opt out at any time

If consent is not provided, your child will never appear in company photos, videos, or promotional materials.

BEHAVIOUR AND WELLBEING

We expect all children to:
• Treat peers and staff with respect
• Contribute to a positive environment
• Avoid bullying, exclusion, or disruptive behaviour
• Communicate if something is wrong or unsafe

If issues arise, we will:
• Speak with the child in a supportive, private, and respectful way
• Contact parents when needed
• Seek a cooperative solution
• Prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all children

REPORTING CONCERNS

If a child:
• Discloses something distressing
• Shows signs of harm
• Reports concerning behaviour
• Appears unsafe or afraid
• Is affected by another child’s behaviour

We follow a clear, confidential process.

Our staff will:
• Listen without judgement
• Reassure the child they have done the right thing
• Record the concern accurately
• Report immediately to the Safeguarding Lead
• In serious cases, follow required legal reporting procedures

Parents will be informed when appropriate, except in rare circumstances where doing so could place the child at greater risk.

HOW PARENTS CAN SUPPORT THEIR CHILD

You play a vital role in creating a safe and positive experience.

You can help by:
• Talking openly with your child about their classes and experiences
• Encouraging them to share concerns or questions with staff
• Supporting their attendance, focus, and rest
• Informing us of any health, emotional, or additional support needs
• Keeping drop-off and pick-up arrangements up to date
• Letting us know if something at home may impact their participation

We honour your trust in us — and we’re here to work in partnership with you.


HEALTH, MEDICAL, AND SPECIAL NEEDS

Please inform us of:
• Any allergies, medical conditions, or medications
• Emotional, behavioural, or developmental needs
• Any strategies that best support your child

We will always:
• Treat personal information confidentially
• Make reasonable adjustments to support your child’s inclusion
• Respond calmly and professionally in emergencies
• Contact you promptly if your child becomes unwell or injured


COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION

The Darling Theatre Company welcomes children of all backgrounds, abilities, and identities.
We embrace diversity and actively foster a culture of belonging.

We are committed to:
• Equal access to programs
• Removing barriers to participation
• Working with parents to ensure each child feels valued and supported
• Challenging discriminatory behaviour or language

Every child deserves a place where they feel seen and celebrated.


IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR CONCERN

You are always welcome to speak to us.

You can contact:
• Your child’s teaching artist (for class-specific matters)
• Administrative staff (for scheduling, enrolment, logistics)
• The Safeguarding Lead (for wellbeing or safety concerns)

Whatever the concern — big or small — we are here to help.


REVIEW OF THIS HANDBOOK

This handbook is reviewed annually to ensure it aligns with legal requirements and best practice, and that it reflects the evolving needs of our youth programs.

We will notify parents of any significant updates.