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Chaperone Definition

A chaperone is a person aged over 18 years, who is approved under Regulation 15 of The Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014, to have care and control of a child and to safeguard, support and promote the well being of the child while he/she is taking part in a performance, rehearsal, activity or living away from home during the period of the licence. 

Engagement

Chaperones are employed across ´óÏó´«Ã½ output in a professional capacity to act in ‘loco parentis’, ensuring the wellbeing of any child working on a production, and to monitor compliance with the Child Performance Regulations and the terms of any child licences. They may also be engaged to supervise children who are visiting the ´óÏó´«Ã½ as a contributor or an audience member.

Professional, licensed chaperones must be employed whenever a child is performing under the Child Performance Regulations.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Requirements

• The chaperone must have a full chaperone licence issued by their Local Authority (not applicable in Scotland).
• The chaperone must hold an in-date Enhanced (with Children's Barred List) DBS Check or PVG membership (Scotland only) which has been conducted within the last 3 years.
• The chaperone must provide evidence of completion of the NSPCC online course 'Protecting Children in the Entertainment Industry' (within 3 years).
• All chaperones must be cognisant with licensing legislative requirements including the completion of 'daily records', reporting a safeguarding concern and escalating a concern if they feel it has not been appropriately addressed.
• Chaperones may be required to discuss their role responsibilities with Local Authority licensing officers as part of an ad-hoc inspection, or with ´óÏó´«Ã½ Safeguarding Specialists as part of a routine safeguarding assurance visit.
• All chaperones engaged on ´óÏó´«Ã½-output must be provided with the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Safeguarding Chaperone Pack prior to their arrival on set.

Parents

Whilst not recommended, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Safeguarding Team recognise there are times when parents/carers may need to accompany a child who is contributing to ´óÏó´«Ã½ output, for example if the child has specific individual needs or the parent/carer is named on the licence.

Parents may accompany their own child (particularly if they are under 5 years of age), but parents will not be allowed to act as the child’s chaperone. Parents may, however, supervise their children in situations such as casting or participating in user testing or where an activity does not fall within the Child Performance Regulations.

If a parent is licensed by their Local Authority as a chaperone, they may be employed to chaperone other children, but must not supervise their own. This is to reduce any conflict of interest that may occur between deciding what is best for the child and balancing the needs of a production.

Ratio

Under Regulation 15 (3) of The Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014,  the maximum number of children a chaperone can look after at any one time is 12. However, from many years of supervising children in various settings, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Safeguarding Team strongly recommend that a ratio of 1:6 is more suitable. Chaperones should be vigilant to the individual needs of the children the are supporting and if additional chaperones are required, they should speak to the production SPOC as a priority.

The implemented supervision ratio will depend on a number of factors, including:

• The type of production
• The level of risk involved in the contribution
• The layout of the venue/location
• The age of the child/ren
• Individual needs of the children being supervised

Specific needs should always be discussed with parents (and children if applicable), and any arrangements approved, prior to the child's contribution to ensure their needs are fully met.

Overnight Working

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ recommends that separate chaperones are engaged for day and night supervision. A chaperone who has supervised children throughout a day shoot should not be expected to maintain levels of concentration and vigilance during the night as well – this poses a significant risk of harm to the child. Any deviation from this requirement must be fully documented in the risk assessment, including how opportunity for harm will be mitigated.

Supervision of 16 and 17 year olds

Professional chaperones must still be used for 16- and 17-year-olds who are performing but are beyond the legal performance licence age. This is to ensure that whilst additional responsibility and freedom may be granted, these young people are still protected from harm. Each child should be treated individually, based upon their levels of maturity. However, it is essential that there is a consistent approach to levels of supervision, additional privileges, and agreed boundaries which should be confirmed with parent/carer, in writing, prior to engagement. Any deviation from these agreed arrangements must be approved by the production SPOC who should contact the parent/care and document on the risk assessment.

Further information regarding the supervision of older children can be found in the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Safeguarding Chaperone Pack.

Tutoring

On-set tutors provide children who are contributing to ´óÏó´«Ã½ output with tuition in a range of core curriculum subjects, in close liaison with the child’s school, to minimise the disruption that missing school can bring.

Tutors should be engaged via safer recruitment methods and must be able to demonstrate proficiency in teaching the age-range that they are being engaged for.

In accordance with Regulation 13(3)(c) of the Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014, any adult engaged as a tutor will need to provide the following evidence to production either prior to, or on, their first day:

• Proof of identity (driving licence, passport etc)
• Proof of qualifications (this may include your DfE Teacher Ref number, QTS/QLTS certificate or other suitable evidence of continued professional development)
• DBS Enhanced (with Child Barred List) Certificate (issued within the last 3 years)
• Evidence of suitable training (The NSPCC provide child protection training for tutors at a cost of £25 per person, delivered online. Alternatives may be available but should be at the same standard or above to the NSPCC training)

Further guidelines, including the role responsibilities of a ´óÏó´«Ã½ tutor and a tutor arrival checklist, can be found below.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Chaperone Pack

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ Safeguarding Team has created guidance to support professional, licensed chaperones who are engaged to supervise children at the ´óÏó´«Ã½. Drawing on best practice, this guide includes information from both the NSPCC and the NNCEE in regards to the requirements of the role, as well as ´óÏó´«Ã½-specific requirements.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ Chaperone Pack can be downloaded here or by clicking the button above.

Chaperones should access the pack prior to project commencement in order to familiarise themselves with ´óÏó´«Ã½ requirements - confirmation of understanding and compliance will be required on your first day.