Safeguarding Children Policy – Stance Jiu Jitsu Academy

At Stance Jiu Jitsu Academy, the safety and wellbeing of children and young people is our highest priority. We are fully committed to creating a training environment where all children feel safe, respected, and supported. This safeguarding policy outlines our responsibility to protect children from harm and our commitment to following UK legislation and best practices in child protection.

We recognise that martial arts are physical by nature, and while they offer many physical, emotional, and social benefits, we must ensure that all instruction is conducted in a safe, supervised, and appropriate manner.

All staff, instructors, and volunteers at Stance Jiu Jitsu are required to act in accordance with this policy and our internal safeguarding procedures. We ensure that all individuals working with children are appropriately vetted and trained. This includes enhanced DBS, verified references, and mandatory safeguarding awareness training.

We follow safe practice guidelines that include:

  • Matching children in drills and sparring according to age, size, experience, and temperament;

  • Maintaining clear supervision at all times;

  • Providing age-appropriate instruction with emphasis on safety and consent;

  • Avoiding one-on-one unsupervised contact between instructors and children;

  • Encouraging all students to speak up if they feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or unsure;

  • Ensuring all concerns or incidents are reported to our designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and recorded accurately.

All safeguarding concerns are taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately. Where necessary, we will report concerns to external authorities, such as local authority children’s services, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), or the police.

We also require all parents or legal guardians to sign a waiver and informed consent form upon registration. This document outlines the inherent physical risks of martial arts and affirms the family's understanding and acceptance of those risks under our structured supervision.

This policy is reviewed annually and updated in line with changes in legislation, safeguarding standards, or following any significant incident. For any questions or to report a concern, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead via email at info@stancejiujitsu.com.

By training with us, families can trust that we are committed to creating not only skilled martial artists, but also a respectful, safe, and supportive space for every child to thrive.