We follow the Department for Education's guidance for children's activities outside school, “Keeping children safe in out-of-school settings”, and believe that every adult on the team is responsible for a child's safety.

Who is responsible

Elizaveta Chuiko, founder of Abracadabra in London, is responsible for safeguarding:uk.abracadabra@gmail.com, WhatsApp +44 7346 784596. If anything about how adults interact with the children worries you, write or call: we'll look into it and get back to you. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. You can also get advice from the NSPCC: 0808 800 5000.

Team checks

All teachers who work with children have an Enhanced DBS check (including the children's barred list), have had their identity verified and work under contract with MONTORI LTD. We hold public liability insurance.

Before the first class

We ask for emergency contacts and for any allergies or health conditions that matter in class. There is a first-aid kit in the classroom. A few days before each Saturday we email you about which foods will be used in the class.

Rules for adults

From the handbook every Abracadabra teacher and assistant receives:

We don't pick a child up, hug them or take their hand without need and without their consent. We ask first: “Can I help you?”
If a child needs help in the toilet or with changing, we call a parent.
We don't raise our voices, threaten or manipulate. If a child is doing something unsafe, we stop it calmly and firmly.
We don't promise a child to keep a secret if it concerns their safety.
In a difficult situation a teacher doesn't improvise alone, but calls on colleagues.
An adult is never alone with a child in a closed room.

Visitors

Only the team, the children and their parents are present at classes. Guests (a visiting lecturer, for example) are agreed in advance and are never left alone with the children.

Photos and video

When you sign up, you choose in the agreement: may be published · only without the face (hands, back) · for parents only. We check your choice before every publication and don't photograph children whose parents haven't consented. You can change your consent at any time. Parents at Abrikos classes may film their own child; please don't publish other people's children without their parents' permission.

If something goes wrong

You can raise a complaint in person, by email to uk.abracadabra@gmail.com, on WhatsApp or onTelegram. We acknowledge it within 2 working days and give a full reply within 10 working days. If the matter concerns a child's safety, we're obliged to report it to the local authority (Islington children's services) and, where necessary, to the police.

We review this document once a year.

SafeguardingSafeguarding