Junior Adventures Group UK Inclusion Policy

Policy Information

JAG Safeguarding & Inclusion Team - Key Contacts

Policy Contents

• DSL Team – Key Contacts (Page 1)
• Policy Statement (Page 2)
• SEND defined (Page 3)
• Equality (Page 3)
• SEND support process (Page 4)
• Reasonable & Unreasonable adjustments (Page 5)
• Buddy / 1:1 Support (Page 6)
• Managing behaviors which challenge (Page 7)
• Pausing attendance & Exclusion (Page 8)

Policy Statement

JAG recognises its duty of care and is committed to safeguarding from harm and promoting the wellbeing of all children attending our clubs. All JAG policies and ways of working are in place to keep our clubs, the children, our colleagues and partners safe.

All JAG colleagues are required to adhere to all obligations and requirements as set out in, but not limited to Early Years Statutory Framework 2025, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, SEND Code of Conduct 2014, Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, Childrens Act 1989. All JAG UK policies are underpinned by all current legislation and guidance.

JAG is committed to delivering a high-quality inclusion programme whilst promoting the welfare of all children and expects all team members to share this commitment.

Our commitment includes working in partnership with parents/guardians, school personnel and other professionals to ensure children are supported and given the opportunity to reach their full potential. JAG is committed to undertaking a holistic view of a child's needs, making reasonable adjustments as far as is possible enabling children to fully participate in JAG activities and experiences.

JAG recognises that all children have the right to be cared for, educated and supported in reaching their full potential alongside their peers through positive interactions and experiences. JAG clubs provide a positive and welcoming environment where we are committed to being inclusive where reasonable adjustments can be made. JAG believes every child's needs are unique.

My Child Has Individual Identified Needs: How Can You Help?

At Junior Adventures Group, we pride ourselves on being inclusive and committed to providing an enriching environment where every child in our care can thrive.

To deliver on this and ensure we always safeguard your child, it's vital that we're informed of any individual support your child may need to fully access our clubs. Please include this information on the child record page of your account. Please do not pre-book any sessions until we've confirmed we can deliver the specific support your child needs. To help this process run, please contact SENCO@junioradventuresgroup.co.uk and arrange a conversation with a designated colleague who will be able to assist you further.

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SEND Defined

JAG UK recognises the following definitions of special educational needs (SEN) taken from The SEN code of practice 2015. A child has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for them.

A child of compulsory school age has a learning difficulty or disability if they:

• A) Have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age
• B) Have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream school or post 16 institutions

Equality

JAG has a responsibility to ensure positive attitudes to diversity and differences, not only so every child is included and not disadvantaged, but also to support their learning and understanding from the earliest age to value diversity in others and grow up making positive contributions in society.

All JAG clubs provide a secure and caring environment, free from discrimination, ensuring all children and partners are valued as individuals without stereotyping.

To ensure inclusivity, free from discrimination JAG will:

• Respect all racial origins, religions, cultures and languages in a multi-ethnic society
• Not discriminate on grounds of disability, sexual orientation, class, family status and health/illness status
• Celebrate expressions of culture and religion
• Strive to ensure that all children and partners feel good about themselves and others, by celebrating their differences which make them unique and individual
• Challenge any forms of discrimination or harassment and report to authorities as is suitable

SEND Support Process

JAG has a comprehensive SEND support process: Abbreviated version.

Process Description:

1. Information Gathering: JAG delivery team or JAG Customer Experience Team is informed of a child's specific individual needs.
2. Notification: General Manager and JAG SENDCO are informed.
3. Assessment: General Manager contacts all parties (parents/school) to undertake a holistic assessment using the JAG Inclusion Consultation document.
4. Agreement: All parties agree on outcomes, required support, and any reasonable adjustments. A decision is made on whether a buddy is required.
5. Buddy Required (Yes):
   • SENDCO is informed.
   • Safeguarding & Inclusion team meets with operations team and parents to discuss buddy options.
   • Confirmation of funding and buddy recruitment.
6. Buddy Not Required (No): Resources/visuals and reasonable adjustments are put in place as identified by the Club Manager or General Manager.
7. Implementation: Induction visits and trial sessions are undertaken.
8. Review: Ongoing observations and reviews of the child's needs are conducted.

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Induction and Trial Sessions

Induction Sessions

All children with specific individual needs and their parents will be invited to visit the club to meet the JAG leaders and familiarise themselves with the club prior to attending. This is a free of charge 30-minute visit at a time agreeable by both parties. The parents are required to remain with the child during this induction visit.

Trial Sessions

All children with specific individual needs will be invited to attend a trial session, where they can attend a session without parents and fully take part in the activities and routine of the club. All trial sessions are free of charge and can be for a maximum of 180 minutes at a time agreeable by both parties.

Reasonable Adjustments

The SEN Code of Practice states: Reasonable adjustments are changes that organisations and people providing services must make if someone's physical or mental disability puts them at a disadvantage compared with others who aren't disabled. Reasonable adjustments can largely be described as the positive steps educational settings must take to enable a disabled pupil to participate in the life of the provision.

JAG defines reasonable adjustments as the changes which are made to our provision so that a child is not disadvantaged compared to others. It is specifically about changes which are made to support an individual child.

JAG will attempt to make any reasonable adjustments to the environment, level of care, training, and communication to provide care for a child. We are committed to supporting, however if deemed unreasonable adjustments, funding restraints, or inability to change the environment to ensure suitability for a child, JAG will document this and provide clear actions attempted and offered, as well as re-visiting and working in partnership with school, parent/guardian, and Local Authority to ensure all options to ensure the child can attend have been investigated.

JAG can support a child by making the following reasonable adjustments (this is a non-exhaustive list, and there may be other adjustments which can be made based on a child's individual needs if deemed reasonable by all parties):

• Accessibility aids including ramps and handrails
• Visual aids and other communication tools (Universal Makaton)
• Implementation of JAG buddy box (range of sensory resources)
• Bespoke, flexibility in attendance hours
• Identified 'safe' space
• Specialised training
• Sensory circuits

Unreasonable adjustments: Adjustments which are not reasonable and therefore may not be suitable for JAG to implement are defined as adjustments which will impose a disproportionate burden on JAG.

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The JAG Buddy (1:1)

Note: Children requiring intimate care or support with toileting are unable to access JAG leisure centre clubs due to access to and use of public facilities. In Schools, we are required to have suitable changing facilities and an additional member of staff (Buddy) to ensure we are safeguarding all parties.

JAG recognises that some children may require a higher level of adult supervision to ensure their safety and that of others. If it is agreed that a child needs a higher level of adult supervision to support their individual needs, we would require for a 'buddy' to be assigned to the child.

A JAG buddy is a specialist team member with knowledge in childcare and experience of supporting children with individual needs and requirements. All JAG buddies complete SEND Awareness and JAG Buddy training prior to commencing in their role.

The role of the JAG buddy is to develop a positive relationship with the child and family, plan for the child's time in club, making reasonable adjustments to the environment and programme as is required to meet the child's needs, and to always support the child they are attending.

The provision of a buddy is an additional service offered by JAG; this service is chargeable at £15 per hour in addition to the standard fees payable. We are able to offer bespoke buddy services and packages including:

• Buddy employed by JAG: We would hire a Buddy that would work with your child. Our Buddies have all the recommended training and will be able to support all your child's needs. The cost of this is £15 per hour; this requires a minimum of half a term's notice.
• Private buddy arrangements: This is someone you arrange, such as a TA or teacher, that works with your child. What we would require is a Full enhanced DBS, two professional references, and a signed buddy agreement (before the child attends).
• Agency buddy: This is a specialist agency working with children with SEN. The cost of this can vary.

JAG Safeguarding & Inclusion team will give parents guidance on payment options and can support with applying for funding where required; however, this is not always guaranteed.

If a child needs a buddy, any attendance will be paused by JAG until a suitable buddy is in place, this is to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all parties.

JAG normally requires a minimum of half a term's notice to attempt buddy recruitment once payment is agreed.

A buddy agreement will be shared between all parties to support the provision of the additional service. A copy of the buddy agreement is available on request.

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Behaviours Which Challenge

JAG promotes positive and socially acceptable behaviours amongst colleagues and children. All JAG colleagues are expected to always present as positive role models to the children. The JAG positive reinforcement approach to effective behaviour management promotes the welfare and enjoyment of all children attending our clubs. JAG will work in partnership with children, parents/guardians, and school partners to manage behaviours which challenge using clear, consistent, and positive strategies.

JAG colleagues will never use corporal or any other form of punishment or shaming as a threat or a means of behaviour management. JAG recognises that threatening any punishment could adversely affect a child's well-being.

JAG does not endorse the use of 'time out' or reward/behaviour charts as effective strategies for managing behaviours which challenge.

JAG expects all children and adults to:

• Use socially acceptable behaviours
• Present as positive role models to others
• Respect one another, accepting differences in race, gender, ability, age, religion and sexual orientation
• Ask for assistance if needed
• Show respect for JAG core values

Managing Behaviours Which Challenge

Any incidents of behaviours which are deemed challenging and unacceptable will be challenged, this may include but is not limited to:

• Bullying
• Name calling
• Aggressive shouting, swearing
• Intimidating behaviour
• Threatening behaviours
• Any form of abuse including physical or verbal

A child who displays behaviours which challenge will be supported in understanding why these behaviours are not acceptable within a JAG club. A member of the JAG team will take time to talk to the child about the impact of these behaviours and help them to identify making better choices.

If a child continues to display behaviours which challenge, the following steps will be taken:

1. The child will be given a warning and, as above, a discussion on why the behaviours are unacceptable and making better choices.
2. Parents/guardians will be informed of the child's behaviour and actions taken.
3. A discussion with the parent/guardian and child will be convened and attended by the General Manager and the JAG SENDCO.
4. Effective strategies will be agreed and put in place consistently to help support the child.
5. All parties will work together providing consistency and support for the child.

Children's Development

JAG recognises the ages and stages in children's development and learning, and inevitably there will be times when they need support and guidance to understand acceptable and non-acceptable behaviours.

JAG colleagues will always be mindful of and consider developmental age and stage when managing behaviours which challenge, looking to identify triggers.

Pausing Attendance

JAG reserves the right to pause a child's attendance for an agreed period, giving the child time for reflections and regulation before returning to club. In this instance, the most senior colleague in the JAG club must discuss this option with their General Manager and a Safeguarding & Inclusion team colleague prior to taking any action.

Once the pause in attendance is agreed, parents will be contacted by the General Manager and informed of the pause in attendance, the period of the pause, and the reasons for this.

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Escalation to Exclusion

There may be exceptional circumstances when all other attempts of managing a child's behaviour have failed, resulting in no further option than to exclude the child from attending JAG clubs.

The decision to exclude any child will not be taken lightly, and there must be secure evidence from the JAG team to support this decision. In this instance, the most senior colleague in the JAG club must discuss this option with the General Manager and Safeguarding & Inclusion team, and a JAG DSL prior to taking any action. Once the exclusion in attendance is agreed, parents will be contacted by the General Manager and informed of the exclusion.

If at any time a child's behaviour is extremely anti-social, then temporary or permanent exclusion may be implemented immediately.

Examples of extreme anti-social behaviours may include but are not limited to:

• Causing significant damage to property
• Causing harm to another child or JAG colleague causing injury
• Self-harm

Any exclusions may be reviewed following a 6-week (half term) period.

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Positive Handling

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 defines positive handling (physical intervention) as: "There are circumstances when it is appropriate for staff...to use 'reasonable force' to safeguard children. The term reasonable force covers broad range of actions used by staff that involve a degree of physical contact to control or restrain children..." "Physical intervention is where practitioners use reasonable force to prevent children from injuring themselves or others or damaging property."

JAG recognises there may be times where positive handling will need to be taken for the purposes of averting danger and is not a standard strategy to be used by colleagues. Positive handling will only ever be used as a last resort when all other strategies and interventions have been exhausted.

Only JAG colleagues who have completed JAG Positive Handling training can use this form of intervention. If positive handling is used by a JAG colleague, a record will be made on the applicable system, and the record will be shared with parents/guardians on the day of the event. This will include evidence on all other strategies and interventions used prior to the positive handling.

All events of positive handling must be reported immediately following the event to the General Manager and safeguarding team/DSLs.

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Promoting Awareness and Training

JAG promotes awareness of inclusion through an extensive inhouse training programme covering the following areas:

• SEND & inclusion awareness
• An Introduction to compliance
• Level 3 Safeguarding children & young people
• Whole of child & programming

We also have a library of extended training sessions and resources available including but not limited to:

• Autism
• Managing behaviours which challenge
• Epilepsy
• Diabetes
• Early childhood trauma
• Using visual aids and other communication tools

Higher level targeted training is accessed from external nationally recognised organisations and training providers.

JAG has a Safeguarding and Inclusion team who are trained as SENDCO's (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) and DSL's (Designated Safeguarding Lead).

JAG Right to Pause Attendance

JAG understands its legal and moral obligations and firmly recognise our duty of care. JAG will undertake all actions as set out in this policy document in its best efforts to provide for all children. However, should it be deemed by any party that the JAG provision is not suitable for a child, is unsafe for a child putting themselves or others at risk, the General Manager will discuss this with the parents/guardians and where suitable will advise on and signpost to alternatives using local offer knowledge.

In some circumstances, JAG may need to pause a child's attendance either for a short or extended period due to high risk levels and/or safeguarding concerns. This would always be discussed with the parents/guardians at the time of concerns being escalated by the General Manager and a colleague from the Safeguarding & Inclusion team. In these circumstances, evidence will be provided to the parents/guardians as to why this action is being taken, and we ensure all periods of non-attendance are fair and consistent.

JAG will continue to work with parents/guardians to establish plans to support a child's return to club, which will be agreed by all parties and regularly reviewed. In the unlikely event that concerns continue to be raised, and risks are still significant, JAG reserves the right to exclude a child on a permanent basis. In these circumstances, evidence will be provided to the parents/guardians as to why this action is being taken and all steps which have been taken prior to support the child.

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