Safeguarding Children

Safeguarding children

Safeguarding children and child protection

(Including managing allegations of abuse against a member of staff)

Policy statement

Hollyfield Pre-School Nursery is committed to provide a safe and secure environment in which children can thrive and develop and where all aspects of their welfare will be protected.

Our Safeguarding policy is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Children, young people and adults, and plays a vital role in the protection from all types of harm and abuse. It is committed to developing creative and positive ways for the child’s, young person or adult’s voice to be heard whilst recognizing the responsibility to use, hold and safeguard information received.Sharing information unnecessarily is an erosion of trust.

Hollyfield Pre-School Nursery’s safeguarding policy is inclusive of children, young people and adults, all of whom have the same protection regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity.

Our safeguarding policy is based on the three key commitments of the Pre-school Learning Alliance Safeguarding Children Policy.

EYFS key themes and commitments

A Unique Child / Positive Relationships / Enabling Environments / Learning and Development
1.3 Keeping safe / 2.1 Respecting each other
2.2 Parents as partners / 3.4 The wider context / 4.4 Personal, social and emotional development

This policy is in accordance to the following documents:-

The Education Act 2002

The Children Act 1989 and 2004 (section 10)

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)

Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2014

Data Protection Act (1998)

‘Right Service, Right Time – May 2013

Every Child Matters Framework: 5 Life Outcomes

Keeping Children Safe in Education: Statutory guidance for schools and colleges (2016)

Procedures

We carry out the following procedures to ensure we meet the three key commitments of HollyfieldNursery Safeguarding Children Policy.

Staff will communicate with the child in a way that is appropriate to their age, understanding and preference. Basic non-leading, open ended questions (dependent on the child’s stage of development) will be asked to ascertain a picture of what has happened and this will then be recorded appropriately. In the case of children who do not communicate through speech, staff will monitor and observe for changes in behaviour which could indicate possible abuse and the same procedure followed for recording and reporting. The nature of this communication, depending on the seriousness of the concern, may require advice from The Children’s Advice and Support Service (CASS) or the police to ensure the safety of both the child and any subsequent investigation that need to take place arenot in jeopardy.Where concerns arise as a result, of a direct disclosure, it is important to reassure and praise the child but not promise confidentiality.

Each member of staff or volunteer will be provided with all the necessary information regarding child protection procedures (see Staff Safeguarding Information Folder which is located in the office), knowledge of the signs of abuse and what to do if concerns arise about Emotional abuse, Neglect, Physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE),Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Trio of Vulnerabilities– Domestic Abuse, Mental ill-health, substance misuse, Breast Ironing, Radicalisation.Please also see the list of policies at the end of this policy and Appendices 1-7 for wider safeguarding issues and more information.

In all cases of child protection, staff will obtain guidance from ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education. Statutory guidance for schools and colleges (2016)’ A copy of this can be found in the office

We ensure all staff and parents are made aware of our safeguarding policies and procedures. Ways in which we do this are by giving a ‘Mini Guide to Safeguarding’ and a verbal explanation to parents during our Open Evening. In cases where children join us during the year, this is done as and when necessary. Staff verbally tell and physically show parents where they can find our policies and procedures, along with the 3 C’s folder when they come into the setting and are shown who the setting DSL’s are, again – either during open evening or as and when they start at the setting. Policies are displayed for all parents to browse at any time in paper form in the setting as well as some of them on the nursery website. There is information clearly displayed around the setting and on display boards in the main foyer for staff and parents to access. They can also request a copy for personal use. DSL staff regularly talk about and review this policy at senior staff meetings. Parents are aware, when they complete their child’s starting booklet, that staff have an obligation to ensure the safeguarding of all children and that all cases are dealt with in accordance to the settings policies and procedures. Parents are expected to sign our ‘Safeguarding Declaration’ form which is within the starting booklet. Safeguarding information about what procedures to take in the case of suspected abuse are clearly displayed on the newsletter, as are photographs and names of the setting DSL’s, which is given to parents on a monthly basis.
Applicants for posts within the setting are clearly informed that the positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and before any post is advertised, Keeping Children Safe in Education: Statutory guidance for schools and colleges (2015) is referred to, ensuring all guidelines are adhered to.
Candidates are informed of the need to carry out 'enhanced disclosure' checks with the Disclosure and BarringService before posts can be confirmed. Management keep copies of staff numbers and dates for renewal.Staff are expected to renew their own certificates on a yearly basis with the support of the manager.
The manager holds the right to carry out rigorous checks by using the on-line checking service to ensure their staff have not become a person who poses a risk to children (PPRC Status) throughout a person’s time of working in the setting.
All applicants who work within the nursery, whether voluntary or paid, will be interviewed before an appointment is made and will be asked to provide at least two references. All such references will be followed up.
In the case of applicants with unexplained gaps in their employment history, or who have moved rapidly from one job to another, explanations will be sought.
All appointments, both paid and voluntary, will be subject to a probationary period of a minimum of six weeks and will not be confirmed unless the nursery is confident that the applicant can be safely entrusted with children. Each new member of staff or student will work closely alongside a mentor who will overlook the safety of the children until the probationary period is over, and all members of staff and students are provided with a guidence handbook which details setting rules regarding safeguarding for children and adults alike. This is also accompanied by a robust induction plan, which includes a health screening check. (If a new manager was to be appointed, a separate induction plan would be put into place but as we are a family run business this has not been necessary).
It is made clear to all adults who hold a position in the setting that there is a zero tolerance policy for bullying of all kinds, including though not inclusive of on-line bullying, prejudice-based bullying, racist, disability and homophobic or transphobic abuse.
Where applications are rejected because of information that has been disclosed, applicants have the right to know and to challenge incorrect information.
We abide by Ofsted requirements in respect of references and Disclosure and BarringService checks for staff and volunteers, to ensure that no disqualified person or unsuitable person works at the setting or has access to the children.
Volunteers do not work unsupervised.
We abide by the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Groups Act (2010)requirements in respect of any person who is dismissed from our employment, or resigns in circumstances that would otherwise have lead to dismissal for reasons of child protection concern.
We have procedures for recording the details of visitors to the setting, each visitor and member of staff have to sign in and out of nursery and are asked to produce photo identification upon arrival if unknown to staff.
We take security steps to ensure that we have control over who comes into the setting so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children. We have visitor tags to show who has permission to be in the setting and to avoid staff from questioning suitable people.
Parents who wish to view the setting in order to decide whether they want to admit their child into our care are always shown round by a member of the management team and are never left alone or with children, permitted to go into children’s toilets or use their mobile phone whilst on site. We have an open-door policy and encourage parents to ‘drop in’ to view the premises when it is most convenient to them to show how the nursery operates and our transparency in that we do not have anything to hide.
When a member of staff leaves employment at the setting, all door codes are changed to ensure the safety of children and adults.

Lydia Enefer, Marie Brown, Lindsay Beechand Donna Morgan are the designated members of staff for child protection liaison or DSL (Designated Safeguarding Leads)

Informing parents and liaison with other agencies

The concerns of the referral with the child, as appropriate to their age and understanding and with their parent’s agreement, seek to make a referral to the CASS Team, unless such a discussion would place the child at significant risk of harm.

Parents are normally the first point of contact.

Direct Disclosure of Abuse

When a child/person tells you that someone has hurt/abused them.

Record on CR8/10
Speak to key person and immediate DSL for support
Call CASS for advice and support
If necessary, ask CASS how they are going to support in the setting (irate parent at collection time etc.)
If necessary, call police to assist
Follow guidelines that CASS give you

Indirect Disclosure of Abuse

When you have made some recordings and decide you need to make a referral

Record on CR8/10
Speak to key person and immediate DSL for support
Speak to parents each time if you feel it is necessary
The need has arisen to refer – Fill in an‘Early Action Help Plan’ using RSRT document and support from a DSL
Speak to parents about the referral and encourage them to sit with you and a DSL if necessary to fill in a Request for Support form
Call CASS to make the referral then send the form via secure email to back it up
Follow instructions from CASS and be guided by agencies involved – you may need to be the Lead Person and organise meetings with all necessary agencies

In the case that consent is refused, the circumstances will justify the disclosure, taking into account what is being disclosed, for what purpose and to whom.

In the absence of consent, the law recognises the disclosure of confidential information without consent or a court order as justified in the interest of the public to prevent harm to others. The amount of confidential information disclosed, and the number of people to whom it discloses should be no more than is strictly necessary to meet the public interest in protecting the health and well being of a child.
If the referral has been made to the CASS Teamby telephone, a written conformation should follow within 48 hours. In most cases, (other than an emergency) a RFS(Request for Support form) will be completed before the phone call is made to CASS. This is to ensure that all the necessary information has been collated before the call is made to the CASS Team. The RFS form will then be the written confirmation and is sent via secure email. It will be agreed with the recipient of the referral what the child and parent will be told, by whom and when.

Once completed, the form is returned toeither:

(secure email),or

This will usually be the case where the parent is the likely abuser. In these cases, the investigating officers will inform parents. If we feel the child will be at further risk by informing the parents, advice will be sought from the LADO team first.
The nursery will take every step in its power to build up trusting and supportive relationships between families and staff and volunteers in the group.
Where abuse at home is suspected, the nursery will continue to welcome the child and family while investigations proceed.

We work within the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines.
We have a copy of 'What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused' (2015) for parents and staff to use as a guide, and all staff are familiar with what to do if they have concerns. This information is kept in a named folder in the office, as is Keeping Children Safe in Education: Statutory guidance for schools and colleges (2016)
There is also a specific staff safeguarding information folder which is located in the office; This folder contains robust procedures to follow, including examples of paperwork for staff to use when they have concerns and/or need to contact CASS and a copy of the Safeguarding Policy along with relevant information regarding individual types of abuse .
We have procedures for contacting the CASS on 0121 303 1888 to access the Early Help Assessment Team on child protection issues, who will signpost us to the correct department.
We notify the registration authority (Ofsted 03001231231) of any incident or accident and any changes in our arrangements which may affect the well-being of children.
Contact details for the Local National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) are also kept, who will offer advice. The setting DSL’s also receive news alerts and information from the NSPCC as well as from TheChild Exploitation and Online ProtectionCentre (CEOP).
If a referral is to be made to CASS, we act within the area’s Safeguarding Children and Child Protection guidance in deciding whether we must inform the child's parents at the same time.

Contacts

Children’s Information Advice Service (CASS) on 0121 3031888 – signposting to specific services

Emergency out-of-hours:Telephone: 0121 675 4806

Email:

Web:

This information is displayed on our monthly newsletter

Designated Safeguarding Lead:

Lydia Enefer, Marie Brown, Lindsay Beech and Donna Morgan will be responsible for:-

Updating the Nursery’s Child Protection Procedures and the Code of Conduct
Contribute to the core assessment and the analysis of the findings as required and requested by integrated access teams, including providing information held about the child or parents.

Keep careful and detailed contemporary notes in chronological order, using CR8 and CR10 forms, along with incident forms. All this information is kept in a key group development matters folder which is kept in a locked drawer in the office. We have tally sheets in the front where we can monitor all information, including development matters and absences. Each key person then keeps their folders up to date and follow necessary procedures.
Record any unusual events and make a distinction between events reported by the carer and those actually witnessed.
Notes should be timed, dated and signed legibly (in print) and kept in a safe and secure place so that they are not able to be accessed by unauthorised persons.
Attend requests that integrated access teams assemble a child protection conference if there are serious concerns that the child may not otherwise be adequately safeguarded.
Once the initial assessment is complete, together with all other relevant agencies, further action has to be decided.
Involve the child and parents in these discussions, unless this may place a child at risk of significant harm again, for example, the child may be physically abused for talking about his/her abuse or in the case of a direct disclosure.
If there are concerns about a parent’s ability to protect their child, consider carefully what the parents should be told when and by whom, taking account of the child’s welfare.
The Code of Conduct will be regularly reviewed and revised annually.

Responding to suspicions of abuse

All staff at HollyfieldPre-SchoolNursery take into consideration the following types of abuse, both for children and adults (inclusive of students/apprentices) who enter the setting. The following information is a vital point of reference for staff to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse.