Policy statement
Our setting will work with children, parents and the community to ensure the rights and safety of children and to give them the very best start in life. Our Safeguarding Policy is based on the three key commitments of the Pre-school Learning Alliance Safeguarding Children Policy.
Procedures
Key commitment 1
Sowerby Nursery School is committed to building a 'culture of safety' in which children are protected from abuse and harm in all areas of its service delivery.
Staff and volunteers
All staff understand their responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 and understand relevant safeguarding legislation, statutory requirements and local safeguarding partner requirements and ensure that any information they may share about parents and their children with other agencies is shared appropriately and lawfully.
We will support families to receive appropriate early help by sharing information with other agencies in accordance with statutory requirements and legislation.
We will share information lawfully with safeguarding partners and other agencies where there are safeguarding concerns.
We will be transparent about how we lawfully process data.
All staff understand how to escalate their concerns in the event that they feel either the local authority and/or Sowerby Nursery School has not acted adequately to safeguard and know how to follow local safeguarding procedures to resolve professional disputes between staff and organisations.
All staff understand what Sowerby nursery school expects of them in terms of their required behaviour and conduct, and follow our policies and procedures.
Children have a key person to build a relationship with, and are supported to articulate any worries, concerns or complaints they have in an age appropriate way.
All staff understand our policy on promoting positive behaviour and follow it in relation to children showing aggression towards other children.
Adequate and appropriate staffing resources are provided to meet the needs of the children.
Applicants for posts within the setting are clearly informed that the positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Enhanced criminal records and barred lists checks and other suitability checks are carried out for staff and volunteers prior to their post being confirmed, to ensure that no disqualified person or unsuitable person works in this setting or has access to the children.
Where applications are rejected based on information disclosed, applicants have a right to know and challenge incorrect information.
Volunteers must:
Be allowed unsupervised access to the children.
Take care of any child’s personal care e.g. changing nappies etc.
Information is recorded about staff qualifications, and the identity checks and vetting processes that have been completed including;
All staff and volunteers are informed that they are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions,court orders or reprimands and warnings which may affect their suitability for work with children (whether received before or during their employment with us)
Safeguarding is always the first item on the agenda at staff meetings, and are always discussed in supervision meetings.
Sowerby Nursery School will notify the Disclosure and Barring service of any person who is dismissed from our employment or resigns in circumstances that would otherwise have led to dismissal for reasons of a child protection concern.
Procedures are in place to record the details of visitors to the setting.
Security steps are taken to ensure that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children.
At Sowerby Nursery School we now record children’s learning on line with a system called Tapestry. This requires signed consent from parents before the children are registered on the system. Staff use only the nurseries kindle’s to access the tapestry app. Parents can only access their own child’s observations and set their own passwords. All other sites and apps etc are blocked on our devices. Staff do not use personal cameras or filming equipment to record images.
Personal mobile phones are not used where the children are present.
We keep a written record of all complaints and concerns including details of how they were responded to.
Risk assessments are carried out when required and all staff are made aware of them.
The designated officer supports the designated person so that they can adequately carry out their role.
The designated officer offers advice, guidance supervision and support to the designated person.
The designated person will inform the designated officer at the first opportunity of every significant safeguarding concern; however this will not delay any referrals being made to children’s social care,or where appropriate, the LADO,Ofsted or RIDDOR.
Key commitment 2
Sowerby Nursery School is committed to responding promptly and appropriately to all incidents,allegations or concerns of abuse that may occur and to work with statutory agencies in accordance with the procedures that are set down in ‘ What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ (HMG 2015) and the Care Act 2014.
Responding to suspicions of abuse.
Sowerby Nursery School acknowledge that abuse of children can take different forms - physical, emotional and sexual as well as neglect.
Sowerby Nursery School ensure that all staff have an understanding of the additional vulnerabilities that arise from special educational needs and/or disabilities, plus inequalities of race, gender, language, religion, sexual orientation or culture, and that these receive full consideration in relation to child ,young person or vulnerable adult protection.
When children are suffering from physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or experiencing neglect , this may be demonstrated through;
Significant changes in their behaviour
Deterioration in their general well-being.
Their comments which may give cause for concern, or the things they say, (direct or indirect disclosure)
Changes in their appearance, their, behaviour, or their play:
Unexplained bruising, marks, or signs of possible abuse or neglect: and any reason to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting.
We understand how to identify children who may be in need of early help, how to access services for them.
We understand that we should refer a child who meets the section17 Children’s act 1989 child in need definition to local authority children’s social work services.
We understand that we should refer any child who may be at risk of significant harm to local authority children’s social work services.
We are aware that children’s vulnerability is potentially increased when they are privately fostered and when we know that a child is being cared for under a private fostering arrangement, we inform our local authority children’s social care team.
We are prepared to take action if we have concerns about the welfare of a child who fails to arrice at a session when expected. The designated person will take immediate action to contact the child’s parent to seek an explanation for the child’s absence and be assured that the child is safe and well. If no contact is made with the child’s parents and the designated person has reason to believe that the child is at risk of significant harm, the relevant professionals will be contacted immediately and LSCB procedures will be followed.
If the child has current involvement with social care the social worker will be notified on the day of the unexplained absence.
We are aware of other factors that affect children’s vulnerability that may affect, or may have affected , children and young people using our provision, such as abuse of children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities: fabricated or induced illness; child abuse linked to beliefs in spirit possession: sexual exploitation of children, including through internet abuse: Female Genital Mutilation and radicalisation or extremism.
In relation to radicalisation and extremism we follow the Prevent Duty guidance for England and Wales published by the home office and the LSCB procedures on responding to radicalisation.
The designated person completes on line Channel training, on line prevent training and attends local WRAP training where available to ensure they are familiar with the local protocol and procedures for responding to concerns about radicalisation.
We are aware of the mandatory duty that applies to teachers and health workers to report cases of Female Genital Mutilation to the police. We are also aware that early years practitioners should follow local authority published procedures to respond to FGM and other safeguarding issues ,which involve contacting the police if a crime of FGM has been or may be about to be committed.
We also make ourselves aware that some children and young people are affected by gang activity, by complex , multiple or organised abuse, through forced marriage or honour based violence or may be victims of child trafficking. While this may be less likely to affect young children in our care, we may become aware of any of these factors affecting older children and young people who we may come in to contact with.
If we become concerned that a child may be a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking we will refer to the National Referral Mechanism, as soon as possible and refer and/or seek advice from the local children’s social work service and/or police.
We will be alert to the threats children may face from outside their families, such as that posed by organised crime groups such as county lines and child sexual exploitation, online use and from within peer groups and the wider community.
Where we believe that a child in our care or that is known to us may be affected by any of these factors we follow the procedures below for reporting child protection and child in need concerns and follow the LSCB procedures, or when they come in to force replacing the LSCB, we will follow the local procedures as published by the local safeguarding partners.
Where such indicators are apparent, the child’s key person makes a dated record of the details of the concernand discusses what to do with the member of staff who is acting as the designated person. The information is stored in the child’s personal file.
In the event that a staff member is unhappy with the decision made by the designated person in relation to whether to make a safeguarding referral they must follow escalation procedures.
We refer concerns about children’s welfare to the local authority children’s social care team and co-operate fully in any subsequent investigation. NB in some cases this may mean the police or another agency identified by the LSCB ( or the local safeguarding partners when their pulished safeguarding arrangements take over from the LSCB)
We respond to any disclosures sensitively and appropriately and take care not to influence the outcome either through the way we speak to children or by asking questions of children. (although we may check out/clarify the details of what we think they have told us with them)
We take account of the need to protect young children aged 16-19 as defined by the Children Act 1989.
This may include students or school children on work placement, youn employees or young parents.
Where abuse or neglect is suspected we will follow the procedures for reporting any other child protection concerns. The views of the young person will always be taken in to account in an age appropriate way, but the setting may override the young person’s refusal to consent to share information if it feels that it is necessary to prevent crime from being committed or intervene where one may have been, or to prevent harm to a child or adult. Sharing confidential information without consent is done only where not sharing it could be worse than the outcome of sharing it.
All staff know that they can contact the NSPCC whistle blowing helpline if they feel that the setting and the local authority has not taken appropriate action to safeguard a child.
We have a whistle blowing policy in place.
Staff/volunteers know they can contact the organisation Public Concern at Work for advice relating to whistleblowing dilemmas.
Recording suspicions of abuse and disclosures
Where a child makes comments to a member of staff that gives cause for concern(disclosure), or a member of staff observes signs or signals that give cause for concern, such as significant changes in behaviour, deterioration in general well-being: unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect: that member of staff:
Listens too the child, offers reassurance and gives assurance that she or he will take action:
Does not question the child, although it is ok to ask questions ffor the purpose of clarification:
Makes a written record that forms an objective record of the observation or disclosure that includes the date and time of the observation or the disclosure, the exact words spoken by the child as far as possible:the name of the person to who the concern was reported, with the date and time and the names of any other person present at the time.
These records are signed and dated and kept in the child’s personal file, which is kept securely and confidentially.
The member of staff acting as the designated person is informed of the issue at the earliest opportunity and always within one working day.
Making a referral to the local authority children’s social care team.
We have a copy The Pre- school Learning Alliance ‘s publication Safeguarding children which contains procedures to help in making a referral to the local children’s social care team, as well as template forms for recording concerns and to assist in making a referral.
We also use our LSCB website for advice, procedures templates and information. www.safeguarding.co.uk
Escalation process
If we feel that a referral made had not been dealt with properly or that concerns are not being addressed or responded to, we will follow the LSCB escalation process.
We will ensure that staff are aware of how to escalate concerns.
Informing parents.
Parents are normally the first point of contact. Concerns are usually discussed with parents to gain their view of events, unless it is felt that this may put the child or another person at risk, or may interfere with the course of a police investigation, or may unduly delay the referral, or unless it is otherwise unreasonable to seek consent. Advice will be sought from social care, or in some circumstances police, where necessary
Parents are informed when we make a record of concerns in their child’s file and that we also make a note of any discussion we have with them regarding a concern.
If a suspicion of abuse warrants referral to social care, parents are informed at the same time that the referral will be made, except when the procedures of the LSCB/ local safeguarding partners does not allow this, for example when it is believed that the child may be placed at risk.
This will usually be the case where the parent is the likely abuser or where sexual abuse may have occurred.
If there is a possibility that advising a parent beforehand may place a child at greater risk (or interfere with a police response) the designated person will consider seeking advice from children’s social care, about whether or not to advise parents beforehand, and then record and follow that advice.
Liason with other agencies and multi-agency working.
Sowerby Nursery School work within Local Safeguarding Children Board/Local Safeguarding Partners guidelines.
The current version of ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ is available for parents and staff and all staff are familiar with what they need to do if they have concerns.
Our setting will work with children, parents and the community to ensure the rights and safety of children and to give them the very best start in life. Our Safeguarding Policy is based on the three key commitments of the Pre-school Learning Alliance Safeguarding Children Policy.
Procedures
Key commitment 1
Sowerby Nursery School is committed to building a 'culture of safety' in which children are protected from abuse and harm in all areas of its service delivery.
Staff and volunteers
- Our designated person who co-ordinates child, young people and vulnerable adult protection issues is:
- When the setting is open but the designated person is not on site, a suitable trained deputy is available at all times for staff to discuss safeguarding concerns.
- Our designated officer for the management committee who oversees this work is Emma Padley.
- The designated person, the suitable trained deputy and the designated officer ensure they have relevant links with statutory and voluntary organisations with regard to safeguarding.
- The designated person( and the person who deputises for them) understands LSCB ( Local safeguarding children board)safeguarding procedures, attends relevant training at least every two years and refreshes their knowledge of safeguarding annually.
- The nursery ensures all staff are trained to understand our safeguarding policies and procedures and parents are made aware of them too.
- All staff understand that safeguarding is their responsibility.
- All staff have an up to date knowledge of safeguarding issues, are alert to potential indicators and signs of abuse and neglect and understand their professional duty to ensure safeguarding and child protection concerns are reported to the local authority children’s social care team. They receive up dates on safeguarding annually.
- All staff are confident to ask questions in relation to safeguarding concerns and know not just to take things at face value but can be respectfully sceptical.
- All staff understand the principles of early help( as defined in Working Together to safeguard Children) 2018)and are able to identify those children and families who may be in need of early help and enable them to access it.
- All staff understand the thresholds of significant harm and understand how to access services for families, including for those families who are below the threshold for significant harm, according to the arrangements published by the LSCB.
All staff understand their responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 and understand relevant safeguarding legislation, statutory requirements and local safeguarding partner requirements and ensure that any information they may share about parents and their children with other agencies is shared appropriately and lawfully.
We will support families to receive appropriate early help by sharing information with other agencies in accordance with statutory requirements and legislation.
We will share information lawfully with safeguarding partners and other agencies where there are safeguarding concerns.
We will be transparent about how we lawfully process data.
All staff understand how to escalate their concerns in the event that they feel either the local authority and/or Sowerby Nursery School has not acted adequately to safeguard and know how to follow local safeguarding procedures to resolve professional disputes between staff and organisations.
All staff understand what Sowerby nursery school expects of them in terms of their required behaviour and conduct, and follow our policies and procedures.
Children have a key person to build a relationship with, and are supported to articulate any worries, concerns or complaints they have in an age appropriate way.
All staff understand our policy on promoting positive behaviour and follow it in relation to children showing aggression towards other children.
Adequate and appropriate staffing resources are provided to meet the needs of the children.
Applicants for posts within the setting are clearly informed that the positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Enhanced criminal records and barred lists checks and other suitability checks are carried out for staff and volunteers prior to their post being confirmed, to ensure that no disqualified person or unsuitable person works in this setting or has access to the children.
Where applications are rejected based on information disclosed, applicants have a right to know and challenge incorrect information.
Volunteers must:
- Be aged 17 or over;
- Be considered competent and responsible;
- Receive an induction and regular supervisory meetings;
- Be familiar with our policies and procedures;
Be allowed unsupervised access to the children.
Take care of any child’s personal care e.g. changing nappies etc.
Information is recorded about staff qualifications, and the identity checks and vetting processes that have been completed including;
- The criminal records disclosure reference number;
- Certificate of good conduct or equivalent where a UK DBS check is not appropriate;
- The date the disclosure was obtained : and
All staff and volunteers are informed that they are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions,court orders or reprimands and warnings which may affect their suitability for work with children (whether received before or during their employment with us)
Safeguarding is always the first item on the agenda at staff meetings, and are always discussed in supervision meetings.
Sowerby Nursery School will notify the Disclosure and Barring service of any person who is dismissed from our employment or resigns in circumstances that would otherwise have led to dismissal for reasons of a child protection concern.
Procedures are in place to record the details of visitors to the setting.
Security steps are taken to ensure that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children.
At Sowerby Nursery School we now record children’s learning on line with a system called Tapestry. This requires signed consent from parents before the children are registered on the system. Staff use only the nurseries kindle’s to access the tapestry app. Parents can only access their own child’s observations and set their own passwords. All other sites and apps etc are blocked on our devices. Staff do not use personal cameras or filming equipment to record images.
Personal mobile phones are not used where the children are present.
We keep a written record of all complaints and concerns including details of how they were responded to.
Risk assessments are carried out when required and all staff are made aware of them.
The designated officer supports the designated person so that they can adequately carry out their role.
The designated officer offers advice, guidance supervision and support to the designated person.
The designated person will inform the designated officer at the first opportunity of every significant safeguarding concern; however this will not delay any referrals being made to children’s social care,or where appropriate, the LADO,Ofsted or RIDDOR.
Key commitment 2
Sowerby Nursery School is committed to responding promptly and appropriately to all incidents,allegations or concerns of abuse that may occur and to work with statutory agencies in accordance with the procedures that are set down in ‘ What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ (HMG 2015) and the Care Act 2014.
Responding to suspicions of abuse.
Sowerby Nursery School acknowledge that abuse of children can take different forms - physical, emotional and sexual as well as neglect.
Sowerby Nursery School ensure that all staff have an understanding of the additional vulnerabilities that arise from special educational needs and/or disabilities, plus inequalities of race, gender, language, religion, sexual orientation or culture, and that these receive full consideration in relation to child ,young person or vulnerable adult protection.
When children are suffering from physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or experiencing neglect , this may be demonstrated through;
Significant changes in their behaviour
Deterioration in their general well-being.
Their comments which may give cause for concern, or the things they say, (direct or indirect disclosure)
Changes in their appearance, their, behaviour, or their play:
Unexplained bruising, marks, or signs of possible abuse or neglect: and any reason to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting.
We understand how to identify children who may be in need of early help, how to access services for them.
We understand that we should refer a child who meets the section17 Children’s act 1989 child in need definition to local authority children’s social work services.
We understand that we should refer any child who may be at risk of significant harm to local authority children’s social work services.
We are aware that children’s vulnerability is potentially increased when they are privately fostered and when we know that a child is being cared for under a private fostering arrangement, we inform our local authority children’s social care team.
We are prepared to take action if we have concerns about the welfare of a child who fails to arrice at a session when expected. The designated person will take immediate action to contact the child’s parent to seek an explanation for the child’s absence and be assured that the child is safe and well. If no contact is made with the child’s parents and the designated person has reason to believe that the child is at risk of significant harm, the relevant professionals will be contacted immediately and LSCB procedures will be followed.
If the child has current involvement with social care the social worker will be notified on the day of the unexplained absence.
We are aware of other factors that affect children’s vulnerability that may affect, or may have affected , children and young people using our provision, such as abuse of children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities: fabricated or induced illness; child abuse linked to beliefs in spirit possession: sexual exploitation of children, including through internet abuse: Female Genital Mutilation and radicalisation or extremism.
In relation to radicalisation and extremism we follow the Prevent Duty guidance for England and Wales published by the home office and the LSCB procedures on responding to radicalisation.
The designated person completes on line Channel training, on line prevent training and attends local WRAP training where available to ensure they are familiar with the local protocol and procedures for responding to concerns about radicalisation.
We are aware of the mandatory duty that applies to teachers and health workers to report cases of Female Genital Mutilation to the police. We are also aware that early years practitioners should follow local authority published procedures to respond to FGM and other safeguarding issues ,which involve contacting the police if a crime of FGM has been or may be about to be committed.
We also make ourselves aware that some children and young people are affected by gang activity, by complex , multiple or organised abuse, through forced marriage or honour based violence or may be victims of child trafficking. While this may be less likely to affect young children in our care, we may become aware of any of these factors affecting older children and young people who we may come in to contact with.
If we become concerned that a child may be a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking we will refer to the National Referral Mechanism, as soon as possible and refer and/or seek advice from the local children’s social work service and/or police.
We will be alert to the threats children may face from outside their families, such as that posed by organised crime groups such as county lines and child sexual exploitation, online use and from within peer groups and the wider community.
Where we believe that a child in our care or that is known to us may be affected by any of these factors we follow the procedures below for reporting child protection and child in need concerns and follow the LSCB procedures, or when they come in to force replacing the LSCB, we will follow the local procedures as published by the local safeguarding partners.
Where such indicators are apparent, the child’s key person makes a dated record of the details of the concernand discusses what to do with the member of staff who is acting as the designated person. The information is stored in the child’s personal file.
In the event that a staff member is unhappy with the decision made by the designated person in relation to whether to make a safeguarding referral they must follow escalation procedures.
We refer concerns about children’s welfare to the local authority children’s social care team and co-operate fully in any subsequent investigation. NB in some cases this may mean the police or another agency identified by the LSCB ( or the local safeguarding partners when their pulished safeguarding arrangements take over from the LSCB)
We respond to any disclosures sensitively and appropriately and take care not to influence the outcome either through the way we speak to children or by asking questions of children. (although we may check out/clarify the details of what we think they have told us with them)
We take account of the need to protect young children aged 16-19 as defined by the Children Act 1989.
This may include students or school children on work placement, youn employees or young parents.
Where abuse or neglect is suspected we will follow the procedures for reporting any other child protection concerns. The views of the young person will always be taken in to account in an age appropriate way, but the setting may override the young person’s refusal to consent to share information if it feels that it is necessary to prevent crime from being committed or intervene where one may have been, or to prevent harm to a child or adult. Sharing confidential information without consent is done only where not sharing it could be worse than the outcome of sharing it.
All staff know that they can contact the NSPCC whistle blowing helpline if they feel that the setting and the local authority has not taken appropriate action to safeguard a child.
We have a whistle blowing policy in place.
Staff/volunteers know they can contact the organisation Public Concern at Work for advice relating to whistleblowing dilemmas.
Recording suspicions of abuse and disclosures
Where a child makes comments to a member of staff that gives cause for concern(disclosure), or a member of staff observes signs or signals that give cause for concern, such as significant changes in behaviour, deterioration in general well-being: unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect: that member of staff:
Listens too the child, offers reassurance and gives assurance that she or he will take action:
Does not question the child, although it is ok to ask questions ffor the purpose of clarification:
Makes a written record that forms an objective record of the observation or disclosure that includes the date and time of the observation or the disclosure, the exact words spoken by the child as far as possible:the name of the person to who the concern was reported, with the date and time and the names of any other person present at the time.
These records are signed and dated and kept in the child’s personal file, which is kept securely and confidentially.
The member of staff acting as the designated person is informed of the issue at the earliest opportunity and always within one working day.
Making a referral to the local authority children’s social care team.
We have a copy The Pre- school Learning Alliance ‘s publication Safeguarding children which contains procedures to help in making a referral to the local children’s social care team, as well as template forms for recording concerns and to assist in making a referral.
We also use our LSCB website for advice, procedures templates and information. www.safeguarding.co.uk
Escalation process
If we feel that a referral made had not been dealt with properly or that concerns are not being addressed or responded to, we will follow the LSCB escalation process.
We will ensure that staff are aware of how to escalate concerns.
Informing parents.
Parents are normally the first point of contact. Concerns are usually discussed with parents to gain their view of events, unless it is felt that this may put the child or another person at risk, or may interfere with the course of a police investigation, or may unduly delay the referral, or unless it is otherwise unreasonable to seek consent. Advice will be sought from social care, or in some circumstances police, where necessary
Parents are informed when we make a record of concerns in their child’s file and that we also make a note of any discussion we have with them regarding a concern.
If a suspicion of abuse warrants referral to social care, parents are informed at the same time that the referral will be made, except when the procedures of the LSCB/ local safeguarding partners does not allow this, for example when it is believed that the child may be placed at risk.
This will usually be the case where the parent is the likely abuser or where sexual abuse may have occurred.
If there is a possibility that advising a parent beforehand may place a child at greater risk (or interfere with a police response) the designated person will consider seeking advice from children’s social care, about whether or not to advise parents beforehand, and then record and follow that advice.
Liason with other agencies and multi-agency working.
Sowerby Nursery School work within Local Safeguarding Children Board/Local Safeguarding Partners guidelines.
The current version of ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ is available for parents and staff and all staff are familiar with what they need to do if they have concerns.