Safeguarding Children Policy
Introduction and legislation
Little Cherubs Nursery promotes a
child's right to be strong, resilient and listened to by creating an
environment that encourages children to develop a positive self-image, which
includes their ethnicity, their languages spoken at home, their religious
beliefs, cultural traditions and home background.
We help children to establish and
sustain satisfying relationships within their families, with peers, and with
other adults. We work with parents to build their understanding of and
commitment to the principles of safeguarding all our children.
Our main responsibility is the
welfare of all the children in our care. In order to safeguard children in our
care the setting will have policies and procedures in place that abide by the
Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Requirements (EYFS) (2025). The policies
and procedures will include recommendations of child protection procedures
approved by the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) and the
following documents:
�
The
children’s act 1989: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/441643/Children_Act_Guidance_2015.pdf
�
Children
act 2004: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/31/pdfs/ukpga_20040031_en.pdf
�
Children
act 2006: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/pdfs/ukpga_20060021_en.pdf
�
What
to do if you are worried a child is being abused: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419604/What_to_do_if_you_re_worried_a_child_is_being_abused.pdf
�
Working
together to safeguard children: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/942455/Working_together_to_safeguard_children_Statutory_framework_legislation_relevant_to_safeguarding_and_promoting_the_welfare_of_children.pdf
�
EYFS
(2025): EYFS statutory framework for group
and school-based providers.pdf
�
Information Sharing: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1062969/Information_sharing_advice_practitioners_safeguarding_services.pdf
�
Surrey
Multi-Agency Information Sharing Protocol (MAISP): https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/your-privacy/protocol-for-multi-agency-staff/legal-framework-for-sharing-data
�
Keeping
children safe in Education: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1021914/KCSIE_2021_September_guidance.pdf
�
Prevent
Duty:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance/revised-prevent-duty-guidance-for-england-and-wales
�
SEND
(Special Educational needs and Disabilities Act): https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/398815/SEND_Code_of_Practice_January_2015.pdf
�
Contiuum
of Support Indicators: https://surreyscb.procedures.org.uk/assets/clients/2/Images/Continium%20of%20support%20indicators%20280224.pdf
All practitioners are required to
have acknowledgement of the above safeguarding documents and must attend an
introduction to the settings policies and procedures.
Designated
Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Little Cherubs Nursery has a named Designated Safeguarding
Lead (DSL) this is Elaine Baston. The setting has a named designated deputy DSL
this is Zelley Hussain. She will support the DSL and take her role as detailed
below, in the absence of the DSL. Leanda Nicholas has also received all the
relevant training in the absence of both Elaine and Zelley.
She is responsible for ensuring that the
safeguarding policies and procedures are kept up to date and that these are
communicated and implemented consistently with the staff team. The DSL’s role
is to share information with the staff team and to access information and
liaise with any outside agencies and to make sure the nursery information is up
to date. The DSL is required to keep herself up to date via the DSL brief, the
Surrey early Years Childcare bulletin and the Surrey Safeguarding Children’s
Partnership (SSCP) updates.
The DSL and Deputy DSL have attended the safeguarding
children foundation module 1 & 2 (Or the advanced Safeguarding course) and
attends the DSL update every 2 years and the DSL brief with Surrey County
Council Early Years as they are available.
The DSL is the designated person
who will support staff in collating information when they have a concern about
a child in our care, she would contact and liaise with the SAP (Single point of
Access). She will discuss concerns with parents,
ensuring that procedures are explained and understood.
The person available out of hours is: Elaine call on 07912380127 or email on [email protected] .
Staff,
Parents and Volunteers
Any volunteers, students & visitors are not
work to unsupervised at Little Cherubs Nursery. All details of students and
volunteers are documented and kept on file. Students must attend a placement
interview where their expectations are discussed, and they are advised of their
responsibility to safeguard children in our care. Visitors are to sign in and
out and will be asked to wear a visitor’s badge. Any staff, volunteers or
students that are disqualified or deemed to be unsuitable to work with children
are reported to Ofsted & SSCP.
When employing a member of staff, a DBS check with
the Criminal Records with Online Disclosures (previously TMG CRB) is required before
they pass their probation, staff are then required to register online for the
update service and DBS checks will be carried out yearly.
Parents are made aware of our safeguarding policy
and procedures during the initial visit to the setting. Parents first visit we
explain our procedures for recording accidents & injuries for both home
& Nursery, and why we keep a record these.
A copy of all policies are available on request.
Staff training
Staff at Little Cherubs Nursery are to attend
“Working Together to Safeguard Children” training as soon as possible from
employment and attend the update course every 2 years. This training is
provided online by Surrey safeguarding children’s Partnership (olive):https://surreycoun.plateau.com/learning/user/portal.do?siteID=SCA&landingPage=login
Other courses to be completed either via olive or
noodle now:
�
FGM (Female Genital Mutation)
�
Domestic Abuse
�
Honour Based Violence
�
Neglect
�
Prevent
�
Online Safety risks to children
All staff must attend an in-house introduction to
the settings safeguarding policies and procedures before they begin employment
with us. Staff are required to retain the safeguarding procedure and have a
generally sound knowledge of this policy. Staff are responsible for reading the
updates/ changes sent via staff meeting, memos sent email and information on
the staff board.
During staff meetings, safeguarding updates are given,
and quizzes or scenarios are carried out to support staff in implementing the
policies and procedures in daily practice.
Types
of abuse
Child abuse is any action by another person – adult or
child – that causes significant harm to a child. It can be physical, sexual or
emotional, but can just as often be about a lack of love, care and attention.
We know that neglect, whatever form it takes, can be just as damaging to a
child as physical abuse. At Little Cherubs Nursery we recognise that there are
many different types of abuse and understanding what occurs during the
differing types helps us to recognise signs and symptoms.
The types of abuse are as follows:
�
Domestic abuse: Witnessing
domestic abuse is child abuse, and teenagers can suffer domestic abuse in their
relationships.
�
Sexual abuse: A child is
sexually abused when they are forced or persuaded to take part in sexual
activities. This doesn't have to be physical contact, and it can happen online.
�
Neglect: Neglect is the
ongoing failure to meet a child's basic needs. It's dangerous and children can
suffer serious and long-term harm.
�
Online abuse: Online abuse is
any type of abuse that happens on the web, whether through social networks,
playing online games or using mobile phones.
�
Physical abuse: Physical
abuse is deliberately hurting a child causing injuries such as bruises, broken
bones, burns or cuts.
�
Emotional abuse: Children who
are emotionally abused suffer emotional maltreatment or neglect. It's sometimes
called psychological abuse and can cause children serious harm.
�
Child sexual exploitation: Child
sexual exploitation is a type of sexual abuse in which children are sexually
exploited for money, power or status.
�
Female genital mutilation
(FGM): Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the partial or total removal of
external female genitalia (also known as circumcised or closed) for non-medical
reasons.
�
Bullying and cyberbullying: Bullying
can happen anywhere – at school, at home or online. It’s usually repeated over
a long period of time and can hurt a child both physically and emotionally.
�
Child trafficking: Child
trafficking is a type of abuse where children are recruited, moved or
transported and then exploited, forced to work or sold.
�
Grooming: Children and young
people can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone
they know - for example a family member, friend or professional.
�
Harmful sexual behaviour: Children
and young people who develop harmful sexual behaviour harm themselves and
others.
�
The 'toxic trio': this is made up of three issues:domestic abuse, mental ill-health,
and substance misuse. These issues often co-exist, particularly in families where
significant harm to children has occurred.
Signs of abuse
At Little Cherubs Nursery we acknowledge that different forms of abuse in
children can display different signs. Many types of abuse will lead to
similarities in signs of abuse shown by children.
We look out for changes in children’s behaviour by
thinking of the ABC which means:
A
– Changes to appearance
B–
Changes to Behaviour
C
– Changes to communication.
Staff are in the knowledge of the following signs of abuse:
�
Significant change in behaviour
�
Extreme anger or sadness
�
Aggressive & attention-seeking behaviour.
�
Suspicious bruises with unsatisfactory
explanations.
�
Lack of self esteem
�
Self-injury
�
Depression
�
Age-inappropriate sexual behaviour
�
Disclose verbally to a peer or adult
�
Inappropriate play with other children or toys
�
Bruising or injury to non-mobile children
�
Long periods of absence without an explanation
�
Continuously unclean, unkept and smells unpleasant
�
Extreme hunger
Adverse
Childhood Experiences (ACE’s)
Little Cherubs Nursery are aware that even if a child has not
been on the receiving end of the direct abuse, being in the environment where
abuse is or has taken place can cause long term mental and physical health
implications. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) refers to stressful or
traumatic events that children are exposed to as they grow up. They range from
children being in direct harm of abuse to those that are within their
environment. These events are more significant than a “normal” stressful event
such as parent separation/ illness of family member, these are more adverse
such as witnessing sexual / physical abuse. These negatively impact on the
child’s brain development and can increase the child’s chance of health and/or
social difficulties later in life.
Raising
and reporting a concern
Where staff have a concern, a child is being
abused they must document the observations they have made leading to this
concern using the following forms:
�
Previous
injury form: child has come in with an injury from home (these
must be completed for every occasion whether staff have concerns or not).
�
Disclosure
form: Child has verbalised potential signs of abuse to
an adult. Staff must use exact words. Staff are not to continuously question
the child.
�
Incident
form: Child has behaved in a way considered by the
adult as inappropriate either towards a child, adult or toy.
Staff should include the following in their record:
�
Date & time of observation or disclosure.
�
The exact word spoken by the child as far as
possible.
�
The name of the person to whom the concern was
reported, with date & time
�
The names of any other person present at the time.
It is important to remember that an allegation of
child abuse or neglect may lead to a criminal investigation, so we do not do
anything that may jeopardise a police investigation, such as ask the child
leading questions or attempting to investigate the allegation yourself. All
records made about a child are to be kept confidential between the reporting
staff and the DSL and Deputy DSL.
The following procedure should be followed for
reporting concerns a child is being abused:
Safeguarding
children - Reporting procedure- Are you worried a child is being abused?
YOU MUST VOICE YOUR CONCERN.
What signs of abuse have you identified? Complete the settings
disclosure/ previous injury form.
Talk through your concerns confidentially with the DSL Elaine,
or the Deputy DSL Zelley. If neither is available or it is out of hours you can
call Elaine on 07912380127 or email on[email protected].
If you are not happy with the response we suggest you discuss
this further with them, the Child Protection Consultation line or contact the C-SPA
as detailed below.
Child
Protection Consultation line
You may want to contact
the Child Protection Consultation line for advice. They will only give advice, however
if they advise a request for support your call will be forwarded to the contact
centre and a record will be made. They are available Monday to Friday from 9am
to 5pm on 0300 470 9100.
C-SPA (Surrey
Children’s single Point of Access)
If you are concerned about the safety of a
child, young person or an adult you can contact our Surrey Children’s
single Point of Access (C-SPA) for advice. In an emergency call the police
(999).
Surrey Children’s single Point of Access (C-SPA)
responds to initial enquiries about children, young people and adults. The
C-SPA is based at the corporate contact center and combines Children's Service
social workers, Adult’s Service social workers, and health and police
staff. Advice and guidance can be retrieved from a qualified social
worker.
Availability: Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Phone: 0300 470 9100
Email: [email protected] (please do not give any names or personal information) - for
non-urgent queries. Emails are dealt with during normal office hours.[email protected] for confidential referrals. *if urgent head the email as URGENT &
state the level of support needed.
Out of hours
phone: 01483 517898 to speak to ouremergency duty team.
If you have already been in touch
with children’s social care services and would like to contact your allocated
social worker or family support worker directly,please find your local area number
below.
South East: 0300 123 1630
What
happens next?
If C-SPA feel that your concern meets their requirement you
will need to complete your referral on a ‘Request for Support Form’ within 14
days. Practitioners are required to gain consent from a parent unless it is
considered that the child will come to harm by asking for consent, in which
case consent would not be sought. By making a request you are not handing over
the family but making a request for children’s services join the existing
support around the family. The C-SPA will perform a triage and information, advice
and guidance will be given according to the situation. If the request reaches
level 4 on the Effective Family Resilience Windscreen (see below) the details
will be sent straight to the Quadrant Assessment Teams.
Is your
concern about a member of staff?
If you are concerns that a member of staff is causing harm to
a child and you feel that you cannot speak to Elaine or Leanda, or the concern
involves them you should call the LADO OR Ofsted Whistle blowing helpline.
Local Authority Designated Officer
(LADO): 0300 123 1650option 3 LADO or email:[email protected]
Ofsted Whistle Blowing helpline:
0300 1233155 or email:[email protected].
Continuum
of Support
The guidance on Continuum of Support
is available here:https://surreyscb.procedures.org.uk/zkyqqt/managing-individual-cases/continuum-of-support-for-children-and-families-living-in-surrey
The diagram below provides a
reference to understand how the continuum of need aligns withThe Thrive Framework for system change needs-based groupings. Showing how as
a continuum of support which different responses across the system are used
according to what works and will make a difference.
The Continuum of support
has 5 indicators:
�
Universal or community
support
�
Emerging needs
�
Targeted support
�
Intensive support
�
Statutory services
Little Cherubs Nursery will consider the “Continuum
of Support Indicators” (see link below) as a guidance for seeking Early Help
for the children with concerns in the setting. Levels of need documents acts as
a guidance for the use of thresholds for children needing help across Surrey.
Continuum
of Support Indicators: https://surreyscb.procedures.org.uk/assets/clients/2/Images/Continium%20of%20support%20indicators%20280224.pdf
Information
sharing
At Little Cherubs we understand that some
information needs to be shared with other agencies to best safeguard children. It
is paramount to share safeguarding concerns for children that are moving
settings, this information must be handed over to the new setting within 5 days
of the child leaving/ starting a new setting. Where a child is starting school,
records will be shared once the child has officially started. It must be
delivered either by hand or by recorded delivery.
When sharing information we follow the Surrey
Multi-Agency Information Sharing Protocol (MAISP) (full document in
introduction). The principles set out in the protocol are based on good
practice and the legal and professional requirements relating in particular to
Surrey’s public bodies.
The 10 golden rules from MAISP are strictly
followed, as detailed below:
Golden
Rules
1. Confirm the identity of the person you are
sharing with
2. Obtain consent to share if safe, appropriate
and feasible
3. Confirm the reason the information is required
4. Be fully satisfied that it is necessary to
share
5. Check with a manager/specialist or seek legal
advice if you are unsure
6. Don’t share more information than is necessary
7. Inform the recipient if any of the information
is potentially unreliable
8. Ensure that the information is shared safely
and securely
9. Be clear with the recipient how the information
will be used
10. Record what information is shared.
All concerns & investigations are kept
strictly confidential and are shared only with people that need to know, any
information is shared under the guidance of the MAISP & Information Sharing
documents.
When parents/carers register their child for a place
at Little Cherubs Nursery the parents/carers are asked to complete a
registration form. This form includes Names, addresses, gender, date of birth
(and a copy of their birth certificate) of the child and name of person/s that
has parental responsibility /or legal contact. At the point of registration
parents choose to give permission to the setting for sharing information with
other professionals and outside agencies. However, if it is safe to do so
parents/carers must be informed when information other than the child’s first
name is being shared.
Physical
Contact
Little Cherubs Nursery understands the importance
of physical contact to enhance children’s emotional well-being. Practitioners
are to offer comfort to children in the form of kissing, cuddling and carrying
in accordance with a child’s needs. Practitioners are not to force themselves
onto a child, if a child does not want to receive comfort from an adult, then
the child’s wishes are to be respected. A child may demonstrate their wish both
verbally or non-verbally by moving away from the adult or pushing them away, in
this circumstance an adult is to remain close by and offer comfort verbally.
Practitioners maybe required to carry or lift
children throughout the nursery day. Where possible mobile children should be
responsible for themselves. If a child has been asked to move, they may be
encouraged to do so with offering of holding an adult’s hand. If a child
refuses to move at the request of an adult unless it is for their safety, or
the safety of other practitioners should respect this. If a child refuses a
nappy change or help in the toilet the adult is to respect those wishes unless
it will cause harm to the child, or it is considered neglect to do so (eg: a
child has soiled themselves or they have not had a nappy change for 3 hours). Practitioners
should lift or carry children using both their hands underneath the child’s
armpits or in the laying position (one hand on the back and one under the
thighs). Practitioners must not lift or move children by allowing the child’s
body weight to be carried by their hands, feet or with one limb (arm or leg)
unless it is for the safety of the child or others within the setting.
In a situation where a child has been lifted in a
manner that may cause them harm or against their wishes a physical intervention
form must be completed for the parent/carer to sign on completion.
Allegations
against staff (see whistle blowing policy)
Our setting will respond to any
disclosure by children or staff that abuse by a member of staff may have taken
or is taking place either on our premises or elsewhere, by first recording the
details of any such alleged incident.
We will inform Ofsted about any allegations of
serious harm or abuse by any person working or looking after children at Little
Cherubs Nursery, whether the allegation was committed on our premises or
elsewhere. We will inform Ofsted of allegations made against staff as soon as
possible, at least within the first 14 days of the allegations being made on
the above contact number.
Our policy is to suspend the member of staff
on full pay for the duration of the investigation, if physical harm has been
caused to the child; this is not an indication of admission that the alleged
incident has taken place but is to protect the staff as well as children and
families throughout the process. We would contact the Safeguarding children’s
advisor and then Surrey County Council’s local authority child protection
designated officer (LADO) for allegations against staff on the above number
before an investigation takes place in house. A full investigation will be
carried out, Little Cherubs Nursery staff will co-operate fully with any
investigation. Advice from the LADO is used during the investigation.
Where a member of staff or a volunteer is
dismissed from the setting or internally disciplined because of misconduct
relating to a child, we notify the Department of Health administrators so that
the name may be included on the List for the Protection of Children and
Vulnerable Adults.
All staff, students & volunteers have a duty to
disclose any concerns they have about the conduct or other staff, students
& volunteers. Staff should follow the ‘whistle blowing’ policy which they
are asked to read on their first day at Little Cheru
01932 348 348
[email protected]
