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 Child Protection Policy is based on the three key commitments of the Pre-school Learning Alliance Child Protection Policy.

Procedures

We carry out the following procedures to ensure we meet the three key commitments of the Alliance Child Protection Policy.

Key commitment 1

We are committed to building a ‘culture of safety’ in which children are protected from abuse and harm in all areas of our service delivery.

• Our designated persons (2 senior members of staff) who co-ordinates child protection issues are, and are always available:

Emma Hinde (Supervisor) and Alison Wright (Deputy Supervisor & SENCO)

• Our designated officer (a member of the management team) who oversees this work is:

Victoria Pinney (Chairperson)

• We ensure all staff are trained to understand our child protection policies and procedures and that parents are made aware of them too.
• All staff have an up-to-date knowledge of child protection issues, are alert to the signs and symptoms of abuse, and understand their professional duty to ensure safeguarding concerns are reported to the local authority children’s social work team via Northamptonshire Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) or the NSPCC.
• All staff are confident to ask questions in relation to any safeguarding concerns and know not to just take things at face value but can be respectfully sceptical.
• Adequate and appropriate staffing resources are provided to meet the needs of children.
• Effective safer recruitment systems are in place to ensure that only suitable people are employed.
• 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 at the setting or has access to the children.
• Where applications are rejected based on information disclosed, applicants have the right to know and to challenge incorrect information.
• Enhanced criminal records and barred lists checks are carried out on anyone living or working on the premises.
• Volunteers do not work unsupervised.
• Information is recorded about staff qualifications, and the identity checks and vetting processes that have been completed including:
• the criminal records disclosure reference number;
• the date the disclosure was obtained; and
• details of who obtained it.
• 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 to work with children (whether received before or during their employment with us). This is updated annually during appraisals.
• All staff and volunteers are required to notify us if anyone in their household (including family members, lodgers, partners etc.) has any relevant convictions, court orders, reprimands and warnings or has been barred from, or had registration refused or cancelled in relation to any childcare provision (see above questions), or have had orders made in relation to care of their children.
• We 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 we have control over who comes into the setting so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children.
• Steps are taken to ensure children are not photographed or filmed on video for any other purpose than to record their development or their participation in events organised by us. Parents sign a consent form and have access to records holding visual images of their child.
• Any personal information is held securely and in line with data protection requirements and guidance from the ICO.
• The designated person in the setting has responsibility for ensuring that there is an adequate e-safety policy in place.
• We keep a written record of all complaints and concerns including details of how they were responded to.
• We ensure that robust risk assessments are completed, that they are seen and signed by all relevant staff and that they are regularly reviewed and updated, in line with our health and safety policy.
• The designated officer will support the designated person to undertake their role adequately and offer advice, guidance, supervision and support.
• The designated person will inform the designated officer at the first opportunity of every significant safeguarding concern, however this should not delay any referrals being made to the Northamptonshire Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), the Designated Officers, Ofsted or Riddor.
• Staff have an awareness of the Prevent Duty and inform the manager of any concerns they have. An electronic copy of this is available within preschool.
• The preschool promote British Values within the learning environment.
• Staff are asked annually during appraisals if they are taking any long term medication that may affect their ability to care for children. If there are any changes then the manger would seek advice to ensure the safety of the children and staff members is paramount. If a staff member is taking medication it is stored in the staff room away from the children.