Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy

Policy statement

The safety and wellbeing of children are of paramount importance at Roots and Wings Community Preschool. We work with children, parents, external agencies and the community to ensure the rights and safety of children and to give them the very best start in life. Suspicion of abuse is promptly and carefully dealt with in accordance with best practice and any relevant regulations and guidance including ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children (July 2018).

Our policy is based on three key commitments which are listed below.

Procedures

We carry out the following procedures to ensure we meet these three key commitments

Key Commitment 1

Roots and Wings Community Preschool 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 (including safeguarding understanding, ratios, safer recruitment, setting visitors and the electronic capturing of images)

• Marlis Juerging-Coles (Management Lead) and Lou Barlow (Management Team Member and Well-Being and Belonging Lead) are our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and Liz Wilkins (Management Team Member and SENDCo) is our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
  Their work is overseen by Laura Gummow (Head of Trustees)
• We ensure that all members of the Preschool Team are trained and understand our safeguarding policies and procedures, and that parents are made aware of them, too
• All Preschool Team members have an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding concerns within the setting – an update is provided at the beginning of every weekly staff meeting
• Adequate staff ratios are maintained so that all children are supervised at all times in accordance with the Statutory Framework for the Early Year Foundation Stage; Section 3: Safeguarding and Welfare requirements (January 2024), and enhanced ratios to meet the needs of 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 at the setting (for more detail see our Safer Recruitment Policy)
• Where applications are rejected based on information disclosed, applicants have the right to know and to challenge incorrect information
• We abide by Ofsted requirements in respect of references and DBS checks for staff and volunteers. At least two references are taken and verified before we employ any Preschool Team member or volunteer to ensure that no disqualified person or unsuitable person works at Roots and Wings Community Preschool or has access to the children.
• 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 Preschool Team members 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)
• 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 our setting (see Visitor Policy for details)
• Preschool Team members always follow security procedures like asking for identification and keeping doors locked at all times. A visitor is only allowed in if the Preschool Team member greeting them is fully convinced that they do not pose any threat to the children or adults at the setting
• Steps are taken to ensure children are not photographed or otherwise recorded for any other purpose than to record their development or their participation in events and opportunities organised by us. Those with parental responsibility sign a consent form upon their child starting at Preschool, and they have access to record holding visual images of their child (for more information see our Use of Mobile Phones and Cameras Policy)
• Recording devices of any kind cannot be taken into the bathroom without prior consultation with the DSL or a member of the Management Team. If photographs need to be taken in a bathroom, i.e. photographs of the children washing their hands, permission is obtained and the Team member is supervised whilst taking specific photographs
• Personal mobile phones are allowed on the Preschool premises but must be used away from children in the privacy of the office (for more details see our Use of Mobile Phones and Cameras Policy)
• The DSLs reserve the right to check the image contents of any Preschool Team member’s mobile phone should there be cause for concern over appropriate use of it. Should inappropriate material be found, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) will be notified
• Appropriate disciplinary measures will be followed, informed by the guidance of the LADO. These measures may result in staff member’s dismissal

Prevent Duty – Radicalisation and Extremism

• Since 2010, when the Government published the Prevent Strategy, there has been an awareness of the specific need to safeguard children, young people and their families from violent extremism. There have been several occasions, both locally and nationally, in which extremist groups have attempted to radicalise vulnerable children and young people to hold extreme views including views justifying political, religious, sexist or racist violence, or to steer them into a rigid and narrow ideology that is intolerant of diversity and leaves them vulnerable to future radicalisation
• The current threat from terrorism in the United Kingdom may include the exploitation of vulnerable people, to involve them in terrorism or in activity in support of terrorism. The normalisation of extreme views may also make children and young people vulnerable to future manipulation and exploitation. It is clear that this exploitation and radicalisation should be viewed as a safeguarding concern
• If any member of staff has concerns that a child may be at risk of radicalisation or involvement with terrorism, they should speak with their Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs). They should then follow normal safeguarding procedures. If the matter is deemed urgent, the police must be contacted by dialling 999. In non-urgent cases where police advice is sought, dial 101 instead.
• The Department for Education (DfE) has also set up a dedicated telephone helpline for staff and trustees/governors to raise concerns around Prevent.

The helpline number is 020 7340 7264

• At Roots and Wings Community Preschool we recognise that early education plays a significant part in the prevention of harm to our children by providing children with good lines of communication with trusted adults, supportive friends, and an ethos of protection. We will therefore work to establish and maintain an ethos of love and nurture where children feel secure and encouraged to talk, and where they are always listened to.
• As Early Years providers, we already focus on children’s personal, social and emotional development (for more information see our Calmness, Kindness and Connection-Seeking Behaviours Policy, and our Well-Being, Belonging and Mindfulness Policy). We use age-appropriate ways to support and empower children to learn right from wrong, mix and share with other children, respect each other’s views and boundaries, know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and to challenge negative attitudes and stereotypes
• We are aware that The Serious Crime Act (2015) introduced a new duty on teachers, social workers, and health care professionals to report to te police any known cases of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) involving victims aged under the age of 18. It is a form of child abuse and violence against girls and women.
• Where there is a risk to a child concerning a identified or suspected case of FGM, the DSLs will follow the necessary actions as required by the English version of ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ legislation (2018) in conjunction with Wiltshire Council.

Key Commitment 2

Any incidents or concerns regarding the safeguarding of children is promptly dealt with in line with the policies and procedures of our setting which are in accordance with the guidelines set out in ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ (HM Government, 2015)

Responding to suspicions of abuse

• We acknowledge that abuse of children can take different forms – physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect, as well as domestic
• When children are suffering from physical, sexual, emotional or domestic abuse, or may be 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 acknowledge that a multitude of additional factors surrounding parental capacity, children’s additional vulnerability, and local gang activity may affect, or have affected, children in our provision. We make it our mission to build close bonds with our children and families alike to be able to adequately appraise children’s circumstances, and where a child in our care, or known to the setting, may be affected by any of these factors, we follow the procedures below to for reporting child protection concerns
• Where such evidence is apparent, the child’s keyperson makes a dated record of the details of concern and discusses what to do with the DSLs or DDSL. The information is stored securely in a confidential folder in our lockable setting cupboard in the Preschool office
• We refer concerns to the Wiltshire children’s social care department as shown in the flow chart (see Policy Appendix 1) and co-operate fully in any subsequent investigation. In some cases, this may mean the police or another agency identified by the Wiltshire Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB)
• We take care not to influence the outcome either through the way we speak to children or by asking questions of children
• We take account of the need to protect young people aged 16-19 as defined by the Children Act 1989. This may include students or school children on work placement, young employees or young parents. Where abuse is suspected, we follow the procedure for reporting any other child protection concerns.
  The views of the young person will always be taken into account; however, Roots and Wings Community Preschool may override a young person’s refusal to consent to share information if it feels necessary to prevent a 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

Recording suspicions of abuse and disclosures

• Where a child makes comments to a member of the Preschool Team that gives cause for concern (disclosure), or a team member 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 of neglect; that team member:
  • Listens to the child, offers reassurance and gives assurance that he or she will take action;
  • Does not question the child;
  • Makes a written record that forms an objective record of the observation or disclosure that includes:
    • The date and time of the observation or disclosure
    • The exact words spoken by the child as far as possible
    • The name of the person to whom the concern was reported, including date and time
    • The names of any other person present at the time
  • These records are signed and dated, and kept securely in a confidential folder in the lockable cupboard in the office
  • The DSLs are informed of the disclosure at the earliest opportunity
  • Where the Safeguarding Vulnerable People Partnership (SVPP) stipulates the process for recording and sharing concerns, we include those procedures alongside this procedure and follow the steps set out by SVPP

Liaison with other agencies

• We work within the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines
• We publicise the online version of ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ to our families and Team members, and the most up-to-date version is printed and added as an appendix to this policy, as well as displayed in our Preschool Room for Preschool Team members and visitors to read to ensure everyone is familiar with the document and pathways.
• We notify Ofsted of any incidents or accidents and any changes in our arrangements which may affect the well-being of children or where an allegation of abuse is made against a member of the Preschool Team (whether the allegations relate to harm or abuse committed on our premises or elsewhere). Notifications to Ofsted are made as soon as reasonably practicable, but at the latest within 14 days of the allegation being made
• Contact details for the local National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) are as follows: 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk
• If a referral is to be made to MASH, we act within Wiltshire’s Safeguarding Children and Child Protection guidance in deciding whether we must inform the child’s parents at the same time.

Informing parents

• Those with legal guardianship are normally our first point of contact. Concerns are discussed with to gain their view of events, unless it is felt that this may put the child in greater danger
• Those with parental responsibility are informed when we make a record of concern in their child’s file and we will also note down any discussions we have with them regarding the concern on a ‘Record of conversations with parents and professionals’ form
• If a suspicion of abuse referral to social care, parents are informed at the same time as the referral is being made, except where the guidance of the SVPP/MASH does not allow this
• This will usually be the case where a parent is the likely abuser. In these cases the social workers will inform parents

Allegations against staff

• We ensure that all families know how to share concerns about the behaviour or actions of Preschool Team members or volunteers within the setting, or anyone living or working on the premises occupied by the Preschool, which may include allegations of abuse
• We respond to any inappropriate behaviour displayed by member of staff, volunteer or any other person living or working on the premises, which includes, but isn’t limited to:
  • Inappropriate sexual comments
  • Excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities, or inappropriate sharing of images
  • Any derogative language that may harm a child’s inner voice
• We follow the guidance of the SVPP when responding to any complaint that any such person has
  • Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child
  • Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child
  • Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to a child
• We respond to any disclosure by children or adults that abuse by anyone associated with the setting may have taken, or is taking place, by first recording any such alleged incident
• We refer any such complaints or allegations immediately to the Local Authority Dedicated Officer (LADO) to investigate:

LADO contact Number: 0300 456 0108
Email: LADO@wiltshire.gov.uk
Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH): 0300 456 0108

• We also report any such alleged incidents to Ofsted, including what measures we have taken. We are aware that it is an offence not to do this
• We co-operate entirely with any investigation carried out by children’s social care in conjunction with the police
• Where the management team and children’s social care agree it is appropriate in the circumstances, the member of staff or volunteer will be suspended for the duration of the investigation. This is not an indication of admission that the alleged incident has taken place but is intended to protect the team member, as well as children and families throughout the process

Disciplinary action

Where a member of the staff team or volunteer has been dismissed from Roots and Wings Community Preschool because of misconduct relating to a child or vulnerable adult, we will notify the Disclosure and Baring Service (DBS), Ofsted and the SVPP

Key Commitment 3

Roots and Wings Community Preschool is committed to promoting awareness of child abuse issues throughout our training and learning programmes for adults. We are also committed to empowering young children through our early childhood curriculum, promoting their right to be strong, resilient and listened to.

Training

• We seek out training opportunities for all adults involved with the setting to ensure that they are able to recognise the signs of and signals of possible physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect and domestic violence, and that they are aware of the Wiltshire guidelines for making referrals
• We ensure that all Preschool Team members know the procedures for reporting and recording their concerns in the setting
• We use safeguarding question cards for all team members to reflect on and discuss their knowledge during weekly staff meetings

Planning

• The layout of the Preschool room allows for constant supervision. No child is left alone with Preschool Team members or volunteers in a one-to-one situation without being visible or within earshot of others

Curriculum

• We introduce key elements of keeping children safe into our curriculum to promote the personal, social and emotional development of all children, so that they may grow to be strong, resilient and listened to, and so they develop an understanding of why and how to keep safe
• We use the Love and Nurture in the Early Years Early Childhood Education and Care Rating Scale to further ensure children feeling loved and important, and to ensure adult’s insecurities do not negatively impact children’s inner voice and their overall development
• We create within the setting a culture of British values and respect for the individual, having positive regard for children, families and Preschool Team member’s heritage arising from their colour, ethnicity, language(s) spoken at home, cultural and social background
• We ensure that this is carried out in a way that is developmentally appropriate for the children
• We provide learning opportunities and invitations that promote good health, including oral and mental health
• We introduce age-appropriate elements of online safety and offer information, as well as signpost courses, to families and guardians on howe to keep children safe online

Confidentiality

• All suspicions and investigations are kept confidential and are shared only with those who need to know. Any information is shared under the guidance of Wiltshire SVPP
• We advise the families and those who are directly involved or affected, not to discuss the case outside of their immediate family prior to the formal conclusion
• We comply with the Data Protection Act (2018) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Support to families

• Here at Roots and Wings Community Preschool, we believe in building trusting, loving, and supportive relationships with families, Preschool Team members and volunteers in the group
• We make clear to parents our role and responsibilities in relation to child protection, such as for the reporting of concerns, providing information, monitoring of the child, and liaising at all times with the local children’s social care team
• We will continue to welcome the child and the family whilst investigations are made in relation to any abuse
• We follow the Child Protection Plan as set by the child’s social care or family support worker in relation to the Preschool’s designated roles and tasks in supporting that child and their family, subsequent to any investigation
• Confidential records kept on a child are shared with the child’s parents or those who have parental responsibility for the child in accordance with our Information Sharing policy and procedures, and only if appropriate under the guidance of the Safeguarding Vulnerable People Partnership (SVPP).
• A Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is responsible for the management and oversight of cases when there is an allegation against staff or volunteers.
  Contact the LADO immediately for advice and guidance when dealing with an allegation

Legislation and guidance

• Children Act (1989/2004)
• Protection of Freedom Act (2012)
• Data Protection Act (2018) General Data Protection Regulations
• Children and Families Act (2014)
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006)
• Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) (2024)
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)
• Keeping children safe in Education (2022)
• Ofsted Safeguarding children and young vulnerable adults policy (2016)
• What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused: Advice for practitioners (2024)
• Serious Crime Act (2015)
• Counter-Terrorism and Security Act (2015)

Secondary Legislation

• Sexual Offences Act (2003)
• Criminal Justice and Court Services Act (2000)
• Human Rights Act (2000)
• Race Relations (Amendment) Act (2000)
• Race Relations (Amendment) Act (1976) Regulations 2003
• Equality Act (2010)