Safeguarding and Child Protection

Policy Statement



At Apple Tree nursery we define safeguarding as protecting children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of their health or development and ensuring that they grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care. Safeguarding also requires that we take action to enable all children to have the best life chances.

Apple Tree Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children who attend the setting. We believe that:

·        All children have the right to be protected from harm.

·        Children need to be safe and to feel safe at nursery.

·        Children need support which matches their individual needs, including those who may have experienced abuse.

·        All children have the right to speak freely and voice their values and beliefs.

·        All children must be encouraged to respect each other’s values and support each other.

·        All children have the right to be supported to meet their emotional and social needs as well as their educational needs – a happy healthy sociable child will achieve better in life.

·        Nursery settings can and do contribute to the prevention of abuse.

·        All staff have an important role to play in safeguarding children and protecting them from abuse.

Apple Tree Nursery will fulfil their local and national responsibilities as laid out in the following documents.

·        Working Together to Safeguard Children, DfE 2018

·        The Procedures of Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board

·        The Children Act, 1989

Aims

This policy will contribute to safeguarding our children and promoting their welfare by:

·        Clarifying standards of behaviour for staff and students

·        Contributing to the establishment of a safe, resilient and robust ethos for the setting which is built on mutual respect and shared values.

·        Introducing appropriate learning within the nursery curriculum.

·        Encouraging children and their families to participate.

·        Alerting staff to the signs and indicators that all might not be well.

·        Developing staff awareness of the causes of abuse.

·        Developing staff awareness of the risks and vulnerabilities that children face.

·        Addressing concerns at the earliest possible stage; and

We work to

·        Identify and protect the most vulnerable

·        Identify individual needs where possible; and

·        Design plans to meet those needs

This policy will contribute to the protection of our children by

·        Including appropriate activities within the curriculum;

·        Implementing child protection policies and procedures; and

·        Working in partnership with children, parents and other agencies.

Key Principles

These are the key principles of safeguarding, as stated by Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board:

·        Always see the child first.

·        Never do nothing.

·        Do with, not to, others.

·        Do the simple things better

·        Have conversations, build relationships.

·        Outcomes not outputs.

Key Processes

All staff will be made aware of the guidance issued by Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board in Right Services Right Time and Early Help.

Expectations

All staff and students will

·        Be familiar with the safeguarding policy;

·        Be subject to Safer Recruitment processes and checks;

·        Be involved in the implementation of Children in Need Plans and interagency Child Protection Plans.

·        Be alert to signs and indicators of possible abuse (see appendix one)

·        Record concerns and give the record to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Alison Richards; and

·        Deal with a disclosure of abuse from a child in line with the guidance in appendix two. The DSL must be informed of and disclosure immediately and a written account provided as soon as possible.

All staff will receive basic training in Safeguarding and Child Protection at least every three years. The DSL will undertake the designated training for this role at least every two years.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

·        Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Alison Richards. She has lead responsibility and management oversight and accountability for Child Protection and will be responsible for coordinating all Child Protection activity.

·        The DSL will regularly review the files of vulnerable children and these reviews will be recorded.

·        When the nursery has concerns about a child the DSL will decide what steps should be taken.

·        Child Protection information will be dealt with in a confidential manner. Staff will be informed of relevant details only when the DSL feels that such knowledge will enable them to deal with an individual child or family more effectively. A written record will be made of what information has been shared, with whom and when.

·        Child Protection records are stored securely in a locked filing cabinet within the nursery room. Files will be retained in line with current data legislation and guidance.

·        Access to these records by any staff member other than the DSL will be restricted, and a written record will be kept of who has had access to them and when.

·        Parents will be aware of information held on their child and kept up to date regarding any concerns or developments by the DSL. Information shared with parents will give regard to adults which have parental responsibility.

·        Information held on a child will not be disclosed to parents if the DSL feels that to do so would put the child at risk of significant harm.

·        If a child leaves the setting, the DSL will forward Child Protection records to the new setting, with due regard to their confidential nature and in line with current guidance on the transfer of such records. Direct contact between the two settings may be necessary. We will record where and to whom the records have been passed and the date.

·        If sending by post records will be sent by Special/Recorded Delivery. 

·        The DSL will review this policy annually, or sooner if new information or legislation makes this necessary.

Safer Recruitment

Staff are recruited using procedures in line with the ’12 Steps to Safer Recruitment’ guidance. See also our employment Policy.

Our Role in the Prevention of Abuse

·        We will provide an environment that enables children to develop skills, attitudes and knowledge that promote their safety and well-being.

·        We will help children to develop self-esteem and self-confidence.

·        Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy cannot be separated from the general ethos of the nursery which will ensure that children are treated with respect and dignity and taught to treat each other with respect, feel safe and have a voice, and are listened to.

Involving Parents/Carers

·        In general, we will discuss any Child Protection concerns with parents/carers before approaching other agencies, and will seek their consent to making a referral to another agency. However, there may be occasions when the nursery will contact another agency before informing parents/carers because it considers that to contact parents/carers first may increase the risk of significant harm to the child.

·        Parents will be informed about our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy as part of the induction process.

Multi-Agency Work

·        We work in partnership with other agencies in the best interest of the children. The nursery will, where necessary make referrals to Children Social Care. Referrals should be made by the Designated Safeguarding Lead to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (0121 303 1888). Where the children already has a safeguarding social worker, the request for service should go immediately to the social worker involved, or in their absence, their team manager.

·        We will co-operate with any child protection enquiries conducted by Children’s Social Care. The nursery will ensure representation at appropriate inter-agency such as integrated support plan meetings, initial and review child protection conferences, and core group meetings.

·        We will reports as required for these meetings. If the nursery is unable to attend the meeting a written report will be sent. The report will, wherever possible, be shared with parents/carers at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

·        Where a child is subject to an inter-agency child protection plan or a multi-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC) meeting, the school will contribute to the preparation, implementation and review of the plan as appropriate.

Our role in supporting children who have experienced abuse or neglect

·        We will offer appropriate support to individual children who have experienced abuse.

·        An individual support plan will be devised, implemented and reviewed regularly for these children. This plan will detail areas of support, who will be involved, and where possible, the child’s wishes and feelings. A written outline of the Individual Support Plan will be kept with the child’s child protection record.

·        The nursery will work in partnership with parents/carers and other agencies as appropriate.

Responding to an allegation about a member of staff

·        This procedure will be used in any case in which it is alleged that a member of staff has;

o   Behaved in a way that has harmed a child or may have harmed a child;

o   Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or

o   Behaved in a way that indicates s/he is unsuitable to work with children.

·        Although it is an uncomfortable thought, it needs to be acknowledged that there is the potential for staff in early years settings to abuse children.

·        All staff working within our organisation must report any safeguarding concerns about an individual’s behaviour towards children immediately. Allegations or concerns about colleagues and visitors must be reported directly to the nursery owner/manager unless the concern relates to the owner/manager. It must be reported immediately to the LADO team (0121 675 1669). If the allegation is made outside of office hours and we believe a child has been harmed the Emergency Duty Team will be contacted on 0121 675 4806. OFSTED should be informed. See Position of Trust Procedure Appendix 3.

Children with additional needs

·        Apple Tree Nursery recognises that while all children have a right to be safe, some children may be more vulnerable to abuse, for example, those with a disability of special educational need, those living with domestic violence or drug/alcohol abusing parents etc.