All Hopscotch nurseries are registered with Ofsted Early Years Register and therefore required to meet the Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage 2012. These registers clearly state the minimum standards that must be met by law. Therefore, each setting is subject to routine and regular inspections by Ofsted. Ofsted inspection reports are available to view in the setting or online at http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/ In this policy, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
- Protecting children from maltreatment.
- Preventing the impairment of children's health or development.
- Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
Children and young people have the right to be protected from neglect and abuse. Everyone has a responsibility to protect children and young people and to report concerns.
Children's needs are paramount and take precedence over the needs of adults in any conflict between the two. This setting's policy and procedure are to safeguard all children, to ensure they are equally valued and to give them the best start in life.
All allegations and concerns are taken seriously and dealt with appropriately in accordance with this policy and procedure.
Hopscotch has a comprehensive set of policies and procedures that are available to parents or carers in our nursery settings and also on our website . See our Safeguarding Policy for more information. This policy must be adhered to by all staff, volunteers, trustees, board members, employees (contracted and non-contracted), trainees, service providers, contractors, etc. This policy is based on the following laws and statutory guidance.
Legal framework and definition of safeguarding:
- Children Act 1989 and 2004 ( 1989 , 2004 )
- Childcare Act 2006 (amended 2018) ( link )
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 ( link )
- Children and Social Work Act 2017 ( link )
- The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 2017 ( link )
- Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 ( link )
- Keeping Children Safe in Education 2020 ( link )
- Data Protection Act 2018 ( link )
- What to do if you're worried a child is being abused 2015 ( link )
- Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 ( link )
- Inspecting Safeguarding in Early years, Education and Skills settings 2019 ( link )
- Prevent Duty 2015 ( link )
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, in relation to this policy is defined as:
- Protecting children from maltreatment
- Preventing the impairment of children's health or development
- Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
We also refer to Local Authority safeguarding partnerships.
Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2021 - The mandatory framework for all early years providers, maintained schools, non-maintained schools, independent schools and all providers on the Early Years Register. The safeguarding and welfare requirements are given legal force by regulations made under Section 39(1)(b) of the Childcare Act 2006. ( link ) Child abuse can take many different forms. The main types of abuse, as set out by the NSPCC, are:
- Bullying and cyberbullying
- Child sexual exploitation
- Child trafficking
- Criminal exploitation and gangs
- Domestic abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Female genital mutilation (FGM)
- Grooming
- Neglect
- Non-recent abuse
- Online abuse
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
The NSPCC provides detailed definitions and indicators of different types of child abuse on their website . Some of the most common indicators that staff should be aware of when working in any early years setting include:
- Failure to thrive and meet developmental milestones
- Fearful or withdrawn tendencies
- Unexplained injuries or conflicting reports from parents or staff
- Repeated injuries
- Unaddressed illnesses or injuries
- Significant changes to behaviour patterns
- Fearfulness
- Withdrawal
- Low self-esteem
- Aggression
- Oppositional behaviour
- Habitual body rocking
- Indiscriminate contact or affection seeking
- Over-friendliness to strangers, including healthcare professionals
- Excessive clinginess or attention-seeking behaviour
- Demonstrating excessively 'good' behaviour to prevent parental or carer disapproval
- Failing to seek or accept appropriate comfort when significantly distressed
- Coercive controlling behaviour towards parents or carers
- Lack of ability to understand and recognise emotions
- Very young children showing excessive comforting behaviours when witnessing parental or carer distress
For further information, please refer to the following resources:
The setting respects confidentiality at all times and complies with the Data Protection Act 1998. However the setting will share information as part of its day to day work in order to safeguard and protect children from harm but also to work together to support families to improve outcomes for all. This may involve liaison with Police, Children’s Social Care, participation in multi-agency meetings, e.g. case conferences and participation in serious care reviews, if requested to do so. This will generally take precedence over any data privacy rights.