Hopscotch safeguards children and staff through the following measures:
Providing adequate and appropriate staffing resources to meet children's needs at all times
Informing job applicants that positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Candidates are notified of required checks before job confirmation. Rejected applicants have the right to know and challenge disclosed information.
Conducting full DBS checks on all staff, volunteers, and students before they start at Hopscotch. We regularly re-check criminal history and suitability to work with children using the DBS update service.
Aiming to obtain at least two written references before new staff start work. When not possible, we conduct a specific risk assessment.
Offering regular opportunities for staff, volunteers, and students to declare changes affecting their suitability to care for children. This includes health information, medication changes, or child protection plans for their own children. We also discuss individual children, child protection training, safeguarding concerns, and needs for support or training.
Complying with EYFS and Ofsted guidance on obtaining references and suitability checks for all staff, students, and volunteers
Prohibiting volunteers and students from performing intimate care routines or working unsupervised with children (see our Caring for Children Policy for details)
Implementing procedures to record visitor details and ensure no unauthorized person has unsupervised access to children
Supervising all visitors and contractors on the premises, especially in areas used by children
Remaining vigilant to safeguard the entire nursery environment, including awareness of potential dangers at nursery boundaries such as drones or lingering strangers
Maintaining a Staff Behaviour Policy to monitor concerning behavior changes. All staff agree to report changes to management to support staff and ensure children's safety.
Ensuring staff access and comply with the whistleblowing policy, fostering a culture of openness where all concerns are taken seriously
Training staff to recognize signs of inappropriate behavior, including inappropriate sexual comments, excessive one-to-one attention, or inappropriate image sharing. All behavior changes must be reported and addressed immediately.
Conducting peer and manager observations to maintain high-quality care and identify areas for staff development. This practice builds trust and allows staff to share concerns.
Ensuring proper and effective staff deployment for constant supervision and support
Safeguarding Roles and Responsibilities
The Nominated Individual who is registered with Ofsted for Hopscotch Children’s Nurseries is Managing Director Philip Ford. See Company Directory for more information.
The Managing Director and Head of Operations are Company Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) and are responsible for safeguarding matters across the company.
DSLs for each nursery setting are the comprised of the Nursery Management Team: the Nursery Manager, the Deputy Manager and the Nursery Third-in-Charge (in that order, depending on who is in the nursery or presently available).
DSLs work closely with the Head of Operations. They are responsible for passing on concerns, or making referrals. In the DSL’s absence. the next most senior member of staff, usually the Deputy DSL, will assume responsibility. In some larger nursery settings they may have more than one Deputy DSL appointed.
One of the Company DSLs (i.e. Managing Director or the Head of Operations) will always be available to be contacted to discuss any safeguarding matter. Contact details are set out in the Safeguarding at Hopscotch Poster.
If any concerns relate to the Nominated Individual or the Head of Operations then concerns can be raised with other company DSLs or Ofsted can be contacted directly. Details of how to do that are listed later in this document.
The Role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
We have named persons within each nursery setting who take lead responsibility for safeguarding and co-ordinate child protection and welfare issues, known as the Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL). These will usually be the Nursery Manager and Deputy Managers will be trained to DSL standards for when Managers might not be present.
There should always be at least one DSL person on duty during the opening hours of every Hopscotch setting. The designated persons will receive comprehensive training at least every two years and update their knowledge on an ongoing basis.
Nursery DSLs are responsible for all safeguarding matters relating to their specific nursery setting. Failure to properly implement these policies and procedures, as set out in this policy, could be seen as a failure to properly protect the wellbeing and welfare of children in their care and could result in disciplinary action being taken where needed.
DSLs should support the ongoing development and knowledge of the staff team with regular safeguarding updates.
DSLs for specific nursery settings are set out at the start of this policy. All safeguarding concerns should be reported to these individuals and recorded. If any concerns relate to a DSL then the Hopscotch Nominated Individual or Head of Operations should be contacted via office@hopscotch.uk.com
The role of the DSL is to ensure that the settings safeguarding policy and procedures are reviewed and developed in line with current guidance; and develop staff understanding of the settings safeguarding policies. They will achieve this through the following actions:
Take the lead on responding to information from the staff team relating to child protection concerns
Provide advice, support and guidance on an on-going basis to staff, students and volunteers.
To identify children who may need early help or who are at risk of abuse
To help staff to ensure the right support is provided to families
To liaise with the local authority and other agencies with regard to child protection concerns
Ensure the setting is meeting the requirements of the EYFS Safeguarding requirements
To ensure policies are in line with the local safeguarding procedures and details
Disseminate updates to legislation to ensure all staff are kept up to date with safeguarding practices
To manage and monitor accidents, incidents and existing injuries; ensuring accurate and appropriate records are kept
Attend meetings with the child’s key person
Attend case conferences and external safeguarding meetings, as requested, by external agencies.
Responding to Safeguarding Concerns
All safeguarding concerns should be passed on to the nursery or company DSLs as soon as possible.
In the first instance concerns might be shared verbally but this should be followed up with a written Record of Concern (RoC) form. Information should be factual and claims need to be substantiated.
Blank RoC forms should be available to all staff at all times and the Nursery Management Teams are responsible for ensuring staff are aware of where they are kept. Alternatively, nursery staff can also request one from office@hopscotchmail.com
On receipt of any safeguarding information or a RoC the DSL should review the information presented to them and make a decision based on the assessed risk, which should reflect the history of the child. If available, Safeguarding Chronology Forms (see Appendix 4), should be referred to for context.
If the DSL feel it meets the threshold for referral they need to notify parents unless it would place the child at significant risk or compromise a possible criminal investigation. They should then make contact to the relevant local authority organisation i.e. Front Door for Families (Brighton & Hove) or Single Point of Access (SPoA). Advice might be sought first before making a formal referral. Referrals made verbally must be confirmed in writing within 24 hours.
If the threshold for referral is not met the DSL should complete a Safeguarding Chronology form and ensure staff monitor specific aspects of the child’s presentation, behaviour, attendance, etc. with a timescale for frequent review. Any further safeguarding concerns should take information on this form into account and make a decision based on the whole picture, not just a single incident.
Advice can always be sought from on the above from the Company DSLs, either the Head of Operations or the Managing Director.
Responding to suspicions of abuse or disclosures
Listen to the child, offer reassurances and give reassurances that action will be taken
Do not question the child, although it is OK to ask questions for the purpose of clarification.
Make written records date and time, exact words spoken, the name of person disclosed to and any witnesses. Signed and kept securely in safeguarding file.
Ensure the DSL follows the correct procedures, as set out below.
Informing Parents of any Safeguarding Concerns
Parents are normally the first point of contact. Concerns are discussed with parents to gain their view of events, unless it is felt that this may put the child at risk or interfere with the course of a police investigation. Parents are informed when we make a record of concerns in their child’s file and that we also make a note of any discussion we have with them regarding a concern. If a suspicion of abuse warrants referral to the Front Door for Families parents are informed while the referral will be made, except where the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board does not allow this, for example, where it is believed that the child may be placed at risk.
Reporting Procedures and Making a Referral
In line with the EYFS, the Designated Safeguarding Lead should be responsible for liaising with the relevant authorities. These are different depending on the circumstances, who is involved, and which local authority the setting is located.
Information about making referrals is here: Referrals
Code of Conduct for Parents, Carers and Visitors to Hopscotch Nurseries
All visitors, including external agencies, visiting the premises must respect this setting’s policies and procedures at all times and not discuss overheard conversations or information regarding children and families outside the setting. Any concerns regarding safeguarding must immediately be advised to the DSL.
As part of our safeguarding protocol, we have set out our expectations of how Hopscotch parents, carers and visitors should behave whilst at any Hopscotch nursery setting, either inside or outside. Unacceptable behaviour directed towards Hopscotch staff and other persons in the nursery is not acceptable and this is set out in our Caring for Children Policy.
Furthermore, Hopscotch strives to provide safe places where relationships between staff and parents demonstrate mutual respect and shared responsibility for children’s welfare, development and progress.
We therefore ask that parents, carers and visitors to any of our settings refrain from:
Shouting at children on or close by to our nursery premises.
Using any kind of inappropriate or offensive language when in the vicinity of the nursery setting.
Discussing sensitive issues within earshot of your child, other children or adults.
Any kind of aggressive, abusive or bullying behaviour (examples include threats, physical violence, personal verbal abuse, derogatory remarks and rudeness, inflammatory statements and unsubstantiated allegations).
Any kind of inappropriate or abusive behaviour with Hopscotch staff, parents or Hopscotch social media channels on social media platforms.
Taking photos or videos of children on nursery premises.
Using your mobile phone anywhere on nursery premises.
Collecting your child(ren) from nursery if you have consumed alcohol, medication or other substances which have affected your judgement or responses.
Persistently making the same or similar complaint, despite the matter having been fully addressed / investigated under the complaints procedure or seeking an unrealistic outcome with intent to persist until the desired outcome is achieved.
Depending on the circumstances, if deemed serious enough by Hopscotch Management, any of the eventualities above might lead to the termination registrations and bookings at Hopscotch. In such a scenario all fees for the remainder of the month and the full deposit will be kept in lieu of notice.
Please note that any behaviour by a parent of carer which raises possible safeguarding concerns regarding the welfare of a child will be responded to in line with our setting safeguarding procedures.
Whistleblowing and Complaints
A separate complaints procedure exists which should be followed by any individual who has concerns about staff or practice in the setting. This is available on our website and also in our Caring for Children Policy.
All concerns regarding Safeguarding must be directed to the DSL.
If the complaint relates to the DSL, the complaint must be directed to the Registered Person.
If the complaint relates to the Registered Person, the complainant should contact the LADO.
Further information is available in the Hopscotch Whistleblowing Policy, at the end of this policy.
Breaches of this policy and a failure to act will be taken seriously and disciplinary action will ensue for members of staff. A separate Staff Code of Conduct describes this process in more detail.
Breaches of this Safeguarding Policy by external contractors or visitors will be taken very seriously and appropriate action will be taken.
Hopscotch are committed to protecting children and promoting welfare. Should anyone believe that this policy is not being upheld, it is their duty to report the matter to the attention of the Nominated Individual / Director as soon as possible.
Unexpected Child Absence from Nursery
Hopscotch is committed to promoting regular, punctual attendance and works closely with families to make sure children can attend as expected. Attendance is tracked in real time using our Famly system, with staff signing children in and out each day. If your child is absent, please let us know by 10:30am on the day, either by calling the nursery or sending a message via Famly. Messages sent through other channels such as email or SMS may not be picked up in time. For illness, please share your child’s symptoms so we can follow health guidance, including any necessary exclusion periods.
If we have not heard from you by 10:30am, we will attempt to contact you and, if needed, your emergency contacts. In some cases, we may need to involve our Designated Safeguarding Lead and follow safeguarding procedures. Prolonged absences, usually more than two consecutive sessions, are assessed in the context of your child’s needs, attendance history, and wellbeing.
Attendance records are reviewed regularly to identify any concerns. If these arise, we will speak with you and, where appropriate, put support in place. We ask that each child’s record includes at least three up-to-date emergency contacts.