Safeguarding
Safeguarding Children
Statement of intent
The Nursery works with children, parents, carers and the community to ensure the safety of children. Every child has the right to be safe.
The Nursery aims to create an environment which encourages children to develop a positive self-image regardless of race, language, religion, culture or social background.
We want to help children to establish and sustain satisfying relationships within their families, with peers and with other adults.
We aim to work with parents and carers to build their understanding of and commitment to the welfare of all our children.
We do have a duty to refer to social care if we suspect a child is at risk of significant harm. If we make a referral to social care, we will inform the parents/guardians concerned; unless to do so would place the child at increased risk of significant harm. Our first concern will always be the welfare of the child.
Legislation
The Children’s Act 1989
The Children’s Act 2004
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Children’s Act 2008
Data Protection Act 1999
The Nursery works with the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB), of which the designated officer is Nigel Hatten (telephone 01452 426320).
The Nursery has set procedures for contacting the LSCB regarding safeguarding children.
If a report is made to the LSCB, the Nursery will act within the recommended guidelines in deciding whether the parents or carers should be informed at the same time as the referral. This will depend upon the nature of the concern. The Nursery notifies the registration authority (Ofsted) of any serious accidents or incidents that take place within the setting; this also includes any serious unexplained injury a child receives whilst in the care of the Nursery staff.
The Nursery acknowledges that abuse of children can take different forms; physical, emotional, sexual and neglect. When children are suffering from abuse, this may be demonstrated through changes in their behaviour or in their play. Where such behaviour occurs or when children’s play gives cause for concern, the nursery has a professional and moral duty to investigate, and if necessary, make a referral. We will always aim to notify and work with parents in the fist instance unless their is reason to believe that this may put the children at risk of harm.
Safeguarding Leads
The designated safeguarding lead is responsible for promoting a safe environment for children and young people. They are the first point of contact for all staff and volunteers to go to for advice if they are concerned about a child.
The designated safeguarding lead has a higher level of safeguarding training and knowledge than the rest of the staff. Their role includes supporting staff to assist in information regarding concerns and support decision making about whether staff concerns are sufficient enough to notify children’s social work services or whether other courses of action are more appropriate, such as the completion of an Early Help Approach. At times the designated safeguarding lead may have a no names conversation with the community social worker to discus the appropriate response.
It is not the designated safeguarding officer's responsibility to decide whether a child has been abused or not. That is the responsibility of investigative statutory agencies such as children’s social work services or the police. However, keeping children safe is everybody’s business, and all staff should know who to go to and how to report any concerns they may have about a child being harmed or at risk of being harmed.
Our designated safeguarding lead is: Mrs Libby Pringle
Our safeguarding deputies are: Miss Rebecca Greenow, Mrs Kerry Buckland