Safeguarding Children Policy

Statement of Intent 

Beehive Day Nursery wants to work with children, parents and the community to ensure the safety of children and to give them the very best start in life.

Aims
Our aims are to:
•    Create an environment in our nursery which encourages children to develop a positive self-image, regardless of race, language, religion, culture or home background;
•    Help children to establish and sustain satisfying relationships within their families, with peers and with other adults;
•    Encourage children to develop a sense of autonomy and independence;
•    Enable children to have the self-confidence and the vocabulary to resist inappropriate approaches; and
•    Work with parents/carers to build their understanding of and commitment to the welfare of all our children.

The legal framework for this policy is:
•    The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
•    The Children Act 1989
•    The Children Act 2004
•    The Childcare Act 2006
•    The Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
•    The Human Rights Act 1998
•    The Data Protection Act 1998
•    The Protection of Children Act 1999
•    The Sexual Offences Act 2003

Liaison with other bodies
•    We work within the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board guidelines
•    We have a copy of the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board guidelines available for staff and parents/carers to see
•    We notify the registration authority (Ofsted) on 0300 123 1231 of any incident or accident and any change in our arrangements which could affect the wellbeing of children
•    We have procedures for contacting the local authority on safeguarding issues and have contact details readily available to enable us to contact the relevant bodies in an emergency
•    If a report is made to the authorities, we act within the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board guidance in deciding whether we must inform the child’s parent at the same time

Methods
Staffing and Volunteering
•    Our named person who co-ordinates safeguarding issues is Mary Hickley
•    We provide adequate and appropriate staffing resources to meet the needs of the children
•    Applicants for posts within the nursery are clearly informed that the positions are exempt for the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  Candidates are informed of the need to carry out DBS checks before posts can be confirmed.  Where applications are rejected because information that has been disclosed, applicants have a right to know and to challenge incorrect information.  
•    We abide by Ofsted requirements in respect of references and DBS checks for staff and volunteers, to ensure that no disqualified person or unfit person works at the nursery or has access to the children
•    Volunteers and students do not work unsupervised
•    We abide by the Protection of Children Act requirements in respect of any person who is dismissed from our employment, or resigns in circumstances that would otherwise lead to dismissal for reasons of safeguarding concern
•    We have procedures for recording details of visitors to the nursery
•    We take security steps to ensure that we have control over who comes into the nursery so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children
•    Staff, students and volunteers are forbidden from using mobile phones and their own cameras while with the children.  This includes other devices that can take photographs such as iwatches.   Mobile phones must be kept with belongings which are never stored in the children's rooms.  We ask parents and visitors not to use mobile phones inside the nursery.  We have a sign reminding visitors that they should not use phones, cameras or recording devices inside the nursery.

Disciplinary Action
Where a member of staff or a volunteer is dismissed from the nursery or internally disciplined because of misconduct to a child, we notify the Department of Health administrators so that their name may be included on the List for the Protection of Children or Vulnerable Adults.

Training
We seek out training opportunities for all adults involved in the nursery to ensure that they are able to recognise the signs and symptoms of possible physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, or neglect and that they are aware of the local authority guidelines for making a referral.  We ensure that all staff know the procedures for reporting and recording their concerns in the nursery.

Planning
The layout of the room allows for constant supervision.  Where children need to spend time away from the rest of the group, the door is left ajar.



Activities and experiences
•    We introduce to children key elements of safeguarding at developmentally appropriate times, so that children can develop understanding of why and how to keep safe.
•    We create within the nursery a culture of value and respect for the individual

Complaints
•    We ensure that all parents/carers know how to complain about the actions of staff or a volunteer within the nursery, which may include an allegation of abuse
•    We follow the guidance of the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board when investigating any complaint that a member of staff or volunteer has abused a child
•    An allegation that a member of staff or volunteer has abused a child is treated as if it were an allegation of abuse by any other person
•    Guidelines for procedures in the case of an allegation of abuse against a member of staff are provided with this policy

Responding to suspicions of abuse
•    We acknowledge that abuse of children can take different forms – physical, emotional, sexual and neglect.
•    When children have been subjected to physical, sexual or emotional abuse, this may be demonstrated in changes in their behaviour or in their play.  Where such changes in behaviour occur, or where children’s play gives cause for concern, the nursery investigates.
•    We allow investigations to be carried out with sensitivity.  Staff in the nursery take care not to influence the outcome either through the way they speak to children or in asking questions of children
•    Where a child shows signs and symptoms of ‘failure to thrive’ or neglect, we make appropriate referrals


Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Staff should be aware of FGM and the signs that this type of abuse has taken place.  Signs include difficulty or discomfort when walking, standing or sitting, spending longer than usual in the bathroom, difficulty urinating, incontinence and frequent urinary tract infections.
FGM is viewed as physical abuse and should be treated as such.

Disclosures
Where a child makes a disclosure to a member of staff, that member of staff:
•    Offers reassurance to the child
•    Listens to the child, and
•    Gives reassurance that she or he will take action.  The member of staff does not question the child.

Disclosures and recording suspicions of abuse
Staff make a record of:
•    The child’s name
•    The child’s address
•    The age of the child
•    The date and time of the observation or the disclosure
•    An objective record of the observation or disclosure
•    The exact words spoken by the child
•    The name of the person to whom the concern was reported, with date and time, and
•    The names of any other person present at the time

These records are signed, dated and kept in a separate confidential file.  All members of staff know the procedure for recording and reporting.  If a member of staff disagrees with the manager’s decision regarding the safeguarding and welfare of a child, that member of staff may continue with safeguarding procedures as stated in this policy.  The member of staff must inform the manager that they intend to do this.

Informing parents
Parents/carers are normally the first point of contact.  If a suspicion of abuse is recorded, parents are informed at the same time as the report is made, except where the guidance of the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board does not allow this.  This will usually be the case where the parent is the likely abuser.  In these cases the investigating officers will inform parents.


Confidentiality
All suspicions and investigations are kept confidential and shared only with those who need to know.  Any information is shared under the guidance of the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board.

The PREVENT Strategy
The purpose of the PREVENT Strategy is to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremism in all its forms.

The Prevent Duty at Beehive Day Nursery
Staff have an awareness of our duty to safeguard children who might be at risk of radicalisation.
If we have concerns about a child or the people close to that child being at risk of radicalisation, we consult the MASH and if necessary, complete a VTR (Vulnerable to Radicalisation) form.  Staff with concerns will share these with the manager and Safeguarding Co-ordinator.
If necessary we will call the police on 101 (the non-emergency number) to gain support and advice on how to proceed.
We can contact the Department for Education on their dedicated helpline on 020 7340 7264 to raise concerns relating to extremism and radicalisation.  This is not to be used in an emergency such as a child being at immediate risk of harm, when we would follow emergency safeguarding procedures.


Support for families
•    The nursery takes every step in its power to build up trusting and supportive relations among families, staff and volunteers in the group
•    The nursery continues to welcome the child and family while investigations are being made in relation to abuse in the home situation
•    Confidential records kept on a child are shared with the child’s parents or those who have parental responsibility for the child only if appropriate under the guidance of the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board
•    With the understanding that the care and safety of the child is paramount, we do all in our power to support and work with the child’s family.
•    We recognise and understand that certain groups of children MAY be more vulnerable than others including those in receipt of two-year funding.  We offer guidance and support to families living in difficult circumstances.

This policy is reviewed annually.
This policy was first adopted by Beehive Day Nursery on 5th September 2004
Signed on behalf of the nursery……………………………………………………….
Latest review:  December 2018