North Yorkshire County Council Children and Young People’s Service

Early Years Group Setting Welfare checklist 2016

Child Protection

This document, produced by NYCC is intended for Early Years Group settings to use as a checklist to ensure that all appropriate arrangements are in place to meet the requirements of:

  • Ofsted Inspection Framework Guidance 2015
  • Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, September 2014
  • Working Together To Safeguard Children HM Government March 2015
  • Information Sharing: Advice for Practitioners Providing Safeguarding Services March 2015
  • North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board, (NYSCB) Procedures
  • Local and national Serious Case Review recommendations
  • DfE Prevent Duty Departmental advice for schools and childcare providers June 2015

The document has been written with reference to:

  • Ofsted Early Years Inspection Handbook September 2015

Settings may also wish to use the checklist as an aid to formulating their safeguarding policy and/or to provide evidence to Ofsted of the arrangements they have in place.

The document will also be used by NYCC staff who support settings to review individual setting’s arrangements.

All information is correct at time of going to print April 2016

Notes/ Guidance / Is this in place?
Y/N/Partly / Action required by :
(name and date) / Date completed
1 / Does the setting have a clear and effective written safeguarding children policy and procedure?
Is there evidence that the policy is fully implementedand that staff fulfil their responsibilities in meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the EYFS?
Is children’s safety and safeguarding central to everything practitioners do?
Is the policy implemented consistently to ensure that all staff take individual and collective responsibility to create an environment that is welcoming safe and stimulating? / This should be in line with North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Boards’ guidance and procedures.
Settings may find it helpful to use the NYCC, or PLA policy guidance as a template for formulating their written policy.
The policy should be reviewed at least annually.
The setting should have measures in place to ensure that a culture of safeguarding is embedded, promoted and understood and haveeffective systems to monitor that the safeguarding policy is effectively implemented.
Children should know that they can share concerns with any adults at the setting and their behaviour should show that they feel safe
2 / Does the policy include procedures for dealing with allegations against practitioners, volunteers and others working in or on behalf of the setting? Is there evidence that all staff understand these procedures? / The policy should include procedures to be followed where there are allegations of harm or abuse against persons working or looking after children at the premises, irrespective of whether the alleged incidents took place on the premises or elsewhere. SeeSection 10 NYSCB procedures.
Registered providers must inform Ofsted or their childminder agency of any allegations of serious harm or abuse by any person living, working, or looking after children at the premises (whether the allegations relate to harm or abuse committed on the premises or elsewhere). Registered providers must also notify Ofsted or their childminder agency of the action taken in respect of the allegations. These notifications must be made as soon as is reasonably practicable, but at the latest within 14 days of the allegations being made. A registered provider who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with this requirement, commits an offence.
They must also follow the NYSCB procedures and inform the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) without delay.
3 / Does the policy include procedures to be followed with regard to any abuse that may have taken place on the premises? / All providers must inform Ofsted without delay of such matters, and of the actions taken, failure to do so without reasonable excuse is a criminal offence.
They must also follow the NYSCB procedures and inform Children and Families Service(CFS)/ Police without delay.
4 / Does the policy include procedures to be followed regarding concerns that a child may be suffering abuse or neglect? / All matters should be reported to the designated practitioner with lead responsibility for safeguarding children within the setting and, where appropriate a referral made, to CFS and the police.
A referral should always be made where there are concerns about significant harm, including where the child is already an open case to CFS. e.g. a Looked After Child.
The policy should also make reference to external avenues for notifying concerns, links to the use of whistle blowing procedures and also to escalation procedures ref NYSCB procedures
5 / Does the policy cover the use of mobile phones, videos, tablets cameras and other equipment with capacity to record images?
Does the policy cover arrangements for parents visitors and staff? / The policy should set out the setting’s arrangements for use of equipment and the taking, storing and use of images of children
SeeNYCC Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedure Guidance for Early Years Providers April 2016
6 / Does the policy clearly set out arrangements for record keeping, information sharing and confidentiality? / All staff should be made aware of the need to maintain clear, objective and accurate records.
There should be clear arrangements for both child protection records and for records relating to other welfare concerns. See NYCC Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedure Guidance for Early Years Providers April 2016 and Welfare Files Guidance Appendix C
The policy should include confidentiality requirements, reference to The Data Protection Act and that failure to comply with this may be a criminal offence.
7 / Does the policy refer to the statutory duty to prevent radicalisation? / All staff should be made aware of the statutory requirements of the Prevent Duty:
8 / Does the policy have links to other policies and practices relating to welfare arrangements? / These include: teaching and learning; rights and entitlements; equality of opportunity; meeting individual needs; behaviour management and physical intervention; bullying; children not collected; children who go missing; confidentiality; records; intimate care; illness and injuries; administering medicines; accidents and incidents; food and drink; staffing ratios; safety and security of premises ; suitable premises, environment and equipment; outings; information to parents; recruitment; concerns and complaints; whistle blowing; disciplinary procedure; use of mobile phones/cameras/images; acceptable use of ICT and e-technology; safe working practice.
9 / Are all practitioners, (including temporary staff, students and volunteers,) given a copy of the policy and procedure on induction? / There should be evidence of this e.g. a written record, signed by staff to confirm that they have read and understand the policy and procedures and know when and how to respond in a timely and appropriate way.
10 / Is the policy and procedure explained to and accessible to parents and carers? / There should be evidence of this e.g. policy available in reception area/ parents and carers asked to sign a statement on the admission form that they have seen policy / information on setting website or brochure?
11 / Has the setting designated a practitioner with lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, the Designated Lead Practitioner (DLP)?
Has the setting appointed a Deputy DLP? / The person appointed as DLP should be someone who has made a positive commitment to undertaking this role and they should be sufficiently senior, experienced and trained to fulfil the demands of the role which will include: providing safeguarding induction and on-going support, advice and guidance to staff; decision making with regard to risk; making referrals to CFS and police; talking to parents about concerns; liaison with other agencies, services and the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board; undertaking single agency and contributing to multi agency assessments; attendance and decision making at multi-agency child protection meetings and contributing to arrangements to safeguard children as part of a Child In Need or Child Protection plan.
Ordinarily the Deputy DLP would not need to attend multi agency meetings therefore does not need to attend training. However for long term sickness / absences the Deputy DLP will need to attend level 2 training without delay.
12 / Does the DLP undertake appropriate training in child protection and safeguarding to fulfil their role? / The DLP must attend multi-agency training that enables them to take the lead for safeguarding and child protection in the setting and to identify, understand and respond appropriately to possible signs of abuse and neglect. DLPs should undertake a minimum of level 1 and 2 NYSCB trainingand undertake regular updates.
13 / Does the DLP undertake refresher training at a minimum of three yearly intervals, to keep his/her knowledge and skills up to date? / Regular supervision and appraisals should identify the training and professional development needs of the DLP and identify courses required to provide them with an up to date knowledge, recent guidance.
and specific issues.
14 / Do all setting practitioners have an up to date knowledge andunderstanding of safeguarding and are they able to implement the setting’s policy and procedures appropriately? / All practitioners should be able to recognise and respond appropriately to possible signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect including: significant changes in behaviour, deterioration in a child’s wellbeing, unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect; suspicious injuries; comments children or others make which give cause for concern; inappropriate behaviour by staff e.g. inappropriate sexual comments; excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities, or inappropriate sharing of images.
15 / Is there evidence that all staff receive induction training in child protection and safeguarding and refresher training every three years?
Is there evidence that safeguarding is a key component at all staff meetings, staff appraisals and supervision? / All staff should have appropriate qualifications, training, skills, knowledge and a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities in order to undertake their work.
Induction training must include: emergency evacuation procedures; safeguarding; child protection; equality; behaviour management; health and safety.
Regular appraisals should identify staff training and development needs.
All practitioners should undertake a minimum of level 1 child protection training.
A record of the completion of induction training, and that appropriate policies and procedures have been read and understood, should be kept on the individual’s personnel file.
16 / Are appropriate records kept on children who attend the setting? / Personal information should be held on all children in line with the documentation requirements in the Statutory Framework. Additional data should be gathered to promote the safety and welfare of children: GP details; any court orders in relation to the child; details of persons with parental responsibility; persons authorised to collect the child; any specific medical needs or allergies.
Child protection records should include detail of all significant contacts with parents, carers, other agencies/professionals and of all concerns, discussions, agreements made and actions taken. They should be timed, dated, state the name and designation of any person spoken to and there should be arrangements in place for monitoring and review of the records.
Records relating to confidential child protection matters should be separate from the child’s main file, locked away and only accessible to the DLP/setting manager.
All staff should be aware of the need to protect the privacy of children in their care and that information should be handled in a way that ensures confidentiality.
Records should be shared with those who have a professional need to see them. Parents/carers should be provided with access to records about their child unless exemptions to disclosure under the 1998 Data Protection Act apply i.e. information which might cause serious harm to the physical or mental health of the pupil or another individual; or cases where the disclosure would reveal a child is at risk of abuse
17 / Are child protection records forwarded to other settings/ the school when the child moves? / Settings should ensure that, when a child moves, any records relating to child protection are passed on, under separate cover, addressed to the setting or school’s designated person for child protection. It is good practice for the setting to keep the original copies and to provide photocopies for the new setting.
18 / Does the setting ensure that children are aware of behaviour towards them that is unacceptable and who they can tell if they have are unhappy or concerned?
Are children taught how to keep themselves safe and encouraged to adopt safe and sensible practices? / Positive experiences of children in the setting, the modelling behaviour of staff and the use of teaching and learning materials can all help children understand what is and is not acceptable. They can help children to feel secure and able to express their views and preferences, give them the skills to take responsibility for their own and other’s safety and give them the courage and confidence to tell adults if they are unhappy or if someone is doing something to them that they do not like. Children should be made aware that they can speak about concerns or worries with anyone of their choice whom they trust, both within and outside the setting.
Settings can enable children to be protected from abuse and neglect when they help them to: understand their world; make choices; express themselves and their feelings; ask for help; understand appropriate behaviour; keep themselves safe.
Settings should consider how to seek the views of children and ensure that the ‘child’s voice’ is heard in matters regarding their care. They might also have posters, displays and helpline numbers on show.
19 / Does the setting work in partnership with parents? / Parents should be informed and consulted in all matters relating to their child’s welfare. Only in exceptional circumstances should referrals be made to Children and Families Service without parents knowledge and consent,(see NYSCB procedures.) Research confirms that best outcomes for children are achieved by positive, open and honest communication and partnership work with parents.
20 / Does the setting remedy, without delay, any deficiencies or weaknesses regarding safeguarding and child protection arrangements? / This checklist may assist the setting in identifying any issues to be addressed and provide evidence of safeguarding measures for Ofsted inspection.
It will also be used by NYCC staff who support the setting in order that the Local Authority can monitor the effectiveness of the setting’s safeguarding arrangements.