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Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy

Introduction

At The Wonder Years, we work with children, parents, external agencies and the community to ensure the welfare and safety of children.  To give the children the very best start in life knowing that they have the right to be treated with respect, to be helped to thrive and to be safe from any abuse in whatever form.

We support the children within our care, protect them from maltreatment and have robust procedures in place to prevent the impairment of children’s health and development. In our setting we also strive to protect children from the risk of radicalisation and we promote understanding, acceptance and tolerance of other beliefs and cultures.

In order to understand our safeguarding procedures in full, this document should be used in conjunction with the setting’s other policies and procedures. In particular, please refer to:

It should also be read in tandem with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1181955/Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2023.pdf

Recognising Child Abuse

Child abuse manifests itself in a variety of different ways, some overt and others much less so. All staff will have (at least) basic Safeguarding training (upon induction) and will be vigilant to signs and evidence abuse:

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is illegal in England and Wales under the FGM Act 2003. It is a form of child abuse and violence against women. FGM comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

Staff understand their mandatory duty to report to police any case where an act of FGM appears to have been carried out on a girl under the age of 18. Further information can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/573782/FGM_Mandatory_Reporting_-_procedural_information_nov16_FINAL.pdf

Upon induction, staff carry out a basic FGM online training course, to support their knowledge and understanding of the form of abuse. The online training used is: https://www.virtual-college.co.uk/resources/free-courses/recognising-and-preventing-fgm

The Prevent Duty

From 1 July 2015 all schools, registered early years childcare providers and registered later years childcare providers are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent duty.

Staff understand their mandatory duty to report any concerns that a child may be being radicalised. Further information can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1182780/14.258_HO_Prevent_Duty_Guidance_v5c.pdf

Upon induction, staff carry out the online  Prevent training course, to support their knowledge and understanding. The online training used is: https://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk/edu/screen1.html

Abuse and safeguarding issues are rarely standalone events that can be covered by one definition or label. In most cases, multiple issues will overlap with one another and could include more than one specific safeguarding issue, such as:

Procedures

The Wonder Years acknowledges that all members of the organisation should work together to effectively safeguard children. In addition to this, The Wonder Years appoints a member of staff as the Designated Safeguarding Officer. This Officer has suitable experience, training and expertise (i.e. Level 2 or higher in Safeguarding), and is responsible for liaising with social services, the Area Safeguarding Committee and Ofsted in any Safeguarding matter. The Wonder Years’ Designated Safeguarding Officer is Brydie Fox (Manager)/Michelle French (Acting Manager). There is also a designated safeguarding lead on the Management Committee separate from the Committee Chair. The current Safeguarding lead on committee is Tammy Ferguson

All staff complete their basic online Safeguarding training upon induction. Selected staff members, including the manager and deputy, will also attend an advanced course in Working Together to Safeguard Children along with the Committee representative(s). In case the manager and deputy are unable to be contacted (for reasons such as training or sickness), there is an appropriate level of adequately trained staff to act in their absence.

The Wonder Years’ Safeguarding procedures comply with all relevant legislation and other guidance or advice from the CYSCB.

The Wonder Years is committed to reviewing its Safeguarding policy and procedures at regular intervals. The policy and its procedures will be shared with parents/carers during their child’s settling in period.

Staff Support and Training

The Wonder Years is committed to ensuring that it meets its responsibilities in respect of Safeguarding through the provision of support and training to staff. Therefore, the setting ensures that:

Safe Caring

Every effort will be made to avoid or minimise time when members of staff, students or volunteers are left alone with a child. If staff find themselves alone with a child, the door of the room should be kept open and another member of staff should be informed. One-to-one activities may be carried out with the door closed if a member of staff feels it necessary according to the individual child’s needs, but other staff should be informed and sessions should be recorded effectively.

If a child makes inappropriate physical contact with a member of staff, students or volunteer, this will be recorded fully on an Incident Form.

Staff will never carry out a personal task for children that they can do for themselves. Where possible (according to staff ratios), staff will offer support to a child whilst being accompanied by a colleague. Unless a child has a particular need, staff should not accompany children into the toilet. Staff should be aware that this and other similar activities could be misconstrued. When assisting a child in the toilet another member of staff must be informed.

Staff will be mindful of how and where they touch children, given their age and emotional understanding. Unnecessary or potentially inappropriate physical contact will be avoided at all times.

Any allegations made by a child against a member of staff will be fully recorded, including any actions taken, on an Incident Form. In the event of there being a witness to an incident, they should sign the records to confirm this.

Dealing With Allegations

The Wonder Years is committed to ensuring that it meets its responsibilities in respect of safeguarding by treating any allegation seriously and sensitively. The setting will not carry out any investigation itself into a suspected child abuse incident. On discovering an allegation of abuse, the Safeguarding Officer will immediately refer the case to the local statutory safeguarding agencies and Ofsted within 14 days if an allegation is against a member of staff or committee member.

Referring Allegations to Safeguarding Agencies

If the Manager/Acting Manager or the Safeguarding Officer has reasonable grounds for believing that a child has been – or is in grave danger of being – subject to abuse, the following procedure will be activated:

In the case of allegations or concerns about children or families, contact should be made with Children’s Social Care via the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) – Tel: 01904 551900; Email: MASH@york.gov.uk

In the case of allegations or concerns about staff members or volunteers, the Local Authority has a designated officer (LADO) to:

The LADO can be contacted through: Tel: 01904 551783  Email: lado@york.gov.uk

Where appropriate, a referral should be sent to the Local Authority Designated Officer using the LADO Referral Form (found here- https://www.saferchildrenyork.org.uk/allegations-against-childcare-professionals-and-volunteers.htm), giving as much detail as possible, and following recommended timeframes.

Suspected or reported cases of abuse

Disclosures from children

In circumstances where a child makes an allegation or a disclosure, the member of staff concerned will:

  1. Listen fully to what the child has to say.
  2. Make no observable judgement.
  3. Ask open questions that encourage the child to feel free to speak in their own words.
  4. Ensure the child is safe, comfortable and not left alone.
  5. Make no promises that cannot be kept; such as promising not to tell anybody what they are being told.

Staff will be made aware of the Department of Health’s booklet ‘What to do if You’re Worried A Child Is Being Abused?’ (2003), and its recent guidance on ‘Protecting Children from Harm’.

Allegations against staff members

Attachments

Managing Allegations Referral Form May 2023.doc

Legal framework

Primary legislation

Secondary Legislation

Further Guidance