At Woodcroft Pre-School & Wrap Around Care we acknowledge our pastoral responsibility towards the children and recognize that we have a fundamental right to be protected from harm. We believe that children need to feel secure to learn effectively.
We believe that it is the responsibility of all staff and volunteers to be vigilant regarding child protection. Their day-to-day contact with the children gives us a positive role, as we can observe outward signs of abuse, changes of behaviour or failure to develop.
At Woodcroft Pre-School & Wrap Around Care we all share a commitment to:
• Maintain a secure environment where children are listened to and valued.
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of suspected abuse.
• Work closely with parents and other agencies.
• Monitor children at risk.
• Ensure that all staff are aware of and understand child protection issues.
• Use the curriculum to raise children’s awareness and self-esteem and to build confidence.
To achieve this, we will:
• Designate senior members of staff to have responsibility for child protection and safeguarding in the Pre-School, the Designated Safeguarding Lead Officers
• Have clear procedures and lines of communication.
• Follow procedures in referring suspected cases of abuse.
• Monitor children at risk and liaise with other agencies.
• Contribute to prevention through teaching, which helps children to protect themselves.
All settings have an important part to play in helping parents care for their children. They work with parents during times of stress offering support and respite.
Most children are subject to minor accidental injuries, but there may be occasions when we are concerned about the nature or frequency of the injury or are concerned about the response’s children give.
Our first responsibility and priority at Woodcroft preschool & wrap around care are to the children in our care, and if we have any cause for concern, we will report it to the relevant body following the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership procedures as required by the Children’s Act 1989, the Early Years Foundation Stage, and the Childcare Register requirements (Early Years and Childcare Registration handbook). The local procedures are available for parents/guardians to see on Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership’s website. We keep up to date with legislation and guidance and have knowledge and regard for the following documents:
Regarding the Prevent Duty Guidance: for England and Wales and British Values 2015, updated 2019.
Childcarers “are subject to the duty to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. Being drawn into terrorism includes not just violent terrorism but also non-violent extremism, which can create an atmosphere conductive to terrorism and popularize views which terrorists exploit.” (page 11).
This means we are aware of the type of acts to look out for where adults and children may be drawn into terrorism and if we suspect this, we will inform the appropriate people. We are very aware that children are vulnerable and can be drawn into radicalization and terrorism. If we become aware of any signs and indicators we would contact the Prevent Duty Officer – Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321; or Hampshire Children’s Services on 0300 555 1384/Professional Line on 01329 225379 or email prevent.engagement@hampshire.pnn.police.uk. We are also aware of the Department for Education telephone helpline 020 7340 7264 if we have a concern. Concerns can also be raised by email to counter.extremism@education.gsi.gov.uk
Woodcroft preschool & wrap around care has a duty of care to the children to prevent this from happening and because of this we promote British Values. This is through activities covering Personal, Social and Emotional development and Understanding the World.
British values are: -
Woodcroft preschool & wrap around care recognizes and implements the UNCRC “Rights of the Child”. The articles that refer to Child Protection are: -
As a setting, Woodcroft preschool & wrap around care are aware of the signs and symptoms of child abuse; for example, Physical, Sexual, Emotional and Neglect; Domestic Abuse and Bullying, plus other types of abuse such as Female Genital Mutilation (FMG), Breast Ironing, online abuse, County Lines, Upskirting, etc.
Peer on peer abuse We recognise that children and young people can abuse their peers. Peer on peer abuse relates to situations such as sexual exploitation, gang violence, financial abuse, coercive control, and exploitative relationship in teenagers. We want all children to feel safe here and, as part of our commitment to keep them safe, we regularly observe children’s interactions and aim to be approachable, so they will speak to us if they are concerned about any aspects of their relationships with others. Parents can contact us at any mutually convenient time to discuss concerns children might raise at home.
To put the above into practice we:
Parents must notify us of any concerns they have about their child which could affect their behaviour, and any accidents, incidents or injuries affecting the child by calling on 02392595665 or contacting us via classdojo.
Unless we believe that it would put the child at risk of further harm, we will discuss concerns with the child’s parents if we notice:
We recognize the additional barriers that exist when recognizing the signs of abuse and neglect of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. We know that we must think abuse before Disability. We are also aware that a child’s behaviour, mood or injuries may be associated with abuse and should not be thought of as just ‘bad behaviour’.
If a child tells us that they or another child is being abused, we will:
Woodcroft preschool & wrap around care will call the local children’s services’ duty desk, Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership for advice and an assessment of the situation and/or complete the on-line referral form. We will follow this telephone call up with a letter/email to the duty team within 48 hours. We will record the concern in writing for our own documentation. The concern will then follow the procedures as set out within the Working Together to Safeguard Children document. If we have not heard back from children’s services within 72 hours, we will call back again and continue until we know action has been taken.
To protect the setting against allegations of abuse to include all persons on the premises we will:
If an allegation is made against Woodcroft preschool & wrap around care, or any other person within the premises we will report it to Ofsted and children’s services to the Local Authorities Designated Officer, following Hampshire’s Safeguarding Children Partnership procedures. This will be followed up in writing as soon as possible but at the latest within 14 days. We will also contact our insurance company for support and advice. A referral can now be made on the on-line referral form to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
If there is anyone in the setting or in any other childcare setting which we suspect is abusing a child, we will not hesitate to inform the Local Authorities Designated Officer and ‘whistle blow’. We will also call OFSTED. Staff know that anyone can abuse a child and are aware of how to Whistle blow on any member of Woodcroft preschool & wrap around care. Should a person leave the setting where they are no longer suitable to look after children, we will inform the Disclosure and Barring service.
In all instances, we will record:
It is not our responsibility to attempt to investigate the situation ourselves.
Safeguarding Policy Guidelines
Role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead Officer (DSLO)
• To act as the focal point for reference and advice to staff.
• To be the first line of discussion of reported concerns from staff.
• To liaise with and advise the manager on any matters in respect of reported or suspected abuse (where the DSLO is not the manager).
• To monitor any child where concerns have been raised, using the threshold to support findings of each individual child to achieve a full picture of the concerns raised. Making sure we record all information to create an effective chronology.
• Threshold to be highlighted and dated so we can support the family with the right stage of Early Help.
• To support families in need and give them the correct support and (identify their needs early on using the Threshold) from the following:
• Level 1 (Universal) All families and children where there are no specific needs
• Level 2 (Early Help) Families where there is a need for support, but this can be met within a specific setting e.g. pre-school or school, and by one single service or agency, i.e. a speech and language therapist providing advice and help
• Level 3 (Targeted Early Help) A family or child with many needs requiring more than one service or agency to be involved
• Level 4 (Statutory Social Care) A family or child with a high level of unmet and complex needs, and in need of children's social care intervention
• To monitor children on the ‘At risk register’.
• To provide training to all staff on procedures to be followed in cases of child abuse.
• To provide information to all staff on the identification of child abuse.
• To attend training as appropriate.
• To liaise with other agencies in the Local authority involved with child protection.
• To ensure that the correct procedures are followed.
Designated Safeguarding Lead Officers are:
Tracie Voysey
Claire Voysey
Jess Voysey
Emily Taylor
Jan Fieldson
The Manager is to be informed of all safeguarding within the setting.
Staff responsibility
All staff have a duty to report suspicion, concern of disclosures of abuse to children directly to the DSLO (or manager if she is not the DSLO).
Concerns or suspicions should be discussed with the DSLO. A decision will be made to report the matter to Social Services, or to monitor the matter internally. If a decision is made to monitor, the DSLO will decide the extent of this monitoring. Authority guidelines will be followed. If it is felt that adequate explanations for the changes in the child’s conditions have not been provided, the confidential records will be shared with the Social Services Department. Making a referral needs to be on an interagency referral form unless it constitutes an emergency or advice is needed, then the DSLO is advised to call children’s service. Once an Inter-agency referral form is completed a copy is retained for the child’s personal file. The child’s parents will be informed when this is done. Details will be kept of the registering authority, including names and addresses and telephone numbers of individual social workers, to facilitate a good relationship in an emergency. Details of the local NSPCC or other contacts will also be kept as appropriate.
The DSLO or Manager will report a disclosure or clear evidence of abuse directly to Social Services. If it is an emergency and the child is in immediate danger, the police will be informed and the support of Social Services be sought in order to protect the child.
If a child makes a disclosure of abuse to a member of staff it is important that you record this at the earliest opportunity (within 24 hours). If a child makes a disclosure of abuse, or through comment suggests that there may be abuse, this should be reported to the DSLO Immediately. The interview should be recorded in writing (preferably immediately or at the latest 24 hours).
NB. Care should be taken in questioning a child – refer to the DSLO. It is the role of the police and Social Services to investigate.
Remember:
The welfare of the child is paramount. Do not delay in making a referral if you are at all concerned.
Safeguarding through the curriculum
At Woodcroft Pre-School & Wrap Around Care we believe in providing learning that helps to promote the children’s welfare in a safe environment:
• The Pre-School will develop a personal, social program to raise children’s awareness and build self-esteem.
• Where and when possible, the pre-school will encourage the involvement of outside agencies such as the health service to support our curriculum. When an outside visitor/professional (for example, Speech and language therapist area inclusion, social worker, support worker etc.) attends the setting they will be accompanied by a staff member this is to protect the professional and the child from any form of allegation and to support the child with the unknown person talking to them. We see it as good practice to keep all parties who attend out setting to be supported in the correct way.
Emergency Phone Numbers:
Other useful numbers:
Child protection referral: