Online Privacy

Early years services

'Working together to safeguard children' (March 2010) states that "All early years and childcare providers, regardless of type, size or funding of the setting, must:

• take necessary steps to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
• promote the good health of children,take necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection, and take appropriate action when they are ill
• manage children’s behaviour effectively and in a manner appropriate for their stage of development and particular individual needs
• ensure that adults looking after children, or having unsupervised access to them,are suitable to do so."

Access a copy of 'Working together to safeguard children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children'

The welfare requirements for safeguarding are set out in detail in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Draft policies to support Early Years and Childcare providers in developing individual safeguarding policies and procedures:

• Model Safeguarding policy for childminders (95KB - pdf help) (updated Nov 11) Word Version
• Model Safeguarding Policy for settings (72KB - pdf help) (Updated Nov 11) Word Version
• Safeguarding policy checklist (42KB - pdf help) (April 2011)
• Model safeguarding file (new Nov 11)
• Ofsted's Whistleblowing hotline
• Guidance to writing a whistleblowing policy (198KB - pdf help)

Safeguarding self audit

This is an audit tool to help Early Years and Childcare Settings make sure that they are meeting the statutory duties. It will help to make sure gaps are identified and plans put in place to help safeguard children. The form can be completed and submitted on line or printed and completed by hand and returned to your Early Years and Childcare Adviser.

• Safeguarding self audit form (371KB - pdf help)
• Action plan to accompany self audit tool (4KB - pdf help)

For advice on providing a safe environment for early years and childcare provision please refer to further information for childcare providers.

Further advice about safer recruitment can be found in our Staffing Matters document on the Recruitment pages.

If you have concerns about the welfare of a child:

What to do if you are worried a child is being abused

Flowchart-What to do if you are worried a child is being abused

MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Board)- website

• Mash Leaflet including contact details (81KB - pdf help)
• Blueprint Poster (117KB - pdf help)
• Flowchart (182KB - pdf help)
• Risk Assessment Poster (118KB - pdf help)
• MASH information for parents (Updated December 2011)
• Be on the safe side leaflet

Information sharing can be a complex area to deal with, the following resources are available to help you:

• Guidance on Sharing Safeguarding Information at Transition (47KB - pdf help)
• Golden Rules for multi-agency working
• Information sharing
• Seven Golden for information sharing

Useful links:

Devon County Council's children and young people's services - Child Protection

cyps-newsmatrix-onlinesafety-apr11 (online safety)

Safer recruitment training: www.devonchildrenstrust.org.uk/cpdonline Select E Learning and then type safer recruitment into the keyword search. If you then click request a place it directs you the the training provider via the Department Of Education (DofE) website.

Online safety - A toolkit for early years settings

Safeguarding E-Learning training (114KB - pdf help)

Safenetwork (Safe activities for everyone)

Devon Safeguarding Children Board

South West Child Protection Procedures

Supply cover form for Inter-Agency Child Protection Group 3 Training (82KB - pdf help)

Why is it important to know about Domestic Abuse?  Did you know that an analysis of serious case reviews found evidence of past or present domestic violence present in over 53% of cases.(page 263, Working Together to Safeguard Children March 2010).  Domestic violence and abuse

Devon Early Years and Childcare staff adhere to the the following safeguarding policy (58KB - pdf help)