Statement of Intent

  Our pre-school 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:

1. promoting children's right to be strong, resilient and listened to by creating an environment in our setting that encourages children to develop a positive self image, which includes their heritage arising from their colour and ethnicity, their languages spoken at home, their religious beliefs, cultural traditions and home background;
2. promoting children's right to be strong, resilient and listened to by encouraging children to develop a sense of autonomy and independence;
3. promoting children's right to be strong, resilient and listened to by enabling children to have the self confidence and the vocabulary to resist inappropriate approaches;
4. helping children to establish and sustain satisfying relationships within their families, with peers, and with other adults; and
5. working with parents to build their understanding of and commitment to the principles of safeguarding all our children.

  The legal framework for this work is:

• Primary legislation
• The Children Act 1989 - s 47
• The Protection of Children Act 1999
• Data Protection Act 1998
• The Children Act 2004 (Every Child Matters)
• The Children (NI) Order
• The Children (Scotland) Order
• Guidance
• What to Do if You are Worried a Child is Being Abused (2004)
• The Framework for the Assessment of children in Need and Their Families (2000)
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (revised 1999)
T
• he Common Assessment Framework 2005
• Secondary Legislation
• Sexual Offences Act (2003)
• Criminal Justice and Court Services Act (2000)
• Human Rights Act (1999)
• Race Relations (Amendment) Act (2000)
• Race Relations (Amendment )Act (1976) Regulations
• Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

  Liaison with other bodies

1. We work within the Area Safeguarding Children Committee guidelines.
2. We have a copy of Area Safeguarding Children Committee guidelines available for staff and parents to see.
3. We have procedures for contacting the local authority on child protection issues, including maintaining a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of social workers, to ensure that it is easy, in any emergency, for the setting and social services to work well together.
4. We notify the registration authority (Ofsted) of any incident or accident and any changes in our arrangements which may affect the well-being of children.
5. Details of the local National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) contacts are also kept.
6. If a report is made to the authorities, we act within the Area Safeguarding Children and Child Protection guidance in deciding whether we must inform the child's parents at the same time.

  Methods

  Staffing and volunteering

1. Our named person who co-ordinates child protection issues is Sue Herbert
2. We provide adequate and appropriate staffing resources to meet the needs of children.
3. Applicants for posts within our pre-school are clearly informed that the positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
4. Candidates are informed of the need to carry out checks before posts can be confirmed.
5. Where applications are rejected because of information that has been disclosed, applicants have the right to know and to challenge incorrect information.
6. We abide by Ofsted requirements in respect of references and police checks for staff and volunteers, to ensure that no disqualified person or unsuitable person works at the pre-school or has access to the children.
7. Volunteers do not work unsupervised.
8. 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 have lead to dismissal for reasons of child protection concern.
9. We have procedures for recording the details of visitors to the setting.
10. We take security steps to ensure that we have control over who comes into the setting so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children.

  Method

  Responding to suspicions of abuse

1. We acknowledge that abuse of children can take different forms - physical, emotional, and sexual as well as neglect.
2. When children are suffering from physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or may be experiencing neglect, this may be demonstrated through the things they say (direct or indirect disclosure) or through changes in their appearance, their behaviour, or their play.
3. Where such evidence is apparent, the child's key person makes a dated record of the details of the concern and discusses what to do with the setting leader or manager who is acting as the 'designated person'. The information is stored on the child's personal file.
4. Staff in the setting take care not to influence the outcome either through the way they speak to children or by asking questions of children.

  Allegations against staff

1. We ensure that all parents know how to complain about staff or volunteer action within the pre-school, which may include an allegation of abuse.
2. We follow the guidance of the Area Safeguarding Children Committee when responding to any complaint that a member of staff or volunteer has abused a child.
3. We respond to any disclosure by children or staff that abuse by a member of staff may have taken, or is taking place, by first recording the details of any such alleged incident.
4. We refer any such complaint immediately to the local authority's social service department to investigate.
5. We co-operate entirely with any investigation carried out by social services in conjunction with the police.
6. Our policy is to suspend the member of staff on full pay for the duration of the investigation; this is not an indication of admission that the alleged incident has taken place, but is to protect the staff as well as children and families throughout the process.

  Disciplinary Action

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

  Method

  Training

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

  Planning

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

  Curriculum

1. We introduce key elements of child protection into our foundation stage curriculum, so that children can develop understanding of why and how to keep safe.
2. We create within the pre-school a culture of value and respect for the individual.
3. We ensure that this is carried out in a way that is appropriate for the ages and stages of our children.

  Disclosures

Where a child makes a disclosure to a member of staff, that member of staff:

1. offers reassurance to the child;
2. listens to the child; and
3. gives reassurance that she or he will take action.

The member of staff does not question the child.

  Recording suspicions of abuse and disclosures

Staff make a record of:

1. The child's name;
2. The child's address;
3. The age of the child;
4. The date and time of the observation or the disclosure;
5. An objective record of the observation or disclosure;
6. The exact words spoken by the child as far as possible;
7. The name of the person to whom the concern was reported, with date and time; and
8. The names of any other person present at the time.

These records are signed and dated and kept in a separate confidential file. All members of staff know the procedures for recording and reporting.

  Informing parents

Parents 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 local Area Safeguarding Children Committee 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 Area Safeguarding Children Committee.

  Support to families

1. The pre-school takes every step in its power to build up trusting and supportive relationships with families, staff and volunteers in the group.
2. The pre-school makes clear to parents its role and responsibilities in relation to Child Protection, such as for the reporting of concerns, providing information, monitoring of the child, and liaising at all times with the local social services department.
3. The setting continues to welcome the child and the family whilst investigations are being made in relation to any alleged abuse.
4. We follow the Child Protection Plan as set by the social services department in relation to the pre-schools designated role and tasks in supporting the child and the family, subsequent to any investigation.
5. Confidential records kept on a child are shared with the child's parents or those who have parental responsibility for the child in accordance with the procedure and only if appropriate under the guidance of the Area Safeguarding Children Committee.
6. With the proviso that the care and safety of the child is paramount, we do all in our power to support and work with the childs family.