Safeguarding Children Policy

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January 2024

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Key contact personnel in the setting
Designated Safeguarding Leads: Ibadete Sejdijaj
Contact person in their absence: Riemiaya Graham
Contact details for Education Safeguarding Team and LADO:
Haringey Social Services- 020 8489 4470
Urgent Child Protection, out of hours- 020 8489 0000
Area Safeguarding Adviser – Melanie Widnall - 03000412284
LADO – Liz Best - Allegations against staff- 020 8489 2968/1186 or
email  LADO@haringey.gov.uk
All staff should have access to this policy and sign to the effect that they have read and
understood its content.

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All staff should have access to this policy and sign to the effect that they have read and
understood its content.

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INTRODUCTION

Little Crickets Ltd Safeguarding Children policy has been developed in accordance with the
principles established by the Children Acts 1989 and 2004 and related guidance. This includes;
 The Early Years Foundation Stage (2021)
 DfE guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education (2015)
 Working Together to Safeguard Children (2015)
 Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (2000)
 Haringey Online Safeguarding Children Procedures (2015)

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WHAT IS SAFEGUARDING?

Working Together to Safeguard Children (2015) defines safeguarding children as; ‘the action we
take to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm’, including;
 protecting children from maltreatment;
 preventing impairment of children's health or development;
 ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe
and effective care; and
 Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

It also reminds us that safeguarding “is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into
contact with children and families has a role to play.”

(WTSC 2015 page 9)

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ETHOS

‘Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their
potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and
age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is
important in its own right.’ (EYFS 2014 p5)

Little Crickets considers all those directly involved with our setting have an essential role to play
in making it safe and secure. Our setting aims to create the safest environment within which
every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential and we take seriously our
responsibility to promote the welfare and safeguard all the children and young people entrusted
to our care.

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As part of the ethos of the setting we are committed to:

 Maintaining children’s welfare as our paramount concern;
 Providing an environment in which children feel safe, secure, valued and respected,
confident to talk openly and sure of being listened to;
 Providing suitable support and guidance so that children have a range of appropriate
adults who they feel confident to approach if they are in difficulties;

 Using learning at the setting to provide opportunities for increasing self awareness, self
esteem assertiveness and decision making. This is so that young children have a range of
contacts and strategies to ensure their own protection and understand the importance
of protecting others;
 Working with parents to build an understanding of the setting’s responsibility to ensure
the welfare of all children including the need for referral to other agencies in some
situations;
 Ensuring all staff have regular training and are able to recognise the signs and symptoms
of abuse and are aware of the setting’s procedures and lines of communication;
 Monitoring children who have been identified as ‘in need’ including the need for
protection, keeping confidential records which are stored securely and shared
appropriately with other professionals.

 Developing effective and supportive liaison with other agencies.

Little Crickets Ltd adheres to the LSCB Safeguarding Children Procedures. The full LSCB
procedures document and additional guidance relating to specific safeguarding issues can be
found on the LSCB website

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RESPONSIBILITIES

All staff

The EYFS 2021 requires providers ‘to take all necessary steps to keep children safe and well’’ and
accordingly, everyone involved in the care of young children has a role to play in their protection.
Any member of staff in the Little Crickets Ltd is part of the wider safeguarding system for
children and is in a unique position to observe any changes in a child’s behaviour or appearance.
All staff have a responsibility to identify children who may be in need of extra help or who are
suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm. All staff then have a duty of care to take
appropriate action, working with other services as needed.

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The Early Years Designated Person (EYDP)

The EYFS 2021 states; ‘a practitioner must be designated to take lead responsibility for
safeguarding children in every setting’; The proprietor of Little Crickets Ltd whose responsibility
it is to ensure all legal requirements are met, has/have appointed an appropriately qualified and
experienced Early Years Designated Person (EYDP) to fulfil this role in our setting. Additionally,
they are committed to ensuring the EYDP is properly supported in being able to carry out this
role fully, including providing them with appropriate time and resources away from other job
commitments.

 

The EYDP has overall responsibility for the day to day oversight of safeguarding and child
protection systems in the setting. These responsibilities include;

 Liaising with other professionals in all agencies, including social services, police and
health colleagues;
 Keeping appraised of any updates in policy and practice as agreed by Haringey
Safeguarding Children Board (via the Education Safeguarding Team);
 Being a source of support, advice and guidance to any other setting staff, both paid and
voluntary. This is on an ongoing basis and on any specific safeguarding issue as required;
 Co-ordinating child protection action within the setting, including making referrals as
necessary and maintaining a confidential recording system;
 Ensuring all staff, visitors and volunteers are aware of the setting policies and procedures
and their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children;

 Ensuring all staff, both paid and voluntary, have received appropriate and up to date
child protection training at least every 2 years (as stipulated by the LSCB)
 Ensuring their training is kept up to date by attending appropriate designated person
training every 2 years (as stipulated by the LSCB)
 Representing or ensuring the setting is represented, by an appropriate senior member of
staff, at inter-agency meetings in particular Strategy Discussions, Child Protection
Conferences and core groups;
 Managing and monitoring the setting’s part in child in need and child protection plans

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The welfare and safety of children, however, are the responsibility of all staff in the setting and
ANY concern for a child’s welfare MUST be reported to the EYDP.

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SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES

Little Crickets Ltd adheres to the LSCB Safeguarding Children Procedures (2014). The full LSCB
procedures document and additional guidance relating to specific safeguarding issues can be
found on the LSCB website http://www.haringeylscb.org/

It is the responsibility of the EYDP to receive and collate information regarding individual
children, to make immediate and on-going assessments of potential risk and to decide actions
necessary (with parents / carers in most cases). This includes the need to make referrals to
partner agencies and services. To help with this decision s/he may choose to consult with the
Area Education Safeguarding Adviser. Advice may also be sought from the Early Help
Coordination Team or Specialist Children’s Services (SCS) Duty Social Workers who offer
opportunities for consultation as part of the Child in Need / Child Protection process.

Issues discussed during consultations may include the urgency and gravity of the concerns for a
child or young person and the extent to which parents/carers are made aware of these.

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New referrals to Services will be made using the agreed process i.e. the Early Help Notification
form or inter-agency referral form for referrals to SCS. These will be made with reference to the
Kent Interagency Threshold Criteria for Children in Need. In situations where there are felt to be
urgent or grave concerns, a telephone referral will be made prior to the form being completed
and sent to the County Duty Team. Concerns for children who are already known to Services will
be passed to the allocated worker / Team.

In all but the most exceptional circumstances, parents /carers will be made aware of the
concerns felt for a child or young person at the earliest possible stage. In the event of a referral
to Specialist Children’s Services being necessary, parents/carers will be informed and consent
to this will be sought unless there is a valid reason not to do so.

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On occasion, staff may pass information about a child to the EYDP, but remain anxious about
action subsequently taken. Staff should feel able to clarify with the EYDP further progress, so
that they can reassure themselves the child is safe and their welfare is being considered. If
following this process, the staff member remains concerned that appropriate action is not being
taken, it is the responsibility of that staff member to seek further direct consultation from either
a member of the Education Safeguards Team or the local Specialist Children’s Services Team who
will be able to discuss the concern and advise on appropriate action to be taken.

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RECOGNITION AND CATEGORIES OF ABUSE:

 

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015 defines ‘abuse’ as ‘a form of maltreatment of a
child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent
harm.”

All staff should be aware of the definitions and signs and symptoms of abuse. There are four
categories of abuse:

 Physical abuse
 Sexual abuse
 Emotional abuse
 Neglect

The most up to date definitions and possible indicators and signs of abuse are found in Appendix
1 of this document. This also includes information on currents safeguarding priorities relating to
female genital mutilation, child sexual exploitation and the Prevent strategy.

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Staff should refer to What to do if you are worried a child is being abused which says:

“Staff need to remember that child welfare concerns may arise in many different contexts, and
can vary greatly in terms of their nature and seriousness. Children may be abused in a family or
in an institutional or community setting, by those known to them or by a stranger, including, via
the internet. In the case of female genital mutilation, children may be taken out of the country to
be abused. They may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children. An abused
child will often experience more than one type of abuse, as well as other difficulties in their lives.
Abuse and neglect can happen over a period of time, but can also be a one-off event. Child abuse
and neglect can have major long-term impacts on all aspects of a child's health, development
and well-being.

The warning signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect can vary from child to child. Disabled
children may be especially vulnerable to abuse, including because they may have an impaired
capacity to resist or avoid abuse. They may have speech, language and communication needs
which may make it difficult to tell others what is happening. Children also develop and mature at
different rates so what appears to be worrying for a younger child might be normal behaviour for
an older child. Parental behaviours may also indicate child abuse or neglect, so staff should also
be alert to parent-child interactions which are concerning and other parental behaviours. This
could include parents who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol or if there is a sudden
change in their mental health. By understanding the warning signs, we can respond to problems
as early as possible and provide the right support and services for the child and their family. It is
important to recognise that a warning sign doesn’t automatically mean a child is being abused.”

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INDUCTION AND TRAINING

All setting staff, both paid and voluntary, will be expected to undertake an appropriate level of
safeguarding training. Advice on appropriate training courses will be sought from the LSCB, but
any training should ensure staff have an up to date knowledge of safeguarding issues. This will
enable staff to identify signs of possible abuse and neglect at the earliest opportunity and to
respond in a timely and appropriate way. It should also include an understanding of the setting’s
own safeguarding policy and procedures including the action to be taken in the event of
inappropriate behaviour displayed by other members of staff, or any other person working with
the children.

The proprietor/trustees/committee will ensure the EYDP(s) attend the required EYDP
safeguarding training when they first take up the role and that they continue to update their
knowledge on an on-going basis and at least every 2 years as required by LSCB guidance.

The EYDP will ensure that all new staff and volunteers are appropriately inducted in the setting’s
internal safeguarding procedures and communication lines. A summary information sheet is
available to be given to staff and volunteers to support this process.

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RECORD KEEPING

Staff must record any welfare concern that they have about a child on the Setting’s safeguarding
incident/concern form (with a body map where injuries have been observed) and pass this
without delay to the EYDP. Records must be completed as soon as possible after the
incident/event and must be signed and dated.
Incident/concern forms are kept in each playroom.

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Safeguarding records are kept separate from all other record relating to the child in the setting.
They are retained centrally and securely by the EYDP and are shared on a ‘need to know’ basis
only.

Detailed guidance on Record Keeping is found in a separate document “Early Years Record
Keeping Guidelines” – Staff MUST familiarise themselves with the responsibilities outlined in this
document.

All safeguarding records will be forwarded to a child’s subsequent setting or when they move to
school at transition. The records should be sent under confidential and separate cover to the
new EYDP or person with responsibility for child protection in the receiving school.

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CONFIDENTIALITY AND INFORMATION SHARING

We recognise that all matters relating to child protection are confidential. The EYDP will disclose
any information about a child to other members of staff on a need to know basis.

All staff must be aware that they have a professional responsibility to share information with
other agencies in order to safeguard children. All staff must be aware that they cannot promise a
child to keep secrets which might compromise the child’s safety or wellbeing. Further advice is
available in the document Information Sharing advice for safeguarding practitioners (2015).

“Child Protection - Dealing with Disclosures in Early Years Settings” provides advice on dealing
with disclosures.

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E-SAFETY

e-Safety (online safety) relates to the specific challenges and risks presented by new
technologies, including the internet, mobile phones and other devices, for children and young
people as well as adults, both within and outside of the setting.

Little Crickets will seek to create an appropriate balance between controlling access to the
internet and technology, setting rules and boundaries and educating children, parents/carers
and staff about safe and responsible use. This will include a range of practices including
undertaking appropriate risk assessments of technology, ensuring there is appropriate
supervision of children, providing safe and suitable equipment/tools for staff and children and
ensuring that there is up-to-date training/education in place for all members of the community
regarding online risks and responsibilities.

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Little Crickets is aware that children and staff cannot always be prevented from being exposed to
online risks and will therefore seek to empower and educate all members of the community so
that they are equipped with the skills to make safe and responsible decisions as well as to feel
able to report any concerns.

All members of staff will be made aware of the importance of good e-Safety practices in order to
educate and protect the children in their care. Members of staff will be made aware of the
professional risks associated with the use of electronic communication (e-mail; mobile phones;
texting; social network sites) and will be informed about how to manage their own professional
reputation online and demonstrate appropriate online behaviours compatible with their role.

Staff should familiarise themselves with advice and professional expectations outlined in
Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who Work with Children and Young People, the
setting’s e-Safety Policy and Acceptable Use Policy and the LSCB document: Safer Practice with
Technology – Guidance for Adults who Work with Children and Young People.

More detailed information can be found in the setting’s e-Safety policy which can be found in
the playrooms and reception and on the website.

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SUPERVISION AND SUPPORT:

The proprietor of Little Crickets recognise regular, planned and accountable supervision, which is
a two-way process, that offers support and develops the knowledge, skills and values of an individual,
group or team. We see its purpose is to monitor the progress of professional practice and to help
staff to improve the quality of the work they do, thus improving outcomes for children as well as
achieving agreed objectives. Supervision also provides an opportunity to discuss sensitive issues
including the safeguarding of children and any concerns raised about an individual or colleague’s
practice.

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All of our staff and volunteers are expected to have regular and planned supervision sessions.
Uninterrupted time will be set aside to ensure any supervision sessions effective for both
practitioner and management. Further guidance on supervision can be found in the Early Years
Supervision booklet.

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SUITABLE PEOPLE

Little Crickets is committed to ensuring all steps are taken to recruit staff and volunteers who are
safe to work with our children and have their welfare and protection as the highest priority. It
is the responsibility of the proprietor to ensure that effective systems are in place so that all staff
and volunteers are properly checked to make sure they are safe to work with the children who
attend our setting. We do not allow people, whose suitability has not been checked, including
through a Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) check, to have unsupervised contact with
children being cared for.

We advise all staff that they are expected to disclose any reason that may affect their suitability
to work with children including convictions, cautions and warnings. Additionally, we make all
staff aware that they may also be disqualified because they live in the same household as
another person who is disqualified.

Further information regarding disqualification of staff can be found on the DBS website.

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ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MEMBERS OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

Little Crickets recognises that it is possible for staff and volunteers to behave in a way that might
cause harm to children and takes seriously any allegation received. Such allegations should be
referred immediately to the EYDP who will first contact the Local Authority Designated Officer
(LADO) to agree further action to be taken in respect of the child and staff member.

In the event the allegation concerns the EYDP, should be contacted at
info@littlecricketsdaycare.co.uk or 020 8883 1394.

The Proprietor also ensure we meet our responsibilities under Section 35 of Safeguarding
Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. This includes the duty to make a referral to the Disclosure and
Barring Service where a member of staff is dismissed (or would have been, had the person not
left the setting first) because they have harmed a child or put a child at risk of harm.

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All staff need to be aware of the setting’s Whistle-blowing procedure and that it is a disciplinary
offence not to report concerns about the conduct of a colleague that could place a child at risk.

When in doubt – consult.

For specific guidance on how to respond to allegations against staff, please refer to the “Early
Years Allegations Against Staff Policy” which can be found in each playroom and reception and
www.holboroughdaynursery.co.uk

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MONITORING AND REVIEW

All setting staff and volunteers will have access to a copy of this policy and will have the
opportunity to consider and discuss the contents prior to approval of the
proprietor/trustees/committee being formally sought. The policy will also be available to
parents.

This policy has been written in September 2015 to reflect the new guidance and legislation
issued in relation to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare.

The policy forms part of our Setting development plan and will be reviewed annually.
All staff should have access to this policy and sign to the effect that they have read and
understood its contents.

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Setting Policies on Related Safeguarding Issues
(to be read and followed alongside this document)

 e-Safety Policy
 Mobile Phone, Camera and Social Networking Policy
 Behaviour Management Policy
 Early Years Allegations Against Staff Policy
 Health and Safety Policy
 Staffing and recruitment Policy
 Whistle-Blowing Policy
 Confidentiality Policy

Amend details according to individual setting documents and add any other relevant documents
to the list.

We would suggest that all associated documents are kept together in one accessible file –
several copies of which may be available in setting as appropriate.

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Appendix 1

Abuse: a form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting
harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. They may be abused by an adult or adults or another
child or children. It should be noted that abuse can be carried out by both men, women and
children.

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Sexual abuse: involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities,
not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is
happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for
example rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and
touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving
children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities,
encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in
preparation for abuse (including via the internet). Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult
males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

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Signs that MAY INDICATE Sexual Abuse

Sudden changes in behaviour and school performance
Displays of affection which are sexual and age inappropriate
Self harm, self mutilation or attempts at suicide
Alluding to secrets which they cannot reveal
Tendency to cling or need constant reassurance
Regression to younger behaviour for example thumb sucking, playing with discarded toys, acting
like a baby
Distrust of familiar adults. Anxiety of being left with relatives, a child minder or lodger
Unexplained gifts or money
Depression and withdrawal
Fear of undressing for PE
Sexually transmitted disease
Fire setting

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Physical abuse: a form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning
or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm
may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces,
illness in a child.

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Signs that MAY INDICATE physical abuse

Bruises and abrasions around the face
Damage or injury around the mouth
Bi-lateral injuries such as two bruised eyes
Bruising to soft area of the face such as the cheeks
Fingertip bruising to the front or back of torso
Bite marks
Burns or scalds (unusual patterns and spread of injuries)
Deep contact burns such as cigarette burns
Injuries suggesting beatings (strap marks, welts)
Covering arms and legs even when hot
Aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts.

Injuries need to be accounted for. Inadequate, inconsistent or excessively plausible explanations,
or a delay in seeking treatment should signal concern.
Emotional abuse: the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and
adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that
they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of
another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views,
deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate. It may
feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These
may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capability as well as
overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in
normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may
involve serious bullying (including cyberbullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened
or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is
involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, although it may occur alone.

 

Signs that MAY INDICATE emotional abuse

Over reaction to mistakes
Lack of self confidence/esteem
Sudden speech disorders
Self harming
Extremes of passivity and/or aggression
Compulsive stealing
Drug, alcohol, solvent abuse
Fear of parents being contacted
Unwillingness or inability to play
Excessive need for approval, attention and affection

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Neglect: the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely
to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur
during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may
involve a parent or carer failing to: provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including
exclusion from home or abandonment); protect a child from physical and emotional harm or
danger; ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers); or ensure
access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or
unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

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Signs that MAY INDICATE neglect.

Constant hunger
Poor personal hygiene
Constant tiredness
Inadequate clothing
Frequent lateness
Untreated medical problems
Poor relationship with peers
Compulsive stealing and scavenging
Rocking, hair twisting and thumb sucking
Running away
Loss of weight or being constantly underweight
Low self esteem

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Further information on Child Sexual Exploitation Child sexual exploitation (CSE) involves
exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where young people receive something (for
example food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, gifts, money or in some cases simply affection) as
a result of engaging in sexual activities. Sexual exploitation can take many forms ranging from
the seemingly ‘consensual’ relationship where sex is exchanged for affection or gifts, to serious
organised crime by gangs and groups. What marks out exploitation is an imbalance of power in
the relationship. The perpetrator always holds some kind of power over the victim which
increases as the exploitative relationship develops. Sexual exploitation involves varying degrees
of coercion, intimidation or enticement, including unwanted pressure from peers to have sex,
sexual bullying including cyberbullying and grooming. However, it also important to recognise
that some young people who are being sexually exploited do not exhibit any external signs of
this abuse.

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Further information on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM):

professionals in all agencies, and individuals and groups in relevant communities, need to be
alert to the possibility of a girl being at risk of FGM or already having suffered FGM. There is a
range of potential indicators that a child or young person may be at risk of FGM, which
individually may not indicate risk but if there are two or more indicators present this could signal
a risk to the child or young person. Victims of FGM are likely to come from a community that is
known to practise FGM. Professionals should note that girls at risk of FGM may not yet be aware
of the practice or that it may be conducted on them, so sensitivity should always be shown when
approaching the subject. Warning signs that FGM may be about to take place, or may have
already taken place, can be found on pages 16-17 of the Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines
referred to above. Staff should activate local safeguarding procedures, using existing national
and local protocols for multi-agency liaison with police and children’s social care.

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Further information on Preventing Radicalisation under The Counter-Terrorism and Security
Act: Identifying cases of pupils at risk of involvement in extremist behaviour
Exposure of children to extremist ideology can hinder their social development and educational
attainment alongside posing a very real risk that they could support or partake in an act of
violence. The radicalisation of young people can be compared to grooming for sexual exploitation.

Every member of staff at Little Crickets recognises that children exposed to radicalisation and
extremism is no different to safeguarding against any other vulnerability and should be
approached in the same way as protecting children from other risks.

All staff should complete an e-learning training package developed by The National Counter
Terrorism Policing Headquarters (NCTPHQ), in conjunction with the College of Policing which
includes guidance on how to identify people who may be vulnerable to being drawn into
terrorism, and how to refer them into the Channel process. The Designated Safeguarding Leads
should also have attended additional training which includes further information on the Prevent
Duty.

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Day Care Manager

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