What does Safeguarding cover? 
It is never nice to consider that a child could be at risk from abuse, however, our team recognise that sadly, abuse does happen and it can happen to any child, anywhere.  
As such staff are vigilant for signs and symptoms of all forms of abuse.  Here are just some examples of areas which we have been trained to recognise and thus act in the child’s interest upon: 
•    Forms of abuse such as (but not limited to) physical, sexual, emotional, peer on peer, neglect
•    Domestic Abuse, Honour Based Abuse (HBA) and Forced Marriage
•    Looked After Children
•    Social networking
•    Mobile phone and electronic device use
•    Safe recruitment of staff
•    Disciplinary
•    Monitoring staff behaviour
•    Promoting positive behaviour
•    Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
•    Prevent Duty and Radicalisation
•    County lines
•    Child Sexual Exploitation

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To safeguard children and promote their welfare we will:
Staff at Sunflowers nursery have a duty to protect and promote the welfare of children and as such are vigilant in identifying signs of abuse and reporting concerns. We:
>Always listen to children

>Create an environment to encourage children to develop a positive self-image
>Provide positive role models and develop a safe culture where staff are confident to raise concerns about professional conduct
>Ensure all staff are able to identify the signs and indicators of abuse, including the softer signs of abuse, and know what action to take
>Encourage children to develop a sense of independence and autonomy in a way that is appropriate to their age and stage of development
>Provide a safe and secure environment for all children
>Promote tolerance and acceptance of different beliefs, cultures and communities
>Provide an environment where practitioners are confident to identify where children and families may need intervention and seek the help they need
>Share information with other agencies as appropriate.
>Are aware of the increased vulnerability of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), isolated families and vulnerabilities in families; including the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s).
>Ensure that all staff feel confident and supported to act in the best interest of the child;
>Make any child protection referrals in a timely way, sharing relevant information as necessary in line with procedures set out by the Worcestershire Local Authority.  Our first point of contact would be Worcestershire as that is the LA the Nursery is in however, as Sunflowers is on the boarders of 3 Local Authorities, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire and the children’s home address is on one of these 3 area we may also have to make contact with the LA of the child’s home address.

 

Reporting Procedures
All staff have a responsibility to report safeguarding concerns and suspicions of abuse. These concerns will be discussed with the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) as soon as possible.
• Staff will report their concerns to the DSL Sue/Mandy (in the absence of the DSL they will be reported to the Deputy DSL Lisa)
• Any signs of marks/injuries to a child or information a child has given will be recorded and stored securely.
• For children who arrive at nursery with an existing injury, a form will be completed along with the parent’s/ carers explanation as to how the injury happened. Staff will have professional curiosity around any explanations given, any concerns around existing injury’s will be reported.
• If appropriate, any concerns/or incidents will be discussed with the parent/carer and discussions will be recorded. Parents will have access to these records on request in line with GDPR and data protection guidelines.
• If there are queries/concerns regarding the injury/information given, then the following procedures will take place:

The designated safeguarding lead will:
• Contact the Local Authority children’s social care team to report concerns and seek advice immediately, or as soon as it is practical to do so. If it is believed a child is in immediate danger we will contact the police. If the safeguarding concern relates to an allegation against an adult working or volunteering with children then the DSL will follow the reporting allegations procedure (see below).
• Record the information and action taken relating to the concern raised
• Speak to the parents (unless advised not do so by LA children’s social care team)
• The designated safeguarding lead will follow up with the Local Authority children’s social care team if they have not contacted the setting within the timeframe set out in Working Together to Safeguarding Children (2018). We will never assume that action has been taken. 

Further information on the Prevent Duty and British Values:

 

 

 

 

 
If you have any further queries with regards our safeguarding policy and procedures, please talk to, message or email Sue or Vicki and we will happily discuss it with you.

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