THE KING S SCHOOL IN MACCLESFIELD EYFS SAFEGUARDING POLICY, PROCEDURE AND GUIDANCE In order to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, the School will act in accordance with legislation and guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children (2015) and Keeping Children Safe in Education (2015). The Policy, Procedure and Guidance for EYFS must be read in conjunction with the Foundation Safeguarding Policy, and a range of other welfare policies e.g. Infant and Junior Pastoral Care and Behaviour, Intimate Care Procedure and Guidance. Early years providers have a duty under section 40 of the Childcare act 2006 to comply with the welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Early Years providers must ensure that: staff complete safeguarding training that enables them to recognise signs of potential abuse and neglect they have a practitioner who is designated to take a lead responsibility for safeguarding children within each early years setting and who should liaise with local statutory children s services agencies as appropriate. This lead should also complete child protection training. Working Together to Safeguard Children March 2015 Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements in EYFS. This school recognises the responsibility to: safeguard children and promote their welfare and good health; manage children s behaviour; ensure the suitability of adults who have contact with children; ensure that adults looking after children have appropriate qualifications, skills and knowledge; 1
ensure that staffing arrangements keep children safe; ensure that organisational arrangements enable all children to have a positive learning and development experience; ensure facilities are safe and suitable; and maintain records, policies and procedures. The CPO will notify the ISI and the local child protection agencies of any serious accident or injury to, or the death of, any child while in their care. This will be done as soon as reasonably practical within 14 days of the incident occurring The Child Protection Officer for EYFS is Caroline Hulme-McKibbin, Principal of Infant and Junior Division. The Designated Lead Child Protection Officer Mrs Helen Broadley and Deputy Child Protection Officers, Mr Ian Robertson and Mrs Julie Cocker will deputise as necessary. The Safeguarding Governor is Cllr Hilda Gaddum. Procedures for Safeguarding in EYFS All staff members who have, or become aware of, concerns about the safety or welfare of a child or unborn baby should discuss any concerns they have with the designated person to clarify their understanding of the child s circumstances. If there are still concerns about the safety or welfare of the child, the CPO will have further discussions with staff in Children s Social Care who will be able to advise on whether the concerns meet the threshold for child protection enquiries and what further information or actions may be required. If concerns remain after discussions, the child should always be referred to Children s Social Care for the area in which the child is living at the time. Cheshire East Emergency Contact Numbers Children s Assessment Team (Children s Social Care) : 0300 123 5012 (Mon-Thurs 8.30 a.m. 5pm or Fri 8.30 a.m. 4.30 pm) Out of Hours Service: 0300123 5022 Safeguarding Advisor for Early Years Settings: 01606 275039 LADO Service: (allegations against staff) 01606 288931 2
Police: 0854 458 0000 ISI: 020 7600 0100 Staff recognise that early intervention is key and that they must record and refer all suspicions of abuse/significant harm to children to the CPO as soon as concerns arise. Staff will respond appropriately to signs of possible abuse and neglect, including: significant changes in children's behaviour; deterioration in children s general well-being; unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect; children s comments which give cause for concern; any reasons to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting, for example in the child s home; Inappropriate behaviour displayed by other members of staff, or any other person working with the children. For example, inappropriate sexual comments; excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities; or inappropriate sharing of images. Guidance regarding professional standards Members of staff must always act in a professional manner and keep a professional distance from pupils. They: Must not post photos of pupils from school trips on their own Facebook page Must not share photos of pupils on their own camera or phone Must act in such a way so as to seen not to have favourites Must not meet pupils privately outside of school If a member of staff is unsure about these guidelines or is concerned about his/her own behaviour, or that of a pupil or colleague, he/she must speak to the CPO. In some circumstances (for example school trips), it may be permissible to share and use mobile phone numbers for emergencies. 3
Working with Parents/Carers in EYFS We work in partnership with parents and keep them informed by emails, letters and the website. We recognise that early intervention and sharing information with parents and other agencies is crucial. Concerns will always be discussed with parents and their permission received to share information with other agencies unless seeking permission may itself place a child at risk of significant harm. Examples of where this may cause such harm include: where sexual abuse is suspected or disclosed; where Fabricated or Induced Illness is suspected ; where there are fears for the safety of the child due to possible action by members of their family where it is not possible to contact the person whose consent is required immediately and prompt action is required to establish or ensure the child s safety All staff must have regard to the guidance set out in the publication What to do if you re worried a child is being abused, available from the DfE website (https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationdetail/page1/dfes- 04320-2006). We also encourage parents to recognise their responsibilities in supporting our setting to keep children safe by requesting them not to publish photos of their or other parent s children with their names and name of this setting on social networking sites requesting they do not discuss the setting on social networking sites (see Infant and Junior Camera and Video Use Policy) The EYFS has undertaken a Safeguarding Audit which lists other policies linked to Safeguarding and their review dates. The Safeguarding Audit will be undertaken annually. It is located in the CPO filing cabinet in Infant and Junior Principal s office. Significant incidents are reported the Governing Body. 4
A parent, pupil, or member of staff who has a concern about any pupil within the King s School should without delay report that concern to one of the Child Protection Officers. Senior Child Protection Officer - Principal of the Girls Division Mrs Helen Broadley 01625 Child Protection Officer - Principal of the Boys Division Mr Ian Robertson 01625 Child Protection Officer Principal of the Sixth Form Dr Julie Cocker 01625 Child Protection Officer Principal of the Junior and Infant Division Mrs Caroline Hulme-McKibbin 01625 Headmaster Dr Simon Hyde 01625 Safeguarding Governor Cllr Hilda Gaddum 01625 Chair of Governors Dr John Kennerley 01625 Making a referral - Key Contact details Child Protection Officers Helen Broadley, Ian Robertson, Julie Cocker, Caroline Hulme-McKibbin 01625 Cheshire East Children s Consultation Service ChECS (Children s Social Care) 0300 123 5012 5
Cheshire East Out of hours service 0300 123 5022 Cheshire East Safeguarding Adviser for Education and Settings (SCiES) 01606 275039 Cheshire East Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) 01606 288931 Cheshire East Family Information Service 0300 123 5033 Police Protection Unit 0845 458 0000 Non-emergency Police number 101 Cheshire East Local Safeguarding Children Board lscb@cheshireeast.gov.uk Preventing extremism in schools and children s services helpline counter.extremism@education.gsi.gov.uk DfE dedicated telephone helpline for non-emergency advice for staff and governors 020 7340 7264 Ofsted 0300 123 4666 Author: Infant and Junior Division Principal Approved: Governing Body Reviewed: Autumn 2015 Next Planned Review: Autumn 2016 6