Safeguarding in Early Years: How We Keep Children Safe at Tommies Childcare

At Tommies Childcare, safeguarding isn’t just a policy – it’s the foundation of everything we do. Ensuring the safety, wellbeing, and protection of every child in our care is our highest priority.

What is Safeguarding in Early Years?

Safeguarding refers to the measures we take to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. According to the Department for Education, safeguarding involves:

• Protecting children from maltreatment
• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
• Ensuring children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
• Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

In a nursery setting, this means creating a secure environment where children can learn, play, and develop safely.

The Importance of Ratios

The Early Years Statutory Guidance requires all nursery providers to follow specific staff-to-child ratios, which are essential for ensuring children’s safety and wellbeing. While, on occasions such as nap times, we may adjust these ratios, the following guidance is maintained throughout the day:

• For children under two years: One member of staff for every three children (1:3)
• For children aged two-to-three years: One member of staff for every five children (1:5)
• For children aged three and over: One member of staff for every eight children (1:8), or one member of staff for every thirteen children (1:13) if the member of staff has a relevant Level 6 qualification

If we are ever unable to meet these statutory ratios with our permanent staff, we will deploy Bank Staff or qualified external agency staff. Rest assured, we are committed to complying with these ratios. Additionally, there may even be times when we need to increase our staffing beyond the statutory guidance if additional support is required.

Our Responsibilities as a Childcare Provider

As an early years provider, we have a legal and moral duty to safeguard all children in our care. This includes:

• Implementing robust safeguarding policies and procedures
• Ensuring all staff are trained to recognise and respond to signs of abuse or neglect
• Maintaining accurate records of any concerns or incidents
• Working in partnership with parents, carers, and external agencies

We regularly review and update our safeguarding policies to reflect current legislation and best practices.

Professional Curiosity

At Tommies Childcare, we talk a lot about ‘professional curiosity’ – and it’s an important part of how we approach safeguarding. Put simply, it means we don’t just take things at face value. We ask questions, we notice changes in behaviour, and we think about what might be happening beyond the surface.

Our staff are encouraged to embrace a culture of professional curiosity and recognise that safeguarding children is a collective responsibility. Any concerns about a child or indeed a member of staff working with children are taken very seriously and will be reported to the appropriate agencies when necessary.

Our Safeguarding Policies and Procedures

Our comprehensive safeguarding policy outlines our commitment to protecting children and the steps we take if concerns arise. Key elements include:

• Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs): Each nursery has trained DSLs, typically the Nursery Manager and Deputy Manager, responsible for overseeing safeguarding practices.
• Staff Training: All staff complete safeguarding training upon joining, regardless of previous experience, and receive annual refresher courses.
• Incident Reporting: We maintain detailed records of accidents, incidents, and any concerns, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Open Communication: We encourage open dialogue with parents and carers, discussing any issues that may affect a child’s wellbeing.

Our policies are available for parents to review upon request, reflecting our commitment to transparency.

Safer Recruitment Practices

Ensuring the suitability of our staff is crucial to maintaining a safe environment. Our safer recruitment process includes:

• Enhanced DBS Checks: All employees undergo enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks before starting work.
• Professional References: We require a minimum of three professional references for each candidate.
• Annual Declarations: Staff complete yearly declarations to confirm their ongoing suitability to work with children.
• Induction Programme: New staff participate in a six-month induction, covering safeguarding responsibilities and procedures.

These measures help us ensure that our team is qualified, trustworthy, and aligned with our safeguarding standards.

Working Together to Protect Children

Safeguarding is a shared responsibility. We work closely with parents, carers, and external agencies to create a protective network around each child. By fostering open communication and mutual trust, we aim to identify and address concerns promptly and effectively.

If you have any questions about our safeguarding practices or wish to view our policies, please don’t hesitate to contact your nursery’s management team.