Children learn best when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs are met, and when they have positive relationships with the adults caring for them. The safeguarding and welfare requirements within the EYFS Framework are designed to help providers create high quality settings which are welcoming, safe and stimulating, and where children are able to enjoy learning and grow in confidence.
To support providers to meet these requirements, our Early Years Improvement Officers have produced support checklists for you to use to consider what you have in place and areas which you may need to address to be compliant with statutory requirements. Please contact your designated officer for a copy of the checklist or email EYteam@wakefield.gov.uk
A summary of safeguarding information for PVIC’s, OOS Clubs and any other professionals working with EY children is provided here:
1. Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage
Group and school based providers
Childminders
2. Designated Safeguarding Leader training
In Wakefield we stipulate as part of being eligible for offering funded places that you complete face to face DSL training. Full higher-level training MUST be completed every two years.
The course is a full day, informative and interactive. Feedback from previous delegates is that they found the course really interesting and the tutor has a wealth of knowledge to share throughout the course.
A flier is emailed out to all providers with information of how to book a place.
3. E bulletin
You can sign up to be emailed a monthly E Bulletin from the Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership.
This will give you information on the latest up to date information, resource documents, guidance as well as current topics of interest.
You can subscribe using by clicking here
4. Child protection Policy template
The Early Years Team have developed a Child Protection Policy guide. This can be used to support updating your current child protection policy or if you are wanting to develop your own this is a good starting point and explains what subjects need to be included. Please contact your Early Years Improvement Officer for a copy or email EYteam@wakefield.gov.uk
5. Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership
The Wakefield Safeguarding Children’s Partnership webpage has every piece of information you would require to support you in your everyday practice. Links to training courses, resource templates and both local and national resource information is available.Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSCP) (wakefieldscp.org.uk)
6. The role of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) in Wakefield
The LADO in Wakefield must always be contacted within one working day if staff have or are believed to have:
Behaved in a way which has harmed, or may have harmed a child;
Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child;
Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they would pose a risk of harm to children;
Behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children.
Further information about LADO in Wakefield can be found here
7. Useful Documents
Working Together to Safeguard Children
This is the primary piece of statutory guidance that governs the work we all do in relation to safeguarding children and can be found here.
Early Years Inspection Handbook
This guidance sets out the main points that inspectors need to consider when inspecting early years settings. This can be found here.
Prevent Duty
Guidance for specified authorities in England and Wales on the duty in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. Statutory guidance can be found here.