Safeguarding Children in Nursery Settings (half day workshop)
Duration: 3 hours
Background
Young children in nursery settings need to be looked after in environments where an awareness of safeguarding issues is integral to the day to day life of the nursery. We know that most children will not experience abuse and neglect, but for those that do it is important that this is identified as soon as possible so that its impact on their development can be minimised. Good safeguarding practice in the early years is therefore vital.
The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage states that all practitioners should have an up- to- date understanding of safeguarding children issues and be able to respond appropriately to:
- Significant changes in children’s behaviour
- Deterioration in their general well-being
- Unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse; signs of neglect; comments children make which give cause for concern.
Additionally staff should be aware of their settings safeguarding policy including what to do if there are concerns about the behaviour of a member of staff.
This workshop has been developed by In-Trac Director Jane Wonnacott who was the author of the serious case review into events at Little Teds nursery in Plymouth. The workshop uses lessons from that review as well as requirements of Government Guidance set out in What to do if you are Worried a Child is being Abused to give participants grounding in the key elements of safeguarding children within a nursery or other early years setting.
Workshop Outcomes
By the end of the workshop participants will have had the opportunity to:
- Understand the statutory framework that underpins safeguarding practice including the guidance in What to do if you are worried a child is being abused
- Know where to find their organisations and the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board child protection procedures
- Explore the definitions of abuse set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children
- Consider how child abuse may be recognised both through physical signs, verbal and non verbal communication, including changes in behaviour
- Understand how to respond where they are concerned about abuse
- Consider how the culture of the nursery is important in providing a safe environment for children and their responsibility in maintaining an environment where children are protected from harm.