Nursery Safeguarding and Child-Protection Policy

The University of Bradford Nursery Safeguarding and Child-Protection Policy outlines it's commitment to the welfare and safety of children, parents, external agencies, and the community.

Explore further by visiting our Safeguarding section of our website.

At the University of Bradford Nursery, we are fully committed to working in partnership with children, parents/carers, families, external agencies, and the wider community to ensure that the welfare and safety of every child is our highest priority. We recognise that safeguarding children is not just a responsibility but a shared commitment that involves everyone; staff, parents, carers, and the community. Together, we strive to create a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where children can grow, learn, and develop to their full potential.

We believe that every child has the right to be treated with dignity and respect, to have their voice heard, and to thrive in an environment that promotes their well-being. This includes protecting children from all forms of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Our approach is rooted in the fundamental understanding that children deserve to feel safe and secure at all times, and it is our duty to ensure they are safeguarded from harm in every aspect of their lives, both within and outside of the nursery setting.

We place great emphasis on creating a culture where all staff are trained and equipped to recognise and respond to any safeguarding concerns promptly and effectively. We also empower parents and carers to engage actively in safeguarding practices and encourage open communication about the well-being of their child. Through strong partnerships with families and external agencies, we ensure that we are all working together to protect and promote the welfare of the children in our care.

By embedding safeguarding practices into every aspect of our operations, we aim to not only meet the legal and regulatory requirements but to exceed them, ensuring that each child’s safety and development are always at the forefront of everything we do. At the University of Bradford Nursery, we are devoted to fostering an environment where all children feel valued, supported, and safe to explore, learn, and grow.

This policy is informed by current statutory guidance including the EYFS Statutory Framework, Keeping Children Safe in Education, and Working Together to Safeguard Children.

This policy applies to all staff, students (including those on placement), volunteers, contractors, and
visitors working at or on behalf of the nursery, including full-time, part-time, and temporary employees, as well as parents, carers, and any other individuals who may have contact with children in the nursery setting. The scope of this policy covers:

1. Safeguarding Procedures: Preventative measures and actions to protect children from harm,
   including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
2. Child Protection Protocols: Clear guidelines for identifying, reporting, and responding to concerns or disclosures of abuse, neglect, or other safeguarding issues.
3. Staff, Student and Volunteer Training: Ongoing training and development to ensure that everyone understands their responsibilities in safeguarding children and are equipped to recognise and respond to potential safeguarding issues.
4. Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs): The roles and responsibilities of designated individuals responsible for safeguarding concerns within the nursery, including reporting and taking
   appropriate actions.
5. Multiagency Collaboration: The nursery’s commitment to working closely with relevant external agencies, such as local authorities, social services, and law enforcement, in matters of child protection.
6. Safe Recruitment Practices: Procedures for the recruitment, selection, and vetting of all nursery staff, volunteers, and contractors to ensure they are suitable to work with children.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding and Promoting Children's Welfare.

To create a safe and nurturing environment that supports children's development and well-being, we are dedicated to the following principles:

1. Fostering Positive Self-Image: We will create an environment that promotes children’s self-esteem, helping them develop a positive and healthy self-image.
2. Promoting Positive Role Models and Safe Behaviours: We will provide positive role models, ensuring all staff, volunteers, and children understand the expected behaviours. We will foster a culture of openness, where everyone feels comfortable sharing concerns, including about professional conduct.
3. Supporting Awareness of Risks: We will empower staff to identify early signs of radicalisation, extremism, and other safeguarding concerns, in line with the Prevent duty, ensuring they know how to take appropriate action to protect children from harm.
4. Encouraging Independence and Autonomy: We will support children in developing independence and autonomy, tailored to their individual age, stage, and developmental needs.
5. Ensuring a Safe and Secure Environment: We are committed to maintaining a physically and emotionally safe environment for all children, where their welfare is always prioritised.
6. Promoting Tolerance and Cultural Acceptance: We will promote respect, tolerance, and acceptance for different beliefs, cultures, and communities, fostering inclusivity and understanding.
7. Engaging Children in Decision-Making: We will encourage children to understand how they can influence decisions in their environment, promoting the principles of British Values through play, discussion, and role modelling.
8. Listening and Respecting Children’s Voices: We will always listen to and respect children, valuing their thoughts and feelings as central to their well-being and development.
9. Identifying and Seeking Support: We will create an environment where practitioners are confident in recognising when children and families may need additional support, and we will take action to seek appropriate help.
10. Collaborating with External Agencies: We will work collaboratively with other agencies, sharing information appropriately, to ensure that children’s needs are met and their safety is upheld.

The Management Team is responsible for ensuring that all individuals entrusted with the care and supervision of children are suitable for their roles, including having the appropriate qualifications, training, experience, and enhanced DBS checks.

In cases of significant incidents or developments that may impact an individual’s suitability, including potential disqualification under the EYFS, we will notify the appropriate authorities promptly, including the Bradford District Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), and Ofsted, as required.

We are committed to providing ongoing safeguarding training for all staff, ensuring they are equipped to identify, prevent, and respond to concerns. Staff are also required to report any concerns regarding a child’s well-being, allowing for swift intervention when necessary.

The Nursery and University will handle any allegations against staff swiftly and fairly, following transparent procedures and regulatory requirements.

Parents and carers also have key responsibilities in safeguarding children. They should provide accurate and up-to-date information about their child’s health and needs, maintaining open communication with the nursery. Parents are expected to follow safeguarding protocols, such as ensuring that only authorised individuals collect their children and teaching their children about personal safety and boundaries.

Parents and carers must also support the nursery’s safeguarding policies, cooperate with investigations, and engage with external authorities when needed to protect their child. By working together, we can create a safe and supportive environment for all children in our care.

Safeguarding is a shared responsibility. Through careful vetting, ongoing training, and clear communication, the management team ensures a safe environment for children. Parents and carers play a vital role by supporting safeguarding practices and fostering an open and protective environment at home. Together, we create a safer space for children to grow and thrive.

We support the children within our care to protect them from maltreatment and have robust procedures in place to prevent the impairment of children’s health and development. In our setting we protect children from maltreatment and risk of harm, promoting acceptance and tolerance of other beliefs and cultures. We give equal priority to keeping all children safe regardless of their age, disability, gender, race, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

We will tackle safeguarding by:

• Having a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the nursery who is responsible for the oversight of safeguarding within the setting at all times.
• Having a contingency plan in place for the absence of the DSL by ensuring that there is more than one named DSL within the setting, including both Assistant Managers and each Room Leader, who are fully trained.
• Ensuring each DSL has attended relevant training to enable them to identify, understand and respond appropriately to signs of possible abuse and neglect.
• Training all staff to understand what is meant by safeguarding including being able to identify the four main types of abuse; physical, sexual, emotional and neglect.
• Ensuring staff understand how to recognise early indicators of potential abuse and act on them at the earliest opportunity in an appropriate and professional way in line with national and local procedures.
• Ensuring our nursery is an inclusive environment by tackling inequalities and negative points of view and teaching staff and children about tolerance through British Values.
• Creating an environment to encourage children to develop a positive self-image.
• Ensuring everyone is a positive role model and develops a safe culture where all staff, students, volunteers and children know how they are expected to behave and feel comfortable about sharing concerns including professional conduct.
• Supporting staff to notice the softer signs of abuse and know what action to take.
• Encouraging children to develop a sense of independence and autonomy in a way that is appropriate to their age and stage of development.
• Providing a safe and secure environment for all children.
• Promoting tolerance and acceptance of different beliefs, cultures, and communities.
• Helping children to understand how they can influence and participate in decision-making and how to promote British Values through play, discussion, and role modelling.
• Always listening to and respecting one another, modelling this to the children through best practice
• Providing an environment where practitioners are confident to identify where children and families may need intervention, and can seek the help they need for example through Early Help methods and early signposting.
• Sharing information with other agencies as appropriate.
• Keeping the child at the centre of all we do.
• Ensuring all staff, students and volunteers are trained from induction to understand the child protection and safeguarding policy and procedures, are alert to identify possible signs of abuse, what is meant by child protection and are aware of the different ways in which children can be harmed, including by other children through bullying or discriminatory behaviour.
• Being aware of the increased vulnerability of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and other vulnerable or isolated families and children.
• Ensuring that all staff feel confident and supported to act in the best interest of the child, share information and seek the help that the child may need.
• Ensuring that all staff are familiar and updated regularly with safeguarding training and procedures and kept informed of changes to local/national procedures, including thorough regular safeguarding training, emails, reading material and updates.
• Seeking advice, support and/or raise a concern about a child or young person in a timely way by contacting Bradford Children’s Services practitioner’s advice and referral line, sharing any relevant information as necessary.
• Ensuring that information is shared only with those people who need to know to protect the child and act in their best interest.
• Keeping the setting safe online using appropriate filters, checks and safeguards, monitoring all access and liaising with the University IT team for any new devices or systems for support and oversight.
• Ensuring that children are never placed at risk whilst in the care of staff, students or volunteers at the University of Bradford Nursery.
• Identifying changes in staff, student or volunteers behaviour and act on these as per the Staff Code of Conduct, Dignity and Respect Policy and University Disciplinary Policy and Procedures.
• Taking any appropriate action relating to allegations of serious harm or abuse against any person working with children or on the premises including reporting such allegations to LADO, Ofsted and any other relevant authorities.
• Ensuring parents are fully aware of our safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures when they register with the service and are kept informed of all updates when they occur including what to do if they themselves have a concern.
• Regularly reviewing and updating this policy, alongside any other relevant policies and procedures, making sure it complies with any legal requirements and procedures.

We will support children by offering reassurance, comfort, and sensitive interactions. We will devise activities according to individual circumstances to enable children to develop confidence and self-esteem within their peer group and support them to learn how to keep themselves safe.

The nursery staff team, Nominated Individual and University are aware that abuse does occur in our society, and we are vigilant in identifying signs of abuse and reporting concerns. Our staff have a duty to protect and promote the welfare of children. Due to the many hours of care we are providing, staff may often be the first people to identify that there may be a problem. They may well be the first people in whom children confide information that may suggest abuse or to spot changes in a child’s behaviour which may indicate abuse.

Our prime responsibility is the welfare and well-being of each child in our care. As such, we believe we have a duty to the children, parents, and staff to act quickly and responsibly in any instance that may come to our attention. This includes sharing information with any relevant agencies such as Bradford District Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, LADO, Ofsted, health professionals and the police. All staff will work with other agencies in the best interest of the child, as part of a multi-agency team, where needed.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this guidance as:

• providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge
• protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online
• preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
• ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
• promoting the upbringing of children with their birth parents, or otherwise their family network through a kinship care arrangement, whenever possible and where this is in the best interests of the children
• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes in line with the outcomes set out in the Children’s Social Care National Framework.

(Definition taken from the HM Government document Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2023).

Indicators

Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by harming them, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused within a family, institution or community setting by those known to them or a stranger. This could be an adult or adults, another child or children.
The signs and indicators listed below may not necessarily indicate that a child has been abused but will help us to recognise that something may be wrong, especially if a child shows a number of these symptoms or any of them to a marked degree. As always, the list is non-exhaustive.

Indicators of child abuse

• Failure to thrive and meet developmental milestones.
• Deterioration of general wellbeing such as children becoming fearful or withdrawn
• Unexplained injuries to a child or conflicting reports from parents, family members/friends or staff
• Repeated injuries
• Unaddressed illnesses or injuries
• Children’s comments which give cause for concern
• Significant changes to behaviour patterns.

Softer signs of abuse as defined by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) include:

• Low self-esteem
• Wetting and soiling
• Recurrent nightmares
• Aggressive behaviour
• Withdrawing communication
• Habitual body rocking
• Indiscriminate contact or affection seeking
• Over-friendliness towards strangers
• Excessive clinginess
• Persistently seeking attention.

Physical Abuse and Injuries

Action needs to be taken if staff have reason to believe that there has been a physical injury to a child, including deliberate poisoning (fabricated illness), where there is definite knowledge or reasonable suspicion that the injury was inflicted or knowingly not prevented. These symptoms may include bruising or injuries in an area that is not usual for a child, e.g. fleshy parts of the arms and legs, back, wrists, ankles, and face. Many children will have cuts and grazes from normal childhood injuries. If a staff member notices a mark or injury on a child on arrival at the setting, the staff member should complete a ‘Wellbeing Form’ (detailing the time the injury was noticed). This should be done with the person who has brought the child to the setting whilst they are still present, or as soon as the injury is noticed. The parent/carer must be contacted to inform them of the injury, to inform them that a wellbeing form must be completed and to seek any additional information which may explain how the injury has occurred. The rationale for the injury should be recorded as described, and the form should be signed by the parent/carer. The staff member should immediately report this to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). The injury should be fully discussed with the parent when they return, with any explanations recorded, and the form signed retrospectively.

An ‘Accident Form’ should be thoroughly filled in and stored in the child’s individual file for any injuries sustained within the setting including reportage and signature of any witnesses’ present. In all cases of accidents within the setting and wellbeing forms which include details of any pre-existing injuries, these will be monitored regularly on an individual and whole setting approach. Any patterns of injuries will be identified and discussed with the child’s key person, Room Leader, parents/carers and nursery management team to ensure the best course of action is taken to prevent/reduce any further occurrences and to also decide whether any further action is required. Any concerns must be discussed/reported through the Bradford Children’s Services dedicated practitioner’s advice and referral line, sharing any relevant information as necessary.

If the child with an injury has a Social Worker, the injury must be recorded on the appropriate document and the DSL be informed immediately to enable them to make the decision as to whether a notification to the child’s social worker is required. If a notification is required, the DSL must immediately report this (by telephone and then followed up in writing). If the Social Worker is unavailable by telephone, concerns should be discussed with a duty social worker or a team manager. Please note it is not appropriate just to email the social worker in these cases; contact must be made with the social worker/duty worker/team manager by telephone, on the same day.

In all cases of injuries on arrival for all children with or without a social worker, the DSL will use their professional judgement to assess the situation. This may involve seeking advice from Bradford Children’s Services dedicated practitioner’s advice and referral line, depending on the nature of the injury and any history of injuries, in most cases however the DSL would usually ask the child’s keyperson to speak to the child’s parent/carer and ask how the injury occurred. This information given by the parent/carer must be immediately shared with the DSL and accurately recorded. The DSL will then assess using their professional judgement if the explanation is plausible/appropriate with the child’s development level or whether it is a potential safeguarding issue.

There are also a number of ways in which children and babies, including immobile babies, may be injured or abused. This could be from a number of ways physically through shaking, throwing, being dropped, rolling off and falling from a piece of furniture or may include poisoning, burns or scalds. Staff members will be trained in being alert to and aware of all types of injuries which may indicate abuse and will complete specific training in relation to the vulnerability of babies. Staff will also undertake specific additional training in relation to wider forms of physical abuse.

Pre-Existing Markings

In some children, there may be cases where there is markings that mimic bruising to a baby or child. This can be for a number of factors such as, but not limited to:

• Flat, red or pink areas of skin (salmon patches or stork marks)
• Raised red lumps (strawberry marks or haemangiomas)
• Red, purple or dark marks (port wine stains)
• Flat, light or dark brown patches (cafe-au-lait spots)
• Blue-grey spots, also known as Mongolian blue spots
• Brown or black moles (congenital moles or congenital melanocytic naevi)
• Scarring e.g. from previous injury or surgery
• Large moles

In all cases where a baby or child has a pre-existing marking to the skin, this should be checked initially with the child’s parents/main carers to gain more understanding of the markings. This must also be checked against the child’s medical records, such as the child’s red book or confirmation from a health professional can also be classed as sufficient if no record has been made within the child’s red book. Additional guidance in the form of a flow chart, with example images, is available for staff to refer to in all cases and any preexisting markings should always be discussed with the Nursery Manager who acts as the main DSL for the nursery. In the Nursery Manager’s absence, this should be raised with a deputy DSL, this would either be an Assistant Nursery Manager or an Room Leader. A pre-existing markings form should also be completed.

Parents should always be approached sensitively in all cases, where there is an immediate cause for concern regarding markings to a baby or child and no previous record of pre-existing markings are noted within the child’s file, the Nursery Manager/DSL or next most appropriate DSL must make a decision as to which course of action must be taken, this would either be a telephone call with the parent to gather information initially or a telephone call to the Bradford Children’s Services dedicated practitioner’s advice and referral line, to seek advice on what next steps to take. If at any time a staff member is concerned about the immediate welfare of a child, the reporting procedures on page 11 must be followed.

Sexual Abuse

Action needs be taken if a staff member has witnessed any occasion(s) where a child has indicated sexual activity through words, play, drawing, had an excessive preoccupation with sexual matters or had an inappropriate knowledge of adult sexual behaviour or language. This may include acting out sexual activity on dolls/toys or in the role play area with their peers, drawing pictures that are inappropriate for a child, talking about sexual activities or using sexual language or words or if the child becomes distressed when their clothes are removed, e.g. for nappy changes.

The physical symptoms may include genital trauma, blood, discharge and bruises between the legs or signs of a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Emotional symptoms could include a distinct change in a child’s behaviour. They may be withdrawn or overly extroverted and outgoing. They may withdraw away from a particular adult and become distressed if they reach out for them, but they may also be particularly clingy to a potential abuser, so all symptoms and signs should be looked at together and assessed as a whole.

Emotional Abuse

Action should be taken if a staff member has reason to believe that there is a severe, adverse effect on the behaviour and emotional development of a child, caused by persistent or severe ill treatment or rejection. This may include extremes of discipline where a child is shouted at or put down on a consistent basis, lack of emotional attachment by a parent, or it may include parents or carers placing inappropriate age or developmental expectations upon them. Emotional abuse may also be imposed through the child witnessing domestic abuse and alcohol/drug misuse by adults caring for them. Potential signs of persistent blaming, shaming may also be a form of ‘Scapegoating.’

The child is likely to show extremes of emotion with this type of abuse. This may include shying away from an adult who is abusing them, becoming withdrawn, aggressive, or clingy to receive their love and attention. This type of abuse is harder to identify as the child is not likely to show any physical signs. Staff will also undertake specific training in relation to wider forms of emotional abuse such as bullying, including online bullying and prejudice-based bullying such as racist, disability and homophobic or transphobic abuse.

Neglect

Action will be taken if a staff member has reason to believe that there has been any type of neglect of a child (for example, by exposure to any kind of danger, including cold, starvation or failure to seek medical treatment, when required, on behalf of the child), which results in serious impairment of the child's health or development, including failure to thrive.

Signs may include a child persistently arriving at Nursery unwashed or unkempt, wearing clothes that are too small (especially shoes that may restrict the child’s growth or hurt them), or a child having an illness or identified special educational need or disability that is not being addressed by the parent. A child may also be persistently hungry if a parent is withholding food or not providing enough for a child’s needs. Neglect may also be shown through emotional signs, e.g., a child may not be receiving the attention they need at home and may crave love and support from their peers or key person. They may be clingy and emotional. In addition, neglect may occur through pregnancy because of maternal substance misuse.

Suspicion of Alcohol or Drug Use

If a parent/carer presents at The University of Bradford Nursery and a member of staff feels the parent/carer maybe under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the staff member should immediately alert the DSL on site. The DSL should make an informed decision after speaking to the parent/carer and if it is believed that the parent is under influence, the DSL will ask if there is another family member who could collect and care for the child. If there is no other suitable and responsible adult available, contact would be made with Bradford Children’s Services dedicated practitioner’s advice and referral line, and if necessary, contact the Police to support safeguarding and prevent the child being placed at risk. It is reasonable for the DSL to ask the parents specific questions, this includes questioning the means of transport for the child if it is suspect that the parent is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If the parent/carer is not presenting as impaired and the DSL is assured that there is no immediate risk of harm to the child, then the incident should be fully recorded and stored within the safeguarding file. Any repeat occurrences should be discussed with the parent/carer, including undertaking an Early Help Assessment and signposting to alcohol and substance misuse services where appropriate.

Fabricated Illness

All staff at The University of Bradford Nursery are aware that fabricated illness is a type of physical abuse where a child is presented with an illness that is fabricated by the parent/carer. The parent/carer may seek out unnecessary medical treatment or investigation. The signs may include a parent/carer exaggerating a real illness or symptoms, false allegations of special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), complete fabrication of symptoms or inducing physical illness, e.g., through poisoning, starvation or an inappropriate diet. This may also be presented through false allegations of abuse or encouraging the child to appear disabled or ill to obtain unnecessary treatment, specialist support or for financial gain. Any signs or symptoms of ‘fabricated illness’ will be recorded and referred as appropriate. Staff will undertake specific training to support them with identifying this form of abuse.

Breast Ironing

Breast ironing also known as ‘breast flattening’ is the process where young girls' breasts are ironed, massaged and/or pounded down using hard or heated objects for the breasts to disappear or delay the development of the breasts entirely. It is believed that by carrying out this act, young girls will be protected from harassment, rape, abduction, and early forced marriage. We will ensure any signs of this in young adults or older children are followed up using the usual safeguarding referral process. Staff will undertake specific training to support them with identifying this form of abuse.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

This type of physical abuse is practised as a cultural ritual by certain ethnic groups and there is now more awareness of its prevalence in some communities in England, including its effect on the child and any other siblings involved. This procedure may be carried out shortly after birth and during childhood as well as adolescence, just before marriage or during a woman’s first pregnancy and varies widely according to the community. Symptoms may include bleeding, painful areas, acute urinary retention, urinary infection, wound infection, septicaemia, incontinence, vaginal and pelvic infections with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder as well as physiological concerns. If you have concerns about a child relating to this form of abuse, you should contact Bradford Children’s Services dedicated practitioner’s advice and referral line, immediately in the same way as other types of physical abuse. There is a mandatory duty to report to police any case where an act of FGM appears to have been carried out on a girl under the age of 18, we will ensure this is followed in our setting. Staff will undertake specific training to support them with identifying this form of abuse.

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 defines CSE as, ‘Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) 230 Serious Violence Strategy 154 in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual.

Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.’ We will be aware of the possibility of CSE and the signs and symptoms this may manifest as. If we have concerns, we will follow the same procedures as for other concerns and we will record and refer as appropriate. Staff will undertake specific training to support them with identifying this form of abuse.

The Prevent Duty - Extremism/Radicalisation

Under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, all staff must have regard to the Prevent Duty. All staff have a duty of care to identify children who may be vulnerable to radicalisation and know what action to take when they are identified and have a duty to refer any concerns of extremism to the Bradford Children’s Services dedicated practitioner’s advice and referral line, and Police where necessary. There may be a cause for concern for extremism/radicalisation when relating to a change in behaviour of a child or family member, comments causing concern made to a member of the team (or other persons in the setting) or actions that lead staff to be worried about the safety of a child in their care. The University of Bradford Nursery has a specific Prevent Duty and Radicalisation policy in place. Please refer to this policy for full details and procedures. The Prevent Duty 2023

Child Criminal Exploitation, Gangs & County Lines

Children and young people, as well as vulnerable adults, can be targeted by gangs and organised crime groups and are exploited to move and sell drugs across the country. This is commonly known as ‘County lines’. Gangs will often groom children and use threats, violence and force to control young people. County lines is a form of criminal exploitation where urban gangs persuade, coerce or force children and young people to store drugs and money and/or transport them to suburban areas, market towns and coastal towns (Home Office, 2018). It can happen in any part of the UK and is against the law and a form of child abuse. Children and young people may be criminally exploited in multiple ways. Other forms of criminal exploitation include child sexual exploitation, trafficking, gang and knife crime. County lines gangs are highly organised criminal networks that use sophisticated, frequently evolving techniques to groom young people and evade capture by the police. Perpetrators use children and young people to maximise profits and distance themselves from the criminal act of physically dealing drugs (National Crime agency, 2019). Young people do the majority of the work and take the most risk. Staff at The University of Bradford Nursery are trained specifically in this area to support them in identifying this form of abuse and will report such potential abuse to the Bradford Children’s Services dedicated practitioner’s advice and referral line, and Police where necessary.

Online Safety

We take the safety of our children very seriously and this includes their online safety. Staff play an essential role in helping young children learn the foundations of safe online behaviour and this forms an important part of our curriculum. Even if children don’t have access to technology within the setting, they may be using it at home, with their friends or in other public spaces. Children are naturally curious in understanding the world we live in; it is our responsibility to enable them to do so, including helping them to recognise the value of technology and use it safely. Role modelling safe use of the internet is part of our everyday practice. Early years children could be at risk of inappropriate content (what they may see), contact (who they might communicate with) and conduct (how they might behave). Online safety is also highlighted within the EYFS and the Early Years Inspection Handbook. The University of Bradford Nursery has a specific Online Safety policy in place. Please refer to this policy for full details and procedures.

Mobile Phone & Cameras (including personal electronic devices)

To ensure the safety and well-being of children we do not allow staff to use personal mobile phones or electronic devices during working hours within the rooms with the children. These devices may be used during staff breaks but must be used in a child-free area such as the main entrance, office or staff room. Staff are not permitted to wear smart watches during working hours, these must be left at home or stored within the mobile phone wallet within the office. We use mobile phones supplied by the nursery to provide a means of contact in certain circumstances, such as outings or for parent/carer and senior management contact. The nursery mobile phones are monitored closely by the DSL’s and Nursery Manager of the setting.

We have child-safe tablets which may be used within the rooms under supervision, and these are for educational purposes only in order to meet the Technology aspect educational outcomes for the EYFS. We also use tablets within the rooms for the recording of children’s ongoing development to capture pictures and record evidence, which is then inputted onto the child’s online learning journal. We have robust procedures in place to ensure the safe use of these devices, to safeguard our children at all times, whilst alongside promoting the safe use of devices, including internet access, outside of the setting within the home environment.

Whilst we recognise that there may be emergency situations which necessitate the use of a mobile telephone, parents and visitors are not permitted to use their mobile telephones whilst in the Nursery within the rooms. If parents/carers are found to be using their mobile phone inside the Nursery premises, they will be asked to finish the call or take the call outside. We ask that parents, carers and visitors (including contractors), leave their mobile phone within the nursery office for safe keeping if they are required to go into the rooms. We do this to ensure all children are safeguarded and the time for dropping off and picking up is a quality handover opportunity where we can share details about your child. Visitors are requested to leave their mobile phones or smart watches in the safety of the office if they are required to enter the rooms for purposes such as but not limited to; stay and play sessions, settling in visits, child observation visits, teacher visits and any on-site maintenance contractors, where they will be locked away safely until they leave the premises.

Parents are requested not to allow their child to wear or bring in devices that may take photographs or record videos or voices. This includes smart watches with these capabilities. This ensures all children are safeguarded and protects their property as it may get damaged or misplaced at the nursery. If a child is found to have a recording device on them during nursery hours, the device will be removed for safeguarding reasons and securely stored. The DSL will assess the situation and determine whether any further action, including contacting parents or relevant authorities, is required.

The University of Bradford Nursery has a full specific ‘Mobile Phone & Camera’ policy in place. Please refer to this policy for full details and procedures.

Reporting Procedures

If a child openly discloses information to a member of staff about a form of abuse which they may be experiencing, the procedure below will be followed:

Procedure:

• The adult should reassure the child and listen without interrupting.
• The adult should not make any promises to the child or agree to ‘keep it a secret’.
• The disclosure must be detailed in a legible confidential report within the same day by the person the information was disclosed to in the child’s voice.
• This must then be reported to the DSL on site who will then decide the next steps.
• The DSL will consider the ‘information sharing booklet, 7 golden rules.’ The DSL should always speak to parents around the concerns unless by doing so would put the child in danger.
• The matter will be referred to the Bradford Children’s Services dedicated practitioner’s advice and referral line, and Police if necessary and any advice followed.

All staff have a responsibility to report safeguarding concerns and suspicions of abuse. If a staff member has concerns regarding a child, the following procedures will be followed:

• Staff will report their concerns to the DSL (in the absence of a DSL they will be reported to a Deputy DSL).
• Any signs of marks/injuries to a child or information a child have given will be recorded and stored securely in the child’s confidential file and kept on record until the child reaches 21 years and 3 months in line with the Nursery Privacy Notice and legislative guidance.
• If appropriate, the incident will be discussed with the parent/carer, such discussions will be recorded, and the parent will have access to these records on request.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead will:

• Contact Bradford Children’s Services dedicated practitioner’s advice and referral line, to seek advice and raise a concern (if it is believed a child is in immediate danger, we will contact the Police).
• Inform LADO/Ofsted of any action taken within the relevant timescales.
• Record the information and action taken relating to the concern raised.
• Speak to the parents (unless it is not safe to or advised not do so).
• The DSL will follow up with Bradford Children’s Services if they have not contacted the setting to acknowledge receipt within one working day; the timeframe set out in Working Together to Safeguarding Children (2023). We will never assume that action has been taken.

In all circumstances, if staff are concerned about a child and they are not sure whether a child is at risk, they can contact Bradford Children’s Services dedicated practitioner’s advice and referral line, to discuss the circumstances themselves. Staff must always ensure that action has been taken regarding a concern and that they follow this up to ensure that the child is safeguarded.

Keeping children safe is our highest priority and if, for whatever reason, staff do not feel able to report concerns to the DSL or Deputy DSL they should contact the DSL or Deputy DSL at The University of Bradford, Bradford Children’s Services dedicated practitioner’s advice and referral line, or the Police if they believe the child is in immediate danger and report their concerns.

Recording Suspicions of Abuse and Disclosures

Staff should make an objective record of any observation or disclosure, supported by the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). This record should include:

• Child's name
• Child's address
• Age of the child and date of birth
• Date and time of the observation or the disclosure
• Exact words spoken by the child
• Exact position, size, shape and type of any injuries or marks seen
• Exact observation of any incident including any concern was reported, with date and time; and the names of any other person present at the time
• Any discussion held with the parent(s)/carer(s) (where deemed appropriate)

These records should be signed by the person reporting/recording this and the DSL or in their absence, a Deputy DSL, dated and kept in the child’s separate confidential file on the secure Nursery Management hard drive.

The DSL should check for patterns, and also for completeness of the following records:

• registers – regular absences
• accidents and incident records
• behaviour and physical interventions
• pre-existing injury records
• medication records

If a child starts to talk to an adult about potential abuse, it is important not to promise the child complete confidentiality. This promise cannot be kept. It is vital that the child can talk openly, and disclosure is not forced, or words put into the child’s mouth. As soon as possible after the disclosure and at all times within the same day, full details must be logged accurately and the information passed onto the DSL.

It may be thought necessary that through discussion with all concerned, the matter needs to be raised with Bradford Children’s Services dedicated practitioner’s advice and referral line and/or LADO. Staff involved may be asked to supply details of any information/concerns they have regarding a child. The University of Bradford Nursery expects all members of staff to co-operate with Bradford Children’s Services, the Police, LADO and Ofsted in any way necessary to ensure the safety of the children.

Staff must not make any comments either publicly or in private about the supposed or actual behaviour of a parent, carer or member of staff in line with Confidentiality and GDPR compliance, processes and procedures.

Informing Parents

Parents are normally the first point of contact. If a suspicion of abuse is recorded, parents are informed at the same time as the report is made, except where the guidance of Bradford Children’s Services or Police does not allow this. This will usually be the case where the parent or family member is the likely abuser or where a child may be endangered by this disclosure. In these cases, the investigating officers will inform parents.

Confidentiality

All suspicions, enquiries and external investigations are kept confidential and shared only with those who need to know. Any information is shared in line with guidance from Bradford Safeguarding Partnership and in line with ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023’, the ‘Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA)’ and ‘UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).’

‘The Data Protection Act 2018’ and ‘UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)’ supports the sharing of relevant information for the purposes of keeping children safe. Fears about sharing information must not be allowed to stand in the way of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.’ ‘Practitioners should aim to be as transparent as possible by telling families what information they are sharing and with whom, provided that it is safe to do so.’ Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023.

Staff will continue to welcome the child and the family whilst enquiries are being made in relation to abuse in the home situation. Parents and families will be treated with respect in a non-judgmental manner whilst any external investigations are carried out in the best interest of the child.

Confidential records kept on a child are shared with the child's parents or those who have parental responsibility for the child, only if appropriate in line with guidance of the local authority with the priority being that the care and safety of the child is paramount. We will do all in our power to support and work with the child's family.

Advice can also be found by reading the following document: Information Sharing Advice - for practitioners providing safeguarding services for children, young people, parents and carers.

Allegations Against Adults Working or Volunteering with Children

If a direct allegation from a child is made against a member of staff, student or volunteer or any other person who works at The University of Bradford Nursery, then guidance should be followed from West Yorkshire Procedures for any allegations against staff, carers and volunteers. This guidance can be found online via the following weblink: West Yorkshire Consortium Inter Agency Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures. These procedures should be applied in all situations where it is alleged that a person who works with children or is in a position of trust has:

• Behaved in a way which has harmed a child, 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 which indicates that they may pose a risk to children; or
• Behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children.

The allegation should be reported to the DSL and Nursery Manager who must refer to Bradford’s Children’s Services Integrated Front Door, The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and/or the Police. If the person who is the subject of the allegation is the DSL or a member of the Nursery Management then this should be reported to LADO and Ofsted will then be informed immediately for this to be investigated by the appropriate bodies promptly.

Procedure Following an Allegation

The person to whom an allegation or concern is first reported should treat the matter seriously and keep an open mind. They should not:

• Investigate or ask leading questions if seeking clarification
• Make assumptions or offer alternative explanations
• Promise confidentiality but should give assurance that the information will only be shared on a 'need to know' basis.

They should:

• Make a detailed written record (where possible in the child/adult's own words), including the time, date and place of incident(s), persons present and what was said
• Sign and date the record
• Report concerns to the DSL who will consult the LADO.

The DSL will:

• Inform the Duty LADO immediately for advice and guidance by calling 01274 435600 or by emailing LADO@bradford.gov.uk if contact via telephone is not available
• Ensure that any advice and/or actions are followed, including completion of a LADO Referral Form if requested to do so within 1 working day
• Report to Ofsted if appropriate following on from advice from the LADO within 14 days using the Report a Serious Childcare Incident form
• Inform the Nominated Individual of the Nursery, DSL at the University and Senior People Business Partner who will decide as to whether the member of staff should be suspended whilst investigations take place
• Work in partnership with any relevant agencies required including the police, Ofsted and the LA.

Concerns by employers about an adult working in a position of trust with children or young people should be reported to the Bradford Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) who manages allegations against adults working in a position of trust with children.

Employers must inform the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) within one working day when an allegation is made and prior to any further investigation taking place. If an allegation is substantiated and the person is dismissed or the employer ceases to use the person’s service or the person resigns or otherwise ceases to provide his/her services, the LADO should discuss with the employer whether a referral should be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

If a referral is to be made to the DBS; it should be submitted within one month of the allegation being substantiated.

Additional Guidance/Procedures

• If as an individual, you feel this will not be taken seriously or are worried about the allegation getting back to the person in question then it is your duty to inform the LADO yourself directly.
• A full investigation will be carried out by the appropriate professionals (Bradford Children’s Services, Police, LADO, Ofsted) to determine how this will be handled.
• Staff and leaders at the University of Bradford Nursery will follow all instructions from the LADO and Ofsted and instruct all staff members to do the same and co-operate where required.
• Support will be provided to all those involved in an allegation throughout the external investigation in line with LADO support and advice.
• The University of Bradford reserves the right to suspend any member of staff during an investigation.
• All enquiries/external investigations/interviews will be documented and kept in a password protected file on the University hard drive systems for access by the relevant authorities.
• Unfounded allegations will result in all rights being reinstated.
• Substantiated allegations will be passed on to the relevant organisations and where an offence is believed to have been committed, the Police. This will result in the termination of employment. Ofsted will be notified of this decision. The University of Bradford will also notify the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to ensure their records are updated.
• All records will be kept until the person reaches normal retirement age or for 21 years and 3 months years if that is longer. This will ensure accurate information is available for references and future DBS checks and avoids any unnecessary reinvestigation.
• The University of Bradford retains the right to dismiss any member of staff in connection with founded allegations following an inquiry.
• Counselling will be available for any member of the staff team who is affected by an allegation and their colleagues in the company.

Monitoring Children’s Attendance

As part of our requirements under the statutory framework and guidance documents we are required to monitor children’s attendance patterns to ensure they are consistent and no cause for concern.

Parents must inform the Nursery Management prior to their children taking holidays or days off (also seen as a holiday), and all sickness absence should be reported in on the day with an explanation, so the Management are able to account for a child’s absence. Parents are able to use the Ovivio (formly Blossom Educational) parent app to log holidays and sickness absences.

If a child has not arrived for their session, the parents will be called to ensure the child is safe and healthy. The Nursery Management team may carry out welfare checks in line with safeguarding procedures or request a police welfare check if there is no contact with the family and there are concerns for welfare or safety.

Where a child is part of a Child in Need (CIN) or Child Protection Plan (CPP), or during a referral process, any absences will be reported to Bradford Children’s Services or to the child’s Social Worker directly to ensure the child remains safeguarded.

Drop Off and Collection Procedures

If the child is to be collected by an unknown person, whether that be a parent/carer, relative or family friend at the end of the session, there is an agreed procedure that must be followed to identify the designated person.

If the person collecting is a parent or a named person on the collection list but this is the first time that they are collecting the child and/or they are unknown to the setting or the staff member who is passing over, then photo identification and/or a password may also be required. Photo identification may not be required in all cases if the parent has informed the nursery prior that another designated person will be collecting, however the full name of the person collecting alongside a password must be provided in this scenario and this must be verified upon arrival.

Prior notice should always be given to the Nursery Management Team or an Room Leader if it is not the child’s parent, primary carer or a person named on the collection list in all circumstances. Parents/carers are informed about these arrangements and reminded about them regularly. Other than the parent/carer of the child, we do not allow anyone under the age of 18 to collect. If anyone under the age of 18 arrives to collect child, the parent/carer will be contacted.

A full handover must take place at collection, ensuring that all relevant information is communicated such as, the child’s daily activities, accidents, medication administration and any other relevant routine information relevant to the child. Parents/carers should also be signposted to the daily diary on the Ovivio (formly Blossom Educational) parent app where information will be recorded relevant to the age of the child and the room in which they are based. Diaries are sent before the end of the nursery day at 18.00 to ensure staff have got the time to complete these as the children’s needs must always remain a priority.

For all details relating to late arrivals, collection and uncollected children, please refer to the nursery ‘Late arrivals, absence, collection and uncollected child’ policy.

Looked After Children

As part of our safeguarding practice, we will ensure our staff are aware of how to keep looked after children safe. To do this, we ask that we are informed of:

• The legal status of the child (e.g., whether the child is being looked after under voluntary arrangements with consent of parents or on an interim or full care order)
• Contact arrangements for the biological parents (or those with parental responsibility)
• The child’s care arrangements and the levels of authority delegated to the carer by the authority looking after him/her.
• The details of the child’s social worker and any other support agencies involved.
• Any child protection plan or care plan in place for the child in question.

Staff and Volunteers

Our policy is to provide a secure and safe environment for all children. We only allow adults who are employed by the University of Bradford to be counted within ratio following an enhanced clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and in line with the Statutory Framework for the EYFS.

All staff will undertake a thorough induction including induction training and mandatory ad-hoc training on a regular basis through a wide variety of methods such as online, face to face and regular reading material such as 5-minute briefings and ongoing case studies. This will include the procedures for spotting signs and behaviours of abuse and abusers/potential abusers, recording and reporting concerns and creating a safe and secure environment for all children. During induction staff will be given instruction and details for the named DSL’s, LADO (local authority designated officer), Bradford Children’s Services dedicated practitioner’s advice and referral line, and Ofsted to enable them to report any safeguarding concerns, independently, if they feel it necessary to do so.

We have named persons within the Nursery who take lead responsibility for safeguarding and co-ordinate child protection and welfare issues, known as the Designated Safeguarding Lead’s (DSL). These designated persons will receive comprehensive training at least every two years and update their knowledge on an ongoing basis. The Nursery Manager is the lead DSL, with the back-up, deputy DSL’s being the Assistant Manager for Operations, the Assistant Manager for EYT and each Room Leader in the main DSL’s absence. We believe this gives us complete oversight across the whole Nursery at all times.

There will always be at least one DSL on duty at all times. This will ensure that prompt action can be taken if concerns are raised.

The main Designated Safeguarding Lead is Rochelle Smith (Nursery Manager).

• The University of Bradford Nursery falls under The University of Bradford which has strict and robust Safer Recruitment procedures in place.
• We provide adequate and appropriate staffing resource to meet the needs of all children.
• Applicants for posts within the company are clearly informed that the positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Candidates are informed of the need to carry out checks before posts can be confirmed. Where applications are rejected because of information that has been disclosed, applicants have the right to know and to challenge incorrect information.
• We give staff members, volunteers, and students regular opportunities to declare changes that may affect their suitability to care for the children via an ‘Ongoing Suitability Declaration Form’. This includes information about their health, medication or about changes in their home life such as child protection plans for their own children.
• This information is also stated within every member of staff’s contract.
• We request enhanced DBS checks prior to employment and use the DBS Update Service (with staff consent) to regularly monitor staff’s suitability, with rechecks carried out in line with organisational policy and risk assessment.
• We are working towards a whole staff team approach in joining the DBS update service to reiterate our commitment to safeguarding.
• We abide by the requirements of the EYFS and any Ofsted guidance in respect to obtaining references and suitability checks for staff, students, and volunteers, to ensure that all staff, students, and volunteers working in the setting are suitable to do so.
• We ensure we receive at least two written references before a new member of staff commences employment with us.
• All students will have enhanced DBS checks conducted on them before their placement starts and will also be expected to attend a pre-placement interview and must abide by our Student Policy and Procedures.
• All students will also complete mandatory induction training, including but not limited to; Safeguarding Level 2, Food Hygiene and Allergy Awareness, Vulnerability of Babies and Safer Sleeping.
• Volunteers, including students, do not work unsupervised and will remain out of ratio at all times.
• We abide by the requirements of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and the Childcare Act 2006 in respect of any person who is disqualified from providing childcare, is dismissed from our employment, or resigns in circumstances that would otherwise have led to dismissal for reasons of child protection concern.
• We have procedures for recording the details of visitors to the nursery and take security steps to ensure that we have control over who comes into the setting so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children.
• All visitors/contractors will be supervised whilst on the premises, especially when in the areas the children use.
• As a staff team we will be fully aware of how to safeguard the whole environment and be aware of potential dangers on the setting and Nursery boundaries such as drones or strangers lingering. We will ensure the children always remain safe.
• The University Dignity and Respect Policy and Code of Conduct sits alongside this policy to enable us to monitor changes in behaviours that may cause concern.
• All staff have access to and comply with the Whistleblowing Policy which will enable them to share any concerns that may arise about their colleagues in an appropriate manner.
• Signs of inappropriate staff behaviour may include inappropriate sexual comments; excessive one- to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities; or inappropriate sharing of images. This is not an exhaustive list, any changes in behaviour must be reported and acted upon immediately.
• All staff will receive regular supervision meetings where opportunities will be made available to discuss any issues relating to individual children, concerns and any needs for further support.
• We use peer on peer and manager observations in the setting to ensure that the care we provide for children is at the highest level and any areas for staff development are quickly highlighted. Peer observations allow us to share constructive feedback, develop practice and build trust so that staff can share any concerns they may have. Any concerns are raised with the DSL and dealt with in an appropriate and timely manner.
• The deployment of staff within the setting allows for constant supervision and support of children.
• We operate a Mobile Phone and Camera Policy and an Online Safety Policy which states how we will keep children safe from devices whilst within the Nursery.

Prevention and Early Help

At the University of Bradford Nursery we have trained designated Early Help Lead Professionals who support families in early help and prevention. We offer this support to families when we feel this is required and we also inform parents of this service through our termly parent consultations, giving families the option to take up this offer of support. This enables us to provide bespoke support to families for a wide range of reasons and an assessment is undertaken with the families consent to enable us to tailor the support to their needs alongside regular TAF meetings. We link in with our Early Help Coordinator/Team to give us advice and support when undertaking initial assessments and throughout the Early Help process.

Continuum of Need and Risk Identification Tool

We use the Continuum of Need and Risk Identification Tool to assist us when assessing risk and making referrals. It assists us in assessing levels of vulnerability and levels of need enabling us to respond appropriately. We use the levels below to assess need and vulnerability:

• Level 1 – Universal: no additional needs. Needs are met by universal services e.g. GP, dentist, health visitor, school, childcare setting.
• Level 2 – Universal Plus: additional support needed which may or may not require multi-agency work with other professionals and/or services i.e. food bank, debt service.
• Level 3 – Targeted Support / Partnership Plus: help and support from a range of professionals for families with complex needs.
• Level 4 – Statutory / Specialist and Child Protection: high priority needs including other specialist services – children who are experiencing significant harm.

Bradford District Safeguarding Children Partnership - Continuum of Need and Risk Identification Tool

The policy will be reviewed on a yearly basis and in line with any updates/changes to legislation.