Safeguarding and our nursery
At the University of Bradford Nursery, nothing is more important than children’s welfare. Safeguarding our children, families and staff is key to having a safe and happy environment.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead’s (DSL) at the Nursery are Rochelle Smith (Nursery Manager), and Emma Marwood (Assistant Manager for Operations). In their absence, Claire Nicholls (Assistant Manager for Early Years Teaching) and all our Area Leads within each of our rooms, are also backup DSL’s, having completed full and relevant training.
We have more information available on the University safeguarding webpages, including the Nursery’s Safeguarding Policy.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and all staff are trained thoroughly within this area having regular refresher training, and discussions within team and staff meetings.
There are many legislation documents to support the safeguarding of young children:
- Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 (PDF)
- Children Act 1989 (PDF)
- Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework
- Information Sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents, and carers 2018 (PDF)
- What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused; Advice for Practitioners 2015 (PDF)
Early help
We have 3 Lead Practitioners who support families who may be in need of Early Help. These are Rochelle Smith, Emma Marwood and Claire Nicholls. The Lead Practitioner is the named professional, identified as the person who will be the family’s main point of contact while they need a coordinated Early Help package of support.
During termly parental consultations, within newsletters and via email communications, we send out regular reminders regarding Early Help, and encourage parents and carers to come and speak with us at any time if they feel they may benefit from some form of Early Help.
‘Lots of families might need support at some point in their busy lives. It could be that you’re worried about your child’s health, development, or behaviour, or perhaps because you are caring for a disabled child. Your child may be struggling to go to school or you may be struggling to send your child to school. Maybe your child is affected by family relationships, drugs or alcohol or you are experiencing personal distress or anxiety, financial or housing problems. By getting help from the right services at the right time, and as early in a child’s life as possible, we can help to prevent or reduce potential problems for children as they grow up.’
Early Help; Information Leaflet for Parents and Carers (PDF)
Staff have a remarkable understanding of child protection and wider safeguarding issue.
Ofsted report 2019
First Aid
The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidelines, which childcare settings in England are required to follow, currently states:
“ At least one person who has a current paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate must be on the premises and available at all times when children are present, and must accompany children on outings. “
At The University of Bradford Nursery, we pride ourselves on training 100% of our staff team in Paediatric First Aid.
We believe this gives our families reassurance that all childcare practitioners know what to do in a paediatric first-aid situation.
We also ensure that everything learned during the course is kept alive and at the forefront of practitioners’ minds so that they are confident, ready, and capable through regular staff quizzes, discussions, and refresher training.
We have a total of 10 first aid kits, 7 of these are large and 3 small which are situated around the Nursery and within close proximity to all areas.
The Nursery is currently applying for our Millie’s Mark Accreditation.