Cublington Nursery School: Child Protection Policy.
At Cublington Nursery School we intend to create an environment in which children are safe from abuse and in which any suspicion of abuse is promptly and appropriately responded to. In order to do this we will:
Exclude known abusers
It will be made clear to applicants for posts within the nursery school that the position is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
All applicants will be subject to a probationary period and will not be confirmed unless the nursery school is confident that the applicant can be safely entrusted with children.
All applicants, both paid and voluntary, will be subject to a probationary period and will not be confirmed unless the nursery is confident that the applicant can be safely entrusted with children.
Seek and supply training
We will seek out training opportunities for all adults involved in the group to ensure that they recognise the symptoms of possible physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse and sexual abuse.
Prevent abuse by means of good practice
Adults will not be left alone for long periods with individual children or with small groups. An adult who needs to take a child aside – for example, for time out after behaviour which needs improvement – will leave the door ajar.
Adults who have not been registered as “fit” persons will not take children unaccompanied to the toilet.
Children will be encouraged to develop a sense of autonomy and independence through adult support in making choices and in finding names for their own feelings and acceptable ways to express them. This will enable children to have the self-confidence and vocabulary to resist inappropriate approaches.
The layout of the playroom will permit constant supervision of all children.
Respond appropriately to suspicions of abuse
The first concern will be the child. Children whose condition or behaviour has given cause for concern will be listened to, reassured and helped to understand that they themselves are valued and respected and have not been at fault.
Changes in children’s behaviour/appearance will be investigated.
Parents will normally be the first point of reference, though suspicions will also be referred as appropriate to the Social Services Department. In exceptional circumstances, the Social Services Department may be the first point of reference.
All such suspicions and investigations will be kept confidential, shared only with those who need to know. The people most commonly involved will be a member of staff and the manager.
If a volunteer or member of staff is accused of any form of child abuse, she/he will be interviewed immediately by the person in charge of the nursery. The person accused may choose to attend the interview accompanied by a friend or colleague. The interview will usually be with the nursery manager. However, if the allegation is against the manager, the interview may be conducted by an outside agency, eg Early Years Department, Child Protection Unit or Ofsted. The person against who the allegation is made will be informed of the allegation and will be immediately suspended while an investigation is made. Investigations will be in line with Area Child Protection Committee procedures and conducted in conjunction with the Area Child Protection Committee. Confidential records will be kept of the allegation and of all subsequent proceedings.
Keep records
Whenever worrying changes are observed in a child’s behaviour, physical condition or appearance, a specific and confidential record will be set up, quite separate from the usual on-going records of children’s progress and development. The records will include, in addition to the name and address, the age of the child: timed and dated observations, describing objectively the child’s behaviour/appearance without comment or interpretation; where possible, the exact words spoken by the child; the dated name and signature of the recorder.
Such records will be kept in a separate file and will not be accessible to people in the nursery school other than the manager and member of staff as appropriate.
Liaise with other bodies
Cublington Nursery School operates in accordance with local authority guidelines. Confidential records kept on children about whom the nursery school is anxious will be shared with the Social Services Department if we feel that adequate explanations for changes in the child’s condition have not been provided.
If a report on a child is to be made to the authorities, the child’s parents will be informed at the same time as the report is made.
The nursery school will maintain ongoing contact with the registering authority, including names, addresses and telephone numbers of individual social workers, to ensure that it would be easy, in an emergency, for the nursery school and the Social Services Department to work well together.
Support families
Cublington Nursery School will take every step in its power to build up trusting and supportive relationships between families and staff.
Where abuse at home is suspected, the nursery school will continue to welcome the child and family while investigations proceed.
Confidential records kept on a child will be shared with the child’s parents.
With the proviso that the care and safety of the child must always be paramount, the nursery school will do all in its power to support and work with the child’s family.