Early Years and Childcare – EYFS Statutory Guidance 2021
Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The EYFS statutory framework 2021 states:
3.4. Providers must be alert to any issues of concern in the child’s life at home or elsewhere. Providers must have and implement a policy, and procedures, to safeguard children. These should be in line with the guidance and procedures of the relevant local safeguarding partners (LSP). The safeguarding policy and procedures must include an explanation of the action to be taken when there are safeguarding concerns about a child and in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff, and cover the use of mobile phones and cameras in the setting. To safeguard children and practitioners online, providers will find it helpful to refer to ‘Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings: online safety considerations’.
3.5. A practitioner must be designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children in every setting. Childminders must take the lead responsibility themselves. The lead practitioner is responsible for liaison with local statutory children’s services agencies, and with the LSP. They must provide support, advice and guidance to any other staff on an ongoing basis, and on any specific safeguarding issue as required. The lead practitioner must attend a child protection training course that enables them to identify, understand and respond appropriately to signs of possible abuse and neglect.
3.6. Providers must train all staff to understand their safeguarding policy and procedures, and ensure that all staff have up to date knowledge of safeguarding issues. Training made available by the provider must enable staff to identify signs of possible abuse and neglect at the earliest opportunity, and to respond in a timely and appropriate way. These may include:
- significant changes in children’s behaviour
- deterioration in children’s general well-being
- unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect
- children’s comments which give cause for concern
- any reasons to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting, for example in the child’s home or that a girl may have been subjected to (or is at risk of) female genital mutilation and/or
- inappropriate behaviour displayed by other members of staff, or any other person working with the children, for example: inappropriate sexual comments; excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities; or inappropriate sharing of images.
Providers may also find ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused: Advice for practitioners’ helpful.
Child abuse concerns: guide for practitioners – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Local Safeguarding Partnership (LSP) in Suffolk is known as the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership
Home » Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership (suffolksp.org.uk)
Early Years Inspection Handbook for Ofsted registered provision (EIF)
Early years inspection handbook for Ofsted-registered provision – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)