Working together to safeguard children.

Designated Safeguarding Lead is:

Donna McCarthy

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is:

Laura Bond

Everybody has the right to be safe, no matter who they are or their circumstance. They have the right to live their life free from violence, fear and abuse, but not everyone can protect themselves.

A child’s needs should always come first

Safeguarding and welfare requirements:

Children learn best when they are healthy, safe, secure, when their individual needs are met, and when they have positive relationships with the people caring for them.

Providers must take all necessary steps to keep children safe and well. Early years providers must:

• Safeguard children
• Ensure the people who have contact with children are suitable.
• Promote good health
• Support and understand behaviour
• Maintain records, policies and procedures

 ‘Early Years foundation stage statutory framework 11/10/2024’

 Operation Encompass

‘Safeguarding Futures, One Child at a Time’

Operation Encompass has been newly role out across Early years settings and provides crucial information, enabling teachers and Key Workers to play a proactive and informed role in protecting and supporting children today, while also aiming to secure their future well-being. This action-oriented focus concentrates on both the immediate and lasting impact of the support given to a child experiencing domestic abuse. Operation Encompass is a beacon of hope for children experiencing domestic abuse. As Operation Encompass reaches its fifteenth year there have been many significant milestones, not least that it is one of the most successful social impact initiatives in the field of safeguarding vulnerable children.

Elisabeth Carney-Haworth OBE & David Carney-Haworth OBE October 2024

 The 6 principles of safeguarding children

• Empowerment – Children should be supported to make decisions
• Prevention – To take steps to prevent harm from occurring
• Proportionality – Response to safeguarding concerns should be proportionate to the level of risk
• Protection – Principle focuses on providing support and safety to those who are most vulnerable
• Partnership – Working together with other professionals, organisations and child’s family
• Accountability – All individuals involved in safeguarding have a responsibility to be open, transparent and answerable for actions and decisions.

Agencies we work in association with to provide the best level of safeguarding

•  MARU – Multi agency referral unit
• LADO – Local Authority Designated Officer
• LSPs – Local Safeguarding Partners
• DBS – Disclosure and Barring Service
• Children’s social care
• NSPCC Whistleblowing – National Society in Preventing Cruelty to children
• Police
• Operation Encompass – Support for families dealing with domestic violence

All staff complete Safeguarding training as part of their induction and attend ongoing training which protects and safeguards the children in our care.

Health & Safety

At Pensilva Pre-school we have robust policies and procedures in place which ensure our nursery is both safe and secure for the children in our care, their families, our staff team as well as those visiting our nurseries. 

Our staff are trained in Health and Safety as part of their induction and ongoing training to ensure that they have a full understanding of their health and safety responsibilities. Some examples of this training include Food Safety & Food Allergies, Fire Awareness, Risk Assessments and Manual Handling, all of which make certain that our nursery remains safe and secure as well as meeting all current safety legislation. 

On a daily basis, staff conduct Health and Safety checks of both the indoor and outdoor nursery environments.