SBC EYFS Safeguarding Audit 2017– Nurseries and Pre-schools
“Children learn best when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs are met and when they have positive relationships with the adults caring for them”- EYFS 2017
The following audit of safeguarding and welfare requirements has been based on section 3 of the Statutory Framework for the EYFS.
Swindon LSCB advises all EY’s Settings to complete this audit tool in order to self-evaluate the quality of their safeguarding practice.
The EYFS requires all settings to liaise with, and follow advice from, Swindon LSCB. Failure to comply with this advice could result in an “inadequate” grade at inspection.
Completing the audit will enable you to;
- Assess the quality of your safeguarding practice and provide clear evidence for your SEF.
- Identify gaps in safeguarding practice or procedures and put plans in place to address these.
- Have clear evidence of meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements for Ofsted at the time of your inspection.
Please return all completed audits to by 30th Nov 2017
Name of setting:……………………………….. EY Number:………………
Record of Safeguarding Training
LSCB training advice and courses can be found at;
Who is the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)?Name: / Who is the Deputy Safeguarding Lead? (DDSL)?
Name:
Level 2/3 Safeguarding training (LSCB) / Date when you last completed level 3 safeguarding training. (Level 3 training needs updating every 2 years) / Date when you last completed level 2 or 3 safeguarding training.(Level 2 training needs updating every 2 years, it is good practice to update with level 3)
Level 3 Update training / Date and title of all level 3 update training you have attended (write “None” if there aren’t any) / Date and title of all level 3 update training you have attended (write “None” if there aren’t any)
Other training / Name and date of all other safeguarding courses completed eg Prevent, online Safety. / Name and date of all other safeguarding courses completed.
Safer Recruitment Training (within the last 5 years) / Name of staff and date attended training.
Managing Allegations / Name of staff and date attended training
Conferences and Core Groups Training / Name of staff and date attended training
Early Help Record and Plan Training / Name of staff and date attended training
Level 1 Safeguarding (Basic Awareness) / Have all staff completed this training within the last 3 years (as a minimum)
Yes/No
Paediatric First Aid Training (within the last 3 years) / Do you meet the minimum requirement of at least one person with relevant training on site and on outings at all times?
Yes/No
Food Hygiene / Have all staff involved in preparing food attended relevant training?
Yes/No
Child Protection (CP), Child in Need (ChIN) and Early Help (EHRP)
How many children have you currently got on a child protection plan?Between September 2016 and Sept 2017
How many children did you have on a child protection plan?
How many child protection conferences were you invited to attend?
How many child protection conferences did you attend?
How many reports for conference did you submit?
How many reports did you share with parents prior to attending a conference?
Have there been any occasions when you haven’t received minutes following on from a CP conference?
How many children have you currently got at Child in Need (ChIN) level?
Between September 2016 and Sept 2017
How many children did you have at Child in Need level?
How many core groups were you invited to attend?
How many core group meetings did you actually attend?
How many children have you currently got at Early Help level?
Between September 2016 and Sept 2017
How many children did you have at Early Help level?
If you weren’t Lead Professional how many EHRP/TAC/TAF meetings were you invited to?
If you weren’t Lead Professional how many EHRP/TAC/TAF meetings did you attend?
How many Early Help Record and Plans did you complete?
How many Early Help Record and Plans did you submit to FCP/MASH?
Between September 2016 and Sept 2017
Have you needed to use the Swindon LSCB “Escalation Procedures” to resolve any dispute, with another professional, relating to the safety of a child?YES/NO
If yes how many times?
Safeguarding Requirements
Statutory Framework for the EYFS 2017, section 3
Working Together 2015
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016 / Questions/prompts/reminders/resources / Please indicate whether you have partly met or fully met these requirements.
If only partly met include an action in action plan (appendix 1)
Partly met / Fully met
Child Protection Policy and Procedures
Do you have a child protection policy which is revised annually?
Does your policy cover;
- The 4 categories of abuse physical, emotional, sexual and neglect?
- Radicalisation (PREVENT), female genital mutilation, child sexual exploitation and peer on peer abuse?
- Use of mobile phones and digital photography?
- Use of social media?
- Keeping children safe online?
- Swindon LSCB procedures to follow in the event of an allegation being made against you or another member of staff?
- Swindon LSCB procedures for reporting a concern about a child’s safety or welfare (including phone number)?
- Early identification of concerns and the Early Help Record and Plan?
- How you keep records of child protection concerns?
- Procedures for if a child goes missing, isn’t collected or doesn’t attend regularly?
- Whistleblowing procedures?
- Does your policy make reference to the South West Child Protection Procedures (SWCPP) and the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB)?
- Does your policy make reference to the most up to date safeguarding documents such as “Working Together” 2015 and “What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused” 2015?
- Is your policy easily accessible and shared with all staff and parents/carers?
Are you familiar with the Swindon LSCB website?
Do you visit the website regularly to keep yourself up to date?
Do you maintain an open attitude to child protection eg “it could happen here” rather than “it’s not likely happen here”?
Have you got access to the following national
Guidance documents?
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015
What to do if you're worried a child is being abused 2015
Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people parents and carers 2015
Are you aware that Swindon Early Years safeguarding resources are available at:
Do you know about early identification of concerns and how to access Early Help Record and Plan guidance and forms?
(to be used if you have concerns about a child and they may need additional support, but they aren’t at immediate risk of harm)
Have you completed “Prevent” online training or visited the LSCB website for advice on how to protect children from radicalisation/extremism?
Do all staff/assistants/parents read the CP policy as part of their induction? Do you keep evidence that this happens?
Managing Allegations
Is the procedure for managing allegations included in your Child Protection Policy?
Do you and all staff know the correct procedures to follow if an allegation is made against you?
Do you keep clear records of allegations showing that correct procedures have been followed?
Do you report all allegations to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and to Ofsted (within 14 days)? / Further advice and guidance in relation to managing allegations is available on the Swindon LSCB website.
- Contact the LADO as soon as you are aware an allegation has been made against you or a member of staff Tel 466903
- Follow the advice of the LADO
- Contact Ofsted within 14 days
Do you have procedures in place for changing nappies and supporting children with toileting?
Do you make parents aware of your personal care procedures?
Do you record any incidents when you have needed to restrain a child? Are these shared with parents as soon as possible?
Suitable People
Have you completed Ofsted suitability checks, this should include an enhanced DBS check, for everyone (over the age of 16) who is involved in looking after children?
Is there is anyone living on the premises where you provide childcare? If “yes” have the necessary suitability checks, including an enhanced DBS check, been completed?
Is there anyone else working on the premises where you provide childcare? If “yes” have the necessary suitability checks, including an enhanced DBS check, been completed?
If you are a Committee run setting have you completed suitability checks, including an enhanced DBS check and an EY2 for all committee members before they attend their first meeting, if checks are not complete have you put a risk assessment in place?
If you are a private setting have all owners and managers completed an enhancedDBS checks and other suitability checks?
Swindon LSCB Safer Recruitment Procedures
Do you keep a personnel file for all staff which includes details of the recruitment process and the induction procedure?
Code of conduct/Behaviour Policy
Do you have a written code of conduct/staff behaviour policy for your setting? (see “Safer working practice guidance for adults who work with children….”
Convictions
Are you and all adults who live or work on your premises aware that you are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions reprimands or warnings that may affect your suitability to work with children (whether received before or during employment)?
Whistleblowing
Are you and any staff working with you aware of the procedure to follow if you have concerns about any adult who works with children? (Whistleblowing procedure)
Have you got the NSPCC Whistleblowing helpline number displayed?
NSPCC Whistleblowing helpline Call0800 028
Disqualification
Are you aware that you must notify Ofsted if you, or anyone living or working on the same premises as childcare is provided has been disqualified from registration?
Are you aware that you must inform Ofsted if any staff member is disqualified from working in childcare or if anyone living or working in their households are disqualified from working in childcare?
Single Central Record (SCR)
Do you have a “Single Central record in Place” which provides evidence of; identity, qualifications, barred list checks, DBS, childcare disqualification requirements, right to work in the UK and overseas checks for all staff?
Are your committee, owners, managers, trustees etc included on your SCR?
Is your SCR accurate and up to date? / Do your recruitment procedures include;
A statement referencing the settings commitment to keeping children safe?
A statement in adverts that the successful applicant will be required to go through a robust vetting process?
A statement about safeguarding responsibilities in job descriptions and other information sent to applicants?
Information that there is a strict code of conduct for all staff?
A standardised application form? CV’s should not be accepted.
Are applicants informed that;
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974?
The successful applicant will be required to provide a DBS check at the required level?
References are taken up (prior to interview) and previous employers may be approached to verify information?
You will seek information from previous employers about any disciplinary procedures relating to children or child protection concerns?
Application forms;
Need to be complete.
When scrutinising application forms consider whether the information is consistent;
Are there any gaps in employment?
Are there any safeguarding concerns?
Shortlisting
References need to be sought directly from the referee, not handed over by the candidate
Verbal references will always be followed up by a written one.
References will be requested on a standard reference proforma
A minimum of 2 references will be sought, at least one from the current or previous childcare employer.
References need to ask;
About the candidates suitability for the post and their suitability to work with children.
Whether there have been any disciplinary procedures relating to children
Whether there have been any allegations raised in relation to the safety or welfare of children.
Interviews
The following checks need to be completed at the interview stage or prior to interview;
- The identity of the candidate
- Specific qualifications or experience
- Right to work and live in the UK for overseas applicants
Interviews are structured so the same information is sought from each candidate
When an offer of appointment is made is it made on condition that all pre-employment checks are satisfactorily completed including vetting (DBS) checks?
Useful SCR guidance from Gloucestershire is available on
Staff training and support
Has the DSL attended level 3 training (including update training) within the last 2 years
Is there at least one person who has attended Safer Recruitment training within the last 5 years?
Has the owner/manager attended Managing Allegations training?
Has the DDSL attended level 2 training in the last 2 years (as a minimum)
Have all other staff attended level 1 safeguarding training in the last 3 years (as a minimum)
Does the DSL regularly update his/her safeguarding knowledge and ensure that all staff receive regular safeguarding updates?
Are there arrangements in place for the induction of all new staff?
Do all staff receive regular supervision sessions which support and develop staff as well as giving them the opportunity to talk about safeguarding concerns? / All LSCB Safeguarding training can be booked at;
Safeguarding updates are provided by SBC at “Leaders and Managers” meetings.
Do all staff understand the procedures to follow if they have concerns for the safety or welfare of a child?
Do you have the Swindon, LSCB flow chart on display?
Are you confident identifying the signs and symptoms of abuse including female genital mutilation (FGM) and radicalisation?
Free PREVENT training (radicalisation) is available at
Further information about FGM is available at;
Do you have a checklist for staff induction? (sample on Swindon schoolsonline)
Do you record staff supervision? A sample policy and templates are available on Swindon schoolsonline
Staffing ratios
Do staffing arrangements always meet the required ratios and ensure the safety of all children?
Are children always within sight or hearing?
Are all staff, included in ratio, over the age of 17? (an exception may be made for students or apprentices)
Do you keep parents informed of staff changes? / Do you have a system in place for carefully monitoring staff ratios throughout the day and in different rooms and areas of your setting?
Do registers accurately reflect the number of staff present throughout the day, as well as the number of children?
Health/Accident or Injury
Do you obtain information about a child’s dietary needs prior to them starting at your setting?
Do you have procedures in place for dealing with ill/infectious children? Is this shared with parents?
Do you have a medicines policy?
Do you record accidents/injuries and pre-existing injuries?
Do you have at least one person on site at all times with up to date paediatric first aid training?
Do you have a paediatric first aid box available at all times?
Is it checked regularly to ensure the contents are in date?
Are you aware of the need to notify Ofsted of any serious injury/ food poisoning (affecting 2 or more children) within 14 days? / Do you provide parents with information about procedures to be followed when their child is ill?
Is all medication in the household stored safely?
Do parents give written permission for you to administer medication on a daily basis?
Do you attend training for administering medicine which requires medical or technical knowledge?
Do you complete a record, which is signed by parents at home time, of any medication that has been administered?
Do parents sign accident and pre-existing injury forms at the earliest opportunity? /
Managing Behaviour
Do you manage behaviour in a way which excludes the use of corporal punishment and the use of physical intervention unless it is to prevent harm to the child or another person?
Do you record occasions when physical restraint is used and share the record with the parent at the earliest opportunity? / Are all parents, staff and volunteers aware of your behaviour policy?
Do you complete a risk assessment when children present a danger to themselves or others eg biting,climbing or a lack of awareness of danger?
Do you have golden rules displayed so children can take responsibility for managing their own behaviour?
Are fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance firmly embedded in your everyday practice?
Safety and Suitability of Premises/Equipment
Do you comply with all health and safety regulations?
Is your premises secure? How do you know it’s secure?
Do you check the ID of all visitors to your setting and never leave visitors alone with children?
Do you regularly check that no-one is able to enter or leave the premises without authority?
Do you ensure your indoor and outdoor environments are safe from hazards on a daily basis?
Do you risk assess any equipment or activities which may pose a danger to children? Are all staff made aware of these risk assessments?
Are children within sight/hearing at all times?
If you have pets, have you got risk assessments in place?
Are sleeping children closely monitored?
Do you ensure there is no smoking in areas where children are present or about to be present?