Key contacts

Key Personnel	Name (s)	Contact Details
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Deputy DSL (s)
Chair of Committee	Anna Morris	chair@polstead.org.uk
Nominated Safeguarding Committee Member	Klara Fergusson	supervisor@polstead.org.uk
Local Authority Designated Officers (LADOs) and Education Safeguarding Advisory Team (ESAT)	LADO Team Jo Lloyd Sandra Barratt Amie Pilcher Sophie Kendall (ESAT) Becky Langstone (ESAT)	+44 1865 810 603 lado.safeguardingchildren@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Linked Locality Community Support Service (LCSS) worker
Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)		0345 050 7666
Out of hours Emergency Duty Team (EDT)		0800 833 408
Police		101 or in emergencies 999
OSCP		OCSP.oxfordshire.gov.uk

Introduction

It is essential that everybody working in this early years setting understands their safeguarding responsibilities.

All staff have a full and active part to play in protecting our children from harm.

Children’s welfare is our paramount concern.

All staff must be alert to any issues of concern in the child’s life at home or elsewhere.

All staff should make sure that any decisions made are in the best interests of the child.

This policy has been developed in accordance with the principles established by the Children Act 1989, and in line with the following:

• Working Together to Safeguard Children
• The Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework
• Keeping children safe in education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• What to do if you are Worried a Child is being abused
• Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Partnership Safeguarding Policies and Procedures
• What to do if you think a child is at risk of abuse or neglect - Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (OCSP.org.uk)
• Promoting the education of children with a social worker (publishing.service.gov.uk)

This policy should be read in conjunction with these national and local policies and procedures.

At Polstead Preschool, the provider takes seriously its responsibility under Section 11 of the Children Act and duties under “Working Together to safeguard Children”, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Equality Act 2010, (including the Public Sector Equality Duty), to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; to work together with other agencies to ensure adequate arrangements exist within our setting to identify and support those children who are suffering harm or are likely to suffer harm.

No single person can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances, and we are an important part of the wider safeguarding system for children. This system is described in the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children.

This policy applies to the provider, all our staff, and volunteers working in our setting and who will confirm they have read and understood this policy.

Policy Statement

This policy provides all who work here with the framework they need to keep children safe and secure in our setting, and to inform parents and guardians how we will safeguard their children whilst they are in our care.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this policy as:

• providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge
• protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online
• preventing impairment of children's mental and physical health or development
• ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

For more definitions used throughout this policy see Annex A.

For categories (including indicators) of abuse see Annex E.

Principles and Values

Our setting is committed to safeguarding children.

Our setting should provide a safe, caring, positive and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical, intellectual and moral development of the individual child, free from discrimination or bullying, where children can learn and develop happily.

All children have a right to be protected from harm and to feel safe and secure. They cannot learn effectively unless they do so.

We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.

We aim to create a culture of vigilance and maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned.

We will always act in the best interests of the child and ensure that the safeguarding decisions we take are child centred and coordinated in approach.

All staff have an important role in prevention of harm and an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may indicate a child is at risk of harm, either in the setting, the home or in the community.

We know that it is important to identify children who may benefit from early help which means providing support for them and their family as soon as a problem emerges at any point in a child’s life.

We recognise the importance of sharing information and reporting concerns to help ensure children are protected.

We acknowledge that working in partnership with other agencies protects children and reduces risk and so we engage in partnership working to safeguard children.

Whilst the setting will work openly with parents as far as possible, it reserves the right to contact the Local Authority Children’s Social Care (via MASH) or the police, without notifying parents if this is believed to be in the child’s best interests.

We make every effort to provide a safe and welcoming environment underpinned by a culture of openness where both children and adults feel secure, able to talk, and believe that they are being listened to.

We understand the need to treat everyone equally/equitably, with fairness, dignity, and respect. Any discriminatory behaviours are challenged, and children are supported to understand how to treat others with respect. We have a statutory duty to report and record any discriminatory incidents.

The wellbeing of our staff is important so if this policy raises any issues for you, please speak to our supervisor.

Leadership and management

The Management Team/Provider takes overall responsibility for safeguarding, ensuring the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and the DSL team, are fulfilling their role.

The Management Team/Provider recognise that staff anxiety around child protection can compromise good practice and so have established clear lines of accountability, training, and advice to support both the process and individual staff within that process.

In this setting any individual can contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), or the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), if they have concerns about a child or an adult.

There is a nominated safeguarding committee/trustee member who will take leadership responsibility for safeguarding.

The Management Team/Provider ensures that all staff are aware of Oxfordshire’s early help process and understand their role in it.

The Management Team/Provider ensures all staff should know what to do if a child tells them they are being abused, exploited, or neglected.

As an employer we follow safer recruitment guidance as set out in KCSIE 2025 and the EYFS.

Managers will ensure arrangements are in place for the supervision of staff who have contact with children and families. Effective supervision meetings provide support, coaching and training for the practitioner and promotes the interests of children. These are in the form of regular one - to - one meetings and should foster a culture of mutual support, teamwork and continuous improvement, which encourages the confidential discussion of sensitive issues.

Leaders and managers will ensure all requirements of the EYFS are in place to help keep children safe including requirements regarding safer eating, paediatric first aid training and promoting oral health.

Dealing with concerns, disclosures, reporting and record keeping

If a member of staff has a concern about a child or if a child tells them (a disclosure) they are being, or at risk of being, abused, exploited or neglected, staff will appropriately respond by listening and offering reassurance.

All staff must be aware that:

• they cannot promise a child to keep secrets which might compromise the child’s safety or wellbeing
• very young children including those with disabilities, special needs or with language delay may be more likely to communicate concerns with behaviours rather than words
• children may not feel ready or know how to tell someone that they are being abused, exploited, or neglected, and /or they may not recognise their experiences as harmful.

Additionally, staff will question the cause of knocks and bumps in children who have limited mobility which will include children visiting the site as well as children registered with our setting.

(OSCP Information for parents and carers about bruising to pre-mobile babies and children OSCP_Pre-Mobile-Bruising-Leaflet-003.pdf)

If a member of staff suspects abuse, spots signs or indicators of abuse, has concerns about a child’s mental health, or if a child tells them they are being, or at risk of being, abused, exploited or neglected they must make an initial record of the information (as soon as is practicable) and report it to the DSL/DDSL immediately.

The DSL will consider if there is a requirement for urgent medical intervention. However, urgent medical attention should not be delayed if the DSL is not immediately available.

Blank initial concern forms are kept in the office at the setting.

Staff should make an accurate factual record as soon as possible including details of:

• Dates and times of their observations
• Dates and times of any discussions in which they were involved
• Any injuries
• Type of suspected abuse
• Explanations given by the child/adult
• Any actual words or phrases used by the child
• Any questions the staff member asked (remembering not to ask any leading questions)
• What action was taken

The records must be signed and dated (or equivalent on electronic based records) by the person completing the form. Once completed concern forms should be kept confidential and stored securely (see below).

Using the Oxfordshire Threshold of Needs the DSL will consider the options which include:

• managing any support for the child via the settings own support processes including contacting the child’s social worker if they have one
• undertaking an early help assessment (Strengths and Needs), or
• If there are grounds to suspect a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm the DSL (or DDSL) must contact the Local Authority Children’s Social Care via MASH immediately, sharing:
  • the known facts
  • any suspicions or allegations
  • whether or not there has been any contact with the child’s family.

If concerns are urgent and are a level 3 or 4 on the Threshold of Need call MASH on 0345 050 7666 (Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 5pm, Friday 8.30am – 4pm) This call will be taken to the Customer Service Centre. There is also an online form to make a referral to MASH. Outside office hours call the Emergency Duty Team on 0800 833 408

In the absence of the DSL or DDSL, staff will refer directly to MASH or the child’s social worker (if applicable) and the police (if appropriate) if there is a significant concern.

If there is not considered to be a risk of significant harm, the DSL will either actively monitor the situation, and/or consider the Early Help process through completion of the Strengths and Needs form with the family.

Safeguarding records, including chronologies, are kept for individual children, and are maintained separately from all other records relating to the child in the setting.

Records include:

• a clear and comprehensive summary of the concern
• details of how the concern was followed up and resolved
• a note of any action taken, decisions reached and the outcome

Confidentiality and information sharing

We recognise that whilst matters relating to safeguarding are confidential, we have a professional responsibility to share information with other agencies to safeguard children.

Fears about sharing information must not be allowed to stand in the way of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

There is a lawful basis for child protection concerns to be shared with agencies who have a statutory duty for child protection.

Safeguarding records are kept in accordance with The Data Protection Act (DPA) UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) which are reflected in our Data Protection policy.

DPA and UK GDPR do not prevent the sharing of information for the purposes of keeping children safe and promoting their welfare. If in any doubt about sharing information, staff should speak to the DSL (or a deputy).

DfE Guidance on Information Sharing (May 2024) provides further detail including the Seven Golden Rules of Information Sharing.

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-practitioners-information-sharing-advice
• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/data-protection-in-schools

Our prime concern at all stages must be the interests and safety of the child.

Where there is a conflict of interest between the child and an adult, the interests of the child must be paramount.

We will ensure that staff are confident about what they can and should do under the law, including how to obtain consent to share information and when information can be shared without consent. All staff will be given training to understand the purpose of information sharing in order to safeguard and promote children’s welfare.

Staff should not assume a colleague, or another professional will take action and share information that might be critical in keeping children safe.

The Manager/Provider will be kept informed of any significant concerns by the DSL, (if they are not the DSL), and all other staff are informed on a need-to-know basis.

All safeguarding records will be transferred to the child’s receiving school/setting as soon as possible, and within 5 days for an in-year transfer or within the first 5 days of the start of a new term. These will be given to the receiving setting/school and a receipt of delivery will be obtained.

We will ensure that when a pupil who is the subject of a Child Protection (CP) Plan leaves the setting, their information is transferred to the new setting/school within 5 school days and that the child's Social Worker is informed that the child has moved.

If we do not know where the child is moving to, we will endeavour to find out. We will retain the records and speak to LCSS or MASH if we have concerns.

Training

All staff in our setting are expected to be aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse and must be able to respond appropriately.

Our DSL and any members of our DSL team undergoes training every 2 years through the OCSP to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out their role.

Safeguarding training is provided to all new staff on appointment as part of their induction process.

In-house training is also provided for all staff to a generalist level every 2 years, and safeguarding updates are shared with staff regularly.

Staff will be supported to put what they have learnt through safeguarding training into practice by involving them in weekly and termly planning sessions and asking them to present what they have learnt to the Management Team.

More information about safeguarding training can be found in Annex C of the EYFS and Annex L in this policy.

Staff are also provided with other training to support the ongoing welfare of children. For example, Paediatric First Aid, Oral Health, Restorative Practice, Attachment Theory, key person, Early Help Strengths and Needs, SEND, safer eating, anaphylaxis, difference between allergies and intolerances, toileting and intimate hygiene including privacy, and safer sleep.

Any update in national or local safeguarding guidance will be shared with all staff in briefings/meetings etc and the next whole setting training.

Safeguarding children with Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities

At Polstead Preschool, we acknowledge that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) can face additional safeguarding challenges as they may have an impaired capacity to resist or avoid abuse.

We recognise that additional barriers can exist when recognising abuse and neglect of children with SEND.

We will ensure that children with SEND, specifically those with communication difficulties, will be supported to ensure that their voice is heard and acted upon.

Staff are encouraged to be aware that children with SEND can be disproportionally impacted by safeguarding concerns such as bullying.

All staff will be encouraged to appropriately explore possible indicators of abuse such as behaviour/mood change or injuries and not to assume that they are related to the child’s additional needs or disability and be aware that children with SEND may not always outwardly display indicators of abuse.

Multi agency working

We recognise and are committed to working with other professionals and agencies in line with statutory guidance.

The setting is not the investigating agency when there are child protection concerns. We will, however, contribute to the investigation and assessment processes as required.

We recognise the importance of multi-agency working and the Management Team and DSL will work to establish strong and co-operative relationships with relevant professionals in other agencies.

We will support attendance at relevant safeguarding meetings, including Child Protection Conferences, Core Groups, Strategy Meetings, Child in Need meetings or other early help multi-agency meetings.

We will participate in Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (CSPR’s), other reviews and file audits as and when required to do so by OCSP.

We will ensure that we have a clear process for gathering the evidence required for reviews and audits and embed recommendations into practice and compile required actions within agreed timescales.

We will keep our contact details held by other agencies up to date e.g. with MASH and the Family Information Service.

Safer recruitment

We are committed to ensuring a safe culture where all steps are taken to recruit staff and volunteers who are safe to work with our children and staff.

The Management Team are responsible for ensuring that the setting follows safe recruitment processes. This includes not allowing anyone whose suitability has not been checked, including through a criminal records check, to have unsupervised contact with children being cared for.

An enhanced criminal records check is obtained for every person aged 16 and over (including for unsupervised volunteers, and supervised volunteers who provide personal care) who:

• Works directly with children
• Lives on the premises on which the childcare is provided (unless there is no access to the part of the premises when and where children are cared for) and/or
• Works on the premises on which the childcare is provided (unless they do not work on the part of the premises where the childcare takes place, or do not work there at times when children are present).

The Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the setting maintains an accurate Central Record. This includes a record of information about staff qualifications and the identity checks, vetting processes and references that have been completed (including the criminal records check reference number, the date a check was obtained and details of who at the setting obtained it).

An additional criminal records check (or checks if more than one country) will also be made for anyone who has lived or worked abroad.

The Provider/Management team will ensure that there is at least one person involved in the whole recruitment process who has completed safer recruitment training.

Job adverts and job descriptions will explain about safeguarding.

References are obtained in-line with the statutory requirements of the EYFS.

The setting will also provide references upon request in a timely manner which confirms the applicant’s suitability to work with children and provide the facts (not opinions) of any substantiated safeguarding concerns/allegations that meet the harm threshold, in line with the requirements of the EYFS.

The Provider/Manager is committed to supporting the statutory guidance from the Department for Education on the application of the Childcare (Disqualification) Regulations 2009 and related obligations under the Childcare Act 2006 in settings.

All staff should disclose any reason that may affect their suitability to work with children that could be a transferable risk to their role. This includes staff disclosing any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings that may affect their suitability to work with children (whether received before or during their employment at the setting).

Safeguarding requirements will be set out in any contracts between organisations and the setting. This will include the need for any DBS checks as appropriate. Any contractors, commissioned services or others working on site will be made aware of our Safeguarding Policy and procedures.

Managing allegations about staff, including agency staff, volunteers and contractors

Staff must report any concerns or allegations against a member of staff, or volunteer/contractor, to the manager as soon as possible.

If a child has been harmed, that there may be an immediate risk of harm to a child or if the situation is an emergency, I should contact the local authority children’s social care (via MASH) and as appropriate the police immediately.

If an allegation has been received by the Manager/Provider/Chair they will contact the LADO within one working day of the concern/allegation being raised, and before carrying out any investigation into the allegation other than preliminary enquiries.

The LADO is Jo Lloyd, contactable by phone on 01865 810603 or by email at lado.safeguardingchildren@oxfordshire.gov.uk. She works with a number of assistant LADOs.

If an allegation is made against the Supervisor, the concerns need to be raised with the Chair as soon as possible. If the Chair is not available, then the LADO should be contacted directly.

Allegations against the Supervisor will be reported to the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

An Allegations and Consultation Referral Form must be completed by the Supervisor (or other as appropriate) in full and forwarded to the LADO via email within one working day.

Referral to LADO includes all cases that meet the harms threshold where a person is alleged to have:

• behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed a child
• possibly committed a criminal offence against, or related to, a child
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children
• behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children. This includes behaviour that may have happened outside of the setting, that might make an individual unsuitable to work with children and is known as transferable risk. Where appropriate, an assessment of transferable risk to children with whom the person works should be undertaken.

There are two levels of allegation/concern:

• allegations that may meet the harms threshold (see paragraph above)
• allegation/concerns that do not meet the harms threshold – referred to in 2025 KCSIE guidance as ‘low level concerns’. These will be recorded and reviewed so that potential patterns of concern, inappropriate, problematic, or concerning behaviour can be identified.

If in doubt seek advice from the LADO.

A low-level concern is any concern – no matter how small, and even if no more than causing a sense of unease or a ‘nagging doubt’ - that an adult working in or on behalf of the setting may have acted in a way that is inconsistent with the staff code of conduct, including inappropriate conduct outside of work; and does not meet the allegations threshold or is otherwise not considered serious enough to consider a referral to the LADO.

Examples of such behaviour could include, but are not limited to:

• being overfriendly with children
• having favourites
• taking photographs of children on their mobile phone
• engaging with a child on a one-to-one basis in a secluded area or behind a closed door
• humiliating pupils

Such concerns must always be recorded and reviewed so that potential patterns of concerning, problematic or inappropriate behaviour can be identified.

If there are concerns that the owner/proprietor has acted in a way that meets the threshold for contacting the LADO, the person raising the concern should contact the LADO directly.

If the threshold for making a LADO referral has not been met, then the setting’s Whistleblowing Policy should be followed.

Where settings are not the employer of agency staff, they should ensure allegations are dealt with properly. In no circumstances should a setting decide to cease to use an agency staff member due to safeguarding concerns, without finding out the facts and liaising with the LADO to determine a suitable outcome. Further information can be found in KCSIE 2025.

In liaison with the LADO, the setting will determine how to proceed and if necessary, a referral will be made to the MASH and/or the police. The LADO team will assess the information provided and advise on next steps, in line with KCSIE 2025 part 4, and Oxfordshire County Council’s LADO local procedures. The setting will inform Ofsted.

The setting will also notify Ofsted, or the CMA with which a provider of Childcare on Domestic Premises is registered, of any significant event which is likely to affect the suitability of any person who is in regular contact with children on the premises where childcare is provided.

There may be situations when the Manager/DSL/Provider/Chair will want to involve the police immediately, if the person is deemed to be an immediate risk to children or there is evidence of a possible criminal offence.

The setting is required to make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service if a member of staff is dismissed (or would have been, had they not left the setting first) because they have harmed a child or put a child at risk of harm.

The setting will also contact the LADO team for advice where they have concerns about an adult working or volunteering with children which does not meet the harms threshold as stated above.

Whistleblowing in a safeguarding context

Whistleblowing is a term that is used when staff want to report a concern within their organisation that involves their manager or a person senior to them in the organisation which may prevent them from following the normal reporting systems.

While the setting has a separate whistleblowing policy, this is a summary that outlines the process when there is a concern that safeguarding issues have not been reported or followed correctly. It does not replace the whistleblowing policy and should be read in conjunction with that policy.

There are a limited number of areas that can be called whistleblowing, and the policy protects staff from being punished for raising concerns.

Whistleblowing guidance: https://www.gov.uk/whistleblowing

Within this setting the Supervisor is the senior manager and responsible for all staff. If you are concerned that any member of staff within the setting is not following safeguarding processes or behaving in a way that is placing children at risk, you should, in the first place, make the manager aware.

If your concern is about the Supervisor, you should raise this with the Chair of the Committee.

If you would prefer to raise your concerns outside of the setting, then you are able to contact the NSPCC whistleblowing line on 0800 028 0285 or email help@nspcc.org.uk for national organisations, or Ofsted provides guidance on how to make complaints about a provider: Complaints procedure - Ofsted - GOV.UK

If you believe that a member of the setting staff is harming a child (an allegation) and this has been reported to the manager and no / insufficient action has been taken, or the member of staff you have concerns about is the manager/provider, then you are able to contact the LADO (see section above) on 01865 810603 or email lado.safeguardingchildren@oxfordshire.gov.uk

If you believe that a child is being abused by individuals outside the setting, you can make a referral to The Local Authority Children’s Social Care by calling the MASH on 0345 050 7666 (office hours) or 0800 833 408 (outside of office hours).

Further guidance for staff can be accessed through:

• Child abuse concerns: guide for practitioners - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and
• the NSPCC website What is Child Abuse & How to Keep Your Child Protected | NSPCC

Preventing radicalisation

All our staff complete online Prevent Awareness training (http://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk) to support staff in identifying radicalisation and understanding what steps they need to take to protect the staff, children and families in our setting.

This training provides an introduction to the Prevent duty, the first objective of which is to tackle the ideological causes of terrorism and explains how it aims to safeguard vulnerable people from being radicalised to supporting terrorism or becoming terrorists themselves.

Sharing information about Prevent should be treated in the same way as other safeguarding issues.

Risk assessment, site security and premises

All staff members have a responsibility to ensure our buildings and grounds are safe.

This includes ensuring the safety of any visitors into the setting and ensuring that children cannot get out of the grounds unaccompanied.

Regular and thorough risk assessments are carried out; hazards are reported and made safe and/or removed.

Our visitor policy is available on our website and all visitors are expected to sign in and out even if they regularly visit the setting and are well known to staff. They will have our safeguarding procedures explained to them.

The setting will not accept the behaviour of any individual, parent or anyone else, that threatens setting security or leads others, child or adult, to feel unsafe. Such behaviour will be treated as a serious concern and may result in a decision to refuse the person access to the setting site.

All staff will be made aware of this guidance Protective security and preparedness for education settings - GOV.UK to ensure they are able to identify security vulnerabilities, suspicious activity and how to respond when there is an incident.

When working alongside other providers or organisations on the same site, we will ensure they are fully informed of and compliant with all safeguarding measures to protect children while on site.

The landlord, St Margaret's Institute operate a CCTV system in some areas of the building.

Children’s privacy is considered and balanced with safeguarding and support needs especially when changing nappies and toileting.

Mobile phones, cameras and other electronic devices with imaging and sharing capabilities

Mobile phones, cameras and other electronic devices with imaging and sharing capabilities can be potentially misused.

We recognise the specific risks that can be posed by mobile phones and cameras and have appropriate policies in place that are shared and understood by all members of the setting community.

Our policy on the usage of mobile phones can be found here

Child absences

This setting promotes good attendance with parents and carers and follows up on absences in a timely manner.

We have an attendance policy that is shared with parents and/or carers which includes expectations for reporting child absences and the actions we will take if a child is absent without notification or for a prolonged period of time, for example: implementing the setting’s safeguarding procedures, following up with the parents and/or carers and contacting emergency contacts if parents and/or carers are not contactable.

We look at patterns and trends in a child’s absences and their personal circumstances and use professional judgement when deciding if the child’s absence should be considered as prolonged.

Consideration is given to the child’s vulnerability, parent’s and/or carer’s vulnerability and their home life. Any safeguarding concerns must be referred to the DSL and passed onto children’s social care services and/or the police to request a welfare check.

Safeguarding and the curriculum

In this setting we ensure the content of the curriculum includes personal, social and emotional aspects of learning. We use all opportunities to teach children about how they can keep themselves and others well and safe from harm, in an age-appropriate way.

Promoting educational outcomes

There is a culture of high aspirations for children where safeguarding and welfare has been an issue. Staff will understand their development needs, promote educational outcomes, progress and attainment, and identify the challenges that children in this group might face. Additional support and adjustments will be made to best support these children. Where a child has a Social Worker, staff will work closely with the Social Worker to ensure the child makes progress and reaches their full potential. Oxfordshire’s Virtual School also has a role to play in promoting the educational achievements of children in kinship care. The Role of the Virtual School

Related safeguarding policies

This safeguarding and child protection policy should be read in conjunction with the policies as listed below:

• Behaviour Management, linked to the Use of Physical Intervention Online Safety and social media
• Use of mobile phones and cameras (including wearable technology)
• Anti-Bullying
• Data Protection and Information Sharing
• Image Use
• Personal and Intimate Care
• Health and Safety
• Attendance Policy – which includes expectations for reporting child absences and the actions that will be taken if a child is absent without notification or for a prolonged period of time.
• Risk Assessments (e.g. trips, Use of technology)
• First Aid and Accidents
• Administering Medicines
• Code of conduct for parents/carers/visitors
• Safer Recruitment
• Whistleblowing
• Complaints
• Food and Drink
• Emergency Evacuation and lockdown
• Lost or Uncollected Child
• Visitor policy

Policy review

Systems are in place to monitor the implementation of, and compliance with, this policy and accompanying procedures.

The senior management team will ensure that action is taken to remedy any deficiencies and weaknesses identified in child protection arrangements without delay.

As a setting, we review this policy at least annually in line with DfE, OCSP and OCC requirements and other relevant statutory guidance.

Annexures

Annexure A. Definitions
Annexure B. Roles and responsibilities