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Safeguarding Policy and Procedures
Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility, regardless of profession.
Safeguarding means to protect the health, well-being and human rights of individuals, which allow people, especially children, young people and vulnerable adults, to live free from abuse, harm and neglect. Under Working together guidance, and as outlined by Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023, safeguarding children means:
Protecting Children from maltreatment
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 have the best outcomes.
The following works closely alongside the document ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children’ (July 2018) as well as ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (September 2023).
Working together to safeguard children states that children feel they need: Vigilance; Understanding and action; Stability; Respect; Information and engagement; Explanation; Support; Advocacy; and Protection. Hopscotch follows these when delivering care to all our children. We also closely follow the ‘Every Child Matters’ five key outcomes for all children in the UK, ensuring we are delivering the best possible practice:
Being healthy: children are entitled to enjoy good physical and mental health and to live a healthy lifestyle.
Staying safe: children should be protected from harm and neglect.
Enjoying and achieving: children should get the most out of life and develop the skills for adulthood.
Making a positive contribution: children need to be involved with the community and society and not engage in anti-social or offending behaviour.
Economic well-being: children should not be prevented by economic disadvantages from achieving their full potential in life.
Hopscotch has a duty to protect all children, particularly those considered to be a child in need, or a child at risk of significant harm. We will ensure children are appropriately safeguarded and given the level of support relevant to their needs. The Children’s Act 1989 defines a child in need as ‘a child who is unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable level of health or development, or whose health and development is likely to be significantly or further impaired, without the provision of services; or a child who is disabled.’
Significant harm includes:
The severity of ill-treatment
The duration and frequency of abuse and/or neglect
The extent of pre-meditation
The degree of threat and coercion, sadism and bizarre or unusual elements in child sexual abuse.
The ability of those with parental responsibility to protect their child
All of our senior practitioners are safeguarding officers, these include the owner of the business: Lucy Yeandle, the Manager: Mathilda Norris, the Deputy Manager: Emily Isherwood and our Senior Practitioners: Jo Varley; Kimberly Tustin; and Lisa Bristowe. However, the main Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mathilda Norris and the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Emily Isherwood. Should there be a time when neither of these are on the premises, either Lucy Yeandle; Jo Varley; Kimberly Tustin; and/or Lisa Bristowe will be the next point of call. Conversely, we believe:
“Keeping children safe is everybody’s responsibility”
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. We all have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all practitioners should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child. We understand no single practitioner can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances. If children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information and taking prompt action. Therefore, we ensure that all our practitioners are confident to:
Be alert to and recognise child welfare issues
Raise concerns
Share information with others where necessary
Make referrals to social care when appropriate (or come and talk to the DSL, about making a referral)
Contribute towards any plans and decisions about a child if necessary.
Challenge poor practice in the workplace.
In order to deliver this, we train all of our practitioners to understand our safeguarding policy and procedures, and ensure that they all have up to date knowledge of safeguarding issues. Training is made available in order for our practitioners to identify signs of possible abuse and neglect at the earliest opportunity, and to respond in a timely and appropriate way, and with confidence. Hopscotch especially acknowledges its duty to ensure our DSL is well known and approachable, and their knowledge is up to date.
The DSL ensures Hopscotch fulfils its safeguarding obligations in the best way possible to ensure practitioners are trained and supported effectively so that they are skilled in safeguarding children.
The DSL has direct responsibility for the safeguarding practices of Hopscotch, including listening to concerns, referring them at a higher level and raising awareness of the child protection and safeguarding procedures. They are the first point of contact for safeguarding enquiries and must offer advice and support for other staff members in the workplace. The DSL acknowledges that children’s responses to abuse are often unexpected and, to us illogical so all staff members are trained and prepared in what to do should a child come to them with information. The DSL’s responsibilities include:
To be alert to and recognise child welfare issues
To raise and share concerns
To share information with others where necessary
To know when to make referrals to social care when appropriate and ensure staff know how to contact you about doing so.
To contribute towards any plans and decisions about a child if necessary.
To speak to the parent, carer or child about the concerns if required.
To recognise the importance of safer recruitment and staff conduct and follow safer recruitment practices.
To participate in regular training and ensure other staff members are trained in safeguarding procedures.
To challenge poor practice in the workplace.
To ensure Hopscotch has appropriate safeguarding policies and procedures that reflect our organisation.
To ensure everyone at Hopscotch (including volunteers and trustees) are appropriately trained in safeguarding practice and procedure – including safer recruitment where their role requires it.
Hopscotch’s DSL may need to seek advice using the following sources:
Consult with social care
Read Banes Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships (LSCP) policies and procedures for further guidance
Discuss the care confidentially with other services working with the family and consider their views
Discuss the case with other Hopscotch practitioners whilst being mindful of confidentiality.
If we have a concern about another professional, we will seek advice from the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Hopscotch adopts a culture of openness where concerns are openly discussed and consideration is constantly given to improving and developing safeguarding practice. Hopscotch ensures all practitioners are confident in recognising signs of abuse and in reporting any concerns.
Recognising abuse include:
significant changes in a child's behaviour, including being withdrawn, impulsive or aggressive
deterioration in a child’s general well-being, including developmental regression.
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 of Hopscotch, for example in the child’s home or that a girl may have been subjected to (or is at risk of) female genital mutilation
inappropriate behaviour displayed by other members of staff, any other person working with the children, or by another child, for example: inappropriate sexual comments; excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities; or inappropriate sharing of images.
All of our practitioners, leaders and managers recognise that children and learners are capable of abusing their peers.
There are 4 main categories:
Physical abuse
Emotional abuse
Sexual abuse
Neglect
It is also recognised by Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 that mental health issues can be a serious indicator of abuse or neglect.
For more information on types of abuse and signs and symptoms of abuse, please look in the blue “Safeguarding Guidance File” provided by the local Authority which is found in the office.
We acknowledge that children don’t always recognise or disclose that they are being harmed and therefore it is important we are able to recognise indicators suggesting a child is being abused or neglected. We will always keep the child at the heart of any safeguarding process and listen to their needs. Should a child disclose information, our best response will involve: being calm and level-headed; reassuring the child; and listening well. We will assess whether there is any risk of harm to the child and decide what action is needed. The process will involve:
Speaking to the child
Speaking to the family, if appropriate
Talking to professionals involved with the family
Checking social care records
Liaising with the police if it seems likely that a criminal act has been committed.
Hopscotch will use the single assessment process, introduced by Working together guidance to ensure children receive the right level of support they need. The varying level of need of the individual child or family are:
Low-level needs
Emerging needs
Complex needs
Child protection concerns.
If appropriate, Hopscotch will create an Early Help Assessment (EHA) with multiple services to identify what kind of support the child and family may need so as to resolve the problem and potentially remove the need for the intervention of social care.
If we have a case involving significant harm or risk of significant harm, we will make contact over the phone with social care immediately, following banes LSCP procedure. This will also be followed up in writing.
If at any point you are not happy with the DSL’s feedback or decision you will raise this with the nursery owner (Lucy Yeandle).
If a child makes a disclosure/ or you have concerns around a child please follow the steps below:
Disclosure
Listen to the child, do not ask questions, do not interrupt, offer reassurance but do not make promises you may not be able to keep.
Record the child’s actual words (on the safeguarding form)
Relay to DSL (Mathilda Norris) immediately for guidance and discuss any action required
Parents would be notified about the disclosure, except where we feel that the child may be put at risk of significant or further harm.
Referral made to social care if it is thought to be appropriate and necessary and we will then follow their guidance.
We will continue to care for the child and be aware of any further disclosure’s and follow the same procedure again
Concerns
The nursery has a duty to report any concerns around abuse to the local Authority. The children’s Act 1989 places a duty on the Local Authority to investigate. Hopscotch will follow the procedure set out by the local Authority and will seek their advice on all actions taken subsequently. If the nursery has concerns that a child in their care is being abused, whether it’s physical, emotional, sexual or neglect, (including Extremism, radicalisation and FGM) the next steps should be followed:
Record the initial concerns on a safeguarding form, this maybe a physical mark, change in behaviour etc.
Relay to DSL, (Mathilda Norris) immediately for guidance and discuss any action required
Ask parent/carer for an explanation, we would always share information with parents except where we feel that the child could be put at risk of significant or further harm. In this instance, we would always seek advice from social care.
If parent’s explanation is not consistent or satisfactory, we will reinforce our duty of care and report to the children’s services – referral and assessment team (contact list below).
Follow advice given by children’s services – referral and assessment team and continue to care for the child and be aware of any further concerns and follow the procedure again.
It is important to avoid:
Making assumptions about what the child is experiencing
Letting the child think that you don’t believe them
Asking leading questions and ‘putting words into the child’s mouth’
Describing the potential abuser using negative words: the abuser may be someone the child loves.
Making promises that you won’t be able to keep
Interviewing the child with too many questions: it’s the responsibility of social care or the police to find out more information.
Our Safeguarding forms are kept in the pink safeguarding file in the filling cabinet for confidentiality and will be reviewed by the DSL monthly.
Hopscotch appreciates the importance of working together, respecting everyone’s opinion and acknowledging the child is always the central focus. We will follow the Information Sharing guidance (July 2018) when collecting and sharing information with other professionals.
Hopscotch believe if people don’t take action, the child is likely to remain at risk of harm and although we will always take action if we have concerns, we understand that it is for social care and the police to investigate safeguarding concerns. Hopscotch’s responses to any safeguarding concerns are:
Child centred, our actions are in the child’s best interests.
Focused on action and outcomes for children
Holistic in approach, addressing the child’s needs within their family
Ensure equality of opportunity
Involve children, ensuring their voice is heard
Involve families, if appropriate
Identify risks to the safety and welfare of the child.
Multiagency and multi-disciplinary
A continuing process, not an event
Lead to action, including the provision of services
Review services provided on an ongoing basis
Are transparent and open to challenge.
The referral will include the following:
Clearly presented information and identification of concerns and risks, supported by evidence where possible.
Details of any urgent action that may be needed to safeguard the child
Information about work done with the child or family to address the concerns where appropriate
Information about professionals working with the family
Historical information, especially if there has been an accumulation of incidents or concerns.
A description of the discussion with the family or child or an explanation why this has not taken place
Identification of any potential risks to professionals, including social workers, who may need to visit the family home
Identification of any relevant issues – such as domestic abuse, substance misuses, mental illness, parental disability or the potential need for an interpreter if the family’s first language is not English.
The telephone referral will be followed up in writing and shared with social services to create a written record and agreement of what was shared and what actions were agreed upon.
KEY CHILD PROTECTION CONTACTS
If you need to make a child protection referral or discuss concern about a child:
Children and Families Assessment Intervention Team (CAFAIT)
Bath Area & North East Somerset Area: 01225 396312 / 01225 396313
Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team: 01454 615165
If a child or young person is in immediate danger then please dial 999 and ask for police assistance.
If you have concerns about domestic abuse, you can contact REFUGE through their National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
If allegations are made about a member of staff or other adult in your setting you must contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO): 01225 396810
To report allegations to Ofsted (which must be done within 14 days of receiving the allegation/complaint)
Complaints/concerns: 0300 123 4666
Helpline: 0300 123 1231
Whistleblowing: 0300 123 3155
For more information about Child Protection:
B&NES Child Protection Procedures: https://www.proceduresonline.com/swcpp/banes/
MANAGING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST STAFF OR VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK WITH CHILDREN
The Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards (LSCBs) are responsible for managing, monitoring and evaluating allegations against staff and volunteers who work with children.
Procedures are to be followed when an allegation or concern that any person who works with children has:
Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, 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 he or she would pose a risk of harm if they work with children.
Steps to follow:
Allegation made, reported from a child, another staff member or parent complaint. This should be treated seriously, no assumptions should be made and confidentiality is key. The DSL should not investigate or discuss with either the staff member accused or any other member of staff.
The Local Authority Duty Officer (LADO) should be contacted within one working day. Number on Key contacts page and referral form in the blue safeguarding file. Ofsted should also be contacted.
The LADO will advise of further action (more details in the blue safeguarding file)
Safeguarding – Whistle Blowing
The term whistleblowing applies when you are acting as a witness, raising a concern about misconduct that you have seen and that threatens other people or children.
Staff must report any concerns they have to the DSL as soon as possible. They are also asked during regular support and supervision times, where all members of staff will be asked individually if they have any concerns regarding other staff members, giving them the opportunity to disclose or discuss these concerns.
This policy provides individuals in the workplace with protection from victimisation or punishment where they raise a genuine concern about misconduct or malpractice in the workplace. The policy is underpinned by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, which encourages people to raise concerns about misconduct or malpractice in the workplace, in order to promote good governance and accountability in the public interest. The Act covers behaviour, which amounts to:
A criminal offence
Failure to comply with any legal obligation
A miscarriage of justice
Danger to health and safety of an individual and/or environment
Deliberate concealment of information about any of the above.
This policy is designed to nurture a culture of openness and transparency within the setting, which makes it safe and acceptable for employees and volunteers to raise, in good faith, a concern they may have about misconduct or malpractice.
An employee or volunteer who, acting in good faith, wishes to raises such a concern should normally report the matter to their Nursery Manager who will advise the employee or volunteer of the action he or she will take in response to the concerns expressed. Concerns should be investigated and resolved as quickly as possible. The manger would need to consider the concern presented to them and contact the necessary contact to discuss further, if it is an allegation against a staff member they would call the LADO immediately and not investigate further. If an employee or volunteer feels the matter cannot be discussed with their Nursery Manager, he or she should report it to the Nursery Owner. If the employee or volunteer feels the disclosure was not handled in the appropriate way, he or she may report it straight to LADO themselves.
A disclosure in good faith to Nursery Manager or Nursery Owner will be protected. Confidentiality will be maintained wherever possible and the employee or volunteer will not suffer any personal detriment as a result of raising any genuine concern about misconduct or malpractice within the organisation.
Bruising or Injury in Non-Mobile Babies and Children
Bruising is the most common injury in physical child abuse and a common injury in non-abused children; the exception to this being in non-mobile infants where accidental bruising is rare (less than 1%). Therefore, accidental bruising on non-independently mobile children should always warrant further investigation once observed by or brought to the attention of any professional and will be taken as a matter for inquiry and concern.
A child is considered non-independently mobile if they are not yet crawling, bottom shuffling, pulling to stand, cruising around furniture or walking independently; it includes all children under the age of 6 months. An older infant or child with a disability or developmental delay, with any other risk indicators would also warrant careful consideration. Babies or children who can roll are classed as non-mobile for the purposes of this procedure. Professionals must use their judgement regarding babies who can sit independently but cannot crawl, depending on severity of the injury, the account of the parent/carer and the plausibility.
Bruising can be defined as blood in the soft tissues; producing a temporary, non-blanching discolouration of skin however faint or small with or without other skin abrasions or marks. Colouring may vary from red, yellow, through to green, brown, or purple. Any injury is unusual in this age and development group, unless accompanied by a full consistent explanation. Even small injuries may be significant, and they may be a sign that another hidden injury is already present. Such injuries include:
Small single bruises e.g., on face, cheeks, ears, chest, arms or legs, hands or feet or trunk;
Bruised lip or torn frenulum (small area of skin between the inside of the upper and lower lip and gum);
Lacerations, abrasions, or scars;
Bite marks;
Burns and scalds;
Pain, tenderness or failing to use an arm or leg which may indicate pain or discomfort and an underlying fracture;
Small bleeds into the whites of the eyes or other eye injuries.
Occasionally an infant can be harmed in other ways, for example: Deliberate poisoning which can present as sudden collapse or coma; and Suffocation which can present as collapse, cessation of breathing (apnoeic attack), bleeding from the mouth and nose.
Any explanation for the injury should be critically considered within the context of:
The nature and site of the injury on the child;
The baby or child’s developmental stage and abilities;
The family and social circumstances including current safety of siblings/other children;
Any previous history of concern raised about this child or older siblings.
All people who live within the family home, including siblings and partners/significant others (such as aunts and uncles, grandparents, etc.) who do not live there but participate in any aspect of the child’s care, must be considered as part of the assessment.
Situations that should cause particular concern for professionals include:
Delayed presentation / reporting of an injury;
Admission of physical punishment from parents / carers - no physical punishment is acceptable;
Inconsistent or absent explanation from parents / carers;
Associated family factors such as substance misuse, mental health problems, and domestic abuse – for more information, see:
Other associated features of concern e.g. signs of neglect such as poor clothing, hygiene and / or nutrition – for more information.
Difficulty in feeding / excessive crying;
Significant behaviour change;
Infant displays wariness or watchfulness;
Recurrent injuries;
Multiple injuries at one time.
It is everyone’s responsibility who learns of or observes bruising or injury on a non-mobile/mobile child to make an immediate inquiry to the parent/carer. They must then report this to the DSL, and together follow their safeguarding procedure.
Hopscotch is aware bruising in non-independently mobile babies and children is unusual and is highly suggestive of non-accidental injuries. Non-independently mobile babies rarely cause injuries to themselves and, therefore, consideration must be given to whether they have been significantly harmed and / or are at risk of significant harm. Bruising or injury should never be interpreted in isolation and crucially must always be assessed in the context of medical and social history, developmental stage and the explanation given by those who care for the child. Early recognition and action is key to preventing further harm.
We recognise that non-mobile babies are vulnerable and at risk of physical abuse. The younger the child, the higher risk that bruising or a mark on a baby is non-accidental. It is a requirement of our Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) that we refer all cases of suspicious bruising/ marks in non-mobile babies and older children to them for investigation.
Recognising Child on Child Abuse
Abuse can happen in any relationship where there is a power imbalance. Adults have power over children because they are bigger and stronger, but these power imbalances can also occur in a child’s relationships with their peers. Some children may develop faster than others, creating a power imbalance due to physical size or cognitive ability. Other children may have power over a peer due to a wealthier family background relative to a peer from less affluent circumstances. Sometimes a smaller or younger child can dominate an older child.
Hopscotch recognises that child on child abuse is any form of physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse, and coercive control, exercised between children, and within children’s relationships, friendships and wider peer associations. Child on child abuse can take various forms, including (but not limited to): bullying, shaming, isolating, excluding, relationship abuse, domestic violence and abuse, child sexual exploitation, youth and serious youth violence, harmful sexual behaviour, and/or prejudice-based violence including, but not limited to, gender-based violence. We acknowledge that this may not happen within a nursery environment, however could occur outside of the nursery setting, where they could be exposed to situations happening within their home and may bring this into the nursery.
All of our practitioners are aware of how to recognise and the need to refer any issue that could constitute child on child abuse. Any direct disclosure by a child will be taken seriously.
Preventing Radicalisation
Childcare providers are expected to assess the risk of children being drawn into terrorism, including support for extremist ideas that are part of terrorist ideology.
The channel programme focuses on providing support at an early stage to people who are identified as being vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism. The DSL has attended Channel training and feedbacks to staff members at staff meeting and will inform new staff during induction.
For Principles signs & symptoms, please read page 116 of the blue Safeguarding guidance file, found in the office.
If the nursery has a concern regarding a child, we will follow the referral process found on page 118 of the blue Safeguarding guidance file, found in the office.
As a nursery we promote British values, that encourage the children to celebrate their differences and understand that different beliefs are acceptable, however they should not be influence by them. Children are also taught to seek help with anything that is disturbing or upsetting them.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Awareness
We are fully aware and committed to the on-going protection and safety of our children, parents, staff and wider community. We are aware that FGM is illegal in the UK and a form of child abuse with long-lasting harmful consequences. The United Nations addresses FGM as violation of human rights. In the UK, FGM is a criminal offence and a harmful form of child abuse. It is illegal to practice in the UK and/or anyone involved in taking girls outside of the UK to have FGM carried out will be punished under the FGM Act 2003 and Serious Crime Act 2015. As professionals, and as individuals living in our local community, we need to be alert to the possibility of girls and women being at risk of FGM, or already having suffered FGM.
All of our team are aware of our mandatory reporting duty which requires us to report to the Police any case of FGM carried out on someone under 18 which becomes known to us. Our Team are aware that they should inform the DSL who will involve Children’s Social Care as appropriate.
FGM refers to procedures of any alteration involving partial or total removal of the external female genital organs. The procedure may lead to short term and long-lasting harmful consequences such as death, trauma, infections, flashbacks, infertility, kidney problems, sexual dysfunctions, incontinence, post-traumatic stress disorder etc. It is known to be practised in the North African countries, the Middle East, Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Pakistan. However, with migration worldwide it is also practised in the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia etc. One of the prominent reasons for the practice is to suppress women’s sexual desire. There is a social pressure on women to undergo the procedure otherwise they may be segregated by their peers, or labelled “unclean”. Furthermore, FGM is often a requirement for getting married in practicing communities. FGM is not a religious practice. We are aware that children who attend Hopscotch may be at risk of FGM, as may their older sisters. Mothers and other older female relatives of children who attend may already have experienced FGM.
There is a range of potential indicators that a girl may be at risk of FGM. FGM often takes place in the summer holidays, as the recovery period after FGM can be 6 to 9 weeks. We are mindful of risk times when children go on long holidays and/or are getting a visit by a female elder from their country of origin. Additionally, girls are considered at risk where their mother or sisters have undergone FGM. Girls may talk about a ‘special’ event or procedure to ‘become a woman.’ The post FGM symptoms include, but are not limited to, difficulty in walking, sitting or standing, spending longer than normal in the bathroom or toilet, unusual behaviour after a lengthy absence, reluctance to undergo normal medical examinations, and asking for help but not be explicit about the problem due to embarrassment or fear. A girl may sometimes ask about their friend’s problem rather than their problem.
All staff have a basic understanding of FGM and the relevant indicators detailed above. Children who are felt to be at risk of FGM will be referred to the DSL immediately.
Modern Slavery, County Lines and Child Criminal Exploitation
Modern slavery encompasses human trafficking and slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour. Exploitation can take many forms, including sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery, servitude, forced criminality and the removal of organs.
County lines is a form of criminal exploitation where urban gangs persuade, coerce or force children and young people to store drugs and money and/or transport them to suburban areas, market towns and coastal towns (Home Office, 2018). It can happen in any part of the UK and is against the law and a form of child abuse. Children and young people may be criminally exploited in multiple ways. Other forms of criminal exploitation include child sexual exploitation, trafficking, gang and knife crime. County lines gangs are highly organised criminal networks that use sophisticated, frequently evolving techniques to groom young people and evade capture by the police. Children as young as six are being forced to carry and sell drugs far away from their homes. They are made to skip school, sleep in drug dens, keep secrets from their loved ones. They are treated as criminals when they often feel trapped in a hopeless situation.
Although our nursery children may not be directly affected, they could be exposed to situations within their family home.
All our practitioners are aware of criminal exploitation in children and know the principle signs & symptoms to look out for, such as, but not limited to:
Changes in behaviour including being withdrawn, impulsive or aggressive
Deterioration in a child’s general well-being, including developmental regression.
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 of Hopscotch.
Long unexplained absences.
It is our duty to follow our safeguarding procedure and report our concerns should we have any.
Domestic abuse
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021. The Act introduces the first ever statutory definition of domestic abuse and recognises the impact of domestic abuse on children, as victims in their own right, if they see, hear, or experience the effects of abuse. Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexuality or background and domestic abuse can take place inside or outside of the home.
All children can witness and be adversely affected by domestic abuse in the context of their home life where domestic abuse occurs between family members. Experiencing domestic abuse and/or violence can have a serious, long lasting emotional and psychological impact on children. In some cases, a child may blame themselves for the abuse or may have had to leave the family home as a result. Children who live with domestic abuse are at increased risk of behavioural problems, emotional trauma, and mental health difficulties in adult life. The impact of domestic abuse on children and young people can be wide-ranging and may include effects in any or all of the following areas:
Physical: Children can be hurt either by trying to intervene and stopping the violence or by being injured themselves by the abuser. They may develop self-harming behaviour, or eating disorders. Their health could be affected, as they may not be being cared for appropriately.
Sexual: There is a high risk that children will be abused themselves where there is domestic abuse. In homes where living in fear is the norm, and situations are not discussed, an atmosphere of secrecy develops and this creates a climate in which sexual abuse could occur. In addition to this, children and young people may sometimes be forced to watch the sexual abuse of their mother/carer. This can have long-lasting effects on the sexual and emotional development of the child/young person.
Economic: The parent or carer of the child may have limited control over the family finances. Therefore, there might be little or no money available for extra-curricular activities, clothing or even food, impacting on their health and development.
Emotional: Children will often be very confused about their feelings – for example, loving both parents/carers but not wanting the abuse to continue. They may be given negative messages about their own worth, which may lead to them developing low self-esteem. Some children can feel guilty, believing that the abuse is their fault. They are often pessimistic about their basic needs being met and can develop suicidal thoughts. Some children may internalise feelings and appear passive and withdrawn or externalise their feelings in a disruptive manner.
Isolation: Children may become withdrawn and isolated; they may not be allowed out to play; and if there is abuse in the home, they are less likely to invite their friends round. Nursery attendance may be disruptive which may contribute to their growing isolation. They may have to move away from existing friends and family – e.g. into a refuge or other safe or temporary accommodation.
Threats: Children are likely to have heard threats to harm their mother/father. They may have been directly threatened with harm or heard threats to harm their pet. They also live under the constant and unpredictable threat of violence, resulting in feelings of intimidation, fear and vulnerability, which can lead to high anxiety, tension, confusion and stress.
The warning signs that domestic abuse may be about to take place, or may have already taken place include, but are not limited to:
Unexplained absences or lateness – unable to travel to nursery or to hide any injuries;
Children attending nursery when ill rather than staying at home;
Children who are constantly tired, on edge and unable to concentrate through disturbed sleep or worrying about what is happening at home;
Children displaying difficulties in their developmental performances;
Children whose behaviour and personality changes dramatically;
Children who become quiet and withdrawn and have difficulty in developing positive peer relations;
Children displaying disruptive behaviour or acting out violent thoughts with little empathy for victims;
Children who are no trouble at all.
All our practitioners are aware of the signs and symptoms of children being exposed to or experiencing Domestic Abuse. They are aware of Hopscotch’s referral process and that it may lead to other safeguarding concerns.
Safeguarding – Recruitment and Training
The operation of effective safeguarding practice relies on having safer selection and recruitment practices in place.
The The Owner (Lucy Yeandle), the Manager (Mathilda Norris) and the Deputy Manager (Emily Isherwood) have all attended safer recruitment training issued by the Local Authority.
We obtain the following requirements from every staff member before they start their employment;
Valid Identification checks for every employee to ensure their identity is true and they have a right to work in the UK. This is done by obtaining an original document to prove their identity which is checked whilst in their presence before being copied and stored in their personal files.
Two written reference, one referee will be contacted in person to verify it.
An application form, including employment history and all gaps in employment are checked and accounted for.
Qualification Certificates are all supplied, checked and displayed in the workplace.
Payment information is required to establish identity and the right to work in the UK
All members of staff and volunteers will have an enhanced DBS check run on them before employment starts. We are also signed up to the DBS Update service. If during this process, a person is deemed inappropriate to work or work with children the job offer will be declined immediately.
During induction period’s staff are expected to attend regular training including child protection/safeguarding.
During induction all staff members will read the nursery policies and sign to abide by them, especially confidentiality and safeguarding.
All staff members receive safeguarding training which is given at the level required.
The DSL (Mathilda Norris) and the Deputy DSL (Emily Isherwood) have both received a two-day integrated agency safeguarding training. We follow the local authority recommendation for the DSL to attend Inter-agency safeguarding training, followed by Advanced Inter-agency training two years later. After this, we attend a relevant child protection course every 2 years to increase our knowledge of a specific Child Protection issue (e.g. domestic violence; CSE, Prevent, FGM). If this regular update lapses, we will attend the inter-agency training again. Other staff receive basic Child Protection training in recognising and responding to signs of abuse and neglect and this will be renewed every two years.
We discuss in Staff meetings any changes to safeguarding or any concerns staff may have concerning this, if it is appropriate. The staff also have individual supervision and support time once a month with the DSL where any issues can be raised. The DSL always asks them if they have any concerns with staff members or if their own living status has changed that puts them in a vulnerable or difficult position when caring for children. The staff member must notify the DSL if they are living or associating with a person that is unsuitable and could therefore make them unsuitable. All staff members are asked to sign a waiver, explaining this and that if they withhold this information and it comes to light they will be taken down the disciplinary process.
Ofsted will need to be notified and they will make the decision if there is a risk of this person working with children, they will then disqualify the staff member or give them a waiver to continue working.
Safeguarding Complaints
At Hopscotch, we keep a written record of all complaints and their outcome in the red complaints book. We would always respond to a complaint within 28 days and this is available on request for Ofsted.
All complaints should be addressed and investigated by the manager (Mathilda Norris), or if the complaint is regarding the manager the owner (Lucy Yeandle) will investigate.
We have a poster on our parent’s board explaining to parents how they can complain, if the issue cannot be resolved between parent and nursery.
We will inform Ofsted if any complaint relates to a possible breach of the Statutory Framework for the EYFS and the timescale. The telephone number is 0300 123 4666 and the address is on the Ofsted parents’ poster.