Recent changes to Ofsted guidance on safeguarding inspection require that the designated safeguarding lead, or an appropriately trained deputy, should be available in opening hours for staff to discuss concerns. This means at least two people need to be trained per nursery to comply.
The National Day Nurseries Association’s two-day Advanced Safeguarding Course for designated leads is more analytical than the general safeguarding course that all practitioners must complete. It examines the roles and responsibilities of a safeguarding lead and includes an online ‘train the trainer’ element, which supports staff training.
Marie Gaughan, who is due to open a new nursery in Oxford, recently attended the course run by trainer Hazel Davis in Brighton.
She says, ‘I now feel like my knowledge is completely up to date and I walked out feeling really confident. Ongoing monitoring of the safeguarding situation at both a local and a national level is a priority for me as it enables me to fully support my staff.’
The course looks at the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board, the laws on safeguarding and discusses real high-profile cases. Delegates also discuss what is involved in the decision-making process and gather evidence and feedback from other delegates.
Ms Gaughan found she was engaged with the use of real case studies and scenarios, which delegates could analyse and debate – ‘we focused on what had gone wrong, to ensure that we can get it right in the future’.
She adds, ‘The trainer was knowledgeable and experienced; it made for a contained and comfortable environment where we could ask any questions.’
Each qualification lasts for two years, during which time delegates receive quarterly updates from NDNA that meet the requirements of the new Ofsted guidance. This course is suitable for owners, managers and practitioners acting as safeguarding leads. Learners must have completed a basic safeguarding course and it is recommended they complete NDNA’s ‘Introduction to child protection’ online beforehand.
For more information on the course, visit http://bit.ly/2dc86jy
Ofsted guidance, http://bit.ly/1PUUbzQ
