The emphasis placed on protecting young children from harm has been underlined in the revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) coming into effect in September. What were formerly the Welfare Requirements become the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements in the new framework.
'The starting point in practice is for all settings to have an emotionally-safe working environment,' says Laura Henry, managing director of the Childcare Consultancy.
'Every early years setting must have a clear and robust safeguarding or child protection policy and procedure. It is important that the policy and procedure links to each specific safeguarding and welfare requirement of the revised EYFS.'
Ms Henry recommends that every member of staff should read the Serious Case Review from the Plymouth Safeguarding Children Board. 'This reports on, and makes recommendations on, the case relating to Vanessa George and Little Teds Nursery,' she says. 'The policy and procedure should state the steps that staff would need to take if they were concerned about one of their colleagues.'
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