Bright Start Preschool Policies

Please speak to a member of staff if there is a policy which you cannot find below. (A hard copy of all policies are kept on the Brightstart premises).

 

 

Admissions Policy
Aim
It is the intention of Bright Start to make our setting accessible to children and families from all sections of the local community. We aim to ensure that all families have access to the setting through open, fair and clearly communicated procedures.

Procedures
• We ensure that the existence of our setting is widely advertised in places accessible to all sections of the community
• We ensure that information about our setting is provided in written and spoken form. We will provide translations wherever possible.
• We arrange our waiting list in birth order, in addition we may take into account:-
Siblings already attending the setting
The vicinity of the home to the setting
• We describe how our setting and its practices treat each child and their family, having regard to their needs arising from their gender, special educational needs, disabilities, social background, religion, ethnicity or from English being an additional language.
• We make Valuing Diversity and Promoting Equality Policies well known.
• We consult with families about the opening times of the setting to ensure that we accommodate a broad range of families needs.
• We have flexible collection times (12 noon and 3 pm) from which parents can decide to collect their child. We dissuade parents from collecting outside of these hours in order to cause minimum disruption to the pattern of continuity in the setting which provides stability for all the children, whilst also maintaining the safety of all children when attending the setting, and ensure that Key People have the time to speak to their children’s parents at the end of each session. Obviously certain situations may occasionally occur in which this will have to be overridden.
• We offer up to 15, 30 hour funded places each session, subject to availability. These places are offered in a first come, first served basis, allocation of these places will be reviewed termly and will be withdrawn if funding ceases.

Accident & Incident Policy
Introduction
The procedure for reporting accidents and incidents to the HSE under RIDDOR requirements.

Aim
Bright Start follow the guidelines of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) for the reporting of accidents and incidents. Child protection matters or behavioural incidents between children are not regarded as incidents and there are separate procedures for this.

Procedures
Our Accident Book
• Is kept in the yellow ‘Ofsted grab box’ which is always kept in a safe and secure place
• Is accessible to staff and volunteers, who all know how to complete it; and
• Is reviewed by Nicky or Ellie at least termly to identify any potential/actual hazards
Reporting accidents and incidents
• Parents are notified immediately an accident occurs and are pre-warned of any injuries to avoid shock on collection.
• Accident forms are signed by parents on the day of the incident/accident. The accident form is completed by the member of staff who witnessed the accident and signed. The parent is called to be pre-warned of any incidents/injuries.
• Ofsted is notified as soon as possible, but at least within 14 days, of any instances which involve:
• Food poisoning affecting two or more children looked after on the premises
• A serious accident/injury to, or serious illness of, a child in our care and the action we take in response; and
• The death of a child in our care
First Aid Box
• A first aid box is kept on the back table out of the reach of the children and checked regularly by Nicky or Ellie to ensure that the contents are in date and have been replenished.

Local child protection agencies are informed of any serious accident or injury to a child, or the death of any child, while in our care and we act on any advice given by those agencies.

Any food poisoning affecting two or more children or adults on our premises is reported to the local Environmental Health Department.

We meet our legal requirements in respect of the safety of our employees and the public by complying with RIDDOR. We report to the Health & Safety Executive:
• Any work related accident leading to an injury to a child/adult, for which they need hospital treatment
• Any work related injury to a member of staff, which results in them being unable to work for 7 consecutive days
• When a member of staff suffers from a reportable work related disease or illness
• Any death, of a child or adult that occurs in connection with activities relating to our work; and any dangerous occurrences. This may be an event that causes injury or fatalities or an event that does not cause an accident but could have done eg a gas leak.

Our Incident Book
• We have access to telephone numbers for emergency services, including the local police. Where we rent the premises we ensure that we have access to the person responsible and that there is a shared procedure for dealing with emergencies.
• We keep an incident book for recording major incidents, including those that are reportable to the H&SE
• These incidents include:
o Break in, burglary, theft
o An intruder gaining unauthorized accessed to the premises.
o A fire, flood, gas leak or electrical failure
o Attack on a member of staff or parent on the premises nearby
o Any racist incident involving staff/family on the premises
o A notifiable disease/illness, outbreak of food poisoning affecting 2 or more children
o The death of a child/adult
o A terrorist attack or threat of one
• In the incident book we record the date and time of the incident, nature of the event, who was affected, what was done about it or if it was reported to the police and if so a crime report number. Any follow up or insurance claim made is also recorded.
• In the unlikely event of a terrorist attack, we follow the advice of the emergency services with regard to evacuation, medical aid and contact the children’s families. Our standard Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation policy will be followed and staff will take charge of the children. The incident is recorded when the threat is averted.
• In the unlikely event of a child dying on the premises, the emergency services are called and the advice of the services are followed.
• The incident book is not for recording issues of concern involving a child. This is recorded in the bumps before brightstart book or in the safeguarding file, of child’s individual file.

Behaviour Management Policy
Policy Statement
Our setting believes that children flourish best when their personal, social and emotional needs are met and where there are clear and developmentally appropriate expectations for their behaviour.

Children need to learn to consider the views and feelings, needs and rights of others and the impact that their behaviour has on people places and objects. This is a developmental task that requires support, encouragement, teaching and setting the right example. The principles that underpin how we achieve positive and considerate behaviour exist within the programme for promoting personal, social and emotional development.

EYFS Key themes and commitments.
A Unique Child Positive Relationships Enabling Environments Learning and Development
1.1 Child development
1.2 Inclusive Practice
1.3 Keeping safe 2.2 Parents as partners

2.3 Supporting learning 3.2 Supporting every child

3.3 the learning environment 4.4 personal social and emotional development

Procedures
We have a named person, Nicky Thompson, who has overall responsibility for our programme of supporting personal, social and emotional development, including issues concerning behaviour.

Nicky Thompson is responsible for;
 Keeping up to date with legislation, research and thinking on promoting positive behaviour and on handling children’s behaviour where it may require additional support;
 Accessing relevant sources of expertise on promoting behaviour within the programme for supporting personal, social and emotional development; and
 Check that staff have relevant in service training on promoting positive behaviour.

The setting expects all staff to;
 Recognise that codes for interacting with other people vary between cultures and require staff to be aware of – and respect – those used by members and children of the setting.
 Provide a positive model of behaviour by treating children, parents and one another with friendliness, care and courtesy.
 Familiarise themselves with the setting’s behaviour policy and its guidelines
 Keep to the guidelines within this policy and apply them consistently.
 Work in partnership with children’s parents/carers. Parents/carers are regularly informed about their children’s behaviour by their key person. We work with parents to address recurring inconsiderate behaviour, using our observation records to help us understand the cause and decide jointly how to respond appropriately.

Strategies
 We require all staff to use positive strategies for handling any inconsiderate behaviour, by helping children find solutions in ways which are appropriate for their age and stage of development. For example; acknowledgement of feelings, explanation as to what is acceptable, and supporting children to gain control of their feelings so they can learn a more positive response.
 We ensure there are enough popular toys and resources and sufficient activities available so that children are meaningfully occupied without the need for unnecessary conflict over sharing and waiting for turns.
 We acknowledge considerate behaviour
 We support each child in developing self esteem, confidence and feelings of competence.
 We support each child in developing a sense of belonging in our group, so they feel valued and welcome
 We avoid creating situations in which children receive adult attention only in return for inconsiderate behaviour.
 When children behave in inconsiderate ways, we help to understand the outcomes of their action and support them in learning how to cope more appropriately.
 We never use physical punishment.
 We do not use techniques intended to single out and humiliate individual children.
 We use physical restraint only to prevent physical injury to children or adults and/or serious damage to property.
 Details of such an event are brought to the attention of Nicky Thompson and recorded in the children’s personal file. The child’s parent/carer is informed on the same day.
 In cases of racist or other abuse, we make clear immediately the unacceptability of the behaviour and attitudes, by means of explanation rather than personal blame.
 We do not raise our voices in a threatening way to respond to children’s inconsiderate behaviour.

Children under three years
 When children under three years behave in inconsiderate ways we recognise that strategies for supporting them will need to be developmentally appropriate and differ from those of older children.
 We recognise that young children are unable to regulate their emotions such as fear, anger or distress and require sensitive adults to help them do this.
 Common examples of this include tantrums, biting or fighting. Staff are calm and patient, offering comfort to intense emotions, helping children to manage their feelings.
 If tantrums, biting or fighting are frequent we try to find out an underlying cause, using a behavior monitoring sheet to identifying why this may be occurring.
 We focus on ensuring a child’s attachment figure in the setting, their key person, is building a strong relationship to provide security to the child.

Rough and Tumble Play and Fantasy Aggression
Young children often engage in play that has aggressive themes – such as superhero and weapon play; this behaviour is not a precursor to hurtful behaviour, although it may need addressing using strategies as above.
 We recognise that teasing and rough and tumble play are normal for young children and acceptable within limits. We regard these kinds of play as pro-social and not as problematic or aggressive.
 We will develop strategies to contain play that are agreed with the children, and understood by them, with acceptable behavioural boundaries to ensure children are not hurt.
 We are able to tune in to the content of the play, perhaps to suggest alternative strategies for heroes and heroines, making the most of ‘teachable moments’ to encourage empathy and explore alternative scenarios and strategies for conflict resolution.

Hurtful Behaviour
 We recognise that young children behave in hurtful ways towards other because they have not yet developed the means to manage intense feelings.
 We do not engage in punitive responses to a young child’s rage.
 We help a child to understand the effect that their hurtful behaviour has had on another child; we do not force children to say sorry, but encourage this where it is clear that they are genuinely sorry.
 When hurtful behaviour becomes problematic we work with parents/carers to identify the cause and find a solution together.
Physical Intervention Log
• A log of any occasion where physical intervention is used must be recorded on the same day, with parents being informed on the same day or as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Child Protection Policy
STATEMENT
The Bright Start Preschool Child Protection Policy has been developed in accordance with the principles established by The Children Act 1989 and 2004, The Early Years Foundation Stage 2012 Welfare Requirements, Sections 175 and 176 Education Act 2002 and related guidance including The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (1999), Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010), What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused (2006) and Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-agency Partnership.

The staff and members of Bright Start take seriously our responsibility to promote the welfare and safeguard all the children and young people entrusted to our care. We recognise that children learn best when they are healthy, safe and secure, and their individual needs are being met, alongside having positive relationships with the adults caring for them. We ensure that our setting is a welcoming, safe and stimulating environment where all our children can enjoy learning and grow in confidence.

The designated person for Child Protection who has overall responsibility for child protection practice in the Setting is Nicky Thompson
The setting has 3 designated safeguarding officers – Nicky Thompson, Ellie Thompson or Laura O’Doherty

As part of the ethos of the setting we are committed to:
• Maintaining children’s welfare as our paramount concern.
• Providing an environment in which children feel safe, secure, valued and respected, confident to talk openly and sure of being listened to
• Providing suitable support and guidance so that children have a range of appropriate adults who they feel confident to approach if they are in difficulties
• Using learning at the setting to provide opportunities for increasing self awareness, self esteem, assertiveness and decision making so that young children have a range of contacts and strategies to ensure their own protection and understand the importance of protecting others.
• Working with parents to build an understanding of the setting’s responsibility to ensure the welfare of all children including the need for referral to other agencies in some situations.
• Ensuring all staff are able to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and are aware of the setting’s procedures and lines of communication.
• Monitoring children who have been identified as ‘in need’ including the need for protection, keeping confidential records which are stored securely and shared appropriately with other professionals.
• Developing effective and supportive liaison with other agencies.
• Being alert to issues of concern in the child’s life at home or elsewhere.

This policy is in line with The Kent & Medway Safeguarding Children Procedures (2007) (The “Purple Book”) and the KSCMAP and Eligibility & Threshold criteria.

Bright Start staff’s role and responsibility in Child Protection
Everyone involved in the care of young children has a role to play in their protection. As a member of staff in Bright Start you are in a unique position to observe any changes in a child’s behaviour or appearance. If you have any reason to suspect that a child in your care is being abused, or is likely to be abused, you have a ‘duty of care’ to take action on behalf of the child by following the setting’s Child Protection Policy.

Bright Start Designated Person for Child Protection
The Setting Designated Person for Child Protection is responsible for:
• Co-ordinating child protection action within the setting
• Liaising with other agencies
• Ensuring the locally established procedures are followed including reporting and referral processes. These are in line with the guidance and procedures of the LSCB/KSCMAP.
• Acting as a consultant for other setting staff to discuss concerns
• Making referrals as necessary
• Maintaining a confidential recording system, including an explanation of the action to be taken where there is a safeguarding concern about a child
• Representing or ensuring the setting is represented at inter-agency meetings in particular Strategy Discussions and Child Protection Conferences.
• Managing and monitoring the setting’s part in child care and child protection plans
• Ensuring all setting staff have received appropriate and up to date child protection training.
• Liaising with other professionals.

In the event the designated person is unavailable, staff should talk to Nicky Thompson, Ellie Thompson or Laura O’Doherty without delay.

All Child Care Providers
All childcare providers are trained to understand the safeguarding requirements placed upon them. To ensure they have up to date knowledge of safeguarding issues, policies and procedures training is compulsory.
• Being able to identify any significant changes in children’s behavior
• Record and report the deterioration in a child’s well being
• Record and report any signs of unidentified bruising, marks or signs that would suggest abuse or neglect
• Record and report any child’s comments that may give cause for concern
• Record and report any reason to suspect neglect or abuse our side the setting eg FGM
• Report to the DSL any inappropriate behavior displayed by other members of staff or any person working within the setting.
• All staff are required to undergo the ‘Prevent Duty Guidance”

What is child abuse?
The Children Act 1989 refers to “Significant Harm” rather than abuse. However, abuse is any behaviour, action or inaction, which significantly harms the physical and/or emotional development of a child. A child may be abused by parents, other relatives or carers, professionals and other children, and can occur in any family, in any area of society, regardless of social class or geographical location.

Abuse falls into four main categories (The following definitions are from Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010):

Physical Abuse
Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.

Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations, being included in interactions that are beyond the child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyberbullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.

Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet). Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

Neglect
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to:

●provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment);
● protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger;
●ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers);
●ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.

It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

The leaflet “Child Protection Guidelines for Early Years” which describes signs and symptoms of abuse should be distributed to all staff and displayed on (the staff notice board?).

What may give cause for concern?
• Bruising on parts of the body which do not usually get bruised accidentally, e.g. around the eyes, behind the ears, back of the legs, stomach, chest, cheek and mouth (especially in a young baby), etc.
• Any bruising or injury to a very young, immobile baby.
• Burns or scalds
• Bite marks
• Any injuries or swellings, which do not have a plausible explanation.
• Bruising or soreness to the genital area.
• Faltering growth, weight loss and slow development.
• Unusual lethargy.
• Any sudden uncharacteristic change in behaviour, e.g. child becomes either very aggressive or withdrawn.
• A child whose play and language indicates a sexual knowledge beyond his/her years.
• A child who flinches away from sudden movement.
• A child who gives over rehearsed answers to explain how his/her injuries were caused.
• An accumulation of a number of minor injuries and/or concerns.
• A child who discloses something which may indicate he/she is being abused.
Understanding the child’s world
As a Bright Start member of staff, you are familiar with the many factors, which can affect how children learn, how they react, and how they develop. When you are concerned about any child, it is helpful to be familiar with government guidance to help agencies to work together in taking a common approach to assessment and service planning: the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (1999). A child’s developmental needs are affected in different ways by the parenting capacity of carers, and by the family and the environmental situation of the child.

How to share your concerns
Keep a factual note of any concerns, i.e. what you have observed and heard. Discuss your concerns with Nicky Thompson, Ellie Thompson or Laura O’Doherty. If there are serious concerns and the designated person is not available but immediate advice is needed then contact:

County Duty Team at the Central Referral Unit– 03301 651 440
West Kent: Worrall House, 30 Kings Hill Avenue, West Malling, Kent ME19 4AE
03301 65 14 40
To contact the LADO Team please call 03000 41 08 88 or email kentchildrenslado@kent.gov.uk.
Headquarters: Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XQ
03301 65 12 00

If appropriate, share any initial concerns with the child’s parents, as there may be a perfectly innocent explanation for changes which you have observed, for example:
• A sudden change in behaviour could be due to the death or illness of a close family member or a pet.
• Weight loss and/or failing to thrive could be a symptom of an illness.
• A sibling or another child could have inflicted an injury accidentally.

However, if:
• You suspect sexual abuse,
• Or
• You do not get an explanation which you feel is consistent or acceptable from the parents/carer
• Or
• You feel that discussing the issue with parents may put the child at further risk of significant harm.
• Or
• You think a criminal offence has been committed.

Then you must discuss your concerns with Nicky Thompson, Ellie Thompson or Laura O’Doherty without delay.

Concerns or uncertainties
There may be occasions when you have concerns about a child, which do not appear to justify a referral of suspected child abuse, but nonetheless leave you feeling uncomfortable. In these circumstances, following consultation with Nicky Thompson you must telephone either:

• Tonbridge and Malling – 03301 651 440 (Headquarters)

You do not need to give the child’s name at this point, although it may be helpful to ascertain if there is a previous social services history. The Duty Social Worker will advise you whether or not your concerns do justify making a child protection referral.

The Social Worker may consider the child to be ‘a child in need’ rather than ‘a child at risk of significant harm’. In this case, a referral to Children’s Social Services should be made but only with the parent’s agreement.

Families sometimes have a negative perception of the role of Children’s Social Services, and are reluctant to contact them, fearing that their children may be taken into care. The reality is that Children’s Social Services can offer a lot of help, both directly and through other agencies, to families who are experiencing difficulties, so your influence and support in the referral process will be very important. Children’s Social Services will assess the family, probably along with other agencies, and put in a support package if appropriate, of which Bright Start may well be part.

If the family concerned is reluctant for Children’s Social Services to be contacted and following a discussion with Nicky Thompson you could ask the parents’ permission to contact another relevant agency on their behalf such as the Health Visitor. It is important to document that parental consent had been obtained.

Serious Concerns
If you are reasonably confident that the child concerned is likely to be at risk, you must immediately discuss this with Nicky Thompson, Ellie Thompson or Laura O’Doherty. She will then telephone the Central Duty Team immediately, and ask to speak to the Duty Social Worker stating that he/she has serious concerns about a child in our care. If Nicky Thompson is not available you should contact the Central Duty Team on 03301 651 440

Integrated Front Door on 03000 411 111 (outside office hours – 03000 419 191) or the Police on 999

Telephone numbers:
Children’s Social Services, open 9-5pm Mondays to Fridays (03000 411111). (Ask for duty and assessment team for children and families stating that you want “A consultation with the duty social worker on a child protection issue”.

Out of Hours Social Services: 03000 419191

When making a referral, Nicky Thompson will need to provide the following information, and will have it to hand when telephoning:

• The name, address, date of birth, ethnic origin and gender of the child.
• The names and contact telephone numbers of parents, and other carers or close family members if known.
• The name, address and telephone number of the child’s Doctor, and Health Visitor if applicable.
• The incidents which gives rise for concern with dates and times
• The nature of the injuries observed, and/or the reason for your concerns.

Following a telephone referral, it will be expected to follow this up in writing, within 24 hours by completing a inter-agency referral form. These are available from the Kent Safeguarding Children Board Website (www.kscb.org.uk) or within the Bright Start Safeguarding Children’s file, which is located in the filing cabinet.

Under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989, Local Authorities have a statutory duty to make enquiries, where they have “reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer significant harm”. The Children’s Social Services Department carries this responsibility on behalf of the Local Authority. Once we have made a referral, we have fulfilled our responsibility to the child. It is at this point that Children’s Social Services will take over and a decision will be made on what happens next. All referrals are taken seriously, and the needs of the child and family will be assessed, so that appropriate enquiries are followed up and support can be put into place where relevant. Enquires will be made to other professionals and the child’s family. Brightstart may be included in these enquiries, and we may be part of any on-going support for the child. Under Section 47(9) all staff at Brightstart has a duty to co-operate” with these enquiries if required to do so.

What will be the outcome?
Having made a referral about a child, you will probably want to know the outcome of the investigation. You should receive some information, but for reasons of confidentiality, this will be on a ‘need to know’ basis. Emily Rees should be invited to participate in any meetings set up for the child.

How to respond to a child who discloses something to you.
If a child tells you something, it is important that you respond appropriately:

• Do listen to the child and avoid interrupting except to clarify.
• Allow the child or young person to make the disclosure at their own pace and in their own way.
• Do not interrogate the child. It is alright to ask for clarification, but you should not ask leading questions. Misguided or inappropriate questioning in the first instance can do more harm than good, and may contaminate evidence, which could be needed in an investigation. The interviewing of children must be undertaken by the trained Social workers or Police Officers.
• Do not make any promises to the child about not passing on the information – the child needs to know that you have to talk to someone who will be able to help them.
• Record the information as accurately as you can, including the timing, setting and those present, as well as what was said. Do not exaggerate or embellish what you have heard in any way.
• Inform the Designated person.

Record Keeping
Staff can play a vital role in helping children in need or at risk by effective monitoring and record keeping. Any incident or behavioural change in a child or young person that gives cause for concern should be recorded on an incident sheet, copies of which are kept in the Safeguarding Children’s File. It is important that records are kept factual and reflect the words used by the child or young person. Records must be signed and dated with timings if appropriate.

Information to be recorded:

• Child’s name and date of birth
• Child in normal context
• The incident with dates and times
• A verbatim record of what the child or young person has said
• If recording bruising/injuries indicate position, colour, size, shape and time on body map.
• Action taken.

Please also refer to the setting Recording guidelines policy.

What to do if you need to take emergency action to protect a child
On very rare occasions, it may be necessary to act quickly, for example, to protect a child from a drunken or violent parent. In these circumstances, it would be appropriate to discuss this with Nicky Thompson, or person in charge immediately who should telephone the police.

In an unlikely event that a child is brought to the setting with serious injuries, it would be appropriate to discuss this with Nicky Thompson, Ellie Thompson or Laura O’Doherty, or person in charge immediately who should telephone for an ambulance.
However, it is important to remember that these types of scenarios are very unlikely to happen.

What support is available to you?
Any member of the team affected by issues arising from concerns for children’s welfare or safety can seek support from their Designated Person for Child protection. In addition, regular supervision is provided for all staff on a half termly basis.
The designated person for child protection can put staff and parents in touch with outside agencies for professional support if they wish so.

Monitoring and Review
All setting personnel and visiting staff will have access to a copy of this policy and will have the opportunity to consider and discuss the contents prior to approval. The policy will also be available to parents.

This policy has been written in April 2023 to reflect the new guidance and legislation issued in relation to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare.

The policy forms part of our Setting development plan and will be reviewed annually.

All staff should have access to this policy and sign to the effect that they have read and understood its contents.

Data Protection Policy
The General Data Protection Regulation 2018 is the law that protects personal privacy and upholds individual’s rights. It applies to anyone who handles or has access to people’s personal data.

This policy is intended to ensure that personal information is dealt with properly and securely and in accordance with GDPR. It will apply to information regardless of the way it is used, recorded and stored and whether it is held in paper files or electronically.

Scope of the Policy
Personal information is any information that relates to a living individual who can be identified from the information. It also applies to personal data held visually in photographs or video clips (including CCTV) or as sound recordings.

Brightstart collects a large amount of personal data every year including: staff records, names and addresses of those requesting prospectuses, Child Development assessment, references, fee collection. In addition, it may be required by law to collect and use certain types of information to comply with statutory obligations of Local Authorities (LAs), government agencies and other bodies.

The Six Principles
The Act is based on 6 data protection principles, or rules for ‘good information handling’.

1. Data must be processed fairly and lawfully.
2. Personal data shall be obtained only for one or more specific and lawful purposes.
3. Personal data shall be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose(s) for which they are processed.
4. Personal data shall be accurate and where necessary kept up to date.
5. Personal data processed for any purpose(s) shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for that purpose.
6. Appropriate technical and organisational measures shall be taken against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data.

Responsibilities
• The Pre-school must:
Manage and process personal data properly
Protect the individuals right to privacy
Provide an individual with access to all personal data held on them.

• The Pre-school has a legal responsibility to comply with the Act. The Pre-school has designated Nicky Thompson as the named Data Controller Officer under the Act.

Data Controllers are people or organisations who hold and use personal information. They decide how and why the information is used and have a responsibility to establish workplace practices and policies that are in line with the Act.

• The Pre-school is required to ‘notify’ the Information Commissioner of the processing of personal data.

• Every member of staff that holds personal information has to comply with the Act when managing that information.

• The school is committed to maintaining the six principles at all times. This means that the school will:

o Inform Data Subjects why they need their personal information, how they will use it and with whom it may be shared. This is known as a Privacy Notice.

o check the quality and accuracy of the information held

o apply the records management policies and procedures to ensure that information is not held longer than is necessary

o ensure that when information is authorised for disposal it is done appropriately

o ensure appropriate security measures are in place to safeguard personal information whether that is held in paper files or on a computer system

o only share personal information with others when it is necessary and legally appropriate to do so

o set out clear procedures for responding to requests for access to personal information known as subject access in the Data Protection Act.

o train all staff so that they are aware of their responsibilities and of the Pre-school’s relevant policies and procedures

This policy will be updated as necessary to reflect best practice or amendments made to the General Data Protection Regulation 2018.

GDPR Policy
PRIVACY NOTICE

A new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is coming into effect on 25 May 2018 and will replace the current Data Protection Act 1998. Personal information that Bright Start Preschool uses and holds is now covered by the General Data Protection Regulation. This note is to make sure you are fully aware of how we may collect, use and share your personal information should you send your child to Bright Start Pre-School.
The categories of pupil information that we collect, hold and share include:
• Personal information (such as name, address, email & telephone number – so that we can contact you should there be an emergency and to keep you informed of upcoming events or important information)
• Characteristics (such as ethnicity, language, nationality & country of birth – used for government funding purposes)
• Attendance information (such as sessions attended, number of absences and absence reasons – used for working out invoices)
• Assessment information (such as progress trackers, summative assessment charts, targeted plans, personalized plans, best practice guidance tables, next steps, my unique story reports and two year checks – to ensure children are on age appropriate targets and to identify if any further help is needed)
• Medical information (such as hospital reports, medical book, speech and language reports, speech and language flow charts, hearing assessments and reports – so that we can aid any additional needs)
• Accident information (such as accidental book – detailing information about your child’s accident and treatment given)
• Special Educational Needs information (such as targeted plans, personalized plans, best practice guidance tables, speech and language flow charts, monitoring charts, meetings with outside agencies and LIFT meetings – so that we can facilitate help with special educational needs)
• Transition information (such as My Unique Story, progress trackers and profile sheets – to provide Reception teachers with a brief glimpse of the child and where they should start their planning levels)
• Funding Forms (such as funding data collected to support government claims for 15 hours, 30 hours or FF2 funding)
Why we collect and use this information
We use the pupil data:

• to support pupil learning
• to monitor and report on pupil progress
• to provide appropriate pastoral care
• to assess the quality of our services
• to comply with the law regarding data sharing
• to aid transitions into primary school
• to move children forward developmentally and provide additional support if necessary which involves outside agencies help
• to work alongside other agencies in providing the best possible care and support for the children and families who attend the setting
The lawful basis on which we use this information
We collect and use pupil information under Article 6 of the GDPR ensuring:
• the data subject has given consent to the processing of his or her personal data and that it is used appropriately and in order to facilitate the best possible outcomes and care for the child/family
and under Article 9 ensuring:
• that procedures are in place to ensure data breaches are identified promptly and notified to the ICO within 72 hours of discovery.

Collecting pupil information
Whilst the majority of pupil information you provide to us is mandatory, some of it is provided to us on a voluntary basis. In order to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation, we will inform you whether you are required to provide certain pupil information to us or if you have a choice in this.
Storing pupil data
We hold personal pupil data in line with the GDPR guidelines for a period of 6 months after the date of the child leaving the setting, providing fees have been settled and no other contact needs to be made. For medical or accident report documents will be held for a period of 21 years. All documentation provided is held on site in locked filing cabinets at all times.
Who we share pupil information with
We routinely share pupil information with:

• schools that the pupil’s attend after leaving us
• our local authority
• the Department for Education (DfE)
• outside agencies involved in the child’s care ie. LIFT meeting, TAC meetings, Speech and Language departments, Social Services
Why we share pupil information
Generally we only use your information within Bright Start Preschool. Although there are some occasions when we need to share personal information about you/your child with third parties, however consent will always be gained prior to this occurring. These are:

Sharing pupils’ data with the Department for Education (DfE) on a statutory basis. This data sharing underpins school funding and educational attainment policy and monitoring.
• If you chose to pay for Bright Start using vouchers (e.g. Childcare vouchers) we will share the minimum amount of your personal information necessary with the voucher scheme operator so they can identify you and make the appropriate payments to Bright Start on your behalf.
• Sharing pupils’ data with the Department for Education (DfE) on a statutory basis. This data sharing underpins school funding and educational attainment policy and monitoring.
• If your child is entitled to Government funding we are required to share your personal data with Kent County Council on a statutory basis in order to identify your child and prove entitlement to funding. This data sharing underpins school funding and educational attainment policy and monitoring.
• In case of an emergency, we may need to share with the emergency services details of your child including details of any medical conditions as provided to us by you.
• To contact you when we want to inform you about events at Bright Start.
• We may on occasion use your personal information for the purposes of recovery of overdue fees.
Data collection requirements:
To find out more about the data collection requirements placed on us by the Department for Education (for example; via the school census) go to https://www.gov.uk/education/data-collection-and-censuses-for-schools.

Brightstart Commitment to you:

We will process your personal information in line with the GDPR. This means that we will:

• only collect and hold information about you/your child which we need for some reason

• keep your personal information up to date and accurate (to help us do this, please let us know if any of your details change. A letter will be sent home alongside your child’s Unique story/2 year check (3 times per year) in which we will ask that you amend your details if anything has changed/or if you wish to change anything)

• take appropriate steps to protect your personal information from being used without permission, or illegally, and to safeguard your rights

destroy your personal information in a secure way once we no longer need it.
Contact
If you would like to discuss anything in this privacy notice, please speak to our Data Protection Officer Nicky Thompson, Manager on the contact details above.

Ill or Infectious Child Policy
Policy Statement
We provide care for healthy children through preventing cross infection of viruses and bacterial infections and guard against allergic reactions through identifying allergies and preventing contact with the allergenic substance.

Procedures for Children who are sick or Infectious
• If children appear unwell during the day – have a temperature, sickness, diarrhoea or pains particularly in the head or stomach – the key person calls the parent and asks them to collect the child, or make arrangements for a known carer to collect the child on their behalf at the parents request.
• If a child appears to have a temperature this is checked using a strip thermometer which is kept in the first aid box.
• If a temperature is recorded the child is kept cool by removing top clothing and sponging their head with cool water. In extreme cases the setting will administer Calpol and take the child to the nearest hospital and the parent informed immediately.
• The setting can refuse admission to children who have a temperature, sickness and diarrhoea or a contagious condition.
• After sickness or diarrhoea parents are asked to keep their child home for at least 48 hours after the last bout.
• The setting has a list of excludable diseases and current exclusion times on the wall for all parents to see.

Reporting of Notifiable diseases
• if a child or adult is diagnosed as suffering from a notifiable disease under the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations (2010), the GP will report it to the Health Protection Agency.
• When the setting has been officially made aware of the notifiable disease the manager informs Ofsted and acts immediately upon any advice given by the HPA.

Protocol for children with suspected Covonavirus
• Anyone who has any symptoms relating to Coronavirus will be sent home immediately and will need to follow the government guidelines on what to due.
• If a child is waiting for a parent/carer to collect them they will be separated from the group and isolated with one member of staff who will be wearing a mask, alongside gloves and an apron. If there is a risk of splashing to the eyes protective googles will also be worn.
• Once the child has left the setting the setting will be thoroughly disinfected and PPE disguarded safely.
• Staff and children are able to acess free testing if any symptoms of coronavirus occur, if this test is negative return to the setting is permitted and the whole household can end self isolation.
• If the child or staff member is positive, the rest of the group and staff member or anyone who came into contact with the child should be sent home and advised to self isolate.
• If there are more than one incident of coronavirus at the setting PHO local health protection team need to conduct a investigation as a precautionary measure.

Procedures for children with allergies
• When parents start their child at the setting they are asked if the child suffers from any known allergies. This is recorded on the registration form.
• If a child has an allergy a risk assessment is completed to consider the following.
– The allergen
– The nature of the allergic reaction and severity
– What to do in the case of a reaction i.e medication and how to administer it.
– Control measures i.e. how can contact be prevented.

This information is kept in the child’s file and all staff made aware of it.

Insurance Requirements
The insurance will automatically include children with any disability or allergy, but certain procedures must be strictly adhered to as set out below. For children suffering life threatening conditions or requiring invasive treatments; written confirmation to extend setting’s insurance will be obtained.

At all times the administration of medication will be compliant with Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the EYFS, the setting’s Administering Medicines Policy and follow procedures given in Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings (DfES2005)

Mobile Phone Policy
Policy Statement
The welfare, safety and protection of every child in our care is of paramount importance, we take our responsibility to safeguard children seriously. We have procedures in place which we ask everyone to respect and to help promote the safety of children in our care.

Bright Start Pre-school has a no use of mobile devices policy whilst the children are on the premises. It is our intention to provide an environment in which children, parents and staff are safe from images being recorded and inappropriately used, also from staff being distracted from their work with children.

Mobile Phones
We believe staff should be completely attentive during their working hours to ensure all children receive good quality care and attention. Mobile phones must NOT be used during working hours and should be kept away from children and on silent and kept on the cupboard in the kitchen.

Under no circumstances should a member of staff use their personal mobile to contact a parent/carer. Users bringing personal devices into the setting should ensure there is no inappropriate or illegal content on the device.

It is the responsibility of all staff to be vigilant and report any concerns to the setting manager.

The manager/owner reserves the right to check images of a member of staff’s mobile device should there be any concerns over inappropriate use. Should any inappropriate material be found then our LADO will be contacted immediately as will the police. Guidance will be followed with regards to dismissal.

Smart Watches
Whilst we appreciate that many people now own smart watches, when worn to the setting they should be put on Do Not Disturb so no messages etc are received while in the preschool.

Parents and Visitors
Parents or visitors who arrive using a mobile or taking a call on a mobile should be asked to end the call immediately or leave the premises. Visitors should be asked to leave their mobile phones in a safe area.

Cameras and Capturing Images and videos

Photographs taken for the purpose of recording a child participating in activities or celebrating their achievements is an effective form of recording their progression in the EYFS. All parents are asked permission for this in writing. However it is essential that photographs are taken and stored appropriately as required by the GDPR.

• Only the designated setting’s camera/setting phone is to be used to take photos of the children
• All staff are responsible for the location of the camera; this should be kept locked away when not in use
• Images stored on the camera/phone should be downloaded as soon as possible and then deleted from both the camera and the computer on which they have been downloaded to
• At gatherings such as sports day, parties and shows we will always ask parents not to upload any photos they take to any social media site.

This policy is in place to protect and safeguard both children and staff

Settling in Policy
Policy Statement
We believe that children settle best when they have a key person to relate to, who knows them and parents well, and who can meet their individual needs. We want children to feel safe, stimulated and happy in the setting. We also want parents to have confidence in both their children’s well-being and their role as active partners with the setting.

The key person role is set out in the welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Each setting must offer a key person for each child.

EYFS Key Themes and Commitments
A Unique Child Positive Relationships Enabling Environments Learning and Development
1.2 Inclusive Practice
1.3 Keeping Safe
1.4 Health and Wellbeing 2.2 Parents as Partners
2.3 Key Person 3.2 Supporting Every Child
3.3 The Learning Environment 4.4 Personal, Social and Emotional

Procedures
• The Key Person works with the parents to plan and deliver a personalised plan for the child’s wellbeing, care and learning.
• The Key Person acts as the key contact for the parents.
• A Key Person is responsible for developmental records and for sharing information on a regular basis with the child’s parents to keep those records up to date, reflecting the full picture of the child in our setting.
• The Key person encourages positive relationships between children in her group, spending time with them as a group.
• We provide a back up key person so the child and the parents have a key contact in the absence of the child’s key person.
• The key person is responsible for speaking to the family and offering a home visit from themselves

Settling In
• During the half term before the child starts, we provide opportunities for the child and his/her parents to visit the setting.
• We use pre-start visits and the first session the child attends to explain and complete the child’s registration records.
• When a child starts to attend, we explain the process of settling in with his/her parents and jointly decide on the best way to help the child settle into the setting.
• We have an expectation that the parent/close relative will stay with the child at first, gradually taking time away from the child, increasing this as the child becomes able to cope.
• Younger children may take longer to settle in, as may children who have not spent time away from home before. Children who have had a period of absence may also need their parent to be on hand to re-settle them.
• When parents leave we ask them to say goodbye to their child and explain they will be coming back and when.
• We do not believe that leaving a child to cry will help them settle. We believe that a child’s distress will prevent them from learning and gaining the best from the setting.
• We reserve the right not to accept a child without a parent of the child finds it distressing to be left.
• Within the first four to six weeks of starting we discuss and work with the child’s parents to start to create their child’s record of achievement.
• Stay and play sessions are available once per week, and are good way of building relationships with the child and family prior to the starting date, enabling the child to familiarize themselves with the setting, staff and routines before their parent starts to leave them at the setting.

Uncollected Child Policy
Policy Statement
In the event that a child is not collected at the end of a session, the setting puts into practice agreed procedures. These ensure the child is cared for safely by an experienced and qualified practitioner who is known to the child. We will ensure the child receives a high standard of care in order to cause as little distress as possible.

EYFS Key Themes and Commitments
A Unique Child Positive Relationships Enabling Environments Learning and Development
1.3 Keeping Safe
1.4 Health and Wellbeing 2.2 Parents as Partners 3.4 The Wider Context

Procedures
Parents of children starting at the setting are asked to provide the following specific information which is recorded on our Registration Form:

 Home address and telephone number.
 Place of work telephone number (If applicable)
 Mobile telephone number (if applicable)
 Names addresses and telephone numbers of adults who are authorized by the parents to collect their child from the setting.
 Who has parental responsibility for the child.
 Information about any person who does not have legal access to the child.
 On occasions when parents or the persons normally authorized to collect the child are not available they will provide us with details of the person who will be collecting their child. We agree with parents how this person will identify themselves.
 We inform parents that we apply our child protection procedures as set out in our child protection policy in the event that their children are not collected from setting by an authorized adult within one hour after the setting has closed and the staff can no longer supervise the child on our premises.
 If a child is not collected at the end of a session, we follow the following procedures;
 All reasonable attempts are made to contact the child’s parents/carers
 If this is unsuccessful, the adults who are authorized by the parents to collect the child are contacted.
 The child does not leave the setting with anyone other than those named on the registration form, unless specifically authorized by the parents/carers.
 If no-one collects the child after one hour and there is no-one who can be contacted to collect the child, we apply the procedures for uncollected children:
 We contact the local authority children’s social services care team
 The child stays at the setting in the care of two fully vetted workers until the child is safely collected either by the parents or by a social care worker.
 Social Care will aim to find the parent or relative, if they are unable to do so, the child will become looked after by the local authority.
 Under NO circumstances do staff go to look for the parent, nor do they take the child home with them.
 A full written report of the incident is recorded in the child’s file.
 In some circumstances, Ofsted may be informed.

List of Policies
Accident/Incident Policy
Administrating Medicines Policy
Admissions Policy
Allegations Policy
Assessment Policy
Babysitting Policy
Behaviour Management Policy
Childrens Safety & Security on Premises Policy
Child Protection Statement and Policy
Code of Contact Policy
Collection Policy
Complaints Policy
Confidentiality Policy
Covid-19 Policy
Data Protection Policy
Disqualification Policy
Employment & Staffing Policy
Exclusion Policy
Fire Safety & Emergency Evacuation Policy
Grievance Policy
Headlice Policy
Health & Safety Policy
Healthy Eating
Ill or Infectious Child Policy
Inclusion Policy
Intimate Care & Nappy Changing Policy
Intruder Policy
Lock Down Policy
Looked After Children Policy
Missing Child Policy
Mobile Devices Policy
Nappy Changing Policy
No Smoking Policy
Outings Policy
Parental Contract
Photographic & Image Policy
Pricing Policy
Privacy Policy
Record Keeping Policy
Risk Assessment Policy
Safeguarding Policy
Safer Recruitment Policy
Settling In Policy
Social Networking Policy
Special Educational Needs and Disability Policy
Staffing Policy
Student Placement Policy
Suncream Policy
Supervision Policy
Uncollected Child Policy
Whistleblowing Policy
Prospectus & Terms and Conditions
PROSPECTUS

AND

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

I am delighted to introduce you to Bright Start Pre-School Ltd and hope that the information provided in this prospectus will give you an idea of the quality of care we have to offer.

We are committed to maintaining high standards and ensuring that each child receives a developmentally appropriate curriculum enabling them to have the best possible start to their pre-school education.

Feel free to visit us any time in our busy, happy environment to ascertain the high quality of care we have to offer.

Session Times

We are open from 9.00 am until 3 pm, Monday to Friday. We hold a ‘Rising 5’ session on Mondays and Wednesdays of each week, beginning in September and continuing until July.

Our free early education is offered throughout the following sessions
9-3, 9-12, and 12-3, 5 days per week over the 38 weeks we are open.

We offer a breakfast club from 7.45 am daily and an afterschool club Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 3-5 pm.

Aims and Objectives

Our aim is to encourage each child to develop through a broad, balanced and well-defined curriculum with the support of mature, trained staff.

Our stimulating environment allows the learning experience to become both pleasurable and rewarding, allowing each child to reach their own personal level of achievement.

Our objective is to achieve good practice in every area of our work. We keep our program and policies under regular review in order to maintain and improve the quality of our provision.

Educational Program

At Bright Start Pre-School Ltd we are committed to the ethos of the Early Years Foundation Stage (2017). Our activities and equipment are carefully chosen, providing a framework for children to reach their full potential. Progress is regularly assessed with the results being communicated to parents, and eventually to the schools which the children will attend when they move on from Brightstart. These activities become more structured during our ‘Rising 5’ sessions, in preparation for the transition to Primary School. The Early Years Foundation Stage consists of seven areas of learning which are:-

o Personal, Social and Emotional Development

To give children the best opportunities to develop their personal, social and emotional skills and confidence we:-
• Help them form warm, caring attachments with peers and adults within the group
• Establish constructive relationships with parents and carers
• Act as positive role models valuing differences and expectations
• Allow children to play and learn both alone if they chose, and in groups of varying size

o Communication and Language

We place a high priority on children developing their language and communicative skills, and provide many opportunities for children to:-
• Learn to listen and respond in small and large groups
• Enjoy books, stories, poems and music

o Physical Development

All children are encouraged to enjoy a physical element during all our sessions with carefully chosen and properly supervised activities and equipment, both indoors and outdoors whenever possible. This gives them the opportunity to:-
• Develop spatial awareness, mobility and co-ordination
• Use a wide range of tools and equipment

o Mathematics

Physical experience of mathematical concepts is provided through enjoyable activities where children learn to:-
• Match, sort, compare, sequence and count using everyday objects
• Recognize, use and write numbers up to 10, then begin to use larger numbers
• Become familiar with concepts of size, weight and quantity
• Develop an understanding of mathematical language

o Literacy

Giving children opportunities to develop their reading and writing skills by:-
• Encouraging and supporting children to develop a love for reading through a vast range of age appropriate resources
• Encourage an enjoyment in mark making activities in order to support emerging writing skills

o Expressive Arts and Design

Children are encouraged to develop their imaginative and creative skills by using a wide range of tools and materials available in each sessions, allowing them to:-
• Explore sand, colour, texture and shape
• Respond to what they see, hear, smell, touch and feel
• Use experiences in art, music and dance in their imaginative play

o Understanding the World

To enhance children’s understanding of the world around them we aim to provide many opportunities for them to observe their surroundings and the physical environment, to achieve this we:-
• Talk about where we live, the environment, our families and past and present events in our lives
• Explore features of living things, objects and events in the natural and man-made world

Equal Opportunities

Bright Start Pre-School operates an Equal Opportunities Policy and believes that no child, individual or family should be excluded on the grounds of gender, family status, disability, colour, ethnic origin, religion or belief.

All our activities offer children opportunities to develop in an environment free from prejudice and discrimination, encouraging us to value similarities and differences between ourselves and others.

Special Educational Needs

We believe that all children are special…………… some just need some extra help.

We aim to provide a caring environment which recognizes the importance of each child as an individual, and are happy to consider how we are able to meet the special educational needs of children and their families. Any parent wishing to discuss their child’s special needs are invited to contact the Manager or Deputy. The setting has two experienced Special Educational Needs Officers to support any child/family attending the setting.

Partnership with Parents

Parents are recognized as important and valued partners and respected in their role as their child’s first and most important educators. Parents are therefore encouraged to take an active interest in their child’s development whilst at Bright Start, through social and fundraising events held during the year. These include, social outings, Christmas and Leavers parties and the Christmas Nativity.

In accordance with Ofsted and the Early Years Foundation Stage (2017) recommendations, children’s progress is monitored closely and to facilitate this, regular observations are taken and a record kept of the child’s development. We operate a system where each child is allocated a ‘Key person’ who is a member of staff with special responsibility for a particular child. Parents are encouraged to liaise with their child’s key person, contributing their own opinions, ideas and of course any concerns they may have. Home visits are offered if the key person feels it would be beneficial to the child settling into the setting.

Cultural Capital

Every child that starts the journey with us will have had different life experiences. We endeavor to ensure that by the time each child leaves the setting we are able to provide them with many different experiences and opportunities that will help them develop as individuals and facilitate them with the knowledge on which they can build over the forthcoming years.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. FEES
The fee is £6.45 per hour for 3 year olds, and £7.60 per hour for 2 year olds and £8.05 per hour for children aged 20 months – 2 year, this includes refreshments. Invoices will be issued on the first day of term and are due within two weeks.

A deposit of £50 is required to hold a space for a child. This is non refundable if you decide your child will not then start with us. On starting the preschool the £50 deposit which has been paid will be deducted from your first invoice.

Once a place has been accepted and booked the full fee is to be paid – irrespective of the child being unable to attend due to sickness or holidays.

Free Early Education Funding – This scheme operates from the term after your child’s 3rd birthday and equates to 15 hours free each week, for a maximum of 570 hours over the 38 weeks per year. Any hours required after this amount must be paid for by the parent. This entitlement can be split between two or more settings if required. In some cases a family may qualify for ‘Free for 2 Funding’ or ’30 hours for a 3 year old’ but eligibility must be confirmed. Please speak to the Manager for further information on how to obtain this .

Our free early education is offered throughout the following sessions :- 9-3, 9-12, and 12-3, 5 days per week over the 38 weeks we are open.

Late Payment – Bright Start Pre-School reserves the right to withdraw a child if accounts are not paid by the end of the current term and take relevant steps to recover the money.

2. HEALTH AND SAFETY
If your child is ill please telephone us to let us know. Children suffering from sickness or diarrhea must not return to preschool until 48 hours after the last bout of sickness or diarrhea. Children with infectious diseases must remain at home for the quarantine period. Entry onto the premises will be at the discretion of the Pre-school leader or Deputy.

3. LOSS AND DAMAGE
Bright Start Pre-School does not accept responsibility for loss or damage to a child’s or parent’s property or clothing.

4. COLLECTION
Parents are required to arrive promptly to collect their child. Children will only be handed over to (a) the parents or (b) the named representative as given on the Child’s information sheet or (c) in the case of an emergency the person authorized by the parent.

5. BEHAVIOUR
All children attending our setting will be treated in accordance with our Behavior/Management policy. We reserve the right to exclude a child if their behavior is deemed unacceptable.

6. CONFIDENTIALITY
All information given by parents will be treated in the strictest of confidence and adhere to GDPR guidelines.

7. LUNCH
Healthy and nutritious hot dinners are cooked freshly on the premises and are available at an additional cost of £2.50 per day. A copy of the menu is displayed on the Bright Start Notice Board.

8. PACKED LUNCHES
We encourage parents to ensure that their child’s lunch box is filled with a varied healthy spread of food and a suitable drink. Please do not give your child too much food as they have only 30 minutes in which to eat. We would discourage against chocolate and nuts if at all possible. https://www.firststepsnutrition.org/eating-well-early-years

9. REGULAR ATTENDANCE
Whilst we appreciate that attendance to preschool is not compulsory we do advise that regular attendance benefits your child in learning the life skills of attending school together with enhancing their social well being and development.

THE FOLLOWING POLICY LEAFLETS ARE AVAILABLE TO VIEW AND CAN BE FOUND ON THE BACK TABLE EVERY DAY – PLEASE FEEL FREE TO READ THEM AT ANY TIME

ADMISSIONS ALLEGATIONS
POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
HEALTH AND SAFETY SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE CONFIDENTIALITY
EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
STUDENT PLACEMENT INCLUSION
FOOD AND DRINKS
UNCOLLECTED CHILD
SETTLING IN AND KEY PERSON
STAFFING AND EMPLYMENT
MOBILE PHONE
OUTINGS
MISSING CHILD
ADMINISTERING MEDICINES

BRIGHT START PRE-SCHOOL IS A MEMBER OF THE PRE-SCHOOL LEARNING ALLIANCE AND IS REGISTERED WITH KCC AND OFSTED APPROVED

OUR MOST RECENT OFSTED INSPECTION IS RATED AS GOOD AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE OFSTED WEBSITE

Brightstart Preschool Ltd
Price List (april 2021)

Under 2 Years (based upon £7.30 per hour)
9am – 12 noon session £21.90
9 am – 2 pm session £36.50
9 am – 3 pm session £43.80
12 noon – 3 pm session £21.90

2 Year Olds (based upon £6.90 per hour)
9am – 12 noon session £20.70
9 am – 2 pm session £34.50
9 am – 3 pm session £41.40
12 noon – 3 pm session £20.70

3 Year Olds (based upon £5.85 per hour)
9am – 12 noon session £17.55
9 am – 2 pm session £29.25
9 am – 3 pm session £35.10
12 noon – 3 pm session £17.55

lunches £2.50

Breakfast Club £7.50 2nd child £5.50

Afterschool Club £12.00 2nd child £8

Late collections will be charged at the Managers discretion at a rate of £5.00 per every 15 minute

Invoices will be made available on day 1 of each new term and is due for payment within 14 days.
BRIGHTSTART MENU

Monday Spagetti Bolognaise
Quorn Mince, Chopped Tomatoes, Bolognaise Sauce
Pasta
Garlic Bread, Cheese & Dairy/lactose free cheese

Yogurts & Dairy/lactose Free Yogurts

Tuesday Roast Dinner
Chicken, Roast Potatoes, Brocolli, Corn & Yorkshire

Jelly & Ice cream or dairy/lactose free cream

Wednesday Shepherds Pie
Mince, Mashed Potatoes and Peas

Fruit and Pancakes
Thursday Pasta Bake
Pasta, Tomato Sauce & Carrot Sticks
Garlic Bread, Cheese & Dairy/lactose free cheese

Bananas & Custard or dairy/lactose free cream

Friday Sausage Bake
Sausages/Quorn Sausages, Mash (no milk) & Beans

Chocolate Swiss Roll & Chocolate Pots

Allegations Policy
Allegations against staff

 We ensure that all parents know how to complain about the behaviour or actions of staff or volunteers within the setting, which may include an allegation of abuse;
 We follow the guidance of the Safeguarding Team/Local Safeguarding Children’s Board when responding to any complaint that a member of staff or volunteer has abused a child;
 We respond to any disclosure by children or staff that a member of staff or volunteer may have taken, or is taking place, by first recording the details of any such alleged incident;
 We refer any such complaint immediately to the local authority’s social care department to investigate. We also report any such alleged incident to Ofsted and what measures we have taken within 14 days of the allegation being made. We are aware it is an offence not to do this;
 We co-operate entirely with any investigation carried out by the children’s social care in conjunction with the police;
 Where the manager and children’s social care agree it is appropriate, the member of staff will be suspended on full pay for the duration of the investigation. This is not an indication of admission that the alleged incident has taken place, but it is to protect the staff, children and families throughout the process;

Disciplinary Action

 Where a member of staff or volunteer has been dismissed due to engaging in activities that caused concerns for the safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults, we will notify the Independent Safeguarding Authority of relevant information so that individuals who pose a threat to children and vulnerable groups, can be identified and barred from working with these groups.

Safeguarding Policy
Key Contacts

Name Contact information eg. Setting email/phone number
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Nicky Thompson 07523 284 379
01732 884248
Nicola.sarah.thompson@virgin.net
brightstartbg@hotmail.co.uk
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Ellie Thompson

Laura O’Doherty 07505 076877
Ellie.thompson1998@icloud.com

07506 733953
Lauraodoherty90@hotmail.co.uk

Manager/Proprietor Nicky Thompson 07523 284379
01732 884248
Nicola.sarah.thompson@virgin.net
brightstartbg@hotmail.co.uk
Other key staff eg chain safeguarding lead n/a

Safeguarding Policy

Key Contact Personnel within the setting: Nicky Thompson

Contact person in their absence: Ellie Thompson
Laura O’Doherty

Contact details for LADO: 03000 41 08 88
Email: kentchildrenslado@kent.gov.uk
Contact details for Education
Safeguarding Team: West Kent: Worrall House
30 Kings Hill Avenue
West Malling
Kent, ME19 4AE
T: 
03301 65 14 40


North Kent: Worrall House
30 Kings Hill Avenue
West Malling
Kent, ME19 4AE
T: 
03301 65 12 40

This is a core policy that forms part of the induction for all staff. It is a requirement that all members of staff have access to this policy and sign to say they have read and understood its contents.

Contents

Page
What to do if you have a welfare concern flowchart

1. Child Focused Approach to Safeguarding 4

2. Key Responsibilities 7

3. Child Protection Procedures 10

4. Specific Safeguarding Issues 15

5. Supporting Children Potentially at Greater Risk of Harm 22

6. Online Safety 23

7. Staff Engagement and Expectations 26

8. Safer Recruitment and Allegations Against Staff 27

9. Opportunities to Teach Safeguarding 30

10. Physical Safety 30

11. Local Contacts 31

Appendix 1: Categories of Abuse 32

Appendix 2: Support Organisations 35

1. Child Focused Approach to Safeguarding

Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right.’ Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 2021

1.1 Introduction

• The Registered Person, Nicola Thompson of Brightstart Preschool Ltd believe that all those directly involved with our setting have an essential role to play in making it safe and secure. Our setting aims to create the safest environment within which every child can achieve their full potential and we take seriously our responsibility to promote the welfare and safeguard all the children and young people entrusted to our care.

• Brightstart Preschool Ltd recognise our statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and all those directly connected (staff, volunteers, governors, leaders, parents, families, and children) are an important part of the wider safeguarding system for children and have an essential role to play in making this community safe and secure.

• Brightstart Preschool Ltd believe that the best interests of children always come first. All children (defined as those up to the age of 18) have a right to be heard and to have their wishes and feelings taken into account and all children regardless of age, sex (gender), ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual identity, have equal rights to protection.

• This policy applies where there are any child protection concerns regarding children who attend the settings but may also apply to other children connected to the setting, for example, siblings or younger staff (under 18s) or children on student/work placements.

• Staff working with children at Brightstart Preschool Ltd will maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned. When concerned about the welfare of a child, staff will always act in the best interests of the child and if any member of our community has a safeguarding concern about any child or adult, they should act and act immediately.

• As part of the safeguarding ethos of the setting we are committed to:
o Maintaining children’s welfare as our paramount concern
o Providing an environment and culture in which children feel safe, secure, valued, and respected, confident to talk openly and sure of being listened to
o Developing appropriate and positive relationships between children and the adults that care for them
o Providing suitable support and guidance so that children have a range of appropriate adults who they feel confident to approach if they are in difficulties
o Using learning opportunities to increase self-awareness, self-esteem, assertiveness, and decision making. This is so that young children develop a range of contacts and strategies to ensure their own protection and understand the importance of protecting others
o Working with parents/carers to build an understanding of the setting’s responsibility to ensure the welfare of all children including the need for referral to other agencies in some situations
o Ensuring all staff have regular and appropriate training (including induction) to enable them to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and ensure they are aware of the setting’s procedures and reporting mechanisms
o Monitoring children who have been identified as ‘in need’ including the need for protection, keeping confidential records which are stored securely and shared appropriately with other professionals.
o Developing effective and supportive liaison with other agencies.

• The procedures contained in this policy apply to all staff, including trustees, temporary or third-party agency staff and volunteers.

• Brightstart Preschool Ltd adheres to the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership (KSCMP) safeguarding children’s procedures. The full KSCMP procedures document and additional guidance relating to specific safeguarding issues can be found on the KSCMP website: www.kscmp.org.uk

1.2 Policy context

• This policy is implemented in accordance with our compliance with the statutory guidance from the Department for Education, Early Years and Foundation Stage (EYFS) 2021, especially section 3: the safeguarding and welfare requirements.

• This policy has been developed in accordance with the principles established by the Children Acts 1989 and 2004 and related guidance. This includes but is not limited to:
o Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022 (KCSIE)
o Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 (WTSC)
o Ofsted: Education Inspection Framework’
o Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families 2000
o Kent and Medway Safeguarding Children Procedures
o Early Years and Foundation Stage Framework 2021 (EYFS)
o The Education Act 2002
o The Human Rights Act 1998
o The Equality Act 2010 (including the Public Sector Equality Duty)

• Brightstart Preschool Ltd will continue to follow government guidance in response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic; regardless of the action required, our safeguarding principles will always remain the same. We will amend this policy and our approaches, as necessary.

• Brightstart Preschool Ltd recognise that as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, some members of our community may have been exposed to a range of adversity and trauma including bereavement, anxiety and in some cases experienced increased welfare and/or safeguarding risks. We will work with local services, such as health and the local authority, to ensure necessary support is in place.

1.3 Definition of safeguarding

• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) states that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
o protecting children from maltreatment.
o preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development.
o ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
o taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

• It also reminds us that safeguarding “is everyone’s responsibility” and everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play. Everyone should consider wider environmental factors in a child’s life that may be a threat to their safety and/or welfare.
• The setting acknowledges that safeguarding includes a wide range of specific issues including (but not limited to):
o Abuse and neglect
o Bullying, including cyberbullying
o Child-on-child abuse
o Children with family members in prison
o Children Missing Education (CME)
o Child missing from home or care
o Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
o Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)
o Contextual safeguarding (risks outside the family home)
o County lines and gangs
o Domestic abuse
o Drugs and alcohol misuse
o Fabricated or induced illness
o Faith abuse
o Gender based abuse and violence against women and girls
o Hate
o Homelessness
o Human trafficking and modern slavery
o Mental health
o Nude or semi-nude image sharing, aka youth produced/involved sexual imagery or “Sexting”
o Online safety
o Preventing radicalisation and extremism
o Private fostering
o Relationship abuse
o Serious violence
o Sexual violence and sexual harassment
o So-called ‘honour-based’ abuse, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage
o ‘Upskirting’

• Annex B of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (KCSIE) contains important additional information about specific forms of abuse and safeguarding issues.
• If staff have any concerns about a child’s welfare, they should act on them immediately. They should follow this policy and speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (or deputy).

1.4 Related safeguarding policies

This policy is one of a series of our integrated safeguarding portfolio and should be read and actioned in conjunction with the policies as listed below:
o Abuse and Neglect
o Attendance, including lost or missing children
o Arrivals and departures, including collection procedures and uncollected child arrangements
o Behaviour management
o Complaints
o Confidentiality
o Data protection and information sharing
o Emergency procedures such as evacuations and lockdowns
o First aid and accidents, including administering medication and managing illness, allergies, heath, and infection
o Health and safety
o Image use
o Managing allegations against staff
o Mobile and smart technology
o Online safety
o Personal and intimate care
o Risk assessments, such as trips/outings, use of technology
o Safe and healthy eating
o Safer recruitment
o Sleep and rest policies
o Social media
o Staff behaviour policy/code of conduct, including Acceptable Use of Technology Policies (AUP)
o Ratios and lone working expectations
o Visitors policy
o Whistleblowing

Supporting Guidance (to be read and followed alongside this document)
o “Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who Work with Children and Young People in Education Settings” – Safer Recruitment Consortium
o “What to do if you are worried a child is being abused” – DfE, March 2015
o Early Years Foundation Stage 2021 Welfare Requirements
o UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS) “Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings: online safety considerations”

• These documents can be found in Lever Arch Safeguarding file or the Safeguarding directory of the Macbook.

1.5 Policy compliance, monitoring and review

• Brightstart Preschool Ltd will review this policy at least annually (as a minimum) and will update it as needed, so that it is kept up to date with safeguarding issues as they emerge and evolve, including lessons learnt. The policy will also be revised following any national or local updates, significant local or national safeguarding events and/or learning, and/or any changes to our own procedures.

• All staff (including temporary staff and volunteers) will be provided with a copy of this policy. (which can be found in the policy file)

• Parents/carers can obtain a copy of the Child Protection Policy and other related policies on request. Additionally, our policies can be viewed via our website: on our website or in policy file

• The policy forms part of our development plan and will be reviewed annually by the Nicola Thompson which has responsibility for oversight of safeguarding and child protection systems.

• The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and manager will ensure the Registered Person receive regular reporting on safeguarding activity and systems. They will not receive details of individual children’s situations or identifying features of families as part of their oversight responsibility.

2. Key Responsibilities

2.1 Governance and leadership

• Nicola Thompson and the leadership team have a strategic responsibility for our safeguarding arrangements and will comply with their duties under legislation. They have regard to the KCSIE 2022 guidance and will ensure our policies, procedures and training is effective and complies with the law at all times.

• Nicola Thompson will facilitate a whole setting approach to safeguarding which involves everyone. They will ensure that safeguarding and child protection are at the forefront and underpin all relevant aspects of process and policy development, so that all systems, processes, and policies operate with the best interests of the child at their heart.

• Nicola Thompson is aware of their obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010, (including the Public Sector Equality Duty), and the local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements set out by the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership (KSCMP).
o This includes but is not limited to safeguarding all members of our community (for example, staff, children, parents/carers and other family members) identified with protected characteristics within the Equality Act: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.
o For further information about our approaches to equality, diversity, and inclusion, please access our policies/website.

• Nicola Thompson and the leadership team will ensure that there are policies and procedures in place to ensure appropriate action is taken in a timely manner to safeguard and promote children’s welfare.

• Nicola Thompson will ensure that the Designated Safeguarding Leads are supported in their role and are provided with sufficient time so they can provide appropriate support to staff and children regarding any safeguarding and welfare concerns.

• Nicola Thompson will ensure that our child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures are understood and followed by all staff.

2.2 Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

• The EYFS states; ‘a practitioner must be designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children in every setting’. Nicola Thompson of Brightstart Preschool appointed (Nicky, Ellie and Laura) as the Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) for our setting; they are appropriately qualified and experienced to enable them to fulfil this role.

• The setting has also appointed Deputy DSLs who will have delegated responsibilities and act in the DSL’s absence.
o Nicky, Owner, DSL
o Ellie, Deputy Manager, DSL
o Laura, Supervisor, DSL

• The DSL has overall responsibility for the day-to-day oversight of safeguarding and child protection systems (including online safety) in the setting. Whilst the activities of the DSL may be delegated to the deputies, the ultimate lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection remains with the DSL and this responsibility will not be delegated.

• The Designated Safeguarding Lead (and any deputies) will be most likely to have a complete safeguarding picture and will be the most appropriate person to advise staff on the response to any safeguarding concerns.

• It is the role of the DSL to:
o Act as the central contact point for all staff to discuss any safeguarding concerns
o Maintain a confidential recording system for safeguarding and child protection concerns
o Coordinate safeguarding action for individual children
 When supporting children with a social worker or looked after children, the DSL should have the details of the child’s social worker in the authority that looks after the child.
o Liaise with other agencies and professionals in line with EYFS 2021 and WTSC 2018
o Ensure that locally established procedures as put in place by the three safeguarding partners as part of the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership (KSCMP) procedures, including referrals, are followed, as necessary.
o Represent, or ensure the setting is appropriately represented at multi-agency safeguarding meetings (including child protection conferences)
o Managing and monitoring the setting’s role in any multi-agency plan for a child.
o Being available during setting hours for staff to discuss any safeguarding concerns and ensuring adequate and appropriate DSL cover arrangements in response to any closures and out of hours and/or out of term activities.
o Ensuring all staff access appropriate safeguarding training and relevant updates in line with the recommendations within EYFS 2021.
o Liaise with the DSLs to inform them of any safeguarding issues, especially ongoing enquiries under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 and police investigations.

• The DSL will undergo appropriate and specific training to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out their role. Deputy DSLs will be trained to the same standard as the DSL. The DSLs’ training will be updated formally at least every two years, but their knowledge and skills will be updated through a variety of methods at regular intervals and at least annually.

2.3 Members of staff

• The EYFS 2021 requires providers ‘to take all necessary steps to keep children safe and well’’ and accordingly, everyone involved in the care of young children has a role to play in their protection.

• All members of staff in our setting are part of the wider safeguarding system for children and are in a unique position to observe any changes in a child’s behaviour or appearance. Our staff play a particularly important role in safeguarding as they are in a position to identify concerns early, provide help for children, promote children’s welfare and prevent concerns from escalating.

• All members of staff have a responsibility to:
o provide a safe environment in which children can learn.
o be aware of the indicators of abuse and neglect so that they can identify cases of children who may need help or protection.
o know what to do if a child tells them that they are being abused, neglected, or exploited and understand the impact abuse and neglect can have upon a child.
o be able to identify and act upon indicators that children are, or at risk of developing mental health issues.
o be prepared to identify children who may benefit from early help.
o understand the early help process and their role in it.
o understand our safeguarding policies and systems.
o undertake regular and appropriate training which is regularly updated.
o be aware of the local process of making referrals to children’s social care and statutory assessment under the Children Act 1989.
o know how to maintain an appropriate level of confidentiality.
o reassure children who report concerns that they are being taken seriously and that they will be supported and kept safe.

• Staff at Brightstart Preschool recognise that 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 being abusive or harmful. This should not prevent staff from having professional curiosity and speaking to a DSL if they have any concerns about a child.

• Staff at Brightstart Preschool will determine how best to build trusted relationships with children, young people and parents/carers which facilitate appropriate professional communication in line with existing and relevant policies, for example, our behaviour policies.

2.4 Children

• Children have a right to:
o Feel safe, be listened to, and have their wishes and feelings taken into account.
o Confidently report abuse, knowing their concerns will be treated seriously, and knowing they can safely express their views and give feedback.
o Receive help from a trusted adult.
o Learn how to keep themselves safe, including online.

2.5 Parents and carers

• Parents/carers have a responsibility to:
o Understand and adhere to any relevant setting policies and procedures.
o Talk to their children about safeguarding issues and support the setting in their safeguarding approaches.
o Identify behaviours which could indicate that their child is at risk of harm including online.
o Seek help and support from the setting or other agencies.

3. Child Protection Procedures

3.1 Recognising indicators of abuse and neglect

• Staff will maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned. When concerned about the welfare of a child, staff will always act in the best interests of the child.

• All staff are made aware of the definitions and indicators of abuse and neglect as identified by Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) and Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022. This is outlined locally within the Kent Support Levels Guidance.

• Brightstart Preschool recognise that when assessing whether a child may be suffering actual or potential harm there are four categories of abuse (for more in-depth information, see appendix 1):
o Physical abuse
o Sexual abuse
o Emotional abuse
o Neglect

• By understanding the indicators or abuse and neglect, we can respond to problems as early as possible and provide the right support and services for the child and their family.

• All members of staff are expected to be aware of and follow the below approach if they are concerned about a child:

‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused’ 2015

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that concerns may arise in many different contexts and can vary greatly in terms of their nature and seriousness. The indicators of child abuse and neglect can vary from child to child. Children develop and mature at different rates, so what appears to be worrying behaviour for a younger child might be normal for an older child. It is important to recognise that indicators of abuse and neglect do not automatically mean a child is being abused however all concerns should be taken seriously and will be explored by the DSL on a case-by-case basis.

• Brightstart Preschool recognises abuse, neglect, and safeguarding issues are rarely standalone events and cannot always be covered by one definition or one label alone. In many cases, multiple issues will overlap with one another, therefore staff will always be vigilant and always raise concerns with a DSL.

• Parental behaviors can indicate child abuse or neglect, so staff will be alert to parent-child interactions or concerning parental behaviours; this could include parents who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol or if there is a sudden change in their mental health.

• Children may report abuse happening to themselves, other children, or their family members. All reports made by children to staff will be taken seriously and will be responded to in line with this policy.

• Safeguarding incidents and/or behaviours can be associated with factors and risks outside the setting. Children can be at risk of abuse or exploitation in situations outside their families; extra-familial harms take a variety of different forms and children can be vulnerable to multiple harms including (but not limited to) sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, sexual abuse, serious youth violence and county lines.

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that technology can be a significant component in many safeguarding and wellbeing issues; children are at risk of abuse online from people they know (including other children) and from people they do not know; in many cases, abuse will take place concurrently via online channels and in daily life.

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that some children have additional or complex needs and may require access to intensive or specialist services to support them.

• In all cases, if staff are unsure of what action to take, they will always speak to the DSL (or deputy).

3.2 Responding to child protection concerns

• If staff are made aware of a child protection concern, as appropriate to the child’s age/ability, they are expected to:
o listen carefully to the child, reflecting back the concern.
o be non-judgmental.
o Avoid using any leading questions; only prompting the child where necessary, with open questions to clarify information. For example, who, what, where, when or Tell, Explain, Describe (TED).
o not promise confidentiality as concerns will have to be shared further, for example, with the DSL and potentially Integrated Children’s Services.
o be clear about boundaries and how the report will be progressed.
o record the concern using the facts, for example, words the child uses or recording the location of any marks using a body map, in line with our record keeping requirements.
o inform the DSL (or deputy), as soon as practically possible.

• If staff have any concerns about a child’s welfare, they are expected to act on them immediately. If staff are unsure if something is a safeguarding issue, they will speak to the DSL (or deputy).

• The DSL or a deputy should always be available to discuss safeguarding concerns. If in exceptional circumstances, a DSL is not available, this should not delay appropriate action being taken by staff. Staff should speak to Nicky Thompson, take advice from the Education Safeguarding Service or a consultation with a social worker from the Front Door (for contact information, see flowchart. In these circumstances, any action taken will be shared with a DSL as soon as is possible.

• All staff are made aware that early information sharing is vital for the effective identification, assessment, and allocation of appropriate service provision, whether this is when problems first emerge, or where a child is already known to other agencies. Staff will not assume a colleague, or another professional will act and share information that might be critical in keeping children safe.

• Brightstart Preschool will respond to safeguarding concerns in line with the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership procedures (KSCMP).
o The full KSCMP procedures and additional guidance relating to reporting concerns and specific safeguarding issues can be found on their website: www.kscmp.org.uk

• In Kent, Early Help and Preventative Services and Children’s Social Work Services are part of Integrated Children’s Services (ICS). Specific information and guidance to follow with regards to accessing support and/or making referrals in Kent can be found here: www.kelsi.org.uk/support-for-children-and-young-people/integrated-childrens-services

• Where it is identified a child may benefit from Early Help support (as provided by ICS) , the DSL (or deputy) will generally lead as appropriate and make a request for support via the Front Door.
o The DSL will keep all Early Help cases under constant review and consideration will be given to escalating concerns to the Front Door or seeking advice via the Education Safeguarding Service if the situation does not appear to be improving or is getting worse.

• All staff are made aware of the process for making referrals to Integrated Children’s Services and for statutory assessments under the Children Act 1989, especially section 17 (children in need) and section 47 (a child suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm) that may follow a referral, along with the role they might be expected to play in such assessments.

• Where a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer from harm, or is in immediate danger (for example, under section 17 or 47 of the Children Act), a ‘request for support’ will be made immediately to Kent Integrated Children’s Services (via the ‘Front Door’) and/or the police, in line with KSCMP procedures.
o Brightstart Preschool recognise that in situations where there are immediate child protection concerns for a child as identified in line with Support Level Guidance, it is NOT to investigate as a single agency, but to act in line with KSCMP guidance which may involve multi-agency decision making.
o The DSL may seek advice or guidance from an Area Education Safeguarding Advisor from the Education Safeguarding Service before deciding next steps.
o They may also seek advice or guidance from a social worker at the Front Door service who are the first point of contact for Integrated Children’s Services (ICS).

• In the event of a request for support to the Front Door being necessary, parents/carers will be informed and consent to this will be sought by the DSL in line with guidance provided by KSCMP and ICS. Parents/carers will be informed of this, unless there is a valid reason not to do so, for example, if to do so would put a child at risk of harm or would undermine a criminal investigation.

• If, after a request for support or any other planned external intervention, a child’s situation does not appear to be improving, or concerns regarding receiving a decision or the decisions made, staff or the DSL will re-refer (if appropriate) and/or DSLs will follow the KSCMP escalation procedures to ensure their concerns have been addressed and, most importantly, that the child’s situation improves. DSLs may request support with this via the Education Safeguarding Service.

3.3 Recording concerns

• All safeguarding concerns, discussions, decisions, and reasons for those decisions, will be recorded in writing on the setting safeguarding incident/concern form and passed without delay to the DSL. Our records will include a clear and comprehensive summary of any concerns, details of how concerns were followed up and resolved, a note of any action taken or not taken, how any decisions were reached and any outcomes.
• Incident/Welfare concern forms are kept in the safeguarding folder in the yellow ofsted grab tray
• Records will be completed as soon as possible after the incident/event, using the child’s words and will be signed and dated by the member of staff. Child protection records will record facts and not personal opinions. A body map will be completed if visible marks or injuries have been observed.
• If there is an immediate safeguarding concern the member of staff will consult with a DSL before completing the form as reporting urgent concerns takes priority.
• If members of staff are in any doubt about recording requirements, they will discuss their concerns with the DSL.
• Child protection records will include a clear and comprehensive summary of the concern, details of how the concern was followed up and resolved and details regarding any action taken, decisions reached and the outcome.
• Child protection records will be kept confidential and stored securely. Child protection records will be kept for individual children and will be maintained separately from all other records relating to the child in the setting. Child protection records are kept in accordance with data protection legislation and are retained centrally and securely by the DSL.
• All child protection records will be transferred in accordance with data protection legislation to the child’s subsequent setting or school, under confidential and separate cover as soon as possible. Child protection files will be transferred securely to the new DSL, separately to the child’s main file, and a confirmation of receipt will be obtained.
• In addition to the child protection file, the DSL will also consider if it would be appropriate to share any information with the DSL at the new setting or school in advance of a child leaving, for example, information that would allow the new setting or school to continue to provide support.
• Where the setting receives child protection files from another setting, the DSL will ensure key staff such as the Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinators (SENCOs) will be made aware of relevant information as required.
• Where a child joins the setting and no child protection files are received, the DSL will proactively seek to confirm from the previous setting whether any child protections exist for the child, and if so, if the files have been sent.

3.4 Multi-agency working

• Brightstart Preschool recognises the pivotal role we have to play in multi-agency safeguarding arrangements and is committed to its responsibility to work within the KSCMP multi-agency safeguarding arrangements as identified within ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’.

• Nicola Thompson and DSL will work to establish strong and co-operative local relationships with professionals in other agencies, including the safeguarding partners in line with local and national guidance.

• Brightstart Preschool recognises the importance of multi-agency working and is committed to working alongside partner agencies to provide a coordinated response to promote children’s welfare and protect them from harm. This includes contributing to KSCMP processes as required, such as, participation in relevant safeguarding multi-agency plans and meetings, including Child Protection Conferences, Core Groups, Strategy Meetings, Child in Need meetings or other early help multi-agency meetings.

• The setting will allow access for Kent Children’s Social Work Service and, where appropriate, from a placing local authority, to conduct, or to consider whether to conduct, a section 17 or a section 47 assessment.

3.5 Confidentiality and information sharing

• Brightstart Preschool recognises our duty and powers to hold, use and share relevant information with appropriate agencies in matters relating to child protection at the earliest opportunity as per statutory guidance outlined within EYFS 2021 and KCSIE 2022.

• Brightstart Preschool has an appropriately trained Data Protection Officer (DPO) as required by the UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) to ensure that our setting is compliant with all matters relating to confidentiality and information sharing requirements.

• Staff will have due regard to the relevant data protection principles, which allow them to share and withhold personal information. The Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR do not prevent the sharing of information for the purposes of keeping children safe. Fears about sharing information must not be allowed to stand in the way of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare and protect the safety of children. KCSIE 2022, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the DfE ‘’Information sharing advice for safeguarding practitioners’’ (2018) guidance provides further details regarding information sharing principles and expectations.

• Nicola Thompson and DSL will disclose relevant safeguarding information about a child with staff on a ‘need to know’ basis.

• All members of staff must be aware that whilst they have duties to keep information confidential, in line with our confidentiality policy. Staff also have a professional responsibility to be proactive in sharing information as early as possible to help identify, assess, and respond to risks or concerns about the safety and welfare of children; this may include sharing information with the DSL and with other agencies as appropriate.

• In regard to confidentiality and information sharing staff will only involve those who need to be involved, such as the DSL (or a deputy) and Kent Integrated Children’s Services. All staff are aware they cannot promise a child that they will not tell anyone about a report of any form of abuse, as this may not be in the best interests of the child.

3.6 Complaints

• All members of our community should feel able to raise or report any concerns about children’s safety or potential failures in our safeguarding regime. The setting has a complaints procedure available to parents, members of staff and visitors who wish to report concerns or complaints. This can be found in the complaints file in the moderation file.
• Whilst we encourage members of our community to report concerns and complaints directly to us, we recognise this may not always be possible. Children, young people, and adults who have experienced abuse at school can contact the NSPCC ‘Report Abuse in Education’ helpline on 0800 136 663 or via email: help@nspcc.org.uk

• Staff can also access the NSPCC whistleblowing helpline if they do not feel able to raise concerns regarding child protection failures internally.
o Staff can call 0800 028 0285 (8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Friday) or email help@nspcc.org.uk.

• The leadership team at Brightstart Preschool will take all concerns reported seriously and all complaints will be considered and responded to in line with the relevant and appropriate process.
o Anything that constitutes an allegation against a member of staff or volunteer will be dealt with in line with section 8 of this policy.

4. Specific Safeguarding Issues

• Brightstart Preschool is aware of a range of specific safeguarding issues and situations that can put children at greater risk of harm. Whilst some of these issues may be more likely to involve older children, early years children may still be at risk at of harm, or concerns may be identified where there are risks for children’s family members or siblings, and/or young staff members, including for example, children on work placements/experience.

• Where staff are unsure how to respond to specific safeguarding issues, they should follow the processes as identified in part 3 of this policy and speak with the DSL or a deputy.

4.1 Bruising in non-mobile children

• Bruising in babies, infants or children with complex needs that are not mobile (meaning a child who is unable to move independently through rolling, crawling, cruising, or bottom shuffling) is unusual and should always be explored.

• If our setting is concerned about actual or suspected bruising on a non-mobile child, we will respond in line with the ‘Kent and Medway Protocol for the Management of Actual or Suspected Bruising in Infants and Children who are not Independently Mobile’ procedures (2.2.8 of the KSCMP procedures). In summary, these procedures state:
o If a child appears seriously ill or injured, emergency treatment should be sought through an emergency department (ED) and the Kent ICS should be notified of the concern and the child’s location.

o In all other cases:
 Staff must inform the DSL immediately and describe and document accurately on a body map, the size, shape, colour, and position of the mark/s on the head and/or body.
 Any explanation of the history of the injury or comments by the parents/carers will be documented accurately (verbatim) in the child’s record, along with the body map.
 If there is a concern about parental response to the injury, no explanation, or an explanation that is inadequate, unlikely or does not rule out abuse or neglect, an immediate referral will be made to Kent ICS, who have responsibility for arranging further multi-agency assessments.
 If there are concerns regarding the immediate safety of the child or staff, the police will be called.
 If the setting is in any doubt as to how to respond to bruising on a non-mobile child, advice will be sought from the Education Safeguarding Service and/or the Front Door.

4.2 Child-on-child abuse

• All members of staff at Brightstart Preschool recognise that children can abuse other children (referred to as child-on-child abuse, previously known as ‘peer-on-peer’ abuse), and that it can happen both inside and outside of the setting and online.

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that child-on-child abuse can take many forms, including but not limited to:
o Bullying, including cyberbullying, prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying
o Abuse in intimate personal relationships between children
o Physical abuse which can include hitting, kicking, shaking, biting, hair pulling, or otherwise causing physical harm
o Sexual violence and sexual harassment
o Consensual and non-consensual sharing of nudes and semi-nude images and/or videos (also known as ‘sexting’ or youth produced sexual imagery)
o Causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent, such as forcing someone to strip, touch themselves sexually, or to engage in sexual activity with a third party
o Upskirting (which is a criminal offence), which typically involves taking a picture under a person’s clothing without their permission, with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks to obtain sexual gratification, or cause the victim humiliation, distress or alarm
o Initiation/hazing type violence and rituals

• Any allegations of child-on-child abuse will be recorded, investigated, and dealt with in line with this child protection policy.

• Brightstart Preschool adopts a zero-tolerance approach to child-on-child abuse. We believe that abuse is abuse and it will never be tolerated or dismissed as “just banter”, “just having a laugh”, “part of growing up” or “boys being boys”; this can lead to a culture of unacceptable behaviours and can create an unsafe environment for children and a culture that normalises abuse, which can prevent children from coming forward to report it.

• All staff have a role to play in challenging inappropriate behaviours between children. Staff recognise that some child-on-child abuse issues may be affected by gender, age, ability, and culture of those involved. For example, for gender-based abuse, girls are more likely to be victims and boys more likely to be perpetrators.

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that even if there are no reported cases of child-on-child abuse, such abuse is still likely to be taking place and it may be the case that it is just not being reported. As such, it is important that staff speak to the DSL (or deputy) about any concerns regarding child-on-child abuse.

• Brightstart Preschool want children to feel able to confidently report abuse and know their concerns will be treated seriously. All allegations of child-on-child abuse will be reported to the DSL and will be recorded, investigated, and dealt with in line with associated policies, including child protection, anti-bullying, and behaviour. Children who experience abuse will be offered appropriate support, regardless of where the abuse takes place.

• Concerns about children’s behaviour, including child-on-child abuse taking place offsite will be responded to as part of a partnership approach with children and parents/carers. Offsite behaviour concerns will be recorded and responded to in line with existing appropriate policies, for example anti-bullying, acceptable use, behaviour and child protection policies.

• Alleged victims, alleged perpetrators and any other child affected by child-on-child abuse will be supported by:
4.3 Child-on-child sexual violence and sexual harassment

• When responding to concerns relating to child-on-child sexual violence or harassment, Brightstart Preschool will follow the principles of the guidance outlined in Part five of KCSIE 2022.

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that sexual violence and sexual abuse can happen anywhere, and all staff will maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here.’ Brightstart Preschool recognises sexual violence and sexual harassment can occur between two children of any age and sex. It can occur through a group of children sexually assaulting or sexually harassing a single child or group of children and can occur online and face to face (both physically and verbally). Sexual violence and sexual harassment is never acceptable.

• All victims of sexual violence or sexual harassment will be reassured that they are being taken seriously, regardless of how long it has taken them to come forward, and that they will be supported and kept safe. A victim will never be given the impression that they are creating a problem by reporting sexual violence or sexual harassment, or ever be made to feel ashamed for making a report.

• Abuse that occurs online or outside of the setting will not be dismissed or downplayed and will be treated equally seriously and in line with relevant policies/procedures, for example anti-bullying, behaviour, child protection, online safety.

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that the law is in place to protect children and young people rather than criminalise them, and where appropriate, this will be explained in such a way to children that avoids alarming or distressing them.

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that an initial disclosure to a trusted adult may only be the first incident reported, rather than representative of a singular incident and that trauma can impact memory, so children may not be able to recall all details or timeline of abuse. All staff will be aware certain children may face additional barriers to telling someone, for example because of their vulnerability, disability, sex, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation.

• The DSL (or deputy) is likely to have a complete safeguarding picture and will be the most appropriate person to advise on the initial response.
o The DSL will make an immediate risk and needs assessment which will be considered on a case-by-case basis which explores how best to support and protect the victim and the alleged perpetrator, and any other children involved/impacted, in line with part five of KCSIE 2022 and relevant local/national guidance and support, for example KSCMP procedures and support from the Education Safeguarding Service.
o The risk and needs assessment will be recorded and kept under review and will consider the victim (especially their protection and support), the alleged perpetrator, and all other children, and staff and any actions that are required to protect them.
o Any concerns involving an online element will take place in accordance with relevant local/national guidance and advice.

• Reports will initially be managed internally by the setting and where necessary will be referred to Integrated Children’s Services (Early Help and/or Children’s Social Work Service) and/or the police. Important considerations which may influence this decision include:
o the wishes of the victim in terms of how they want to proceed.
o the nature of the alleged incident(s), including whether a crime may have been committed and/or whether Harmful Sexual Behavior has been displayed.
o the ages of the children involved.
o the developmental stages of the children involved.
o any power imbalance between the children.
o if the alleged incident is a one-off or a sustained pattern of abuse – sexual abuse can be accompanied by other forms of abuse and a sustained pattern may not just be of a sexual nature.
o that sexual violence and sexual harassment can take place within intimate personal relationships between children.
o understanding intra familial harms and any necessary support for siblings following incidents.
o whether there are any ongoing risks to the victim, other children, adult students, or staff.
o any other related issues and wider context, including any links to child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation.

• The setting will in most instances engage with both the victim’s and alleged perpetrator’s parents/carers when there has been a report of sexual violence; this might not be necessary or proportionate in the case of sexual harassment and will depend on a case-by-case basis.
o The exception to this is if there is a reason to believe informing a parent/carer will put a child at additional risk.
o Any information shared with parents/carers will be in line with information sharing expectations, our confidentiality policy, and any data protection requirements, and where they are involved, will be subject to discussion with other agencies (for example Children’s Social Work Service and/or the police) to ensure a consistent approach is taken.

• If at any stage the DSL is unsure how to proceed, advice will be sought from the Education Safeguarding Service.

4.4 Nude and/or semi-nude image sharing by children

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that consensual and non-consensual sharing of nudes and semi-nude images and/or videos (also known as youth produced/involved sexual imagery or “sexting”) can be a safeguarding issue; all concerns will be reported to and dealt with by the DSL (or deputy).

• When made aware of any concerns involving the taking or sharing of consensual and non-consensual sharing of nudes and semi-nude images and/or videos by children (under 18s), staff are advised:
o to report any concerns to the DSL immediately.
o never to view, copy, print, share, forward, store or save the imagery, or ask a child to share or download it – this may be illegal. If staff have already inadvertently viewed imagery, this will be immediately reported to the DSL.
o not to delete the imagery or ask the child to delete it.
o to avoid saying or doing anything to blame or shame any children involved.
o to reassure the child(ren) involved and explain that the DSL will be informed so they can receive appropriate support and help. Do not promise confidentiality, as other agencies may need to be informed and be involved.
o not to investigate or ask the child(ren) involved to disclose information regarding the imagery
o to not share information about the incident with other members of staff, children, or parents/carers, including the families and child(ren) involved in the incident; this is the responsibility of the DSL.

• DSLs will respond to concerns in line with the non-statutory UKCIS guidance: ‘Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people’ and the local KSCMP guidance. When made aware of a concern involving consensual and non-consensual sharing of nudes and semi-nude images and/or videos:
o The DSL will hold an initial review meeting to explore the context and ensure appropriate and proportionate safeguarding action is taken in the best interests of any child involved. This may mean speaking with relevant staff and the children involved as appropriate.
o Parents/carers will be informed at an early stage and be involved in the process to best support children, unless there is good reason to believe that involving them would put a child at risk of harm.
o All decisions and action taken will be recorded in line with our child protection procedures.
o A referral will be made to ICS and/or the police immediately if:
 the incident involves an adult (over 18).
 there is reason to believe that a child has been coerced, blackmailed, or groomed, or there are concerns about their capacity to consent, for example, age of the child or they have special educational needs.
 the image/videos involve sexual acts and a child under the age of thirteen, depict sexual acts which are unusual for the child’s developmental stage, or are violent.
 a child is at immediate risk of harm owing to the sharing of nudes and semi-nudes.
o The DSL may choose to involve other agencies at any time if further information/concerns are disclosed at a later date.
o If DSLs are unsure how to proceed, advice will be sought from the Education Safeguarding Service.

4.5 Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that both Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) are forms of abuse that occur where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance in power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child into taking part in sexual or criminal activity, in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator and/or through violence or the threat of violence. CSE and CCE can affect children, both male and female and can include children who have been moved (commonly referred to as trafficking) for the purpose of exploitation.

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that children can become trapped in CCE as perpetrators can threaten victims and their families with violence or entrap and coerce them into debt. Children involved in criminal exploitation often commit crimes themselves which can mean their vulnerability as victims is not always recognised (particularly older children) and they are not treated as victims, despite the harm they have experienced. The experience of girls who are criminally exploited can also be very different to that of boys. We also recognise that boys and girls being criminally exploited may be at higher risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE).

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that CSE can occur over time or be a one-off occurrence and may happen without the child’s immediate knowledge, for example through others sharing videos or images of them on social media. CSE can affect any child who has been coerced into engaging in sexual activities and includes 16- and 17-year-olds who can legally consent to have sex. Some children may not realise they are being exploited, for example they may believe they are in a genuine romantic relationship.

• If staff are concerned that a child within the setting or our wider community may be at risk of CSE or CCE, immediate action should be taken by speaking to the DSL or a deputy.

4.6 Serious violence

• All staff are aware of the indicators which may signal children are at risk from or are involved with serious violent crime. These may include unexplained gifts or new possessions, increased absence, a change in friendships or relationships with older individuals or groups, a significant decline in performance, signs of self-harm or a significant change in wellbeing, or signs of assault or unexplained injuries. Unexplained gifts or new possessions could also indicate children have been approached by, or are involved with, individuals associated with criminal networks or gangs and may be at risk of CCE.

• Any concerns regarding serious violence will be reported and responded to in line with other child protection concerns by speaking with a DSL or deputy. The initial response to child victims is important and staff will take any allegations seriously and work in ways that support children and keep them safe.

4.7 So-called Honour Based Abuse (HBA)

• So-called ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) encompasses incidents or crimes which have been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family and/or the community, including female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage, and practices such as breast ironing.

• All forms of HBA are abuse, regardless of the motivation, and concerns will be responded to in line with section 3 of this policy. Staff will report any concerns about HBA to the DSL (or a deputy). If there is an immediate threat, the police will be contacted.

• Whilst all staff will speak to the DSL (or deputy) about any concerns regarding female genital mutilation (FGM), there is a specific legal duty on teachers to report to the police.
o Section 5B of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 (as inserted by section 74 of the Serious Crime Act 2015) places a statutory duty upon teachers in England and Wales, to report to the police where they discover (either through disclosure by the victim or visual evidence) that FGM appears to have been carried out on a girl under 18.
o It will be rare for teachers to see visual evidence, and they should not be examining children, however teachers who do not personally report such concerns may face disciplinary sanctions. Further information on when and how to make a report can be found at: Mandatory reporting of female genital mutilation procedural information and FGM Fact Sheet.
o Unless the teacher has good reason not to, they should still consider and discuss any FGM concerns with the DSL (or a deputy), and ICS should be informed as appropriate.
o
4.8 Preventing radicalisation

• Brightstart Preschool is aware of our duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (the CTSA 2015), to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”, also known as the Prevent duty and the specific obligations placed upon us as an education provider regarding risk assessments, working in partnership, staff training, and IT policies.

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that children are vulnerable to extremist ideology and radicalisation and staff will be alert to changes in children’s behaviour which could indicate that they may be in need of help or protection.

• Staff will report any concerns to the DSL (or a deputy), who is aware of the local procedures to follow. If there is an immediate threat, the police will be contacted via 999.

4.9 Cybercrime

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that children with particular skill and interest in computing and technology may inadvertently or deliberately stray into ‘cyber-enabled’ (crimes that can happen offline but are enabled at scale and at speed online) or ‘cyber dependent’ (crimes that can be committed only by using a computer/internet enabled device) cybercrime.

• Whilst this may be unlikely to affect children attending our setting, it may impact others in the community. If staff are concerned that a child may be at risk of becoming involved in cyber-dependent cybercrime, the DSL or a deputy will be informed.

• Where there are concerns about ‘cyber-enabled’ crime such as fraud, purchasing of illegal drugs online, child sexual abuse and exploitation, or other areas of concern such as online bullying or general online safety, they will be responded to in line with the child protection and other appropriate policies.

4.10 Domestic abuse

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that domestic abuse can encompass a wide range of behaviours and may be a single incident or a pattern of incidents. That abuse can be, but is not limited to, psychological, physical, sexual, financial, or emotional abuse. Children can be victims of domestic abuse and may see, hear, or experience the effects of abuse at home and/or suffer domestic abuse in their own intimate relationships (teenage relationship abuse). Domestic abuse can have a detrimental and long-term impact on children’s health, well-being, development, and ability to learn.

• If staff are concerned that a child may be at risk of seeing, hearing, or experiencing the effects of domestic abuse in their home, or in their own intimate relationships, immediate action should be taken by speaking to the DSL or a deputy.

4.11 Mental health

• All staff recognise that mental health problems can, in some cases, be an indicator that a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering abuse, neglect or exploitation.

• Staff are aware that children’s experiences, for example where children have suffered abuse and neglect, or other potentially traumatic Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), can impact on their mental health, behaviour, and education.

• Staff are well placed to observe children day-to-day and identify those whose behaviour suggests that they may be experiencing a mental health problem or be at risk of developing one.

• If staff have a mental health concern about a child that is also a safeguarding concern, immediate action should be taken by speaking to the DSL or a deputy.

5. Supporting Children Potentially at Greater Risk of Harm

• Whilst all children should be protected, Brightstart Preschool acknowledge that some groups of children are potentially at greater risk of harm. This can include the following groups:

5.1 Safeguarding children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND)

• Brightstart Preschool acknowledges that children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) or certain health conditions can face additional safeguarding challenges and barriers for recognising abuse and neglect.

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that children with SEND may face additional communication barriers and experience difficulties in managing or reporting abuse or challenges. Children with SEND will be supported to communicate and ensure that their voice is heard and acted upon.

• All members of staff are encouraged to appropriately explore potential indicators of abuse such as behaviour, mood changes or injuries and not to assume that they are related to the child’s disability. Staff will be mindful that children with SEND or certain medical conditions may be disproportionally impacted by behaviours such as bullying, without outwardly showing any signs.

• Members of staff are encouraged to be aware that children with SEND can be disproportionally impacted by safeguarding concerns, such as exploitation, peer group isolation or bullying including prejudice-based bullying.

• To address these additional challenges, our setting will always consider implementing extra pastoral support and attention for children with SEND. The DSL will work closely with the SENDco (Nicky or Laura) to plan support as required.

• Our setting has robust intimate/personal care policies which ensure that the health, safety, independence, and welfare of children is promoted, and their dignity and privacy are respected. Arrangements for intimate and personal care are open and transparent and accompanied by robust recording systems. Further information can be found in our policies:

5.2 Children requiring mental health support

• Brightstart Preschool has an important role to play in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our children. Mental health problems can, in some cases, be an indicator that a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering abuse, neglect or exploitation.

• Where there are concerns regarding possible mental health problems for children, staff should:
• Age/ability appropriate education will be provided to children to help promote positive health, wellbeing, and resilience.

5.3 Children Missing from Education (CME)

• Children missing from education, particularly persistently, can act as a vital warning sign to a range of safeguarding issues including neglect, sexual abuse, and child sexual and criminal exploitation – particularly county lines. Although children attending our setting are under statutory education age, a robust response may help support the identification of abuse at an early stage. Further information about our attendance policy and expectations regarding absences can be found in our policy file

• Where possible, the setting will hold more than one emergency contact number for each child so we have additional options to make contact with a responsible adult if a child missing education is also identified as being a welfare and/or safeguarding concern.

5.4 Children who need a social worker (child in need and child protection plans)

• The DSL will hold details of social workers working with children in the setting so that decisions can be made in the best interests of the child’s safety, welfare, and educational outcomes.

• Where children have a social worker, this will inform our decisions about their safety and promoting their welfare, for example, responding to absences and provision of pastoral and/or educational support.

5.5 Looked after children, previously looked after children and care Leavers

• Brightstart Preschool] recognises the common reason for children becoming looked after is as a result of abuse and/or neglect and a previously looked after child also potentially remains vulnerable.

• Where the setting believes a child is being cared for as part of a private fostering arrangement (occurs when a child under 16 or 18 if the child is disabled is cared for and lives with an adult who is not a relative for 28 days or more) there is a duty to recognise these arrangements and inform the Local Authority via the Front Door.

5.6 Members of the community who are Lesbian, Gay, Bi, or Trans (LGBT)

• The fact that a child, a young person or an adult may be LGBT is not in itself an inherent risk factor for harm, however, Brightstart Preschool recognises that children, young people or adults who are LGBT or may be perceived to be LGBT (whether they are or not) can be targeted. Our staff will endeavour to provide a safe space which enables all members of our community to speak out or share any concerns.

6. Online Safety

The EYFS 2021 recommends settings access the UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS) ‘Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings: online safety considerations’

• It is essential that children are safeguarded from potentially harmful and inappropriate material or behaviours online. Brightstart Preschool will adopt a whole setting approach to online safety which will empower, protect, and educate children and staff in their use of technology, and establish mechanisms to identify, intervene in, and escalate any concerns where appropriate.

• Brightstart Preschool will ensure online safety is considered as a running and interrelated theme when devising and implementing our policies and procedures, and when planning our education approaches, staff training, the role and responsibilities of the DSL and parental engagement.

• Brightstart Preschool identifies that the breadth of issues classified within online safety is considerable, but can be categorised into four areas of risk:
o Content: being exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful content. For example, pornography, fake news, racism, misogyny, self-harm, suicide, anti-Semitism, radicalisation, and extremism.
o Contact: being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users. For example, peer to peer pressure, commercial advertising and adults posing as children or young adults with the intention to groom or exploit them for sexual, criminal, financial or other purposes.
o Conduct: personal online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes, harm. For example, making, sending and receiving explicit images (including consensual and non-consensual sharing of nudes and semi-nudes and/or pornography), sharing other explicit images and online bullying.
o Commerce: risks such as online gambling, inappropriate advertising, phishing and or financial scams.

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that technology, and the risks and harms related to it, evolve, and change rapidly. We will carry out an annual review of our approaches to online safety.

• Nicola Thompson will be informed of any online safety concerns by the DSL, as appropriate. The named governor for safeguarding will report on online safety practice and incidents, including outcomes, on a regular basis to the wider governing body.

6.1 Policies and procedures

• The DSL has overall responsibility for online safety within the setting but will liaise with other members of staff, for example Nicola Thompson and IT support/technicians as necessary.

• The DSL will respond to online safety concerns in line with our child protection and other associated policies, including our Anti-bullying policy, Social Media policy and behaviour policies.
o Internal sanctions and/or support will be implemented as appropriate.
o Where necessary, concerns will be escalated and reported to relevant partner agencies in line with local policies and procedures.

• Brightstart Preschool uses a wide range of technology. This includes: computers, laptops, tablets and other digital devices, the internet, our learning platform and email systems although we do not readily have wifi
o All setting owned devices and systems will be used in accordance with our acceptable use policies and with appropriate safety and security measures in place.
• Brightstart Preschool recognises the specific risks that can be posed by mobile and smart technology, including mobile/smart phones, cameras and wearable technology. In accordance with the EYFS 2021 Brightstart Preschool has appropriate policies in place which address the use of mobile and smart technology and cameras and are shared and understood by all members of the community. These policies can be found in policy file.

6.2 Appropriate filtering and monitoring

• In line with requirements of the Prevent duty, Brightstart Preschool will do all we reasonably can to limit children’s exposure to online risks through setting provided IT systems and will ensure that appropriate filtering and monitoring systems are in place.
o Our leadership team and relevant staff have an awareness and understanding of the filtering and monitoring provisions in place, manage them effectively and know how to escalate concerns when identified.
o If children or staff discover unsuitable sites or material, they are required to immediately contact a member of DSL and block and delete content
o All users will be informed at a level appropriate to their age/ability and/or role and access, that use of our systems can be monitored, and that monitoring will be in line with data protection, human rights, and privacy legislation.
o Filtering breaches or concerns identified through our monitoring approaches will be recorded and reported to the DSL who will respond as appropriate.
o Any access to material believed to be illegal will be reported immediately to the relevant agencies, such as the Internet Watch Foundation and the police.
o When implementing appropriate filtering and monitoring, Brightstart Preschool will ensure that “over blocking” does not lead to unreasonable restrictions as to what children can be taught with regards to online teaching and safeguarding.

• Whilst filtering and monitoring is an important part of our online safety responsibilities, it is only one part of our approach to online safety.

6.3 Information security and access management

• Brightstart Preschool is responsible for ensuring an appropriate level of security protection procedures are in place, in order to safeguard our systems as well as staff and children. Further information can be found in please see policy file for a comprehensive list of policies relating to this.

• Brightstart Preschool will review the effectiveness of these procedures periodically to keep up with evolving cyber-crime technologies.

6.5 Staff training

• Brightstart Preschool will ensure that all staff receive online safety training as part of induction and that ongoing online safety training and update for all staff will be integrated, aligned and considered as part of our overarching safeguarding approach.

6.6 Educating children

• Brightstart Preschool will ensure a comprehensive curriculum response is in place to enable children to learn about and manage online risks effectively as part of providing a broad and balanced age-appropriate curriculum. ‘Education for a Connected World Framework’ and DfE ‘Teaching online safety in school’ guidance.

6.7 Working with parents/carers

• Brightstart Preschool will build a partnership approach to online safety and will support parents/carers to become aware and alert of the potential benefits and risks and to reinforce the importance of children being safe online by:
o Providing age appropriate books for children to look at
o Putting links on the website and notice board
o Uploading any new/relevant information on the group chat

• Brightstart Preschool will ensure parents/carers understand what systems are used to filter and monitor their children’s online use on site, what their children are being asked to do online, including the sites they will be asked to access and who from setting (if anyone) their child is going to be interacting with online. We do not readily have wifi in the setting and the children do not have access to online activities

• Where the setting is made aware of any potentially harmful risks, challenges and/or hoaxes circulating online, national or locally, we will respond in line with the DfE ‘Harmful online challenges and online hoaxes’ guidance to ensure we adopt a proportional and helpful response.

7. Staff Engagement and Expectations

7.1 Staff awareness, induction and training

• All members of staff have been provided with a copy of part one/annex A of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ 2022 which covers safeguarding information for staff. In addition,
o Setting management staff, including the DSL will read KCSIE in its entirety.
o All members of staff who work directly with children will read annex B.
o All members of staff have signed to confirm that they have read and understood the KCSIE guidance shared with them. They have read and understood and signed all policies in the file.

• All new staff and volunteers (including agency and third-party staff) receive safeguarding and child protection training including information to ensure they are aware of our internal safeguarding processes, as part of their induction. This training is regularly updated and is in line with advice from the safeguarding partners. All Staff are required to carry out the statutory cp training alongside their induction training
• In addition to specific child protection training, all staff will receive regular safeguarding and child protection updates, at least annually, to provide them with relevant skills and knowledge to safeguard children effectively. This occurs in staff supervisions, meetings and when new information is ascertained
• Brightstart Preschool recognises the expertise staff build by undertaking safeguarding training and from managing safeguarding concerns on a daily basis and staff are encouraged to contribute to and shape our safeguarding arrangements and child protection policies.
• The DSL will maintain an up-to-date record of who has been trained and will provide an annual report to the Nicola Thompson detailing safeguarding training undertaken.

7.2 Safer working practice

• All members of staff are required to work within our clear guidelines on safer working practice as outlined in our staff behaviour policy/code of conduct.

• The DSL will ensure that all staff and volunteers (including agency and third-party staff) have read our child protection policy and are aware of our expectations regarding safe and professional practice via the staff behaviour policy/code of conduct

• Staff will be made aware of our behaviour management and physical intervention policies. Staff will manage behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe educational environment and will have a clear understanding of the needs of all children. Any physical interventions and/or use of reasonable force will be in line with our agreed policy and procedures, and national guidance.

• All staff will be made aware of the professional risks associated with the use of social media and electronic communication (such as email, mobile phones, texting, social networking). Staff will adhere to relevant policies including staff behaviour policy, mobile and smart technology, and social media.

7.3 Supervision and support

• The induction process will include familiarisation with child protection responsibilities and procedures to be followed if members of staff have any concerns about a child’s safety or welfare.
• The setting will ensure that members of staff are provided with appropriate supervision in accordance with the statutory requirements of Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 2021.
• Nicola Thompson of Brightstart recognise regular, planned, and accountable supervision, which is a two-way process, offers support and develops the knowledge, skills and values of an individual, group, or team. We see its purpose is to monitor the progress of professional practice and to help staff to improve the quality of the work they do, thus improving outcomes for children as well as achieving agreed objectives. Supervision also provides an opportunity to discuss sensitive issues including the safeguarding of children and any concerns raised about an individual or colleague’s practice.
• The setting will ensure all members of staff and volunteers will receive regular and planned supervision sessions. Uninterrupted time will be set aside to ensure any supervision sessions effective for both practitioner and management to ensure that:
o All staff are competent to carry out their responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
o All staff are supported by the DSL in their safeguarding role.
o All members of staff have regular reviews of their own practice to ensure they improve over time.

• Any member of staff affected by issues arising from concerns for children’s welfare or safety can seek support from the DSL.

• The DSL will also put staff in touch with outside agencies for professional support if they so wish. Staff can also approach organisations such as their Union, the Education Support Partnership or other similar organisations directly.

8. Safer Recruitment and Allegations Against Staff

8.1 Safer recruitment and safeguarding checks

• Brightstart Preschool is committed to developing a safe culture and ensuring that steps are taken to recruit staff and volunteers who are safe to work with children and staff.
• Nicola Thompson of Brightstart Preschool are responsible for ensuring that the setting follows safe recruitment processes outlined within guidance, including accurate maintenance of the staff records/Single Central Record (SCR). The SCR is a list of staff, volunteers and registered person/trustees/committee members and includes appropriate information which may include:
o Dates of recruitment
o References
o Identity checks
o Criminal records check reference number, including date and details of person who completed it
o Eligibility to work in the UK checks
o Other essential key data.

• The setting will obtain an enhanced check by Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in respect of every person aged 16 and over (including for unsupervised volunteers, and supervised volunteers who provide personal care) who:
o works directly with children
o lives on the premises on which the childcare is provided and/or
o 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).

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

• Nicola Thompson of Brightstart Preschool is responsible for ensuring that the setting adopts an application, vetting and recruitment process which places safeguarding at its center, regardless of employee or voluntary role.

• Nicola Thompson of Brightstart Preschool is responsible for ensuring that the setting follows safe recruitment processes outlined within guidance. At least one member of the interview panel will have completed safer recruitment training.

• Nicola Thompson of Brightstart Preschool is aware of the requirements to make appropriate checks regarding the disqualification status of all staff, including volunteers and temporary staff.

• We advise all staff to disclose any reason that may affect their suitability to work with children including convictions, cautions, court orders, and warnings.

• We will ensure that all staff and volunteers have read the staff behaviour policy/code of conduct and understand that their behaviour and practice must be in line with it.

8.2 Allegations/concerns raised in relation to staff, including supply teachers, volunteers and contractors

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that it is possible for any member of staff, including volunteers, contractors, agency and third-party staff (including supply staff) and visitors to behave in a way that:
o Indicates they have harmed a child, or may have harmed a child
o Means they have committed a criminal offence against or related to a child
o behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates he or she may pose a risk of harm to children or
o behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children.

• Any concerns or allegations about staff will be recorded and dealt with appropriately in line with national guidance (Part four of KCSIE 2022) and the local Kent allegations arrangements. In depth information can be found within our ‘Managing Allegations against Staff’ and/or staff behaviour policy/code of conduct policy. This can be found in the policy file. Ensuring concerns are dealt with effectively will protect those working in or on behalf of the setting from potential false allegations or misunderstandings.

• As part of our approach to safeguarding, the setting adopts an open and transparent culture in which all concerns are dealt with promptly and appropriately. All staff and volunteers should feel able to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice and potential failures in the setting safeguarding regime. The leadership team at Brightstart will take all concerns or allegations received seriously.

• Allegations should be referred immediately to the manager who will contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) to agree further action to be taken in respect of the child and staff member. In the event of allegations of abuse being made against the manager, staff are advised that allegations should be reported to the next member of senior management who will contact the LADO.

• Where managers are unsure how to respond to a concern about a member of staff, advice will be sought via the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Enquiry Line and/or the Education Safeguarding Service.

• All records of concerns will be kept confidential and will be held securely and retained and in compliance with safeguarding requirements, as well as the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and other relevant policies and procedures (for example HR/Personnel and data retention policies).

• In all cases where concerns are reported against staff, once proceedings have been concluded, the manager (and if they have been involved the LADO) will consider the facts and determine whether any lessons can be learned and if any improvements can be made.

8.3 Safe Culture

• As part of our approach to safeguarding, we will create and embed a culture of openness, trust and transparency in which our values and expected behaviour as set out in our staff behaviour policy/code of conduct are constantly lived, monitored and reinforced by all staff, and any concerns are dealt with promptly and appropriately.

• Staff are encouraged and should feel confident to self-refer, if they have found themselves in a situation which could be misinterpreted, might appear compromising to others, and/or on reflection they believe they have behaved in such a way that they consider falls below the expected professional standards. This includes where concerns may be felt to be deliberately invented or malicious; such allegations are extremely rare and as such all concerns should be reported and recorded.

• All staff and volunteers should feel able to raise any concerns about poor or unsafe practice and potential failures in our safeguarding regime. The management team at Brightstart will take all concerns or allegations received seriously.

• All members of staff are made aware of our Whistleblowing procedure. It is a disciplinary offence not to report concerns about the conduct of a colleague that could place a child at risk.

• Staff can access the NSPCC whistleblowing helpline if they do not feel able to raise concerns regarding child protection failures internally. Staff can call 0800 028 0285 (8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Friday) or email help@nspcc.org.uk.
• Brightstart Preschool has a legal duty to refer to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) anyone who has harmed, or poses a risk of harm, to a child, or if there is reason to believe the member of staff has committed one of a number of listed offences, and who has been removed from working (paid or unpaid) in regulated activity or would have been removed had they not left. The DBS will consider whether to bar the person.
o If these circumstances arise in relation to a member of staff at our setting, a referral will be made as soon as possible after the resignation or removal of the individual in accordance with advice from the LADO and/or Name (Nicola Thompson of Brightstart Preschool).

• Brightstart Preschool have a duty to inform Ofsted of any allegations of serious harm or abuse by any person living, working, or looking after children at the premises (whether the allegations relate to harm or abuse committed on the premises or elsewhere). We will also notify Ofsted of the action taken in respect of the allegations. Notifications will be made as soon as is reasonably practicable, but at the latest within 14 days of the allegations being made and are aware that to not do so would be an offence.

9. Opportunities to Teach Safeguarding

• Brightstart Preschool recognises that 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. Our setting will provide a welcoming, safe, and stimulating environment where children can enjoy learning and grow in confidence.

• We recognise that early years settings play an essential role in helping children to understand and identify the parameters of what is appropriate child and adult behaviour; what is ‘safe’; to recognise when they and others close to them are not safe; and how to seek advice and support when they are concerned.

• Brightstart Preschool will provide age-appropriate educational opportunities to enable early years children to develop self-awareness, self-esteem, social and emotional understanding, assertiveness, and decision making so that they have a range of contacts and strategies to ensure their own protection and understand the importance of protecting others, including online.

• Brightstart Preschool recognise that a one size fits all approach may not be appropriate for all children, and a more personalised or contextualised approach for more vulnerable children, victims of abuse and some SEND children might be needed.

• Systems have been established to support the empowerment of children to talk to a range of staff. Children at Brightstart Preschool will be listened to and heard and their concerns will be taken seriously and acted upon as appropriate.

10. Physical Safety

10.1 Use of ‘reasonable force’

• There may be circumstances when it is appropriate for staff to use reasonable force in order to safeguard children from harm. Staff will be made aware of the behaviour management and physical intervention policies, and any physical interventions and/or use of reasonable force must be in line with our agreed policy and procedures and national guidance.

10.2 The use of premises by other organisations

• Where services or activities are provided separately by another body using the setting facilities/premises, the manager and the registered person/trustees/committee will seek written assurance that the organisation concerned has appropriate policies and procedures in place with regard to safeguarding children and child protection, and that relevant safeguarding checks have been made in respect of staff and volunteers. If this assurance is not achieved, an application to use premises will be refused.

• Safeguarding requirements will be included in any transfer of control agreement (i.e., lease or hire agreement), as a condition of use and occupation of the premises. Failure to comply with this will lead to termination of the agreement.

10.3 Site security

• All members of staff have a responsibility for maintaining awareness of buildings and grounds security and for reporting concerns that may come to light.

• Appropriate checks will be undertaken in respect of visitors and volunteers coming into the setting as outlined within national guidance. Visitors will be expected to sign in and out via the office visitors’ log and to display a visitor’s badge whilst on site.

• Staff and visitors will be expected to adhere to any safety arrangements implemented in response to any Covid-19 restrictions.

• The setting will not accept the behaviour of any individual (parent or other) that threatens our safety or 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 access for that individual to the site.

11 . Local Support

• All members of staff in Brightstart Preschool are made aware of local support available.

 Education Safeguarding Service
o Area Safeguarding Advisor
 www.theeducationpeople.org/our-expertise/safeguarding/safeguarding-contacts/
o Online Safety in the Education Safeguarding Service
 03301 651 500
 onlinesafety@theeducationpeople.org (non-urgent issues only)

 LADO Service
o Telephone: 03000 410 888
o Email: kentchildrenslado@kent.gov.uk

 Integrated Children’s Services/ Children’s Social Work Services
o Front Door: 03000 411 111
o Out of Hours Number: 03000 419 191

 Early Help
o www.kelsi.org.uk/special-education-needs/integrated-childrens-services/early-help-and-preventative-services and www.kelsi.org.uk/special-education-needs/integrated-childrens-services/early-help-contacts

 Kent Police
o 101 or 999 if there is an immediate risk of harm
o Insert details for local support. For example, local PCSO.

 Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership (KSCMP)
o kscmp@kent.gov.uk
o www.kscmp.org.uk
o 03000 421 126

 Adult Safeguarding
o Adult Social Care via 03000 41 61 61 (text relay 18001 03000 41 61 61) or email social.services@kent.gov.uk

Appendix 1: Categories of Abuse

All staff should be aware that abuse, neglect, and safeguarding issues are rarely standalone events that can be covered by one definition or label. In most cases multiple issues will overlap with one another.

Abuse: a form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. They may be abused by an adult or adults or another child or children. It should be noted that abuse can be carried out both on and offline and be perpetrated by men, women, and children.

Sexual abuse: involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing, and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet). Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

Signs that MAY INDICATE Sexual Abuse
• Sudden changes in behaviour and performance
• Displays of affection which are sexual and age inappropriate
• Self-harm, self-mutilation or attempts at suicide
• Alluding to secrets which they cannot reveal
• Tendency to cling or need constant reassurance
• Regression to younger behaviour for example thumb sucking, playing with discarded toys, acting like a baby
• Distrust of familiar adults, for example, anxiety of being left with relatives, a childminder or lodger
• Unexplained gifts or money
• Depression and withdrawal
• Fear of undressing for PE
• Sexually transmitted disease
• Fire setting

Physical abuse: a form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.

Signs that MAY INDICATE physical abuse
• Bruises and abrasions around the face
• Damage or injury around the mouth
• Bi-lateral injuries such as two bruised eyes
• Bruising to soft area of the face such as the cheeks
• Fingertip bruising to the front or back of torso
• Bite marks
• Burns or scalds (unusual patterns and spread of injuries)
• Deep contact burns such as cigarette burns
• Injuries suggesting beatings (strap marks, welts)
• Covering arms and legs even when hot
• Aggressive behaviour or severe temper outbursts.
• Injuries need to be accounted for. Inadequate, inconsistent, or excessively plausible explanations or a delay in seeking treatment should signal concern.

Emotional abuse: the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capability as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyberbullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, although it may occur alone.

Signs that MAY INDICATE emotional abuse
• Over reaction to mistakes
• Lack of self-confidence/esteem
• Sudden speech disorders
• Self-harming
• Eating Disorders
• Extremes of passivity and/or aggression
• Compulsive stealing
• Drug, alcohol, solvent abuse
• Fear of parents being contacted
• Unwillingness or inability to play
• Excessive need for approval, attention, and affection

Neglect: the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to: provide adequate food, clothing, and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment); protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger; ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers); or ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

Signs that MAY INDICATE neglect.
• Constant hunger
• Poor personal hygiene
• Constant tiredness
• Inadequate clothing
• Frequent lateness or non-attendance
• Untreated medical problems
• Poor relationship with peers
• Compulsive stealing and scavenging
• Rocking, hair twisting and thumb sucking
• Running away
• Loss of weight or being constantly underweight
• Low self esteem

Appendix 2: Support Organisations

NSPCC ‘Report Abuse in Education’ Helpline
• 0800 136 663 or help@nspcc.org.uk

National Organisations
• NSPCC: www.nspcc.org.uk
• Barnardo’s: www.barnardos.org.uk
• Action for Children: www.actionforchildren.org.uk
• Children’s Society: www.childrenssociety.org.uk
• Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse: www.csacentre.org.uk

Support for Staff
• Education Support Partnership: www.educationsupportpartnership.org.uk
• Professional Online Safety Helpline: www.saferinternet.org.uk/helpline
• Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service: https://swgfl.org.uk/harmful-sexual-behaviour-support-service

Support for Children and Young People
• ChildLine: www.childline.org.uk
• Papyrus: www.papyrus-uk.org
• The Mix: www.themix.org.uk
• Shout: www.giveusashout.org
• Fearless: www.fearless.org
• Victim Support: www.victimsupport.org.uk

Support for Adults
• Family Lives: www.familylives.org.uk
• Crime Stoppers: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
• Victim Support: www.victimsupport.org.uk
• The Samaritans: www.samaritans.org
• NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood): www.napac.org.uk
• MOSAC: www.mosac.org.uk
• Action Fraud: www.actionfraud.police.uk
• Shout: www.giveusashout.org
• Advice now: www.advicenow.org.uk

Support for Learning Disabilities
• Respond: www.respond.org.uk
• Mencap: www.mencap.org.uk
• Council for Disabled Children: https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk

Contextual Safeguarding Network
• https://contextualsafeguarding.org.uk/

Kent Resilience Hub
• https://kentresiliencehub.org.uk/

Substance Misuse
• We are with you (formerly Addaction): www.wearewithyou.org.uk/services/kent-for-young-people/
• Talk to Frank: www.talktofrank.com

Domestic Abuse
• Domestic abuse services: www.domesticabuseservices.org.uk
• Refuge: www.refuge.org.uk
• Women’s Aid: www.womensaid.org.uk
• Men’s Advice Line: www.mensadviceline.org.uk
• Mankind: www.mankindcounselling.org.uk
• National Domestic Abuse Helpline: www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
• Respect Phoneline: https://respectphoneline.org.uk

Criminal and Sexual Exploitation
• National Crime Agency: www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are
• It’s not okay: www.itsnotokay.co.uk
• NWG Network: www.nwgnetwork.org
• County Lines Toolkit for Professionals: www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/resources/county-lines-toolkit

Honour Based Abuse
• Karma Nirvana: https://karmanirvana.org.uk
• Forced Marriage Unit: www.gov.uk/guidance/forced-marriage
• FGM Factsheet: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/496415/6_1639_HO_SP_FGM_mandatory_reporting_Fact_sheet_Web.pdf
• Mandatory reporting of female genital mutilation: procedural information: www.gov.uk/government/publications/mandatory-reporting-of-female-genital-mutilation-procedural-information
• The right to choose – government guidance on forced marriage: www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-right-to-choose-government-guidance-on-forced-marriage

Child-on-Child abuse, including bullying, sexual violence and harassment
• Rape Crisis: https://rapecrisis.org.uk
• Brook: www.brook.org.uk
• Disrespect Nobody: www.disrespectnobody.co.uk
• Upskirting – know your rights: www.gov.uk/government/news/upskirting-know-your-rights
• Lucy Faithfull Foundation: www.lucyfaithfull.org.uk
• Stop it Now! www.stopitnow.org.uk
• Parents Protect: www.parentsprotect.co.uk
• Anti-Bullying Alliance: www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk
• Diana Award: www.antibullyingpro.com/
• Bullying UK: www.bullying.co.uk
• Kidscape: www.kidscape.org.uk

Online Safety
• NCA-CEOP: www.ceop.police.uk and www.thinkuknow.co.uk
• Internet Watch Foundation (IWF): www.iwf.org.uk
• Childnet: www.childnet.com
• UK Safer Internet Centre: www.saferinternet.org.uk
• Report Harmful Content: https://reportharmfulcontent.com
• Marie Collins Foundation: www.mariecollinsfoundation.org.uk
• Internet Matters: www.internetmatters.org
• NSPCC: www.nspcc.org.uk/onlinesafety
• Get Safe Online: www.getsafeonline.org
• Parents Protect: www.parentsprotect.co.uk
• Cyber Choices: https://nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/what-we-do/crime-threats/cyber-crime/cyberchoices
• National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC): www.ncsc.gov.uk

Mental Health
• Mind: www.mind.org.uk
• Moodspark:https://moodspark.org.uk
• Young Minds: www.youngminds.org.uk
• We are with you: www.wearewithyou.org.uk/services/kent-for-young-people/
• Anna Freud: www.annafreud.org/schools-and-colleges/

Radicalisation and hate
• Educate against Hate: www.educateagainsthate.com
• Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit: www.gov.uk/report-terrorism
• True Vision: www.report-it.org.uk

Children with Family Members in Prison
National information Centre on Children of Offenders (NICCO): https://www.nicco.org.uk/

Preschoolers

Team Members

Years Established

Get In Touch

Location:

Bright Start Pre-school

Parish Hall

25 Quarry Hill Road

Borough Green

Kent

TN15 8RQ

Telephone: 07858 188867

Email: brightstartbg@hotmail.co.uk

School Hours: Monday - Friday: 7.45am - 5pm