Safeguarding & Child Protection

Please find some useful contact numbers relating to any safeguarding concerns you may have​:​​

Puddleducks
Designated Safeguarding Lead:
Amy Spence 01672 562371

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead:
Carol Eyles 01672 562371

​

Children's Social Care
Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH): 0300 456 0108
Emergency out-of-hours duty care team: 0300 456 0100

​Allegations Against Staff
Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) 0300 456 0108

Emergency out-of-hours-duty care team: 0300 456 0100
Ofsted: 0300 123 1231

Amy Spence (Manager): 01672 562371

Nicola Gilbert (Executive Headteacher King Alfred Trust): 01672 562083
Or call Police: 999

Safeguarding and Child Protection

We must be alert to any issues for concern in the child’s life at home or elsewhere. We must have, and implement a policy and procedures, to safeguard children. These should be in line with the guidance and procedures of the relevant Local Safeguarding Partners (Formally Local safeguarding Children's Board LSCB). The safeguarding policy and procedures must include an explanation of the action to be taken in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff, and cover the use of mobile phones and cameras in the setting.

A practitioner must be designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children in every setting.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Amy Spence
Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) is Carol Eyles

The lead practitioner is responsible for liaison with local statutory children's services agencies, and with the Local Safeguarding Partners. They must provide support, advice, and guidance to any other staff on an ongoing basis, and on any specific safeguarding issue as required. The lead practitioner must attend an advanced child protection training course and renew training every three years and train all staff to understand their safeguarding policy and procedures, and ensure that all staff have up to date knowledge of safeguarding issues. Training made available by the provider must enable staff to identify signs of possible abuse and neglect at the earliest opportunity, and to respond in a timely and appropriate way. These may include:

• Significant changes in children's behaviour
• Deterioration in children’s general well-being
• Unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect
• Children’s comments which give cause for concern
• Any reasons to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting, for example in the child’s home
• Inappropriate behaviour displayed by other members of staff, or any other person working with the children. For example: Inappropriate sexual comments, excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities, inappropriate sharing of images.

We are of the belief that the child's voice is an important factor and should not be ignored in any instance. A child growing up knowing that they are important, valued, and listened to will have greater self-esteem, realise they have a say in life choices, and know right from wrong. We will listen to all they have to say, even if it causes us to have difficult conversations with parents. The welfare of the child is paramount.

Online Safety

E-safety is not really about technology. It is about people and their actions.

We, as an early years provider, have a statutory responsibility in keeping children safe by promoting online safety, and educating parents about their roles and responsibilities within the home.

Some useful fact sheets are available for parents in the setting or they can be downloaded (see below):

Reporting Concerns

If you have any concerns about material online that you child has accessed please report this to CEOP (Child Exploitation & Online Protection) using their link below:

https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre

​Safeguarding Notice To All Parents

We liaise, consult, and work with multi-agencies and through links with Project Encompass. We will be advised by the police force if there are domestic abuse / family difficulties within a family who attends our setting.

In a national drive to reduce possible abuse in children under one, we will always refer a concern of bruising in non mobile babies.