‘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’
As a day care provider, we have a statutory duty of care to ensure all our children are safe. All our staff are expected to have some understanding of the ‘DFE Keeping Children Safe in Education’ and all staff MUST complete level 2 safeguarding training yearly.
We have three safeguarding officers; Lead Safeguarding Officer, Karen Thomas, and Michelle Lea and Chloe Green, who both hold a level 3 qualification in safeguarding.
The welfare of every child is paramount. Everyone (this includes all staff, students, volunteers and visitors) has a responsibility to ensure that a child who may be at risk of harm is recognised and dealt with as quickly as possible. We call this Effective Safeguarding.
All staff have DBS checks carried out once they start with us. They are then asked to join the DBS update service for us to check the status of their DBS and to ensure the safety of the children at all times.
‘Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential’
We will ensure that our setting is fully inclusive in meeting the needs of all children. Our setting is committed to anti-discriminatory practices to promote equality of opportunity and valuing diversity for all children, staff and families.
Our setting also works in accordance with the following legislation and guidance (this is not an exhaustive list):
- Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (DfE)
- Working together to safeguard children (DfE)
- The Prevent Duty guidance (Home Office)
- What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused (HMG)
- Effective Support for Children and Families in Essex (ECC)
- Children Act 1989 (HMG)
- Children Act 2004 (HMG)
- Keeping children safe in education (DfE)
If any person in attendance of our setting has any concerns regarding the safeguarding of any children in our setting or the wider community, they have a duty of care to report this.
The Akhter Early Learning safeguarding officers are;
- Lead – Karen Thomas
- Michelle Lea
- Chloe Green
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), telephone 03330 139 797
For information around safeguarding, you can email admin@akhterelc.co.uk for our policy and procedures or contact the Children & Family Hub on 0345 6037627