Allegation of Abuse Policy

Updated for EYFS September 2026 — England

Policy Statement:

At Just Little Ones childminding, safeguarding children’s welfare is our highest priority. All allegations of harm or abuse will be taken seriously and acted upon promptly.

We will protect children, report concerns to the appropriate authorities, cooperate with investigations and ensure that everyone involved is treated fairly.

This policy should be read alongside our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and reflects the EYFS statutory framework effective from 1 September 2026, together with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.

Scope of This Policy:

This policy covers allegations concerning anyone living, working or looking after children at the premises, including:

  • The childminder, owner, manager or safeguarding lead.
  • Staff, assistants, students, apprentices and volunteers.
  • Household members.
  • Other adults involved in providing care.

Allegations may relate to events at the setting or elsewhere, including conduct outside work that raises concerns about an adult’s suitability to work with children.

Concerns about abuse within a child’s family or wider community will be addressed through our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. Where both procedures apply, we will follow both without delaying protective action.

Named Safeguarding Contacts:

Safeguarding lead / Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):
Jemma Ferriday

Alternative person to receive allegations where the DSL is implicated or unavailable:
Dale Ferriday

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO):
Children’s social care / safeguarding referral service:
Children’s social care out-of-hours service:
Ofsted notification route, where applicable:
Emergency services: 999
Police, non-emergency: 101

For a childminder working alone, concerns about the childminder can be reported directly to the LADO, children’s social care, police or the relevant regulator. An internal alternative contact is not required before an external report can be made.

Recognising and Reporting Allegations:

An allegation may indicate that an adult has:

  • Harmed or possibly harmed a child.
  • Possibly committed a criminal offence against or relating to a child.
  • Behaved towards children in a way suggesting a risk of harm.
  • Behaved in a way suggesting they may be unsuitable to work with children.

All such concerns must be reported immediately to the named safeguarding lead or alternative contact. If that person is implicated, unavailable or fails to act, the concern must be raised directly with the relevant external authority.

We will not require proof before reporting, dismiss a concern because the adult is trusted, or treat a safeguarding allegation solely as an ordinary complaint. Where the threshold is unclear, we will seek LADO advice. Source: Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.

Immediate Response:

  • If a child is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical assistance, we will call 999 and take immediate protective action.
  • We will prevent further unsafe contact while seeking advice about appropriate arrangements.
  • We will listen calmly to the child, take them seriously and reassure them that they are not to blame.
  • We will not promise secrecy, ask leading questions or repeatedly question the child.
  • We will record the child’s words, the circumstances and any observations as soon as possible.
  • Relevant records, messages, images and other potential evidence will be preserved securely. Suspected illegal imagery must not be copied or forwarded.
  • We will not confront the person concerned or alert them in a way that could increase risk or compromise an investigation.

Contacting Safeguarding Authorities:

  • The LADO will be informed without delay and within one working day of an allegation concerning a person working with children.
  • Where there are concerns about a child’s safety or welfare, children’s social care will also be contacted immediately, following local procedures.
  • The police will be contacted where urgent protection is needed or a possible criminal offence requires reporting.
  • We will follow the advice of the LADO, children’s social care and police about next steps, communication and investigations.
  • We will record referrals, advice received, agreed actions and follow-up responsibilities.
  • If a referral is not acknowledged or concerns remain unresolved, we will follow up and use the local safeguarding escalation procedure.

Local escalation route: [Insert details]

The LADO referral and any social care or police referral are separate from our responsibility to notify Ofsted or our childminder agency. Source: Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.

Ofsted or Childminder Agency Notifications — September 2026:

According to our registration, we will notify Ofsted or our childminder agency of allegations of harm or abuse by anyone living, working or looking after children at the premises.

This applies whether the alleged incident occurred at the premises or elsewhere. We will also notify them of the action taken in response.

Notification will be made:

  • As soon as reasonably practicable, and
  • No later than 14 days after the allegation is made.

The September 2026 wording refers to harm or abuse, rather than only “serious harm”. We will not wait for an investigation outcome or proof before making a required notification.

The 14-day limit does not allow us to delay immediate protection or referrals to safeguarding services. Source: EYFS childminder framework, paragraph 3.11.

Investigation Procedures:

  • We will not undertake our own child protection investigation.
  • Initial recording and clarification will be limited to what is necessary to protect children and make an accurate referral.
  • Any internal employment or disciplinary investigation will begin only after advice from the LADO and, where involved, police or children’s social care about whether and how it can proceed.
  • Internal action must not interfere with external enquiries.
  • An appropriate person who is not implicated in the allegation will manage any agreed internal process.
  • We will cooperate fully with lawful requests for information and access to relevant records.

Protective Measures and Suspension:

Children’s safety will guide immediate decisions about contact and care arrangements.

  • Where staff are employed, suspension will be considered where necessary, but will not be automatic or treated as a finding of guilt.
  • Appropriate alternatives, such as duties away from children, will be considered only where risks can be safely managed.
  • Decisions will take account of safeguarding authority advice and appropriate employment advice.
  • Reasons, conditions and review arrangements will be recorded.
  • Any suspension will be kept under regular review and last no longer than necessary.

Where the allegation concerns the childminder or a household member, we will seek urgent advice about whether childcare can safely continue. We will follow any restrictions or suspension imposed on the registration and activate our emergency care arrangements where needed.

Source: Acas guidance on suspension.

Communication with Parents and the Adult Concerned:

  • We will agree with the LADO, police or children’s social care what can be shared, with whom and when.
  • Parents of affected children will be informed sensitively as soon as appropriate, unless doing so could increase risk or prejudice enquiries.
  • Families will receive appropriate updates and information about support.
  • The adult concerned will be informed and updated when permitted by the agencies involved.
  • We will not disclose confidential information about other children, families or staff.
  • Information will not be shared through social media, informal group messages or discussion with uninvolved families.

Support for All Parties:

  • Children will receive reassurance, familiar care and appropriate support suited to their age, communication needs and circumstances.
  • Families will be offered a named contact and signposted to relevant services.
  • The adult concerned will be treated fairly and directed to appropriate independent support, such as their professional association, trade union or legal adviser.
  • Support arrangements will not interfere with safeguarding enquiries or involve pressuring anyone to change or withdraw an account.

Confidentiality and Record Keeping:

We will maintain secure records of:

  • The allegation and when and how it was received.
  • The child’s exact words and relevant observations.
  • People involved and potential witnesses.
  • Protective action and referrals.
  • Notifications to Ofsted or the childminder agency.
  • Advice, decisions, reasons and subsequent actions.
  • Investigation outcomes and any agreed improvements.

Records will distinguish facts, reported information and professional opinions. Access will be restricted to those with a legitimate need to know.

Confidentiality will not prevent necessary, lawful information sharing to safeguard children.

Records will be retained and disposed of according to applicable requirements, local allegations-management guidance and our retention schedule. Records required for ongoing enquiries will not be destroyed.

Outcomes and Further Referrals:

  • Outcomes will be recorded accurately using terminology agreed with the relevant agencies.
  • An allegation that is not substantiated will not automatically be treated as false or malicious.
  • We will review ongoing suitability and any required changes to duties, supervision or care arrangements.
  • Where the legal conditions are met, we will make a Disclosure and Barring Service referral, including where an individual leaves before they would otherwise have been removed from regulated activity because of harm or risk of harm.
  • Resignation or withdrawal of an allegation will not automatically end safeguarding consideration or remove reporting duties.

Other Concerns and Whistleblowing:

Concerns about professional boundaries, inappropriate behaviour or unsafe practice will still be recorded and addressed even where they do not initially appear to meet the allegations threshold.

We will review patterns and seek advice if concerns escalate. Genuine concerns will be taken seriously, and anyone raising them will be supported.

Our Whistleblowing and Raising Concerns Policy explains additional external reporting routes where someone cannot safely raise a concern internally.

Training and Awareness:

  • Induction will explain how to recognise and report allegations, including allegations against the childminder or safeguarding lead.
  • Staff and assistants will know where contact details are kept and understand the different reporting deadlines.
  • Safeguarding training and updates will follow our Safeguarding Training Policy.
  • Practical discussions will check that adults understand how to respond without investigating or delaying referrals.

Review and Monitoring:

This policy will be reviewed at least annually, and sooner following changes to legislation, EYFS requirements, local procedures or learning from an allegation.

Reviews will consider whether reporting, protective action, communication and support were effective and what improvements are needed.

Related Policies:

Safeguarding and Child Protection; Safer Recruitment; Staff Behaviour; Whistleblowing and Raising Concerns; Confidentiality and Data Protection; Retention; Emergency and Alternative Care.

Signed: Jemma Ferriday

Role: Childminder

Date adopted: Sept 26

Next review date: Sept 2027