Updated for EYFS September 2026 — England

Policy Statement:

At Just Little Ones Childminding , we are committed to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. Children’s safety, well-being and individual needs guide our decisions.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We maintain an environment where children feel secure, adults listen carefully, and concerns are recognised and acted upon promptly.

This policy applies to the childminder, management, staff, assistants, students, apprentices and volunteers, as applicable. Relevant safeguarding expectations also apply to household members and visitors.

Legal Framework and Guidance:

Our procedures reflect:

• The Children Acts 1989 and 2004.
• The Childcare Act 2006.
• The EYFS statutory framework effective from 1 September 2026, using the version applicable to our registration.
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.
• The current Prevent duty guidance.
• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, as amended.
• The Equality Act 2010.
• The Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR, as amended.
• Government information-sharing advice for safeguarding practitioners.
• Our local safeguarding partners’ procedures, thresholds and escalation arrangements.

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 applies directly to schools and colleges. School-based provision must follow it alongside the EYFS. Childminders and other early years providers may use it as supporting guidance where relevant. Sources: EYFS and KCSIE, KCSIE 2026.

Safeguarding Lead and Responsibilities:

Safeguarding lead / DSL: Jemma Louise Ferriday- 07513011808

Deputy or alternative safeguarding arrangements: childminder working alone

• A registered childminder takes lead responsibility for safeguarding, including when working with assistants.
• Where childminders work together, each remains responsible for their own registration and for acting on concerns.
• In group settings, a designated safeguarding lead coordinates safeguarding arrangements and supports practitioners.
• The safeguarding lead maintains current knowledge, oversees referrals and records, supports staff and works with relevant agencies.
• Everyone must know how to make a direct referral. The safeguarding lead’s absence must never delay action to protect a child.

Essential Safeguarding Contacts:

• Immediate danger or medical emergency:
• Children’s social care / safeguarding referral service: 01902 555392. Monday- Thursday 8.30am-5.00pm Friday 8.30am-4.30pm
• Children’s social care out-of-hours service: 01902 552999
• Local Authority Designated Officer — LADO: Kelly Matthews. 01902 550661 (LADO@secure.wolverhampton.gov.uk
• Police, non-emergency:
• Ofsted safeguarding notification route, where applicable: 03001234666 enquires@ofsted.gov.uk
• Local safeguarding partnership procedures and escalation route: MASH
• Local Prevent advice and referral route: MASH

These details will be checked regularly and made readily accessible to everyone working in the setting.

Recognising Safeguarding Concerns:

We remain alert to physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect, including concerns arising at home, within the setting, online or elsewhere.

Indicators may include unexplained injuries, changes in behaviour, distress, concerning comments, inadequate care, sexualised behaviour that is inappropriate to the child’s development, or worrying interactions with adults.

We also remain alert to:

• Domestic abuse, including its impact on children who see, hear or experience its effects.
• Grooming, sexual or criminal exploitation and trafficking.
• Child-on-child abuse and harmful sexual behaviour.
• Female genital mutilation, forced marriage and so-called honour-based abuse.
• Radicalisation and exposure to terrorist influences.
• Online abuse and harmful digital content.
• Unsafe or neglectful care practices.

We consider patterns and the child’s wider circumstances. We do not wait for a disclosure or proof before seeking safeguarding advice or making a referral.

Children with SEND, communication differences or other vulnerabilities may face additional barriers to reporting harm. We will provide suitable communication support and will not automatically attribute injuries, distress or behavioural changes to a disability.

Responding to a Child’s Disclosure:

If a child tells us something concerning, we will:

1. Listen calmly and take the child seriously.
2. Reassure them that telling us was the right thing to do and that they are not to blame.
3. Avoid leading questions, repeated questioning or attempts to investigate.
4. Explain, in an age-appropriate way, that we must share information with people who can help; we will not promise secrecy.
5. Record the child’s exact words as soon as possible, together with the context and any questions asked.
6. Follow the referral procedure immediately.

We will not confront the person alleged to have caused harm or ask the child to repeat their account unnecessarily.

Reporting, Referrals and Escalation:

• Where a child is in immediate danger, we will contact 999 and take immediate steps to protect them.
• Concerns about a child’s safety or welfare will be referred promptly to children’s social care in accordance with local procedures. Childminders must immediately notify children’s social care of such concerns and, in emergencies, the police.
• Staff will immediately inform the safeguarding lead. Anyone may refer directly if the lead is unavailable, implicated or fails to act.
• We will provide relevant observations and records, distinguish facts from opinions and follow up any telephone referral as required locally.
• We will record the advice received, actions agreed and who is responsible for follow-up.
• We will check that referrals have been received. If no response is received, or concerns remain unresolved, we will follow up and use the local escalation procedure.
• We will normally involve parents, unless doing so could increase risk, prejudice an investigation or otherwise undermine a child’s protection. We will seek advice from the relevant agency when unsure.
• Support through early help or Family Help will be considered where appropriate, but will not delay a child protection referral.

Our approach follows Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.

Allegations Against Adults:

This includes concerns about anyone living, working or looking after children at the premises, including the childminder, staff, assistants, volunteers and household members.

• Concerns will be reported immediately to [Insert responsible person / alternative contact].
• If the concern involves that person, the report must go directly to the LADO, children’s social care or police, as appropriate.
• Allegations concerning someone working with children will be referred to the LADO within one working day, with immediate police or social care contact where protection is urgently needed.
• We will seek LADO advice where an adult may have harmed a child, committed an offence against a child, posed a risk to children or behaved in a way indicating possible unsuitability to work with them.
• We will protect children, preserve relevant records and follow advice about contact arrangements and any investigation.
• We will not conduct our own child protection investigation or delay referral while gathering proof.

September 2026 notification requirement:

We will notify Ofsted or our childminder agency, according to our registration, of allegations of harm or abuse by anyone living, working or looking after children at the premises, whether the alleged incident occurred there or elsewhere.

We will also report the action taken. Notification must be made as soon as reasonably practicable and no later than 14 days after the allegation is made.

The threshold is harm or abuse, not only “serious harm”. The 14-day limit does not permit us to delay urgent safeguarding referrals. Source: September 2026 EYFS changes.

Concerns about inappropriate adult behaviour that do not appear to meet an allegation threshold will still be recorded, assessed and acted upon. Patterns will be reviewed and advice sought where necessary.

Where the legal conditions are met, we will refer an individual to the Disclosure and Barring Service, including where they leave before they would otherwise have been removed from regulated activity because of harm or risk of harm.

Safer Recruitment and Ongoing Suitability:

Our Safer Recruitment Policy sets out the checks and records required for each role.

• We verify identity, relevant qualifications, employment history, references and suitability before appointment.
• References are obtained directly from appropriate sources, checked for authenticity and followed up where information is unclear. Family references and open references are not accepted.
• Required enhanced DBS and children’s barred list checks will be completed before an individual starts work or volunteering.
• Relevant supervised volunteers are included in the checking requirements. Any exception for occasional supervised helpers will be assessed against the precise EYFS conditions; supervision alone does not create an exemption.
• Childminding assistants must also receive the required Ofsted or agency suitability clearance before starting.
• No unchecked person will have unsupervised contact with children.
• Relevant overseas checks will be sought where an individual has lived or worked abroad.

Staff and assistants must promptly disclose information affecting suitability, including relevant arrests, charges, convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings. This does not require disclosure of legally protected convictions or cautions.

For domestic premises, we will follow applicable checks and notification requirements concerning people aged 16 or over living or working there. Significant changes affecting suitability will be reported to Ofsted or our agency as required.

Disqualification requirements will be followed, including disqualification by association where applicable to domestic provision. Source: EYFS statutory frameworks.

Safeguarding Training and Supervision:

• The childminder / DSL and relevant staff and assistants will undertake safeguarding training meeting EYFS Annex C
• Training will be renewed every two years, with updates between courses when guidance, risks or local procedures change.
• Induction covers this policy, reporting routes, allegations, whistleblowing, online safety, professional boundaries and emergency action.
• Training will be delivered through local council or high speed training for DSL
• We will check that practitioners can explain what they would do in a safeguarding situation and provide further support where needed.
• Training dates, renewal dates and relevant updates will be recorded.

Source: EYFS safeguarding training requirements.

Attendance and Unexplained Absence:

• Parents must tell us when their child will not attend, following our Absence and Attendance Policy.
• Unexplained absences will be followed up promptly through parents and alternative emergency contacts.
• Initial follow-up arrangements: [Insert timescale and responsible person].
• We consider attendance patterns, the child’s vulnerability, family circumstances and any existing safeguarding concerns.
• We will not wait for a fixed number of missed days where there is reason for concern.
• Where a child’s safety cannot be established and concerns arise, we will contact children’s social care and/or request a police welfare check.
• Emergency contact details will be kept current. Where possible, we will hold more than two emergency contact numbers for each child.

Safe Care and the Environment:

Safeguarding includes the quality of everyday care. Unsafe sleeping, eating or supervision arrangements can expose children to harm.

We will implement our linked policies to ensure:

• Safe sleep arrangements meet the current EYFS requirements.
• Weaning, food preparation, allergy management and mealtime supervision protect children.
• Suitable paediatric first aid cover and applicable staffing and ratio requirements are met.
• Personal care respects privacy and dignity while maintaining appropriate safeguarding oversight.
• Children are never subjected to corporal punishment or threatened with it.
• Premises, outings, visitors and collection arrangements are appropriately managed.
• Banned dog types are not kept or present on the premises at any time, including dogs with exemption certificates.

Unsafe practice will be challenged immediately and escalated where it places children at risk. Sources: Ofsted inspection changes, EYFS changes.

Mobile Phones, Cameras and Online Safety:

• Only authorised devices and accounts may be used to photograph, record or share information about children.
• Personal devices must not be used to photograph or record children.
• Images will never be taken during intimate care or in circumstances compromising dignity.
• Parents and visitors must not photograph or record other children.
• Personal phones and wearable devices must be managed so they do not compromise supervision, confidentiality or children’s safety.
• Approved devices, storage and permitted-use arrangements: [Insert details].
• Children’s screen use will be supervised, suitable for their development and planned with regard to current DfE guidance.
• Devices, content and access controls will be checked. Online concerns will be reported through our safeguarding procedures.
• Suspected illegal imagery will not be copied or forwarded; we will seek police advice.

Further arrangements are set out in our Mobile Phone, Camera and Photographs, Wearable Technology, Internet Safety, Screen Time and CCTV policies, where applicable.

Whistleblowing:

• Everyone working in the setting is encouraged to report unsafe practice, misconduct or failures to safeguard children.
• Concerns should be raised with [Insert name / role], who will record them, assess immediate risks, refer externally where needed and provide appropriate feedback.
• If this person is implicated, unavailable or does not act, concerns should be raised directly with the relevant external safeguarding service, LADO, Ofsted or childminder agency.
• The NSPCC whistleblowing advice line: 0800 028 0285 provides an additional route for advice.
• No one will be penalised for raising a genuine safeguarding concern.
• Whistleblowing arrangements do not replace urgent referrals about a child at risk.

Information Sharing and Record Keeping:

• Safeguarding records will be factual, dated and attributable to their author, distinguishing observations, exact words, professional opinions and information from others.
• Records will include actions taken, referrals, advice, decisions and reasons.
• Information will be stored securely with access restricted to those who need it.
• We will share relevant information promptly and securely with appropriate agencies.
• Consent is not always required to share information for safeguarding. Data protection law does not prevent necessary, lawful sharing to protect a child.
• We will record the reasons for sharing or withholding information and normally explain sharing to families unless doing so would be unsafe or inappropriate.
• Safeguarding information will be transferred securely to a receiving setting or school where appropriate, with receipt confirmed.
• Retention and disposal will follow our documented retention schedule, applicable requirements and local safeguarding advice. Records needed for an investigation will be preserved.

Source: Government information-sharing advice.

Working with Parents and Other Agencies:

We build respectful relationships with families, explain our safeguarding responsibilities and help families access support.

We contribute relevant information to assessments, meetings and safeguarding plans, follow agreed actions and challenge decisions where we believe a child remains at risk.

Children’s safety takes priority where it conflicts with an adult’s wishes.

Review and Monitoring:

This policy will be reviewed at least annually, and sooner following changes to requirements, local procedures, an incident or identified weaknesses.

Reviews will check that contact details are current, staff understand reporting routes, linked policies are consistent and practice reflects the policy.

Signed: Jemma & Dale Ferriday

Role: Childminder- DSL

Date adopted: September 2026

Next review date: September 2027