Teaching and play in the years- a balancing act? How do you gather information what children know, can do, and enjoy when they start at your setting? For example, ‘All About Me’ booklets, home/setting visits. How do you evaluate children’s progress from their different starting points and whether they meet or exceed the level of development which is typical for their age? ASSESSMENTS Item Requirement reference Links & further information Evidence Action, if required, and person responsible What arrangements are in place to manage and complete ‘The EYFS progress check at age 2’? EYFS p.13 & 14 (2.3 -2.5) ‘A Know How Guide: The EYFS progress check at age two’ (2 year old learning and development summary) Do you have any children attending at the end of the EYFS (attending in the summer term of the reception year or the academic year in which their fifth birthday falls)? EYFS p.14 & 15 (2.6 – 2.11) If yes, you should complete their EYFS Profile. For further support contact the Suffolk Family Information Service on 0345 60 800 33. SAFEGUARDING AND WELFARE REQUIREMENTS Item Requirement reference & further information Evidence Action, if required, and person responsible CHILD PROTECTION You MUST have and implement a policy and procedures to safeguard children. These must EYFS p.16 (3.4) LoP - For further information refer to the following:
be in line with the guidance and procedures of Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB) and: Include the name of the ‘Lead Practitioner’ for safeguarding children Include an explanation of the action to be taken when there are safeguarding concerns about a child and in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff; Cover the use of mobile phones & cameras in the setting for staff, volunteers, visitors and parents/carers. It is good practice to include the appropriate use of social networking sites. NB: A revised version of the Ofsted document ‘Inspecting Safeguarding in Early years, Education and Skills settings’ was published in August 2016 along with a list of the main changes. You MUST implement the changes to ensure you are adhering to the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the EYFS. Please note the requirement for a ‘Staff Behaviour Policy’. Section B Revised Ofsted Document: ‘Inspecting Safeguarding in Early years, Education and Skills settings’ August 2016 p.6, 10, 19. Suffolk Safeguarding Children’s Board- Multi-agency safeguarding hub- Suffolk CPD online- You MUST have a practitioner designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children. The lead practitioner is responsible for liaison with local statutory children’s services agencies and with the LSCB. During term time, or when the setting is in operation, the designated safeguarding leader or an appropriately trained deputy should be available during opening hours for staff to discuss safeguarding concerns. EYFS p.16-17 (3.5) ‘Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings’- Pg. 11 (18). Name of designated safeguarding lead: Date of courses attended: Name of deputy designated safeguarding lead: Date of courses attended:
The lead practitioner must attend a child protection course that enables them to identify, understand and respond to signs of possible abuse and neglect. Course available: Safeguarding Children: Roles and Responsibilities. This course incorporates and Responsibilities training for designated safeguarding coordinators and their deputies. How do you ensure that all staff have knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures? How do you ensure all staff and leaders receive regular updates on safeguarding at least annually? How do you ensure your staff members update their Safeguarding Children training every three years? This should be accessed on Suffolk CPD online to conform to the requirements of SSCB. Providers may find ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused- Advice for practitioners’ useful. EYFS p.17 (3.6) ‘Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings’- Pg. 10-11 (18). Good practice would be to include safeguarding knowledge and practice as an agenda item at each staff meeting and supervisions Do you have a copy of the Government’s statutory guidance ‘Working together to Safeguard Children’? (current version 2015) EYFS p.17 (3.7) LoP- Section B Do you have a copy of the ‘Prevent duty guidance for England and Wales 2015’. The Prevent Duty (2015) places duties on all registered childcare providers to keep children safe and promote their welfare. Fundamental EYFS p.17 (3.7) LoP Section B DfE Advice- PLA mini-guide to Prevent: The EYFS expects providers to provide and teach a broad and balanced curriculum to ensure that children ‘understand the world’ and learn about ‘similarities and differences
British values, set out in the Government’s Prevent strategy, are democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. The promotion of fundamental British values is reflected in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and exemplified in an age-appropriate way through practice guidance. SCC – Supporting people at risk of radicalisation between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions’. How do you ensure you demonstrate ‘British Values’ through the implementation of the EYFS and through policies and procedures? Do you have an up-to-date ‘Safeguarding Children Referral Good Practice You MUST inform OFSTED of any allegations of serious harm or abuse “by any person living, working, or looking after children at the premises or elsewhere within 14 days of the allegation(s) being made”, and of the action taken in respect of the allegations. EYFS p.17-18 (3.8) Ofsted Customer Service 0300 123 1231 It is good practice to have a policy, which is shared with parents, outlining procedures to inform the setting of any absence, planned or unplanned. If a child is a Looked After Child, subject to a Child Protection Plan or a Child in Need then the social worker must be informed of any unexplained absence. LoP- Section B It is good practice to record reasons for children’s absence in the daily register, for example H for holiday, S for sickness or U for unexplained
If you have any concerns about the safety or wellbeing of children, you should follow the safeguarding procedures outlined in your safeguarding policy which will have been shared with parents. Suitable People You MUST ensure that people looking children are suitable to fulfil the requirements of their roles. You MUST have effective systems in place to ensure that practitioners and any other person who is likely to have regular contact with children (including those living or working on the premises) are suitable. EYFS p.18 (3.9) What systems are in for ensuring people looking after children and/or have regular contact with children are suitable? You must follow Recruitment practices’. LoP - Section B ‘Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings’. Annex 1- 19-21. Safer recruitment guidance: You MUST obtain an enhanced criminal records check in respect of every person aged 16 and over who works directly with the children, lives or works on the premises, either as a member of staff or unsupervised volunteers and supervised volunteers who provide personal care. EYFS p.18 (3.10) What procedures are in to ensure compliance with these requirements? An additional criminal records (or checks if more than one country) should also be made for anyone who has lived or worked abroad EYFS p.18 (3.10) How do you ensure staff are aware that they are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings which may affect their suitability whether received before or during their employment at the setting? EYFS p.19 (3.11)
How do you ensure that people suitability has not been checked, including through a DBS check, do not have unsupervised contact with the children being cared for? EYFS p.19 (3.11) Where do you store confidential staff information? Providers other than childminders must record information about staff qualifications and the identity checks and vetting processes that have been completed (including the criminal records disclosure reference number, the date a disclosure was obtained and details of who obtained it). For childminders, the relevant information will be kept by Ofsted or the agency with which the childminder is registered. EYFS p.19 (3.12) N.B. The Data Protection Act requires all businesses to register with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) unless exempt. If you are processing personal information electronically for the provision of childcare - including taking photographs of the children in your care using a digital camera - then you must register with the ICO. How do you ensure that you meet your responsibilities under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006? Providers must also meet responsibilities under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, which includes a duty to make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service where a member of staff is dismissed (or would have been, had the person not left the setting first) because they have harmed a child or put a child at risk of harm. EYFS p.19 (3.13) Disqualification A provider or childcare worker may be disqualified from registration in accordance with regulations made under section 75 of the Childcare Act 2006. In the event of the disqualification of a provider, the provider must not continue as an early years provider – nor be directly concerned in the management EYFS p.19- 20 (3.14 – 3.18) How do you ensure that you meet the requirements of the EYFS in the of disqualification?
your Ofsted registration certificate MUST be displayed. Changes that must be notified to Ofsted You MUST notify Ofsted of any change: in the address of the premises; to the premises may affect the space available to the children and the quality of childcare; in the name, address or any other contact details of the provider; to the person who is managing the provision any proposal to change the hours during which childcare is provided any significant event likely to affect the suitability of the provider or any person who cares for, or who is in regular contact with, the children where the provision is provided by a company, any change in the name or registered number of the company where the provision is provided by a charity, any change in the name or registration number of the charity where the provision is provided by a partnership, body corporate or unincorporated association any change to the ‘nominated individual’ where the provision is provided by a partnership, body corporate or unincorporated association whose sole or main purpose is the provision of childcare, any change to the individuals who are partners in, or a director, secretary or other officer or members of its governing body. EYFS p.34– 35 (3.77) Early Years Inspection Handbook (2015), p.27 If voluntary committee run, you must comply with your constitution regarding the appointment and roles of Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and committee members. Ofsted MUST have an up-to-date list of the members of the committee. You MUST notify Ofsted of any changes to the manager/supervisor role within your setting. Where you are required to notify Ofsted about a change of person except for managers (see above) you must give the new person’s name (including former EYFS p.34 (3.78) Early Years Inspection
names or aliases), date of birth and home address. Handbook (2015), p.27 If there is a change of manager you must notify Ofsted that a new manager has been appointed. Where practicable notification must be made in advance, otherwise as soon as possible and ALWAYS within 14 days. EYFS p.34 (3.78) Early Years Inspection Handbook (2015), p.27