Safeguarding and child protection in Early Years provision

All early years providers have a duty to comply with the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children.

You can find out more information about safeguarding and child protection from Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Right Help, Right Time Levels of Need.

Also see the government's guidance on what to do if you're worried a child is being abused.

Safeguarding concerns

For safeguarding concerns about a child in your care or for advice, support or to make an enquiry please contact the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 01432 260800. 

Please see the government advice on sharing information appropriately.

Allegations against members of staff and the role of the LADO

You can find out about the procedures for managing allegations against people who work with children and the role of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) please visit the professionals section on the Herefordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership website.

Meeting the EYFS requirements in your provision

These safeguarding audit checklists will help providers ensure that they are compliant with current legislation and best practice as set out in national guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children and the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Keeping effective safeguarding records

Prevent Duty

The Prevent Duty became law in 2015. This is a duty on all schools and registered early years providers to have due regard to preventing people being drawn into terrorism, radicalisation and extremist views. In order to protect children in your care, you must be alert to any reason for concern in the child’s life at home or elsewhere.

This advice includes a link to Prevent online training. This is free of charge and all staff members and others associated with the setting should complete this.

PACEY and Early Years Alliance have developed information sheets to support EYFS practitioners to meet the Prevent Duty.

Safeguarding training

For information about availability of safeguarding training in Herefordshire:

Additional resources and guidance for child on child abuse