Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy
At Little Acorns, the wellbeing of every child in our care is our highest priority. We believe that all children have the right to feel completely safe, secure, and protected from any form of abuse or neglect. We are fully committed to following the latest safeguarding guidance, including advice from the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (HSCP), and we pay particular attention to key documents such as Working Together to Safeguard Children (2015).
To ensure every child’s safety, all of our staff are trained to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and understand the importance of carefully observing, listening, and recording any concerns factually and sensitively. Everyone working in our setting knows exactly what to do if they’re worried about a child and follows our clear internal procedures. We use our “Recognise, Respond, Refer” poster as a quick guide, which is displayed in all rooms to remind staff of the steps to take. If a concern is raised, it is reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), documented accurately, and, where necessary, passed on using the appropriate referral channels.
If a staff member feels unable to raise a concern internally, they are encouraged to contact the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line on 0800 028 0285, or Ofsted through their official website.
If ever there is an allegation made against a member of staff, we act without delay by contacting the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and following their instructions. In all safeguarding matters, we work closely with HSCP and follow their advice and protocols.
We understand that safeguarding also involves protecting sensitive information. Any records we keep about a child are handled with great care, in line with our Confidentiality Policy and the Data Protection Act (1998). Information is only shared when legally appropriate and necessary to protect the child.
We carefully manage how the nursery environment is set up to keep children safe. Our rooms are designed so that children are always visible and supervised, and we maintain appropriate adult-to-child ratios in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidance.
All staff members hold an Enhanced Criminal Record (DBS) check, and no unauthorised individuals are allowed unsupervised access to the children or the premises. Visitors are required to sign in and out, state the reason for their visit, and follow our safeguarding expectations while on site. To reduce risk, mobile phones are not permitted in any of the rooms. The nursery provides a mobile phone without a camera for use on walks or outings. We ask visitors to keep their phones in their cars or bags and not to use them while on the premises. All tablets used in the nursery belong to Little Acorns and are used solely for professional purposes.
To keep children safe during collection times, we only release children to individuals who have been authorised by parents or carers. We operate a password system for added security and ask that children are collected by someone aged 16 or older. If a child is being picked up by car, we ask that parents ensure they are secured in a suitable car seat for their age and size.
If anyone—whether a parent, visitor, or staff member—has concerns relating to child protection, they should communicate directly with our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs Shelley Ward. She is available to offer guidance and support and is specially trained to deal with safeguarding matters and can be contacted via shelley@littleacornspreschool.uk
Training is a vital part of our commitment to safeguarding. Every member of staff undergoes thorough child protection training as part of their induction and continues to update their knowledge regularly. This includes training on key topics such as the Prevent Duty, female genital mutilation (FGM), breast ironing, and child sexual exploitation (CSE). Our DSLs also complete advanced safeguarding courses, including safer recruitment training, to ensure we’re hiring people who are safe and suitable to work with children.
As part of our induction programme, new team members are introduced to how we safeguard children at Little Acorns and are given important guidance, including the government’s “What to Do if You’re Worried a Child is Being Abused.”
What to do if a concern arises
Should a serious safeguarding concern arise, staff or members of the public can contact the following services directly for help:
● In an emergency, always call 999
● For Children’s Services, call 0300 123 4043 (Callers from 0208 or 01923 areas may prefer to use 01923 471500 for local call rates)
● The Child Abuse Investigation Unit can be reached at 01707 354000
All our policies and procedures are made available for staff and parents via Famly https://www.famly.co/
At Little Acorns, safeguarding isn’t just a policy—it’s part of our daily culture. We are proud of our commitment to creating a safe, nurturing, and secure environment for every child and family in our care.
Last updated 15/07/2025