Early learning and childcare quality indicators: Safeguarding and child protection
Safeguarding and child protection is a Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland quality indicator (QI) for 'supporting children to achieve'.
There are illustrations of practice and challenge questions below. These can help you to assess your current practices and identify areas for growth. Illustrations of safeguarding and child protection are also available for childminding settings and school-aged childcare.
For more information about the principles of this framework and the grading criteria, return to the framework home page.
Themes for safeguarding and child protection
The themes for this QI are:
- arrangements for safeguarding, including child protection
- children are safe, secure and protected from harm
- national guidance and legislation
About this quality indicator
This indicator highlights the responsibilities of staff and partners to ensure that all children are safe, well cared for and protected from harm. This includes how the setting takes account of statutory requirements as well as local and national policies to promote the safety of children.
Safeguarding children requires strong partnerships and communication between the setting and its local community. It is important that staff are skilled in recognising and responding to wellbeing, child protection and safeguarding concerns. The QI also recognises the importance in promoting children’s ability to keep themselves safe.
'Very good' arrangements for safeguarding, including child protection
Clear, accessible, up-to-date policies and procedures ensure the safeguarding of children, including child protection. Policies and procedures take account of the unique context of our setting and the needs of all children and their families.
Staff have strong lines of communication and effective partnerships with other agencies that are involved in helping to keep children safe and healthy. Arrangements for making a safeguarding or child protection concern are well-publicised and understood by all staff, partners and families.
All staff take part in regular professional learning and have a very good understanding of the setting’s policies and procedures. As a result, staff are highly skilled and confident in identifying and responding to any child protection or safeguarding issue.
Leaders have been trained in safeguarding matters to a high level, resulting in sound knowledge and understanding. They demonstrate strong leadership in ensuring arrangements for safeguarding and child protection are integral to the work of the setting.
'Weak' safeguarding, including child protection
Policies and procedures for safeguarding children, including child protection are unclear and not well understood by staff. There is limited consideration given to the unique context of our service.
Leaders have not sufficiently developed and implemented effective child protection policies and procedures. This means lines of communication regarding protection and health concerns for children are not robust or clear. As a result, there is an increased risk of harm to children.
Leaders have failed to address and identify staff training needs in relation to safeguarding or child protection. This means staff are not confident to recognise or respond to child protection or safeguarding concerns. Safeguarding or protection concerns might be missed, compromising children’s safety.
Record keeping is inconsistent and does not always show a clear understanding of risks to children. Opportunities to ensure appropriate supports are missed. Partner agencies are not kept informed to support children and families. This shows links with other organisations, which could assist in the protection of children, are not fully effective.
'Very good' safety and security
Children feel safe and cared for. Our ethos and vision strongly promote children’s rights and equality. All children experience positive, trusting relationships with adults. Children are actively encouraged to give their views and voice any concerns.
Staff and partners know children and their families very well. Positive and supportive relationships between children, families and staff result in high levels of trust and effective communication. As a result, staff are skilled in identifying children who may be at risk of harm.
The needs and concerns of children and their families are dealt with timeously, sensitively and effectively. Through well-planned experiences and interactions, the safety and resilience of children is a key feature of learning and play with a strong focus on promoting children’s ability to keep themselves safe.
'Weak' safety and security
Our ethos and vision fail to effectively promote children’s rights. Opportunities to develop trusting relationships and actively listen to children are missed. Children’s views are not always taken into consideration or respected.
We do not know children and families well enough to build meaningful relationships. Information required to keep children safe and protected from harm is not available to relevant staff and/or partner agencies. As a result, children’s safety and care are potentially compromised.
Children and families do not feel listened to and concerns that may arise are not taken seriously by staff or dealt with sensitively and in a timely manner. Overall, we have not taken the necessary steps to uphold the rights of children to be safe and protected from harm.
'Very good' use of national guidance and legislation
We have a very good understanding of legislation, as well as national and local guidance that impacts on the care and safety of children in our setting. Our leaders ensure that they comply with their child protection duties under legislation.
Approaches to reporting, responding to and recording concerns are robust and in line with national guidance. We are proactive in ensuring that practices and approaches take appropriate account of new guidance and emerging issues.
'Weak' use of national guidance and legislation
Staff have a limited understanding of legislation or national and local guidance. Therefore reporting, responding to and recording of concerns are inconsistent and not always effective. This has the potential to compromise children’s safety and care.
Our leaders have a limited understanding of their roles and responsibilities, therefore there is a potential increased risk of harm to children. Our understanding and implementation of national guidance is not effective and could impact on care and safety of children and families.
The following challenge questions can support your self-evaluation:
- Is there an appropriate designated person in place for child protection?
- Do all families and stakeholders know who this is and how to raise a concern if necessary?
- To what extent are approaches to safeguarding reviewed as part of our self-evaluation arrangements?
- How often do we review and update our arrangements to support and keep children safe?
- How do we ensure effective partnerships with all parties, including staff, families and external agencies, to ensure children’s safety and wellbeing?
- How well do we support children and their families to ensure children are safe, secure and protected from harm?
- How effectively are children who are on or were previously on the child protection register and/or care experienced being supported?
- How do we ensure information is shared appropriately and sensitively to ensure effective support for children and families and to protect dignity whilst maintaining safety and wellbeing?
- How do we ensure that all staff, including visiting staff, understand our arrangements to keep children safe and are kept up-to-date with effective safeguarding practice and current national guidance and legislation?
