Safeguarding & health and safety

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Careers in Childcare
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Setting Up A Nursery
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Safeguarding & health and safety

Nothing is more important than a child’s safety and welfare. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children (UNCRC) states that all children have the right to be protected, have access to provision and to be able to participate. As such all early years providers have a duty of care under Section 40 of the Childcare Act 2006 to, in England, comply with the welfare requirements of the Early years foundation stage statutory framework. This includes have a designated practitioner with lead responsibility for safeguarding children and must have regard for Working together to safeguard children. In Wales, the Wales Safeguarding Procedures for children and adults at risk of abuse and neglect help practitioners apply the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 legislation and statutory safeguarding guidance Working Together to Safeguard People.

Health and safety requirements

As an employer you have a responsibility to ensure that you provide a safe place of work for your staff, as well as the children. When you are employing staff there are some additional elements you need to consider. For example, there is a legal obligation for employers to ensure that all staff members have adequate and appropriate health and safety training so that they know how to work safely without risking their health and the health of those around them. You can find further information about your health and safety responsibilities from the Health and Safety Executive here and for Wales you can find further information about Making the workplace safer for all from Welsh Government.

All businesses must have consideration for and fulfil the relevant health and safety requirements. These vary from business to business but in an early years setting are likely to include:

Risk assessments

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH Regulations)

Accidents and injuries including Reporting Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR)

Child safety, including paediatric first aid training, food safety, including food hygiene training, safe sleep guidelines, healthy eating and oral health, managing infectious diseases, administering medications, pick up and drop off procedures, safeguarding

Suitable insurances

Emergency procedures for fire, and other threats such as an intruder on the premises etc.

Staff safety, including threatening and abusive behaviour towards staff and safer recruitment

Premises safety including, fire safety including staff training, signage etc, no-smoking and vaping policy and signage, maintenance and repairs of premises, visitor safety, compliant with space requirements, outdoor area safety and maintenance, electrical safety including PAT testing.