Health and Safety in Early Years and Childcare

Contextualising health and safety legislation within the Early Years Foundation Stage

Bernadina Laverty, Catherine Reay

• Publisher: National Children's Bureau
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781909391000
• eBook ISBN: 9781909391178
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Early Childhood Education

This practical guide demystifies health and safety in early years settings with a step-by-step guide to the law, compliance and practical application. Bringing together health and safety legislation and the welfare requirements within the revised Early Years Foundation Stage 2012, it successfully integrates health and safety within the EYFS.

Including information taught on a variety of courses accredited by CACHE and BTEC, references to EYFS and Health and Safety legislation, specific guidance for childminders and audit tools for evaluation, it can be referred to as needs arise or used as an aid to inspection.

This book is for all staff working within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) or environmental health. It will be useful for auditing, improving standards and preparing for inspection and it offers a clear outline of responsibilities within the legislative framework. It could also be used for in-house training or workshops.

1Management responsibilities

‘Please keep me safe. This simple but profoundly important hope is the very minimum upon which every child and young person should be able to depend’ (The Lord Laming. ‘The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report’. 12 March 2009).

Children’s vulnerability means adults must be proactive in taking action to ensure children are protected from abuse and neglect. The EYFS safeguarding and welfare requirements encompass other legislation that must be adhered to. This chapter highlights the importance of safeguarding children and the responsibilities of the registered person (employer) and management team.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 contains defined responsibilities that employers must meet. Although these responsibilities are common sense, employers may be unaware of their duties and may inadvertently fail to meet them. The duties placed on employers under the main act are echoed in specific regulations. This chapter gives an overview of all aspects of management responsibilities.

Child protection

EYFS 3.1–3.4 and CR 1.1 CR 2.1, CR 2.3

This section encapsulates the need for high quality practice in all settings. Necessary steps to keep children safe and well are to:

•safeguard children

•ensure adult suitability

•promote good health

•manage behaviour

•maintain records, policies and procedures.

All policies and procedures must be in writing (except for childminders only registered on the Early Years Register (EYR). Schools are not required to have separate EYFS procedures providing requirements are already covered. Written policies and procedures must be up to date and personalised to your setting. Make sure induction procedures for all new staff, students, apprentices and volunteers includes their safeguarding duties. Up-to-date contact numbers for local statutory children’s services agencies that all staff can access must be included.

Remember

Have you considered how all families can access this information including those who have English as an additional language?

Policies and procedures

EYFS 3.4 and CR 2.1

Staff need to be aware of issues and challenges within children’s home lives in order to be able to instigate support swiftly. Therefore, forging effective relationships with parents and carers is crucial. Staff have a duty to respect and promote children’s rights, individuality and uniqueness in all circumstances.

Remember

The serious case review into Daniel Pelka’s death highlights numerous missed opportunities to intervene and protect Daniel: ‘In this case, professionals needed to “think the unthinkable” and to believe and act upon what they saw in front of them, rather than accept parental versions of what was happening at home without robust challenge’ (Lock, R. 2013, p6. Coventry Safeguarding Children Board. September 2013).

Robust procedures must be followed and be written in accordance with the relevant Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and made available to all adults in your setting and parents and carers. This policy must reflect procedures to be followed in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff.

An explicit statement about the use of cameras and mobile phones within the setting must also be included. Have clear, common-sense guidance about when cameras and mobile phones can be used. For example, outings, emergencies, special events etc. Include a list of examples in the staff induction pack.

Remember

Safeguarding must be a priority. Inspectors may look at your child protection policy and may question leadership and management if any of the documentation does not belong to your setting.

Designated lead for safeguarding

EYFS 3.5

A lead practitioner must be nominated to take responsibility for safeguarding. This lead role involves liaison with statutory bodies and offering support and advice to staff within your establishment. A recognised safeguarding training course that includes recognising the signs of abuse and neglect must be completed by the lead practitioner.

Remember

The appointed lead person needs to be experienced and confident in providing support, advice and guidance to all staff on an ongoing basis. Ensure you can justify your decision making when appointing lead people.

Training

EYFS 3.6

All staff must receive training and guidance on safeguarding policies and procedures. This must include advice on recognising signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect and how to take concerns forward.

Remember

The serious case review into Keanu Williams’ death highlights that ‘Keanu was seen by staff in the nursery early in the New Year 2011 with a number of marks and bruises on his body and was described as “distress...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Dedication
• About the authors
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• How the Book
• 1 Management responsibilities
• 2 Employee responsibilities
• 3 Suitable and ‘competent persons’
• 4 Training
• 5 Management documentation
• 6 Safe and suitable environment
• 7 Risk assessment
• 8 Accidents
• 9 First aid
• 10 Outings
• 11 Food safety
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Useful links
• Appendix 1: Action Plan
• Appendix 2: Regulations summary for Early Years and BS EN standards on external and internal play equipment