Leaving your little one somewhere new is a big moment for any parent. Here we explain what nurseries and childminders must do to keep your child safe, the steps we're taking to strengthen those protections even further, and exactly what to do if you're ever worried.
What is safeguarding?
Everyone who comes into contact with a child shares responsibility for keeping them safe. This is what we mean by safeguarding, and it's about making sure children:
- are safe from abuse, neglect or harm
- feel secure and supported at their nursery or childminder
- get help early if something is wrong
How nurseries and childminders keep your child safe
Anyone who provides childcare, including childminders, must follow a set of national rules called the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Among other things, these rules mean:
- your child must be properly supervised
- staff must be suitable to work with children, including background (DBS) checks and references
- staff must be trained to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns, with refresher training at least every two years
- at least one member of staff must be trained in paediatric first aid
- there must be safe practices for things like sleeping and eating
- there must be clear safeguarding policies, and the provider should keep you informed about your child's wellbeing
Every provider must also have one person with overall responsibility for safeguarding, called the designated safeguarding lead. If you use a childminder, that's them. You're always entitled to ask who it is.
What we're doing to strengthen safety in nurseries
The vast majority of nurseries and childminders do a brilliant job, staffed by people who care deeply about the children they look after. We want every parent to be able to feel confident about that, so we're taking further steps to make protections as strong as they can possibly be.
This includes:
- Clearer rules on supervision. We're speaking to the nursery sector about making the rules even more explicit - children should always be in sight or earshot of staff.
- Better support for staff. We are also discussing with the sector better ways for staff to have regular, protected time to raise any safeguarding worries, so concerns are always acted on.
- New training for early years workers. Early years staff must complete safeguarding training every 2 years. We’ve worked with the NSPCC to develop new and free to access training that will help staff spot the signs that a child might need help and know what to do.
- Stronger oversight of nursery groups. We're giving Ofsted stronger powers to spot and act on risks across groups of providers, not just an individual provider.
We're also reviewing the use of video surveillance (such as CCTV) and digital devices in early years settings, and will set out next steps in due course.
How to check a provider
Choosing a nursery or childminder can feel daunting, but a few simple steps can help you feel confident in your choice.
Check the Ofsted report. Ofsted inspects early years providers and publishes a report on each one. You can find an Ofsted report, and read about what the grades mean.
Visit, and trust your instincts. When you visit, notice whether children and staff seem happy, how staff talk to the children, how easy it is to get in and out of the building, and whether your child seems engaged and settled.
Ask questions. There's no such thing as a silly question. You might ask:
- who has overall responsibility for safeguarding, and how recent their training is
- how many staff are trained in first aid
- how they keep babies and children safe when sleeping, eating and using the toilet
- how they'll support your child's learning and any additional needs
- whether they use video surveillance (such as CCTV), and if so, how
- for a copy of their safeguarding and complaints policies or verbally if it’s a childminder (who don’t need them in writing)
What to do if you're ever worried
If something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts. It's always worth raising a worry, whether it's about your own child or another. For example:
- your child has unexplained marks or injuries
- your child's mood or behaviour changes without explanation, such as seeming anxious or becoming withdrawn
- your child says something about their day that worries you, or seems to know about adult matters beyond their age
- you notice staff behaviour or practices that don't feel safe or appropriate
The signs that something might be wrong aren't always obvious, and they don't always mean a child is being harmed. More information on what to look out for can be found on the NSPCC's spotting the signs of child abuse page and in the government's advice for parents and carers. You can also call the NSPCC Helpline free on 0808 800 5000 to talk through any worry, even if you're not sure it's serious.
Start with the provider. Speak to the person responsible for safeguarding (the designated safeguarding lead). They must follow proper safeguarding procedures, which may involve other agencies such as the local authority or police.
You can go straight to Ofsted if:
- you don't feel your concern is being taken seriously
- you feel the provider is avoiding or hiding information
You can find out more about Ofsted’s role, including which early years providers they inspect, at: information for parents about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare.
You can contact Ofsted at any time. Ofsted doesn't settle individual disputes between parents and providers, but it uses what you tell it to check whether a provider is meeting the rules and to decide whether inspection or action is needed.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
For everyday complaints, about things like fees or communication, raise it with the provider first. They must respond to a written complaint within 28 days.