A Day at MayGardens

The Alliance is committed to building 'a culture of safety' in which children, young people and vulnerable adults are protected from abuse and harm in all areas of its service delivery.

• We have a designated person (designated lead for safeguarding) responsible for carrying out child, young person, or adult protection procedures — typically the setting manager.
• The designated person and back-up designated person maintain links with statutory and voluntary organisations regarding safeguarding children.
• Both designated persons ensure they have received appropriate training on child protection and that all staff are adequately informed and trained to recognise possible abuse in the categories of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and neglect.
• All staff are made aware of the additional vulnerabilities arising from inequalities of race, gender, disability, language, religion, sexual orientation, or culture.
• Staff receive training on social factors affecting children's vulnerability, including: social exclusion, domestic violence and controlling or coercive behaviour, mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse (substance misuse), parental learning disability, and radicalisation.
• Staff are also trained on other ways children may suffer significant harm, including: abuse of disabled children, fabricated or induced illness, child abuse linked to spirit possession, sexual exploitation, child trafficking and exploitation, female genital mutilation, extra-familial abuse and threats, and children involved in violent offending, gangs, and county lines.
• The designated persons ensure they are adequately informed in vulnerable adult protection matters.

The Alliance is committed to responding promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns of abuse that may occur and to work with statutory agencies in accordance with What to do if you are worried a child is being abused (HMG 2015), No Secrets (updated by the Care Act 2014), and Working Together 2018.

• Procedures are in place to prevent known abusers from joining the organisation as employees or volunteers at any level.
• Safeguarding is the responsibility of every person undertaking work for the organisation in any capacity.
• Procedures exist for dealing with allegations of abuse against any member of staff or volunteer, clearly distinguishing between an allegation, a concern about quality of care or practice, and a complaint.
• Procedures are in place for reporting possible abuse of children or young persons in the setting.
• Procedures enable staff to identify children meeting the s17 definition of a child in need (Children Act 1989) and/or at risk of significant harm, and to make appropriate referrals using local threshold documents.
• Procedures support staff in recognising families who may benefit from early help and in responding using local early help processes.
• Procedures are in place for reporting possible abuse of a vulnerable adult in the setting.
• Procedures exist for escalating concerns and professional challenge.
• Procedures are in place for working in partnership with agencies where a child, young person, or vulnerable adult has a protection plan, including families with a 'child in need' or in need of early help, taking account of issues such as social exclusion, radicalisation, domestic violence, mental illness, substance misuse, and parental learning disability.
• All procedures account for diversity and inclusion and promote equal treatment, taking account of inequalities of race, gender, disability, language, religion, sexual orientation, or culture.
• Procedures for record-keeping, confidentiality, and information sharing comply with data protection requirements.
• We follow government and Local Safeguarding Partners guidance in relation to extremism.
• The procedures of the Local Safeguarding Partners are followed in all cases.

The Alliance is committed to promoting awareness of child abuse issues throughout its training and learning programmes for adults, and to empowering children, young people, and vulnerable adults through its curriculum, promoting their right to be 'strong, resilient and listened to'.

• All staff receive adequate training in child protection matters and have access to the setting's policy and procedures for reporting concerns and the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Partners.
• All staff have adequate information on issues affecting vulnerability in families such as social exclusion, domestic violence, mental illness, substance misuse, and parental learning disability, together with training that accounts for inequalities of race, gender, disability, language, religion, sexual orientation, or culture.
• We use available curriculum materials for young children — taking account of information in the Early Years Foundation Stage — that enable children to be strong, resilient, and listened to.
• All services seek to build the emotional and social skills of children and young people in an age-appropriate way, including increasing their understanding of how to stay safe.
• We adhere fully to the EYFS Safeguarding and Welfare requirements.

All staff at MayGardens Little Learners are subject to thorough vetting including enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks before they begin working with children. We follow safer recruitment practices to ensure the suitability of all those who work with or on behalf of children.