CHILD PROTECTION POLICY for toddler type groups.

[princessmel]

Can anybody help me with this please?

I have written one but not sure if I've missed important things out.

Also the parents will be staying with their children so this makes it slightly different. How could I word that?

I've looked at a few online but just wondered what yours say.

Any help would be great. Thanks.

Not sure our toddler group has a policy! Do you need one if there are no paid staff and the children are to be always supervised by their parent/guardian.

Have you checked with the SPPA?

ooops just realised SPPA = Scottish Preschool Play Association which wont be much use if you're not in Scotland!

For example would this be needed as the parents are staying......

'As a matter of good practice, childcare providers are required to record any accidents or injuries in their Accident Book. Parents/Carers will be asked to read and sign this form when they collect their child and will be given a copy of the entry'

Hi, the hall we use has requested one. They need one from all the groups who hire the hall.
I think mine is ok ish. Shall I show it to you?

...we do have an accident book, but it's not part of our toddler group policy it's a requirement from the church premises where we hold our group.

Yes!

It's a good idea to have an accident book of some sort, for records, and to help you spot if particular equipment/layouts are causing accidents.

Obviously you want to fiddle with the wording, re: pickups, but still.

Here it is....

Storycraft Child Protection Policy.

We aim to provide children with the appropriate safety and protection whilst at Storycraft.

The welfare of the child is paramount.

All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse.

All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

All staff have a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate people.

What do you think??

You are probably better off contacting your local safeguarding children board for their advice.

They are the authority on child protection issues for your area so they will probably know what the minimum requirements are.

Look them up via google or call your local social services for their address.

IME though, if parents are staying and there are no paid workers then there are no specific child protection requirements other than what would be expected of a friend or neighbour.

Its odd though as the parents are staying. but I suppose parents do abuse/neglect sometimes

We are being paid. It's a group that parents pay termly for. It's our new business.

The main points to include then are

• the welfare of the child is paramount;
• all children without exception have the right to protection from abuse regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or beliefs;
• the policy is approved and endorsed by the board of trustees;
• who the policy applies to (i.e. all trustees, staff and volunteers);
• children and parents are informed of the policy and procedures as appropriate;
• all concerns, and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously by trustees, staff and volunteers and responded to appropriately - this may require a referral to children?s services and in emergencies, the Police;
• a commitment to safe recruitment, selection and vetting;
• reference to principles, legislation and guidance that underpin the policy;
• arrangements for policy and procedures review;
• reference to all associated policies and procedures which promote children?s safety and welfare e.g. with regards to: health and safety, anti-bullying, protection of children online, and photography.

This is lifted from the charities commission website because that's the closest comparison to your situation.

You will also need a policy for taking photographs of the children, including a consent form for the parents just in case and also perhaps a procedure document for child protection so the staff know what the possible signs of abuse are and what to do if they suspect abuse or neglect.

I still recommend contacting the local safeguarding children board though.

totally disagree mrspnut.
There is a definite need for all toddler groups to have child protection policies and other systems in place. I remember our local group debating about the need for paying someone to go on a first aid course.. sure up to the parents to look after their child etc just like in the home. It was only when one of the parents was knocked unconscious by a falling ladder in the toy cupboard that suddenly it seemed like a very good idea to have someone designated to be in "charge" even if not formally paid. Just like someone has to sort out the hall booking, the cash, the insurance etc etc.
Equally, it makes total sense to have all parents informed of what facilities are out there, what it the best way to pass on concerns. What qualifies as a "concern" and how to get over it. If a parent raises a concern or even makes a disclosure (or a child makes a full or partial disclosure), how it is handled is so important.
Someone in every toddler group should be encouraged to go on the very short, widely available and basic Child protection course to help build a practical policy that is not just a collection of sensible statements but is something that works. For example, someone needs to know what the difference is between a full and partial disclosure, who to contact, when to contact them, what should be documented and by who, at the time. I remember an exercise we did were we were all told about a case study - watching a child play acting hurting a doll and giving out some worrying information. We were told to fill in a form to document this ready to pass on. Not one of us filled it in properly. Considering this was a form that could be eventually used in a court case as a legal document... and we are not stupid people without qualifications...
So what I am saying is, please do not think that a group where parents stay is a "safe" group where child protection issues are not relevant. They are. Please make sure your policies are not just statements but are accurate and practical ones. Please make sure you have a form ready, with copies and a pen in a sensible place, to jot down if, God forbid, anything does happen in a session. Please make sure you have a poster up with phone numbers for parents to see and use if they need to.
Sorry for the long post, just a topic that is close to my heart. Please don?t just write something that says things will be taken seriously - you need to know what "seriously" really means - phone the health visitor, talk to the parent, phone the police, who would you phone/what would you tell them and who would do this? Heavy I know but it is a big responsibility running a groupOK ok I will shut up now

sorry - I was saying I disagree to your comment that if parents were staying that they did not need any policy. Toddler groups with parents staying also need them - by law I believe.

Here's an updated version.

Storycraft Child Protection Policy.

We aim to provide children with the appropriate safety and protection whilst at Storycraft.

The welfare of the child is paramount.

All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse.

All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

All staff have a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate people. This may require a referral to children?s services and in emergencies, the Police.

Parents are informed of the policies and
procedures as appropriate.

All activities and equipment will be safe and appropriate for the children?s ages and stages.

Parents are responsible for the health and safety of their child during Storycraft sessions.

Do you not have to have a designated person named on the policy as "the appropriate person"? One key contact for 'Storycraft' I mean - otherwise you might get the same incident being reported by 10 different poeple in 10 different ways.

I would say "All staff have a responsiblity to report concerns to the Child Protection Officer (or similar title)...."

Would also definitely recommend at least one person goes on the Child Protection course. Depending on how many staff you have you may be able to get someone to come and do it for you in house.

Lemontart - which law are you referring to?

Also my comment was that in a parent run toddler group that the child protection requirements are no more than a friend or neighbour which is true - I did not say that a CP policy wasn't required.

A child protection course is sometimes a useful tool but if there are no paid workers then it becomes difficult to organise and there is always a danger that one person does the course and then leaves.

I am talking from vast experience of child protection procedures which is why I have twice told the OP to contact the local safeguarding board for the definitive answer.