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Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
ME Montessori Nursery and Pre-School
Policy Number: S-01
Version: 1.0
Effective Date: September 2026
Review Date: September 2027
Approved by: Francesco Antonazzo, Manager
1. Statement of Intent
ME Montessori Nursery and Pre-School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child in our care. We believe that all children have the right to grow up safe, healthy, and free from abuse or neglect. Protecting children from harm is not merely a legal obligation — it is a moral imperative that sits at the heart of everything we do. Every member of our team shares this responsibility, and no concern about a child’s welfare will ever be dismissed, minimised, or left unaddressed.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all staff (permanent, part-time, temporary, and agency), volunteers, students on placement, contractors working on the premises, and the management committee. It covers all children aged 0–5 attending ME Montessori Nursery and Pre-School.
3. Legal Framework
This policy is informed by and compliant with:
– Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004
– Education Act 2002 (Section 175 / Section 157)
– Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
– Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) 2024
– EYFS Statutory Framework 2025 (Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements, Section 3)
– The Prevent Duty (Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015)
– Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 (FGM Act) and mandatory reporting duties
– Children and Social Work Act 2017
– Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP) procedures
4. Policy and Procedure
4.1 Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is [DSL NAME — TO BE CONFIRMED BY MANAGER], who holds overall operational responsibility for safeguarding at the setting. The Deputy DSL is [DEPUTY DSL NAME — TO BE CONFIRMED BY MANAGER], who fulfils this role when the DSL is unavailable. Both hold a current Level 3 Designated Safeguarding Lead qualification and attend refresher training every two years.
All staff know who the DSL and Deputy DSL are. Their names and contact details are displayed prominently in the setting.
4.2 Definitions of Abuse
Physical abuse includes hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Signs may include unexplained injuries, bruising in unusual locations (not consistent with developmental stage), marks inconsistent with the explanation given, flinching, or fear of going home.
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child. Signs include extreme low self-esteem, delayed emotional development, excessive compliance or aggression, overheard verbal aggression or humiliation from a key person, and a child describing feeling unwanted or unloved.
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities. Signs include age-inappropriate sexual knowledge or behaviour, physical signs (particularly around the genital area), sexualised drawings or play, and sudden behavioural change.
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs. Signs include poor hygiene, inappropriate clothing for the weather, untreated medical conditions, hunger, tiredness, developmental delay, and appearing withdrawn or unattached.
Additional categories include:
– Domestic abuse (including coercive control and honour-based abuse)
– Child trafficking and modern slavery
– Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
– County Lines exploitation
– Online abuse
4.3 Internal Reporting Procedure
Any member of staff who observes, suspects, or receives a disclosure of abuse or neglect must:
1. Listen carefully and remain calm if a child is disclosing. Do not promise confidentiality. Do not ask leading questions. Use open questions (Tell me, Explain to me, Describe to me).
2. Record the concern accurately and contemporaneously on the setting’s safeguarding record form, using the child’s exact words where a disclosure has been made.
3. Report to the DSL within one hour. If the DSL is unavailable, report to the Deputy DSL. If neither is available, contact Buckinghamshire Children’s Social Care directly.
No concern will be left unreported. No member of staff should attempt to investigate a concern independently.
4.4 External Referral
The DSL will assess all concerns and will refer to Buckinghamshire Children’s Social Care (01296 383962) or, in an emergency, call 999 without delay. The DSL will also make a referral to the Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP) in line with local threshold guidance. Referrals are made in writing within 48 hours of verbal referral.
4.5 Prevent Duty
ME Montessori has due regard to the need to prevent children being drawn into terrorism or extremism. Staff are trained to recognise signs that a child or family member may be at risk of radicalisation. Where such concerns arise, the DSL refers to the Channel programme via the police (non-emergency line: 101) or the Channel helpline (020 7340 7264).
4.6 Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Staff have a mandatory duty under the FGM Act 2003 (as amended) to report to the police (101 or 999 if immediate danger) if they discover that a girl under 18 has been, or is at risk of being, subjected to FGM. The DSL must also be informed immediately.
4.7 Allegations Against Staff
If an allegation is made that a member of staff has harmed a child, behaved in a way that indicates they may pose a risk to children, or committed an offence against a child:
1. The manager (or most senior person present) must not investigate internally.
2. Contact must be made with the Buckinghamshire Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO): 01296 382070 within one working day.
3. The Ofsted Early Years helpline (0300 123 1231) must be notified.
4. The member of staff may be suspended on full pay pending investigation — this is a neutral act, not a disciplinary sanction.
No child is ever left alone with an adult who is under investigation or who has been identified as a concern.
4.8 Record-Keeping
All safeguarding records are kept separately from general staff or child files, in a locked cabinet accessible only to the DSL, Deputy DSL, and manager. Records are kept for the duration of the child’s attendance and for at least three years after the child’s last day at the setting. Records relating to child protection referrals are retained until the child’s 25th birthday (or 26th if the young person has special educational needs). Safeguarding records are never destroyed without legal advice.
4.9 Sharing Information
The welfare of the child takes precedence over confidentiality. Information is shared with children’s social care, police, or other agencies on a need-to-know basis and in compliance with UK GDPR/DPA 2018. The setting does not need parental consent to make a safeguarding referral if doing so would put the child at greater risk.
5. Roles and Responsibilities
- All staff: Report concerns to the DSL within one hour, complete safeguarding records accurately, attend annual safeguarding training, and never promise confidentiality to a child.
- DSL: Receive, assess, and act on all concerns; make external referrals; maintain safeguarding records; ensure staff training is current; liaise with external agencies.
- Deputy DSL: Fulfil DSL functions when the DSL is unavailable; maintain their own training.
- Manager (Francesco Antonazzo): Ensure the setting has a trained DSL and Deputy; ensure the policy is reviewed annually; ensure LADO referrals are made without delay; report to Ofsted as required.
6. Monitoring and Review
The DSL reviews all safeguarding records on a rolling basis and reports to the manager monthly. This policy is reviewed annually, or immediately following any significant safeguarding incident, change in legislation, or new statutory guidance.
All staff receive safeguarding induction training before working with children and attend annual refresher training. The DSL and Deputy DSL attend Level 3 training every two years.
7. Related Policies
- S-02: Whistleblowing Policy
- S-05: Behaviour Management Policy
- S-07: Attendance and Child Absence Policy
- S-10: SEND Policy
- S-11: Data Protection and Confidentiality Policy
- S-12: Mobile Phones and Electronic Devices Policy
- S-13: Safer Recruitment Policy
- O-08: Nappy Changing and Intimate Care Policy
- O-09: First Aid and Accident Policy
- O-15: Photography and Image Use Policy
This policy was adopted by ME Montessori Nursery and Pre-School and will be reviewed annually or following any significant change in legislation or practice.
Signed: Kellie Antonazzo, Manager