Keeping children safe
Little Leaps is committed to ensuring the safety, wellbeing and protection of all children. Safeguarding procedures cover recognising, reporting and responding to concerns or signs of abuse or neglect, while working with parents, relevant authorities and agencies to promote children's welfare.
The policy is guided by national legislation and guidance including the Children Act 1989 and 2004, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Keeping Children Safe in Education, Working Together to Safeguard Children, the EYFS 2026 statutory framework and local authority safeguarding guidance.
Parents should speak to the nursery team if they have any concern about a child's safety or wellbeing. If a child is in immediate danger, emergency services should be contacted immediately.
Designated safeguarding leads
The designated safeguarding leads are responsible for overseeing implementation of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, staying updated on safeguarding issues and liaising with relevant agencies.
The DSL team receives appropriate training and is the main point of contact for staff, parents and external agencies regarding safeguarding concerns.
EYFS 2026 safeguarding updates
The policy has been updated to reflect EYFS 2026 safeguarding changes, including safer recruitment, monitoring prolonged or unexplained absences, maintaining more than two emergency contacts per child, enhanced safeguarding training, Paediatric First Aid expectations for certain students, volunteers and apprentices, safer eating practice, whistleblowing and privacy during personal care.
Staff receive safeguarding training during induction and through ongoing refresher training, supervision, staff meetings and continuing professional development. Allegations or concerns involving adults working with children are taken seriously and escalated through appropriate safeguarding routes.
Information is shared responsibly for safeguarding. Confidentiality is respected, but relevant information may be shared with social services, police, healthcare professionals or other safeguarding agencies where needed to protect a child. Parents are informed about information sharing unless this could place a child at risk.