Course Description – Safeguarding and Child Protection for Early Years

Target Audience

This Level 2 course is aimed at childcare practitioners working in Early Years settings including childminders and nursery staff.

Our online module appeals to all learning styles with interactive quizzes, video and audio features.

It allows you to work at your own pace, testing your knowledge as you progress through the course.

Duration: Approximately 4 hours

Course Aim: To provide important information regarding the safeguarding of children, enabling learners to respond confidently and appropriately to concerns about the safety and welfare of a child

Access: This online course can be completed on any PC or mobile device. Learners can study at their own pace, and log in and out as often as they wish

Assessment: Self-checks after each section of the course and an end of course multiple-choice assessment

Certification: On successful completion of the multiple-choice assessment, learners can download a certificate as evidence that they have completed and passed the course

Verifiable CPD points: This course qualifies for 6 CPD points

Course content

Module 1 – Understanding the role of early years practitioners

• The role of early years practitioners in safeguarding
• Safeguarding and welfare requirements
• Child protection requirements in EYFS 2017
• Being alert to issues for concern
• Safeguarding policy and procedures
• Ensuring suitability of staff
• Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Possible signs of abuse and neglect
• Staff Training

Module 2 – – Legislation and Government guidance

• Why you need to know about legislation and Government guidance
• Key legislation – The Children Act 1989
• Key legislation – The Children Act 2004
• Key legislation – The Childcare Act 2006
• Other relevant legislation
• Government guidance

Module 3 – Lessons from serious case reviews

• What is a serious case review?
• What can we learn from serious case reviews?
• Key failures shown up by case reviews

Module 4 – Recognising signs and indicators

• Recognising signs of abuse and neglect
• Categories of abuse and neglect
• Spotting signs of neglect
• Spotting signs of emotional abuse
• Spotting signs of physical abuse
• Spotting signs of sexual abuse

Module 5 – Working with other professionals

• The principles of multi-agency working
• Working together to safeguard children
• Identifying the need for early help
• Knowing who to work with, when and how
• Making a referral
• Children in need of immediate protection

Module 6 – Responding to a disclosure from a child

• Why children may not tell you about neglect and abuse
• Your role as a practitioner in an early years setting
• How to respond if a child discloses abuse or neglect

Module 7 – Recording, reporting and sharing information and concerns

• Recording a concern
• Effective record keeping
• Responding to a concern in a timely way
• Responding to a concern and the role of the DSL
• The importance of information
• Data protection, the law and best practice
• Guidance principles for information sharing

Module 8 – Current and emerging themes in child protection

Themes currently relevant to Early Years practitioners
• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
• FGM and the law
• FGM and Early Years Foundation Stage requirements
• Radicalisation and extremism
• Indicators of radicalisation – children
• Indicators of radicalisation – young people and adults
• Domestic abuse
• Definition of domestic abuse
• Signs that a child may be witnessing domestic abuse
• Child criminal exploitation – county lines
• The impact of child criminal exploitation on children and families

Module 9 – Allegations against professionals or trusted adults

• The potential for child abuse within the early years setting
• Responding to allegations of abuse in the early years setting