Ofsted unveils new safeguarding requirements
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Early years settings will need a safeguarding lead practitioner on duty whenever they are open, Ofsted has said.
The new requirement is one of a series of changes to Ofsted guidance on inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings, the first major update since the Common Inspection Framework was put in place a year ago.
The guidance says, 'During term time, or when the setting is in operation, the designated safeguarding lead or an appropriately trained deputy should be available during opening hours for staff to discuss safeguarding concerns.'
National Day Nurseries Association chief executive Purnima Tanuku said the lead practitioner rule 'could have implications for smaller settings which currently only have one designated lead and will need at least two from now on to ensure cover is available at all times'.
Other main changes include:
- a new requirement for all staff and leaders to receive regular updates on safeguarding at least annually
- a new requirement for schools and settings to have appropriate filters and monitoring systems in place to protect learners from harmful online material
- a new requirement for a staff behaviour policy
- clarification that designated staff need to have safeguarding training every two years, with knowledge and skills refreshed at least annually
Ms Tanuku said, 'It's important that the sector takes note of all these new updates, weaves them into a setting's policies and procedures, and thoroughly informs all practitioners.'
New Ofsted early years films
Ofsted has put online five films about the early years.
Lee Owston, Ofsted's National Lead for Early Years, talks about:
what teaching and play means in an early years setting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL3asnZWtyM
what inspectors will be looking at when inspecting teaching, learning and assessment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzsVZQ2VAz4
Ofsted having no preferred style of teaching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlgMn3Z1_9c
disadvantaged children and the Pupil premium being used effectively https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogeEP53budY
working to influence and make a difference in the early years sector https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPjUKR-7h7U
