Your Policies and Procedures

What safeguarding policies and procedures do you have in place? Can I have a copy?

How do you ensure these are used in practice on a day-to-day basis?

What happens when something goes wrong?

What happens if my child has a high temperature? Is teething? Bad cold? Diarrhoea/vomiting?

What is the procedure for medication?

How will you ensure my child doesn't eat or come into contact with something I have told you they have an allergy to?

Your Screening and Staff Training

What training do staff members undergo concerning safeguarding? How often is this updated?

How are staff members checked and cleared to be eligible to work with children?

What about bank or agency staff?

Do staff have first aid training?

Is there a Designated First Aider on duty all the time?

Are staff aware of what to do if a child has an allergic reaction? Do they have training on this?

Your Supervision and Monitoring of the Team.

How do you ensure that children are not left unattended or unsupervised?

What happens if staff go off sick? Are ratios maintained? And outside?

If CCTV cameras are installed, how are these used? What happens to the recordings?

Do you record when there has been a breach that affects a child's safety or well-being?

Reporting and responding to concerns.

How do staff make logs of concern around a child's well-being or safeguarding?

Does the DSL and senior staff get this information as soon as it is logged?

What happens to these logs? Where are they kept?

Are parents informed if there is a safeguarding issue involving their child?

What happens if there is an allegation against a member of staff?

Safeguarding Team

Is there someone responsible for safeguarding, a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)?

How do senior staff support this person?

When would you collaborate with external agencies (social care, police, healthcare professionals)?

The environment and safety measures.

What measures are taken to ensure the general safety of play areas, equipment and facilities?

How do you prevent unauthorised access?

How do you check who can pick up my child?

What happens to ensure my child is safe during outings and trips?

Communicating

Do you record if my child is unhappy in any way while with you?

What information will you provide me with regard to a compromise to my child's overall well-being?

Does the DSL and senior staff get this information as soon as it is logged?

Will you communicate incidents, and what sort of things could this be?

What happens if I have a concern or question about safeguarding?

Conveying to Children about Staying Safe

Is 'staying safe' part of your curriculum, and in what way?

How do you encourage children to learn about being safe?

What about encouraging healthy habits?

Record Keeping

How will staff keep records of my child's well-being when this is a concern?

Who has access to these records?

Who is responsible for sorting the problem?

How long are these records retained? How are they destroyed?

Emergency Procedures

What procedures exist for emergencies (e.g. fire, accident, unsafe premises, lack of heating, flooding)?

How would I be notified?

AUTHOR:- Iona has nearly 10 years of experience supporting nurseries and childminders in curriculum planning, leadership, and safeguarding. Her writing is informed by public information and sector insight, aiming to provide accessible, practical support for professionals working with children. She is part of the On the Button team, helping deliver Well-being, Safeguarding and Complaint Management Software that empowers practitioners to identify concerns early and act confidently.

On the Button provides innovative software tailored to the needs of the early years sector, with a strong focus on EYFS well-being and early years safeguarding. Our tools help senior practitioners to confidently track concerns, maintain robust records, and respond effectively — all while meeting statutory guidance. From early years complaint management to team-wide safeguarding alerts, our platform puts children's safety and emotional health first.