​

At SEN Space we work with children, parents, external agencies, and the community to ensure the welfare and safety of children and to give them the very best start in life. Children have the right to be treated with respect, be helped to thrive and to be safe from any abuse in whatever form.

We support the children within our care, protect them from maltreatment and have robust procedures in place to prevent the impairment of children’s health and development. In our setting we strive to protect children from the risk of radicalisation, and we promote acceptance and tolerance of other beliefs and cultures (please refer to our inclusion and equality policy for further information). Safeguarding is a much wider subject than the elements covered within this single policy, therefore this document should be used in conjunction with SEN Space’s other policies and procedures.

This policy works alongside these other specific policies to cover all aspects of child protection:

• Online safety

• Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery

• Prevent Duty and Radicalisation

• Domestic Violence, Honour Based Violence (HBV) and Forced Marriages

• Looked After Children

 

Legal framework and definition of safeguarding

• Children Act 1989 and 2004

• Childcare Act 2006

• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

• Children and Social Work Act 2017

• Working together to safeguard children 2018

• Keeping children safe in education 2019

• Data Protection Act 2018

• What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused 2015

• Counterterrorism and Security Act 2015.

 

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, in relation to this policy is defined as:

• Protecting children from maltreatment

• Preventing the impairment of children’s health or development

• Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.

Policy intention

To safeguard children and promote their welfare we will:

• Create an environment to encourage children to develop a positive self-image.

• Provide positive role models and develop a safe culture where staff are confident to raise concerns about professional conduct.

• Support staff to notice the softer signs of abuse and know what action to take.

• Encourage children to develop a sense of independence and autonomy in a way that is appropriate to their age and stage of development.

• Provide a safe and secure environment for all children.

• Promote tolerance and acceptance of different beliefs, cultures, and communities.

• Help children to understand how they can influence and participate in decision-making and how to promote British values through play, discussion, and role modelling.

• Always listen to children.

Provide an environment where practitioners are confident to identi