https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-inspection-handbook-eif
These are the main changes highlighted by Ofsted in the changes summary document, for all types of providers including childminders. I have added the point numbers for ease of reading –
**Expectations for inspector conduct during inspections (points 5 – 7).
**Quite a lot of new wording to the section about how Ofsted judge safeguarding including a definition of what they mean by a ‘positive culture of safeguarding’ (points 57 - 60) – I will unpick this in a moment.
**The section on what inspectors should consider when deciding if a provider has the capacity to improve has been expanded (point 128).
**Clarification of who the inspection outcome may be shared with (point 150).
**An amendment in the quality of education judgement to refer to how providers use assessment to plan suitable activities – ‘This includes planning suitable activities, providing opportunities for children to practise and responding to specific needs’ (point 185).
**Clearer information about the link between your curriculum and the behaviours and attitudes of the children at the setting (point 186).
I thought it might be useful to unpick the safeguarding section of the inspection handbook (points 57 – 60) because this the only guidance we have now that Ofsted have removed their useful safeguarding guidance handbook. Why have they removed it? Well, I asked Ofsted and they say it was just a re-write of the statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (KCSIE). In relation to KCSIE, the EYFS states that it is for schools and, ‘Other childcare providers may also find it helpful to refer to this guidance.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2
The new safeguarding section in the early years inspection handbook covers points 57 – 60.
Point 57. This section sets out our approach to inspecting safeguarding and should be read alongside the safeguarding and welfare requirements section of the EYFS.
The EYFS 2023 is statutory and Ofsted use their inspection handbook to explain how they will inspect providers on the EYFS. You can find a copy of the EYFS here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2
The EYFS has also been updated to use from Sept 2023 and you will find my recent blog here –
https://independentchildminders.weebly.com/blog/updated-eyfs-2023
Point 58. Inspectors will always look at how well children are helped and protected so that they are kept safe. Although inspectors will not provide a separate grade for this crucial aspect of a provider’s work, they will always make a written judgement in the report about whether the arrangements for safeguarding children are effective.
If you read inspection reports, you will notice that there is a section at the end with information about safeguarding, which states whether it is effective or not. This is written after the inspector has asked the provider questions to check their safeguarding and child protection knowledge.
Point 59. All early years providers should have an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children’s interests first. This means they:
- Protect children from serious harm, both online and offline.
- Are vigilant, maintaining an attitude of ‘it could happen here’.
- Are open and transparent, sharing information with others and actively seeking expert advice, when required.
- Ensure that all those who work with children are trained well so that they understand their responsibilities and the systems and processes that the provision operates and are empowered to ‘speak out’ where there may be concerns.
- Actively seek and listen to the views and experiences of children, staff and parents, taking prompt but proportionate action to address any concerns, where needed.
- Have appropriate child protection arrangements, which:
...Secure the help that children need and, if required, refer children in a timely way to those who have the expertise to help.
...Manage safe recruitment and allegations about adults who may be a risk to children.
...Are receptive to challenge and reflective of their own practices to ensure that safeguarding policies, systems and processes are kept under continuous review.
This is the section you need to focus on when accessing professional development opportunities, because it gives you lots of information about the sort of questions Ofsted will ask during inspection. Here are some sample questions and answers but please bear in mind they are very general because it’s impossible to cover everything an inspector might ask you and all inspections flow differently, depending on what the inspector has spotted during their time with you –
**Do children feel safe here – how do you know?
For example, you might say that you involve children in regular discussions about safety and you monitor their wellbeing and involvement during their time with you.
**How do you keep children safe online – in the setting and at home?
For example, you might say that you have parental controls on all devices and children are always supervised; you talk to children (even little ones) about staying safe online and you share information and books (for example, the Childnet series) with parents.
**Which children might be at risk from radicalisation, exposure to extremism, bullying, domestic abuse / violence or female genital mutilation?
For example, you might say that all children are at risk and you monitor all children’s wellbeing equally.
**Explain the 4 main types of abuse – what would you look out for?
This information should be part of your safeguarding policy and covers physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect (PENS). Note that some trainers include domestic abuse / violence in this list (changing the pneumonic from PENS to SPEND) but as the EYFS has not been updated to include this, I have not added it here. Ofsted has said that inspection is not a memory test and you can refer to documentation if you are unsure.
**Who would you approach in your local authority in relation to child protection – where is the information held and how can it be accessed by you / staff?
For example, you might point out your safeguarding poster which is displayed on your noticeboard. Note that if you have staff, they should not have to ask you for access to the safeguarding policy or the local safeguarding partners / Ofsted contact information.
**When did you last attend / do child protection training to update your knowledge?
Your local authority might have rules about how often you do training but Ofsted do not. What they want to check is that you are keeping yourself updated with regular training and professional development opportunities and you can answer their questions confidently.
**How do you train staff (if you have them) on safeguarding / child protection and keep them updated?
For example, you might say that your induction procedures include safeguarding / child protection information and then you ensure they attend training (online and in-house) and keep them updated. Your staff will be asked safeguarding questions which they must be able to answer confidently.
Note that you will find a useful safeguarding glossary from Childcare.co.uk here if you want to check any of the terms used - https://www.childcare.co.uk/childminderpaperwork
**How do you involve parents, children and staff (if appropriate) in reviewing your aims and objectives for the future of your setting?
For example, you might say that you regularly review how you are getting on, involving parents and children in the process by using questionnaires / verbal questions and make changes based on their suggestions where appropriate. You can then give an example of something you have consulted on / changed recently.
**Can you show me your complaints policy – how is it shared with parents?
This is a statutory policy and must be in writing and given to parents to comply with the Childcare Register. For example, you might say that you give parents a copy during induction and update them annually and if something changes.
**Can you show me your safeguarding policy – how is it shared with parents?
This is a statutory policy and must be in writing and given to parents to comply with the Childcare Register. For example, you might say that you give parents a copy during induction and update them annually and if something changes.
**How do you identify children who need early help?
For example, you might talk about recent training you have attended which has provided you with the information you need to help you identify children at risk. You can then show how you have updated your safeguarding policy as a result of the training and shared a new copy with parents.
**If you have staff, you will need to talk to your inspector about safer recruitment procedures, show the staff file/s and discuss where you store LADO (local authority designated officer) reporting details.
Your Local Authority might have a model policy for you to adapt and adopt or, if you are a Childcare.co.uk gold member, you will find information in the model policy here - https://www.childcare.co.uk/childminderpolicies/safeguarding
Point 60. It is essential that inspectors are familiar with and take into account the statutory guidance in relation to safeguarding, ‘Working together to safeguard children’
You will notice that point 60 in the handbook refers inspectors to the statutory guidance ‘Working together to safeguard children’ - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2 The EYFS states that ‘Providers must have regard to the government's statutory guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ and "having regard" to these provisions means that early years providers must take them into account when providing early years provision and should not depart from them unless there is good reason for doing so.
Before everyone goes rushing out to buy a copy of ‘Working together to safeguard children’ bear in mind it is 116 pages long, regularly updated and can be accessed online.
Childcare.co.uk offers regular safeguarding webinar updates which are free on the night they are presented - https://www.childcare.co.uk/webinars
You should also keep updated locally - for example, looking at your local safeguarding partners website will tell you about the latest safeguarding 'trends' / focus areas in your local area, which you can then use as a starting point for professional development updates.
I hope this helps! Sarah.