1. Unit 3 Providing safe environments for children
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2. LO3 Understand child protection.
AC 3.4 Describe the lines of reporting and responsibility when harm or abuse is suspected or disclosed.
AC 3.5 Discuss the rights of children and parents/carers in situations where harm or abuse is suspected or disclosed.
AC 3.6 Explain the responsibilities of the early years practitioner in relation to whistleblowing.
AC 3.7 Explain the boundaries of confidentiality in relation to reporting and record-keeping.
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3. LO3 Understand child protection [AC 3.4]
Time: 15 mins
Are you able to tell someone else if you are unhappy or worried about something that has happened?
Consider:
Can you express how you feel?
Does it embarrass you to moan about something?
Do you feel it is your right to tell someone if something is wrong?
Do you feel it will be pointless because nothing will happen anyway?
Do you feel empowered if you have ‘reported’ something?
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4. Lines of reporting and responsibility
LO3 Understand child protection [AC 3.4]
Lines of reporting and responsibility
Everyone in the setting has a duty to meet the safeguarding, protection and welfare requirements of all children.
Practitioners need to be aware of the lines of reporting and responsibility in their setting.
There will be designated people to report to within the setting if there is a concern or problem.
Practitioners need to know who to go to if they have a concern or a question over the safeguarding, protection and welfare of children.
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5. Lines of reporting and responsibility
LO3 Understand child protection [AC 3.4]
Time: 15 mins
Lines of reporting and responsibility
Find out what you should do with any information you may have regarding the safeguarding, protection and welfare of children in the setting.
Ask your supervisor who you should report any safeguarding or welfare concerns to.
Teacher notes:
Learners should discuss lines of reporting and responsibility with their supervisor.
Useful resources:
Sample:
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6. The rights of children and parents/carers
LO3 Understand child protection [AC 3.5]
The rights of children and parents/carers
Children and parents/carers have rights and these must be respected during cases of suspected or alleged abuse.
Children have the right to be supported to express themselves and be listened to.
Children need to be supported to understand what is happening and why and to be involved in decisions that may affect them.
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7. The rights of children and parents/carers
LO3 Understand child protection [AC 3.5]
The rights of children and parents/carers
Children have the right to refuse repeated questions and/or medical examinations following the disclosure of sexual or physical abuse.
Children’s views should be taken into account.
Children have the right to know what is being said and, where appropriate, family members also have the right to know about information and decisions made about the situation.
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8. Policies and procedures The term ‘allegation’ Consistent approach
LO3 Understand child protection [AC 3.5]
Time: 15 mins
Why is it important for children and parents/carers to have rights during cases of suspected or alleged abuse?
Consider:
Policies and procedures
The term ‘allegation’
Consistent approach
The age of the child.
Teacher notes:
Learners should discuss the rights of everyone while a case is being investigated, and why a non-judgemental approach needs to be maintained.
Useful resource:
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9. LO3 Understand child protection [AC 3.6]
Whistleblowing
Whistleblowing is the term used to describe when a practitioner tells someone about a concern over a colleague who demonstrates poor practice.
This concern can range from a colleague who is negligent and putting children in danger to a colleague who is bullying or abusing children.
The practitioner who is whistleblowing must not ignore poor practice – they have a duty to report their concerns.
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10. LO3 Understand child protection [AC 3.6]
Whistleblowing
Practitioners must report the poor practice that they have witnessed to their supervisor or a named member of staff responsible for safeguarding.
It is good practice to write up your concerns and give full details of the event or events.
If you whistleblow, you are legally protected and will be fully supported by your supervisor or manager.
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11. LO3 Understand child protection [AC 3.6]
Time: 15 mins
Discuss how you would feel if you suspected poor practice and needed to whistleblow on a colleague?
Consider:
Policies and procedures
Your working relationship with your supervisor or named member of staff for safeguarding
Your working relationship with the colleague you were reporting
The child or children who were in danger of harm or abuse because of poor practice.
Teacher notes:
This activity requires learners to voice their thoughts on how they would feel if they were in this situation.
Careful setting of groups would be required so that learners feel confident to say how they feel.
Useful resources:
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12. Boundaries of confidentiality
LO3 Understand child protection [AC 3.7]
Boundaries of confidentiality
The Data Protection Act 1998 clearly defines how personal information should be stored and used.
In cases where the safeguarding, protection or welfare of a child are in question, accurate, detailed reports will need to be kept.
These reports will be kept separately from the child’s records or file, and may need to be shared with other professionals in order to protect the child.
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13. What information may be found in this file?
LO3 Understand child protection [AC 3.7]
Time: 15 mins
Each child will have a file that will contain both personal and developmental information.
What information may be found in this file?
If a setting has a cause for concern over a child’s welfare, then a separate file will be kept.
What information may be found in this separate file?
Why might the two files be stored separately?
Teacher notes:
Learners should discuss their own knowledge of information kept and stored within the setting.
If learners do not have the knowledge, then they are to discuss what they think the answers should be and why. This can then lead to them having a discussion with their supervisor to clarify and confirm procedures.
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14. Find out about your setting’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
LO3 Understand child protection [AC 3.4]
Time: 15 mins
Find out about your setting’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
Consider:
Your role as a student
A suitable time to talk to your
supervisor about any questions or
concerns.
Teacher notes:
Learners should link all learning to their role as a student.
While it is their responsibility to report any concerns, it is important for learners to know their boundaries as a student.
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15. In this lesson we learnt that:
Children and parents/carers have rights that must be upheld during cases of suspected or alleged abuse.
Practitioners have a right and a duty to whistleblow if they witness poor practice that is endangering or harming children.
There will be designated people to report to within the setting if there is a concern over a child’s welfare.
Confidentiality must be maintained at all times.
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16. What should you do if you have a concern about a child’s welfare?
What does a child have the right to refuse during the investigations of physical or sexual abuse?
Why must a practitioner whistleblow poor practice?
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