- Keeping children safe in Education has now been revised and re-issued.
- Disqualification by association
The Department for Education has now withdrawn the rule about ‘disqualification by association’ in respect of staff who work in schools and in childcare on non-domestic settings, as of 1 September this year. (Note that the ‘disqualification by association’ rule will continue to apply to childminders.)
This means that you no longer need to check whether staff at your club are living in the same household as someone who has been disqualified from working with children. However you do still need to get your staff members to confirm on an annual basis that they have not become disqualified themselves
- Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings
September saw Ofsted update its guidance document Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings. The guidance is aimed at inspectors not childcare practitioners, but it is useful for providers on the Early Years register to be aware of what areas Ofsted will be looking at. The main changes or clarifications that could affect out of school clubs are:
- The club’s designated safeguarding lead needs to be aware of local plans for new multi-agency safeguarding arrangements when Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards are replaced in 2019.
- The rule about ‘disqualification by association’ has been removed for settings such as out of school clubs (but still applies for childminders).
- After staff or volunteers have been appointed, consideration must be given to their ongoing suitability to work with children.
- Staff need to be aware of the role of the club’s designated safeguarding lead.
- Staff must be alert to circumstances when a child may need early help.
- Staff know what to do if a child reports they have been sexually abused by another child.
- The club’s safeguarding policy includes procedures for dealing with peer on peer abuse.
- Staff understand the importance of considering wider environmental factors that may be present in a child’s life that may be a threat to their safety or welfare.