Safeguarding audit

Audit quick links:

• Section 1 - Governance, responsibilities and working together for safeguarding
• Section 2 - Child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures
• Section 3 - Child protection and safeguarding training
• Section 4 -Safer recruitment
• Data Sheet

The Early Years Safeguarding Audit reflects the following:

• EYFS Welfare Requirements (DfES)
• Section 175/157 of the Education Act 2002
• Section 11 of the Children Act 2004
• Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (2007/2010)
• Working Together 2010
• What to do if you are worried a child is being abused.
• South West Child Protection Procedures
• Plymouth Safeguarding Children Board guidance.

The audit has been introduced as a result of a recommendation made to the Serious Case Review for Nursery Z. A summary report based on the safeguarding audits carried out in the early years sector has to be delivered to Plymouth Safeguarding Children Board on an annual basis. It is also a requirement for all funded settings to complete the audit.

The Early Years Safeguarding Audit serves the following purposes:

• It provides a review of safeguarding policy, procedure and practice for each individual early years setting in Plymouth.
• It provides evidence of safeguarding practice for Ofsted at the time of inspection.
• It allows the Early Years Service to target support effectively across the city.
• It provides Plymouth Safeguarding Children Board with an overview of current policy and practice in Plymouth.

The audit should be completed in consultation with practitioners and senior managers. It is not anticipated that early years providers will meet all the statements set out in the audit. All statements should be considered as best practice and should be used to help identify future actions for development. Answers are weighted and scores will be used anonymously for statistical purposes only.