nmtviewpoint

Safeguarding
Still more to do

As evidence builds that there has been little progress since Baby P was killed
in 2007, Laura Henry outlines how she thinks the sector could pull together
to prevent further abuse still not protecting children.
qualifications and continuous

n October 2013, I read a headline

in The Sunday Times: And still they
die: up to 110 since Baby P. I was
shocked but not surprised, as I still
believe we have so much to do as a
sector to fully protect children.
Not all of these children were
under five. Neither did they all
attend a nursery. Nonetheless, it is
still a shocking statistic, and, as a
sector, we need to come together to
find a solution to this.

The real issue

It doesnt help when the media
deflects attention from the real issue
by pointing the finger of blame at
individuals, and commenting on
how much compensation someone is
getting. This takes the spotlight off
the issue: how we must support
professionals who work with
children and their families. This is the
real priority.
After endless serious case reviews
(SCR) and the Every Child Matters
(ECM) outcomes, which came about
after the Victoria Climbie SCR, we are

After endless serious

case reviews (SCR)
and the Every Child
Matters (ECM)
outcomes, which
came about after the
Victoria Climbie SCR,
we are still not
protecting children.

A recent Panorama programme

argued that it should become a
criminal offence for an individual not
to report abuse. This happens in
countries such as Australia and the
US. But, as Professor Eileen Munro
pointed out in the documentary, this
approach does not actually prevent
abuse. I have to agree with the
professor on this one.

Preventative work
The focus should be on preventative
work with parents and upskilling
professionals who work with
children. We should work in closer
partnership with other professionals
who work with children and families.
More joined-up thinking and sharing
of expertise is needed.
It states clearly in the EYFS and
Ofsted guidance what a providers
legal duty is - to protect children in
their care - and what staff should
know and do. Ofsteds new approach
in early years inspections is to focus
strongly on safeguarding and the
safety of children. So, it makes
perfect sense to direct resources to
this area.
My recommendations are:
a set of clear safeguarding and child
protection principles for everyone
who works with children, similar to
those underlying ECM
more emphasis on safeguarding
and child protection when
individuals are training
annual training in safeguarding
and child protection for everyone
who works with children

professional development focusing

on emotional maturity and
emotional intelligence
a focus on soft skills training,
particularly, assertiveness and
communication
sharing skills and expertise with
different professionals
professionals shadowing each
other, for example a health visitor
spending a day in a nursery and
vice versa
setting up arenas for those who
work with children under five, with
regular networking in order to have
a clear understanding of each
others roles and responsibilities.

Ways forward
June OSullivan and colleagues are
now working with the sector with a
view to setting up an Institute of
Early Years, which will seek to
embrace multi-professional and
multi-disciplinary working by setting
up an online portal to share resourses
and skills. I fully support this, as it
will be one way to safeguard and
protect our children more fully.
From a political viewpoint, there is
a cross-party petition on prioritising
early childhood development. To add
your support, go to
www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/
and key in Ban Ki-Moon.
This is only a start, and I am sure
we could, as a sector, build on it. It
will, of course, cost money, but I
believe money spent on protecting
and safeguarding children will be
money well spent.

As MD of Childcare Consultancy, Laura Henry manages a team of early years

trainers who provide advice and consultancy to clients worldwide.
E: laura@childcareconsult.co.uk

26 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY January / February 2014

www.nmt-magazine.co.uk