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Safeguarding training and development

On this page:

  • Framework for safeguarding training in Essex Early Years settings
  • Level 1 training
  • Level 2 training
  • Level 3 training

Framework for safeguarding training in Essex Early Years settings

For safeguarding training requirements for early years settings, childminders with assistance and childminders, download Safeguarding training levels and requirements - a framework for education settings (PDF, 992KB)

Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE) and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework set out that providers must train all staff to understand their safeguarding policy and procedures, and ensure that they have up to date knowledge of safeguarding issues.

The Essex Safeguarding Children's Board (ESCB) produces guidance for all organisations in ESSEX on levels and outcomes in relation to safeguarding training.

The guidance sets a framework for training for induction and at levels 1,2 and 3.

For education settings, the ECC Safeguarding Team works closely with the ESCB to ensure that:

  • the framework is aligned to statutory requirements as set out by the Department for Education (DfE)
  • that there is an offer for all settings which meets the agreed expectations

In Essex, the safeguarding training requirements for early years settings are aligned to those for schools and other settings. 

Early years settings

The EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers (DfE) sets out:

  • the statutory requirement for all staff working with children to receive appropriate safeguarding training
  • the Designated Safeguarding Lead must attend child protection training which meets the requirements set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (in Essex this is the ESCB) , or local authority appropriate training courses

The requirements are:

  • all staff in early years settings should access level 1 training as part of induction
  • all staff, including Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) must have level 2 training, as part of induction
  • all staff, other than DSL/DDSL (who will undertake level 3 training), must then receive level 2 training at least annually
  • DSL/DDSLs must access level 3 training, at least every 2 years

How to access training

To access level 1 training visit Essex Social Care Academy: Log in to the site

If settings wish to access training from an external source, the ECC Safeguarding Team offers level 2 training. This can be accessed by either:

  • a 2-hour online session, or
  • on-site sessions

Alternatively, DSLs/DDSLs may wish to deliver training to all staff within their setting themselves. To support this, the ECC Education Safeguarding Team produce presentations for them to deliver to staff, which include all necessary material.

It is also possible to do a combination of these options, depending on the needs of individual settings.

The Education Safeguarding Team offers Level 3 training which is in-person and offered at various locations across the county.

 

Childminders working alone

The EYFS statutory framework for childminders (DfE) sets out:

  • that childminders working alone will be the Designated Safeguarding Lead in their setting
  • the DSL must attend child protection training which meets the requirements set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (in Essex this is the ESCB) , or local authority appropriate training courses

The requirements are:

  • all childminders should access level 1 training as part of induction
  • all childminders must have level 2 training as part of induction. The ECC Education Safeguarding Team offers level 2 training. This can be accessed via a 2-hour online session
  • all Designated Safeguarding leads (childminders) must access level 3 training, at least every 2 years. The ECC Education Safeguarding Team offers level 3 training, which is in person and offered at various locations across the county

Childminders with assistants

The EYFS statutory framework for childminders (DfE) sets out:

  • that childminders working alone will be the Designated Safeguarding Lead in their setting
  • the DSL must attend child protection training which meets the requirements set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (in Essex this is the ESCB) , or local authority appropriate training courses

The requirements are:

  • all childminders should access level 1 training as part of induction
  • all staff including the childminder must have level 2 training as part of induction. Any assistants or other staff should then receive this at least annually. The ECC Education Safeguarding Team offers level 2 training. This can be accessed via a 2-hour online session. If childminders wish to deliver level 2 training to staff within their setting themselves, the Education Safeguarding team write presentations to deliver to staff, which include all necessary material. It is also possible to do a combination of these two options, depending on the needs of individual settings
  • all Designated Safeguarding leads (childminders) must access level 3 training, at least every 2 years. The ECC Education Safeguarding Team offers level 3 training, which is in person and offered at various locations across the county

Resources to support in-house training

Below are several resources to support the delivery of Level 2 training within your own setting. There are a mixture of presentations, online learning courses and case studies.

The Essex Education Safeguarding Team offer an online training session to support the Designated Safeguarding Lead if they decide to deliver Level 2 training in-house. To access the training, search for ‘Safeguarding Level 2 training presentations for early years - Train the Trainer’ on Education Essex Online.

Structuring and planning level 2 training

The 'Keeping Children Safe in Early Years' presentation below is the main Level 2 training presentation for all staff. We recommend that this is delivered annually to all staff and as part of the induction process for new staff.

To ensure that updates are provided regularly to staff through the academic year, the DSL may want to plan a training schedule for all staff - a template that can be used to do this is below.

 

This should include a range of subject specific topics such as FGM, Prevent, and online safety. These update sessions could be delivered during staff meetings, at specific safeguarding training sessions, via the completion of online courses and via e-bulletins.

 

Level 2 training presentations

 

These videos from Children & Families may also be useful to complement your staff training programme:

PREVENT Duty Training

Gov.uk has commissioned new Prevent Duty Training. The training includes 4 sub-courses:

Level 2 Safeguarding training schedule template

To ensure that updates are provided regularly to staff through the academic year, the Lead Practitioner may want to plan a training schedule for all staff.

Level 2 Safeguarding Training Certificate

Settings may wish to provide their staff with a certificate once they have completed the ECC Level 2 training, to evidence that they have accessed it.

Level 3 Safeguarding Training for Lead (Safeguarding) Practitioners and Childminders

In this section:

  • Who needs to access Level 3 training and how often
  • How to access Level 3 training
  • Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Who needs to access Level 3 training and how often

All Lead (Safeguarding) Practitioners, Deputy Lead (Safeguarding) Practitioners and Childminders must undertake full Level 3 training every 2 years. During those 2 years, they must also update their knowledge and skills at regular intervals. This may include attending additional training on safeguarding issues as part of their Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

How to access Level 3 training

The EYFS statutory framework for group and school- based providers / childminders (DfE 2024) states that in every setting, a practitioner (or in the case of childminders the childminder) must be designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children.

The lead practitioner is responsible for liaison with local statutory children's services agencies, and with the LSP (Local Safeguarding Partners). All practitioners must be alert to any issues of concern in the child’s life at home or elsewhere.

There is a further requirement for these safeguarding leads to undertake training to ensure they have the appropriate knowledge and skills for the role, and that this should be updated at least every two years and meet the requirements and any advice from local safeguarding partners.

The Essex Safeguarding Children Board (ESCB) sets out the requirements for safeguarding training at all levels. The training for safeguarding leads is categorised as Level 3, and settings are able to access this from a provider of their choice. Lead Practitioners are responsible for checking the suitability of their chosen courses, to ensure it meets all requirements.  

Further information on this is available in Annex C: Role of the designated safeguarding lead in the DfE Keeping children safe in education statutory guidance.

Essex County Council is this year launching its own Level 3 training offer for Lead Practitioners and deputies. This training will be delivered by the Essex Education Safeguarding Team and will provide participants with the opportunity to explore their safeguarding role in the context of case studies and discussion. The session will include any national and local developments to ensure the content is current and relevant, and it will support safeguarding leads in:

  • understanding the statutory requirements of the Lead Practitioner role
  • understanding the national statutory framework for keeping children safe
  • understanding the local arrangements for supporting children and families in getting the right help at the right time, at an early help and a statutory intervention level, in line with the Essex Effective Support process and the Essex Windscreen of Need
  • fulfilling the statutory role in relation to the Prevent Duty, and how to respond to concerns
  • understanding their role in working with statutory partners to safeguard children
  • understanding the impact of trauma on children and how to support their mental health and wellbeing
  • recognising the additional vulnerabilities that some children have
  • undertaking their role in online safety
  • how to develop and maintain a strong culture of safeguarding and ensure that it remains a high priority for all staff, parents and children
  • ensuring there are effective systems and processes in place to underpin safeguarding practice, including procedures for reporting and recording concerns
  • ensuring there is a robust system in place for identifying, recording and responding to concerns about members of the workforce and that all staff understand the concept of ‘it could happen here’
  • understanding the additional risks children may be exposed to if not in school, and ensuring that processes to address absence are aligned to safeguarding procedures, including work to remove any barriers to attending school

 

Prevent awareness training: The Lead (Safeguarding) Practitioner/Childminder should undertake Prevent awareness training. Details of The Home Office training are within the Level 2 section above. The Educate Against Hate website also provides resources and training materials. Please note, WRAP training is not currently offered and currently no replacement has been announced. ​

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

To meet the training requirements, as well as undertaking Level 3 training every 2 years, the Lead (Safeguarding) Practitioner/Childminder must update their knowledge and skills at regular intervals. This may be via e-bulletins, meeting with other Lead (Safeguarding) Practitioners/Childminders and by accessing CPD courses. The courses may be a mixture of subject specific courses and 'refresher' courses and can be accessed by any provider.

The Lead (Safeguarding) Practitioner/Childminder should keep a CPD training log to evidence the training undertaken to support their role.

Please see some options for CPD opportunities below:

ECC Early Years Safeguarding Briefings: Attending the Safeguarding briefings run by the Education Safeguarding Team form part of a Lead (Safeguarding) Practitioners/Childminders CPD and provide an opportunity to speak with other The Lead (Safeguarding) Practitioners/Childminders if the face to face option is chosen. Upcoming forum dates and details on how to book can be found on the Education Essex Online.

Training courses: The Education Safeguarding Team 'Safeguarding bulletins' sign-post to various training opportunities from other providers, as well as any subject specific training sessions run by the team. Copies of previous bulletins can be accessed here and details of up-coming training events can be accessed on the Education Essex Online.