Everyone has a responsibility to keep children and young people safe.

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.

Safeguarding means:

• protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
• preventing harm to children's health or development
• ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
• taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.

Safeguarding Your Child

The safety of your child is paramount. All of our staff are trained in safeguarding and we have two Designated Safeguarding Officer’s on the premises – Eve McGowan and Margaret Hill. All staff are DBS checked and visitors are signed in and out and are never allowed to be alone with the children. We have CCTV cameras to monitor the entrance and we would not buzz in anyone unknown to us. There is a keypad entry system on the internal door with the code only available to our own staff and parents. The garden is fully enclosed and monitored by CCTV. All staff are trained in Paediatric First Aid.

All mobile phones must be switched off and put away. Staff mobiles are kept in the staffroom or office.

Monkton is a home as well as a school for your child and we want you to feel as happy and secure as they do. Any worries can be discussed with the senior member of staff working with your child as soon as concerns arise as most problems are best solved if dealt with immediately. If you had a complaint which couldn't be solved within your child's room, you would refer it to the Nursery Manager. The office door is always open and management are available to parents and staff at all times. If necessary, there is a formal complaints procedure. Any suggestions for constructive changes are always welcome, please discuss your ideas with us.

The staff at Monkton have a stated discipline procedure in the event of any behavioural problems encountered with the children. We maintain an anti-racist, anti-sexist and equal opportunities policy at Monkton, taking due regard to special needs, not only in the care of children, but also in admissions procedure, and the selection of staff and children. Staff and Management maintain complete confidentiality with regard to personal issues and data protection. All of our policies and procedures are available for you to read in the office.