Tots Farm Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Last Updated: January 10, 2025

1. Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is to:

Protect the Welfare of Children and Young People: Safeguard children and young people who participate in Tots Farm’s activities and services, including children of adults utilising our services, from all forms of harm, abuse, and neglect.
Establish Guiding Principles: : Provide clear and consistent guidance for staff, volunteers, families, and all stakeholders, ensuring a unified and proactive approach to child protection and welfare.
Foster an environment where children and young people feel safe, valued, and supported, while empowering parents/carers to partner with Tots Farm in safeguarding practices.

This policy is binding on all individuals working on behalf of Tots Farm, including employees, volunteers, contractors, and any third parties engaged to deliver services or activities.

While Tots Farm is committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and safeguarding, it has explicitly acknowledged that the primary responsibility for the supervision and well-being of children attending sessions rests with their parents or carers. Tots Farm does not assume direct responsibility for the care or supervision of children during events, except where explicitly agreed upon in specific contractual arrangements or as required by law.

2. Legal Framework

This policy is grounded in the relevant legislative and regulatory framework that governs the protection of children in England. It reflects and complies with the principles, duties, and obligations set out in the following key statutes and guidance documents:

The Children Act 1989 and 2004: Establishes the legal framework for child welfare, emphasising the paramount importance of the child’s best interests and providing statutory guidance on safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children.
The Children and Social Work Act 2017: Enhances the responsibilities of professionals and organisations involved in child welfare, including provisions for the care and protection of vulnerable children and the promotion of safeguarding partnerships.
The Children and Families Act 2014: Introduces measures to support children with special educational needs and disabilities, and reinforces the importance of safeguarding children in all aspects of care and development.
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018: Provides comprehensive statutory guidance for organisations and individuals working with children, setting out the legal duties and expectations for effective multi-agency collaboration and safeguarding practices.

This policy is designed to align with and uphold these legal frameworks, ensuring that Tots Farm adheres to best practices and fulfils its statutory obligations in safeguarding children and young people. Regular reviews will ensure compliance with updates or amendments to applicable laws and guidance.

3. Our Commitment Cookies and Tracking Technologies

At Tots Farm, we are unwavering in our dedication to safeguarding children and young people

We believe that:

Every child and young person has the fundamental right to grow, learn, and thrive in an environment free from abuse, harm, or neglect.
We have a moral and legal obligation to actively promote the welfare, safety, and well-being of all children and young people, ensuring our practises consistently reflect this responsibility.
Safeguarding is not just a procedural requirement but a core value embedded in all aspects of our operations.

We recognise that:

The welfare of children is the paramount consideration in all decisions and actions undertaken by Tots Farm. Their safety and best interests must always come first.
Every child, irrespective of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, is entitled to equal protection from all forms of harm, abuse, and exploitation.
Certain groups of children, including those with a history of trauma, higher levels of dependency, communication barriers, or other vulnerabilities, may require additional safeguarding measures to ensure their well-being.
Collaboration and partnership are essential to effective safeguarding. Working closely with children, young people, their parents, carers, and relevant external agencies fosters a holistic approach to protecting and promoting the welfare of young people.

4. Our Safeguarding Measures

Tots Farm is committed to implementing robust safeguarding measures to ensure the protection and well-being of children and young people. These measures are designed to align with statutory requirements and best practices, emphasising professionalism and enforceability:

Valuing and Respecting Children: We create an environment where children feel valued, listened to, and treated with respect, fostering trust and openness.
Designated Safeguarding Leadership: We appoint a qualified Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy DSL to oversee all safeguarding activities. Parents and carers are encouraged to raise concerns in confidence. The DSL is trained to respond impartially, offer appropriate support, and, where necessary, provide referrals to relevant agencies.
Best Practices in Safeguarding: All staff and volunteers adhere to a rigorous code of conduct and follow child protection policies and procedures that reflect current legal and regulatory standards.
Safer Recruitment Practises: We ensure that all individuals working with or on behalf of Tots Farm undergo comprehensive vetting, including enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, to verify their suitability for working with children.
Secure Data Management: We handle all personal and sensitive information in compliance with data protection laws, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Inter-Agency Collaboration: We follow established safeguarding procedures to report concerns and share relevant information with external agencies, such as social services or law enforcement, ensuring timely and effective responses to potential risks.
Allegation Management: We have a clear protocol for managing allegations against staff or volunteers, ensuring investigations are thorough, impartial, and conducted in accordance with legal standards.
Safe Physical Environment: Our facilities comply with health and safety regulations, providing a secure and child-friendly environment for children, staff, and volunteers.
Respectful Safeguarding Culture: We promote a culture of mutual respect and empowerment, encouraging children, young people, and their families to share concerns without fear of judgement or reprisal.
Consent for Media Use: Photographs or videos of children are only taken and used with explicit parental/carer consent, and no content is shared on Tots Farm’s social media platforms without such approval.

5. Procedures for Unattended Children

In situations where a child remains unaccompanied at the end of a session, Tots Farm will take the following professional and legally compliant steps to safeguard the child:

Contacting Parents or Carers: Reasonable efforts will be made to reach the child’s parents or nominated carers using the contact details provided.
Engaging Authorities: If no contact can be established, Tots Farm will promptly notify the local authority children’s social care team or contact the police (by dialling 999 in emergencies).
Ensuring Safety and Security: Under no circumstances will staff or volunteers:
Ensuring Safety and Security: Under no circumstances will staff or volunteers:
- Leave the child unattended.
- Attempt to locate the parent or carer off-site.
- Take the child home with them.
- Allow the child to leave the premises with anyone other than their parents, designated carers, or authorised professionals (e.g., social workers).

These steps are in place to protect the child and ensure compliance with statutory safeguarding responsibilities.

6. Missing Child

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you, to request corrections, or to request the deletion of your personal information. If you wish to exercise these rights, please contact us using the information below.

Immediate Search of the Premises: Staff and volunteers will conduct a thorough and systematic search of the entire venue and surrounding areas, including designated safe zones and commonly accessible spaces.
A headcount will be carried out to confirm the identity of the missing child and ensure all other children are accounted for.
Alerting the Parent/Carer: The parent or carer of the missing child will be contacted immediately using the contact details provided during registration. Clear and concise information will be shared about the situation and steps being taken.
Engaging Authorities: If the child is not located within 10 minutes of initiating the search, the local police will be notified without delay by dialing 999. Relevant information, including the child’s name, age, physical description, clothing, and last known location, will be provided to assist the authorities in their search.
The local authority children’s social care team will also be informed as appropriate.
Supporting Other Children and Staff: While the search is underway, remaining children will be supervised and reassured to minimise distress or disruption.
Staff and volunteers will remain calm and focused to ensure the safety of all children in attendance.
Record Keeping: A detailed incident report will be completed as soon as practicable, documenting all actions taken, individuals involved, and outcomes of the search. This report will be securely stored in accordance with data protection legislation.
Follow-Up Actions: A debriefing will be conducted with staff, volunteers, and the child’s parent/carer to review the incident and identify any improvements to our safeguarding measures.
Additional training or procedural adjustments will be implemented as necessary to prevent future occurrences.

7. Review and Implementation

This Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is subject to an annual review to ensure it remains current, effective, and compliant with UK legislation and statutory guidance. Reviews will consider changes in law, feedback from stakeholders, and practical insights from the implementation of safeguarding measures.

Mandatory Compliance: All staff and volunteers are required to familiarise themselves with this policy, confirm their understanding, and adhere strictly to its provisions. Non-compliance will be addressed in accordance with Tots Farm’s disciplinary procedures.
Ongoing Training: Safeguarding training is provided to all staff and volunteers to maintain high standards of knowledge, awareness, and accountability.
For further information, to discuss concerns, or to report a safeguarding issue, please contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead at agnieszkadeval@gmail.com.
This policy ensures Tots Farm’s compliance with its legal obligations while reinforcing our unwavering commitment to protecting children and young people.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Thank you for trusting Tots Farm with your information!

Tots Farm

Play Sessions & Party Kids

Tots Farm is an imaginative play studio in Hitchin with mobile areas and farm role play experiences for toddlers ages 1-5.