WELCOME

Early Years Foundation Stage – September 2025 - Changes From 1 September 2025, Section 3 of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) has been revised to strengthen safeguarding and welfare expectations across all early years settings. These changes reflect a shared sector commitment to clearer responsibilities, safer recruitment, and more consistent training – ultimately to ensure better outcomes for children. Terminology updates One key change is the replacement of the term “lead practitioner” with Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). This aligns early years terminology with the wider safeguarding landscape, and ensures that DSLs are explicitly recognised as the point of contact for all safeguarding matters, including liaison with statutory children’s services and safeguarding partners. Safeguarding policy requirements Safeguarding policies must now include more detailed procedures than before. Settings are expected to outline how they respond to safeguarding concerns and all...

Keeping Children Safe in Education – September 2025 - Changes The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that the final version of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025 will be published on 1 September 2025. This statutory guidance will come into force on the same date and is essential reading for all staff working in schools and colleges in England. The Department for Education (DfE) has made a number of changes that reflect ongoing priorities in safeguarding practice, including online safety, sexual harassment, filtering and monitoring, and support for vulnerable children. Technical revisions in 2025 While KCSIE 2025 includes only technical changes, schools and colleges are reminded that even minor updates can have implications for safeguarding practice. As always, it’s important that senior leaders, DSLs, and governors review the final document carefully and ensure all staff are aware of any changes. The DfE has signalled that future updates to KCSIE will become more...

Understanding regulated activity is vital for anyone responsible for safeguarding children or adults at risk. Whether you're a: ·         teacher ·         social worker ·         childminder ·         nursery worker ·         foster carer ·         medical professional including first responder ·         nurse ·         counsellor ·         carer ·         individual who transport adults to places where they may be receiving health / social care ·         or any other role that is in regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults   Knowing what counts as regulated activity, ensures a safer recrui...

The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 is a vital piece of legislation in England and Wales that supports people who may lack the ability to make certain decisions for themselves. Whether you work in education, health, social care, or safeguarding, understanding the principles of the MCA is key to promoting dignity, autonomy, and human rights.   What is the Mental Capacity Act? The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides a legal framework to protect and empower people who may lack the capacity to make their own decisions about their care and treatment. It covers decisions about everyday matters - like what to eat or wear - through to more serious ones such as medical treatment or financial planning.   Who does it apply to? The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) applies to everyone over the age of 16. It isn’t limited to a specific group of individuals - it covers anyone who, at any point, may be affected in their ability to make decisions. This could be due to individual needs or tem...