Early Years Safeguarding Newsletter
December 2014
Ceri McAteer – Early Years Safeguarding Adviser
[email protected] Tel: 465740 mobile: 07774178011
Below are some safeguarding reminders and updates for this term.
Spring Term Briefings
Monday 23rd February 9.30-12.00
Wednesday 25th February 1.00-3.30
Venue: The Meadow
Agenda items to include:
 Making a referral to Children’s Social Care
Please contact [email protected] 463207 to book a place.
Reminder
Annual Safeguarding Audit
Many thanks to those of you who have returned your annual safeguarding
audit, I have been very impressed with the quality of the responses. The final date for return
of the document is Friday 12th December. If you need to access the blank template you will
find it at http://schoolsonline.swindon.gov.uk/sc/cp/Pages/annualreview.aspx
Swindon LSCB News
Training The new LSCB multi-agency training programme for this
coming year is available on the LSCB website
http://www.swindonlscb.org.uk/trainingcalendar2012-13pdf
Reminder: CP Leads (DSL) should attend level 3 training, updated every 2 years.
Deputies (DDSL), Level 2 training updated every 2 years.
All other staff Level 1 training updated every 3 years
Updated Ofsted Documents
Conducting early years inspections – Updated
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/conducting-early-years-inspections
Framework for the regulation of provision on the Early Years Register – Updated
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/framework-for-regulation-of-provision-early-yearsregister
Guide to registration on the Early Years Register – Updated
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/guide-registration-early-years-register
The NSPCC and Cardiff University have published a core info
leaflet on identifying and helping children who may have been
emotionally abused or neglected. (Source CASPAR weekly email 10-11-2014)
“Children who experience neglect or emotional abuse in childhood are more
likely to have mental health problems, poor physical health, difficulties with
relationships and reduced employment in their adult life”.
Further information about the key signs of emotional abuse and
implications for practice are available in the document below.”
Core info: neglect or emotional abuse in children aged 5-14 (PDF)
Useful
reading
Button batteries – warning after two children die
A stark warning has been issued by a paediatric consultant following
the deaths of two children who had swallowed button batteries. Dr Kate
Parkins, a consultant at Central Manchester University Hospitals Trust
added that, in the last 18 months, there have been a further five
children who have suffered ‘life-changing’ injuries.
The lithium batteries are common in many homes, and are found in
many items including smartphones, key cards, children’s games,
watches, toys and even children’s books.
If swallowed, the batteries can cause severe internal bleeding which is very difficult to
treat. Dr Parkins explains:
"It's not what's inside the battery - the battery sets up an electrical current which causes a
build-up of sodium hydroxide which is caustic soda. That causes a burn through the
oesophagus, the feeding tube, and that can then burn through into major blood vessels and
that's why the bleeding is then pretty much impossible to control and stop."
In one case, medics treating a three-year-old girl, who died from severe blood loss, didn’t
know that she had swallowed a battery.
Because the batteries are small and round they are a huge risk to babies and toddlers.
Even older children, who may mistake the batteries for sweets, are at risk.
CAPT wants to draw attention to the danger posed by button batteries. They aim to get the
warning out to as many practitioners, parents and carers as they can.
Further information available at


BBC News story and
Keeping children safe from button batteries
ACTION - Check all battery operated children’s toys
Information about choking in youngsters and how to prevent it
(CAPT)
http://www.capt.org.uk/who-we-are/news/focus-choking
At any age, food and drink are the most common causes of choking.
Even very young babies, before they start weaning, can choke while they’re
drinking milk from a bottle. It can be very tempting to ‘prop-feed’ (propping your baby up
with a bottle while you get on with something else), but if a baby starts to choke on their
formula, they won’t be able to push the bottle away.
ACTION: Always stay with a baby when bottle-feeding
When babies start to wean from around six months onwards, they start to learn the very
complex process of chewing and swallowing, which older children and adults take for
granted. While they’re learning, they are at a high risk of choking.
It’s a common misconception that a choking baby or child will cough and splutter. Like
drowning, it is likely to be completely silent with no sound to warn that something is
wrong.
ACTION: Always stay with a baby when they are eating or drinking
As toddlers, they’re still learning to chew and swallow and can try even more foods. The
additional risk factor with toddlers is that they’re prone to not sitting still while they eat. If
they’re walking or running around with food in their mouths, they are at risk of choking toddlers should be encouraged to sit still while they eat, even if it’s just a snack.
Toddlers shouldn’t be given hard-boiled sweets or peanuts. Peanuts contain oil called
aracus oil. If it’s inhaled, it can cause their windpipe to swell up, which could block it.
ACTION: Sit with toddlers while they eat to ensure that they sit still
FURTHER ACTION: Ensure that at least one person who has a current paediatric first
aid certificate is on the premises and available at all times when children are present
and also to accompany children on outings.
Further guidance materials, safeguarding information, archived newsletters and
course materials can be found on the following website
http://schoolsonline.swindon.gov.uk/sc/cp/Pages/Home.aspx
If you have concerns about the safety of a child do not hesitate to
phone Family Contact Point on 466903 or Emergency Duty Services on
436699