Call for evidence on early years safeguarding launched

The Education Committee has expanded its ongoing inquiry into the early years sector to examine how safeguarding can be strengthened in nurseries, for childminders and other early years settings. 
 
It follows recent high-profile cases in which early years staff have been convicted of abusing children in nursery settings. 
 
The Education Committee is asking for written evidence submissions from academics, early years practitioners and educators and other experts until 16 January.

The inquiry wants to find pit if EYFS safeguarding requirements are fit for purpose and effectively implemented, including current vetting requires for staff working in early years. It also asks if Ofsted and local authority oversight is robust and consistent across all settings.

Education Committee Chair Helen Hayes MP said: “Shocking and distressing recent cases have raised questions about the effectiveness of safeguarding policies and practices in early years settings, to which parents entrust their most precious and vulnerable loved ones. Therefore, we are expanding our early years inquiry to investigate how safeguarding can be strengthened and parents can be reassured.  
 
“We will examine Ofsted’s inspection regime, the role of local authorities, the effectiveness of current regulation and how well those regulations are understood by the sector. We also want to look at the role that CCTV and other technologies can play in protecting children, and what effect staffing shortages can have on safety.”