Safeguarding conversations with Parents: a practical guide for Early Years Providers
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Purpose of this booklet
This document is designed to support early years leaders, managers, and practitioners when responding to safeguarding questions during parent tours, enquiries, and admissions meetings.
Recent national safeguarding cases reported in the media have understandably increased anxiety amongst families. Providers may also encounter difficult or emotionally charged questions relating to:
- Staff supervision
- Recruitment and vetting
- Intimate care
- CCTV
- Safer working practice
- Male practitioners
- Staff turnover
- Complaints and whistleblowing
- National incidents reported in the media
The aim of this guide is to help providers:
- Respond confidently and professionally
- Maintain transparency while protecting confidentiality
- Reassure families without becoming defensive
- Promote trust and partnership
- Ensure responses remain consistent across the setting
Guidance for Staff Before Answering Questions
When responding to safeguarding questions:
- Stay calm and open
- Acknowledge parental concerns respectfully
- Avoid becoming defensive or dismissive
- Never discuss confidential staffing matters
- Avoid commenting on specific national cases
- Focus on your setting’s procedures and culture
- Be factual, transparent, and child-centred
- Escalate concerns to leadership where appropriate
Suggested opening phrases:
- “I completely understand why you are asking these questions.”
- “Safeguarding is something we take extremely seriously.”
- “I’m happy to explain the systems we have in place.”
- “Our focus is always on keeping children safe while providing nurturing care.”
Please explore the 'Frequently Asked Questions and Suggested Responses' in the sections below:
1. “How can I trust that my child will be safe here?”
Suggested response:
“We understand that choosing childcare is a huge decision, especially given recent media coverage around safeguarding nationally. Our setting follows robust safeguarding procedures, including safer recruitment, staff training, supervision, risk assessments, and clear reporting systems. Safeguarding is embedded into our daily practice, and all staff understand their responsibility to keep children safe.”
Key points to reinforce:
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Designated Safeguarding Leads
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Enhanced DBS checks
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Ongoing supervision
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Open safeguarding culture
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Partnership with families
2. “How do you know staff can be trusted?”
Suggested response:
“All staff undergo enhanced DBS checks, reference checks, identity verification, and safeguarding suitability checks before working with children. Recruitment is only the first step — staff are then regularly supervised, observed, and trained to ensure high professional standards are maintained.”
Avoid:
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Saying “we know our staff would never…”
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Giving personal opinions about staff character
Focus instead on:
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Systems
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Accountability
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Monitoring
3. “What safeguards are in place around toileting and nappy changing?”
Suggested response:
“We have clear intimate care procedures designed to protect children’s dignity, wellbeing, and safety, while also ensuring staff follow professional boundaries. Staff receive training in safer working practices, and routines are carried out respectfully and transparently.”
Additional reassurance:
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Staff work within visible environments
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Care routines follow policy guidance
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Records are kept where appropriate
4. “Are male staff allowed to change nappies or take children to the toilet?”
Suggested response:
“Yes. Male practitioners are an important and valued part of the early years workforce. All staff, regardless of gender, follow the same safeguarding procedures, safer working practices, recruitment checks, training, and supervision expectations.”
Important guidance for providers:
Do not imply that male staff present a greater risk than female staff.
Avoid statements such as:
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“We don’t allow male staff to…”
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“Male staff are never alone with children.”
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“Parents can request male staff not care for their child.”
These responses may:
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Discriminate unlawfully
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Reinforce harmful stereotypes
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Undermine safer recruitment principles
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Create unequal working conditions
More appropriate language:
“Our safeguarding procedures apply equally and consistently to all staff.”
5. “How do you supervise staff during the day?”
Suggested response:
“Managers and senior leaders regularly observe practice across the setting. We also use supervision meetings, team support, room monitoring, and safer staffing arrangements to maintain oversight and ensure good practice.”
You may also mention:
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Open-plan environments where appropriate
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Team-based working
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Leadership presence in rooms
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Any other measures
6. “Do you have CCTV?”
Suggested response:
“Some settings use CCTV in line with data protection and safeguarding guidance, while others use alternative monitoring systems. Regardless of CCTV, safeguarding relies primarily on strong safer recruitment, supervision, staff training, leadership oversight, and a positive safeguarding culture.”
Important note:
Avoid presenting CCTV as the main safeguarding measure.
7. “What happens if a member of staff is accused of inappropriate behaviour?”
Suggested response:
“All safeguarding concerns are taken seriously and managed in line with statutory guidance and local safeguarding procedures. Concerns would be referred appropriately, including to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) where required, and appropriate action would be taken to prioritise children’s safety.”
Avoid:
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Discussing hypothetical disciplinary outcomes
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Making assurances before investigations take place
8. “How do you stop safeguarding incidents from happening?”
Suggested response:
“No organisation can say risk is completely eliminated, but our role is to minimise risk as much as possible through robust safeguarding systems, safer recruitment, training, supervision, professional curiosity, and strong leadership oversight.”
This response helps:
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Avoid unrealistic guarantees
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Demonstrate professional understanding
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Promote transparency
9. “How do staff know when to report concerns?”
Suggested response:
“All staff receive safeguarding training and understand that they must report any concern immediately, no matter how small it may seem. We promote a culture where concerns are shared promptly and professionally.”
You may reference:
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DSL procedures
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Whistleblowing policies
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Regular safeguarding refreshers
10. “What is whistleblowing?”
Suggested response:
“Whistleblowing means staff are expected and supported to raise concerns about unsafe practice, behaviour, or safeguarding issues without fear of repercussions. We encourage an open and accountable safeguarding culture.”
Possibly refer to recent changes in guidance and NSPCC helpline.
11. “How do you make sure children are never left alone with adults?”
Suggested response:
“We organise staffing and environments carefully to ensure children are supervised appropriately at all times. Staff also follow safer working practices and professional conduct guidance.”
Important:
Avoid making unrealistic statements such as:
- “A child is never alone with an adult.”
This may not always be practical during personal care routines or small group activities.
Instead focus on:
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Risk reduction
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Professional practice
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Visibility and accountability
12. “What if my child tells you something worrying?”
Suggested response:
“Staff are trained to listen calmly and respond appropriately to anything a child shares. Concerns are recorded factually and passed immediately to safeguarding leads, who follow statutory safeguarding procedures.”
13. “How do you ensure agency staff or students are safe to work with children?”
Suggested response:
“All agency staff, students, volunteers, and visitors are subject to safeguarding procedures and appropriate checks. They are supervised appropriately and expected to follow our safeguarding policies at all times.”
14. “Why do safeguarding incidents still happen in nurseries nationally?”
Suggested response:
“Safeguarding reviews help the sector identify where systems or practice need strengthening. The overwhelming majority of early years professionals provide safe and nurturing care every day, but as a sector we must continue learning, reflecting, and improving safeguarding practice.”
Important:
Avoid:
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Criticising other providers
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Commenting on ongoing investigations
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Speculating about media cases
15. “Can I see your safeguarding policy?”
Suggested response:
“Absolutely. We encourage families to read our safeguarding and child protection policies so they understand how we keep children safe and how concerns are managed.”
16. “What should I look for when visiting an early years setting?”
Suggested provider response:
“You should feel welcome to ask questions and observe whether staff are warm, attentive, professional, and engaged with children. Strong safeguarding practice is often reflected in the culture, communication, and professionalism across the setting.”
Challenging questions staff may find more challenging
“How do I know abuse isn’t happening when parents can’t see?”
Suggested response:
“I understand why that question is being asked. Safeguarding relies on multiple layers of protection, including recruitment checks, supervision, leadership oversight, staff training, safer working practices, and strong reporting procedures. Our approach is designed to reduce risk and ensure concerns are identified and acted upon quickly.”
“Can you guarantee my child will never be harmed?”
Suggested response:
“No provider can responsibly guarantee that risk is completely eliminated. What we can say is that safeguarding is our highest priority, and we work continuously to minimise risk through robust procedures, vigilance, and professional accountability.”
“Have you ever had safeguarding allegations against staff?”
Suggested response:
“We cannot discuss confidential staffing matters. However, all concerns or allegations would always be managed in line with safeguarding procedures and statutory guidance.”
Guidance for Managers supporting staff
Managers should ensure:
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All staff understand safeguarding procedures
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Staff feel confident answering parent questions
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Responses are consistent across the setting
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Staff know when to escalate difficult conversations
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Teams receive support following high-profile media cases
Consider:
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Role-play during staff meetings
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FAQ prompt cards for tours
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A Refresher training on safer working practice
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Staff wellbeing support
Final key message for Providers:
Parents are not being “difficult” when asking safeguarding questions. Increased questioning often reflects understandable anxiety and a desire for reassurance.
Professional, transparent, calm responses help build trust and demonstrate a strong safeguarding culture.
The goal is not to promise absolute certainty, but to show that safeguarding is:
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Proactive
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Embedded
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Regularly reviewed
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Taken seriously by everyone in the setting