Safeguarding Children

Key legislation and guidelines for the safeguarding, protection and welfare that relate to working with children
(assessment criterion 1.1)

I. The rights of children and their families
- Human Rights Act 2000
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child ( five main strands to the Convention)
• the right to be healthy
• the right to be educated
• the right to be treated fairly
• the right to be heard
• the right not to be hurt.
- Children Act 1989
- Children Act 2004
- Equality Act 2006
- Sex Discrimination Act 1975
- Race Relations Act 1976 and Race Relations (amended) Act 2000
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and Disability Act 2000
- Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001

II. Child Protection
- Protection of Children Act 1999
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
- Childcare Act 2006

III. Health and Safety
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995
- National Standards for Child Care and Education Settings ( Ofsted for England & Wales)
- Motor Vehicles ( wearing of seat belts) ( amendment) Regulations 2006
Policies and procedures for safeguarding and child protection are the result of the Children Act 1989 ( for England & Wales) and in Northern Ireland of the Children Order 1995. Children Act 2004 introduced further changes to the way the child protection system is structured and organised in England & Wales.
- Children Act 1989
- Children Act 2004
- Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006

Policies and procedures relating to the safeguarding, protection and welfare of children
(assessment criterion 1.2)


Any childcare setting should have clear policies and procedures that cover all aspects of safeguarding.



This should include policies and procedures for:
- Health & safety
- Child protection
- Outings
- Contact with children and performing...