Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding Policy Early Years Klique Ltd | Last updated: 28 June 2026

Safeguarding at EYk — in plain English Children come first. Always. If you ever have a concern about a child — call 999 if it's urgent, or contact your local MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) directly. Don't wait for us. We're not the safeguarding service; the statutory bodies are, and they need to hear from you straight away. If you have a concern about an adult who works with children — contact LADO (the Local Authority Designated Officer) directly. They are the people legally responsible for this. If you have a concern about EYk itself, a Practitioner's platform conduct, or the way the platform is being used — email hello@earlyyearsklique.co.uk and we'll respond the same working day. The detailed policy below explains what EYk does to vet Practitioners, what we're responsible for, and what you — as the Setting — remain responsible for under your own statutory duties.

  1. Our position The safety and welfare of children is the most important thing. Early Years Klique ("EYk") connects vetted Early Years Practitioners with nurseries and other childcare settings ("Settings"). Although EYk is not itself a childcare setting and does not directly care for children, we recognise that the people on our platform work with children every day. We take that responsibility seriously. This policy explains: How safeguarding concerns must be reported (and to whom) What EYk does to reduce safeguarding risk on the platform What Settings remain responsible for What Practitioners are expected to do How EYk handles safeguarding-related information

This policy sits alongside our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and applies to all use of the EYk platform.

  1. Reporting a safeguarding concern 2.1 If a child is at immediate risk of harm Call 999. This is true regardless of who you are, where you are, or which platform you're using. 2.2 Concerns about a child If you have reason to believe a child is being harmed, neglected, or is at risk of harm, you must report the concern directly to the relevant statutory authority. In England: Contact the local authority's Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) or Children's Services for the area where the child lives Outside office hours, contact the local authority's Emergency Duty Team For Oxfordshire (EYk's launch area), the Oxfordshire MASH can be contacted on 0345 050 7666 You can also report concerns to: NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (24/7) Police (non-emergency): 101 Do not route urgent child-protection concerns through EYk. EYk is not a statutory safeguarding body. Routing a concern through us first would delay action that needs to reach the agencies legally responsible for child protection. 2.3 Concerns about an adult who works with children If you have a concern about an adult (a Practitioner, a member of staff at a Setting, or anyone else who works with children) — including concerns about their behaviour, conduct, or suitability to work with children — you must report this directly to the: Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for the area where the adult lives or works For Oxfordshire, the LADO service can be contacted via the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board. LADO is the statutory route for allegations and concerns about people in a position of trust. They will coordinate any investigation with the police, the relevant employer, and regulatory bodies as needed. Again, do not route LADO-level concerns through EYk first. Contact LADO directly so the statutory process can begin without delay. 2.4 Concerns about the EYk platform itself For concerns about the EYk platform — including: A Practitioner profile that contains false or misleading information A Practitioner's conduct on the platform (not amounting to a child-protection or LADO matter) A Setting's conduct on the platform Misuse of the platform or its features Breaches of EYk's Terms of Service Contact us at hello@earlyyearsklique.co.uk. EYk will investigate platform-level concerns, remove profiles where appropriate, suspend accounts, and cooperate with any statutory enquiry. We will not investigate matters that should be referred to MASH, LADO, the police, or Ofsted — we will signpost you to the appropriate body.

  2. The role of Settings Every nursery, school, or childcare setting using EYk is a regulated childcare provider. Settings have their own statutory safeguarding duties under the EYFS Statutory Framework, Working Together to Safeguard Children, Keeping Children Safe in Education, and other applicable law. Settings remain fully responsible for: Maintaining their own Safeguarding Policy and procedures Having a named Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy DSL Inducting any Practitioner — whether booked through EYk or otherwise — into the Setting's safeguarding arrangements at the start of each shift Carrying out their own safer-recruitment checks, additional reference checks, qualification verification, or risk assessments as they consider appropriate Reporting concerns to MASH, LADO, Ofsted, and other statutory bodies as required Supervising Practitioners on site

EYk's vetting supports but does not replace the Setting's statutory duties.

  1. The role of Practitioners Practitioners on EYk are self-employed Early Years professionals. They are required to: Comply with all safeguarding laws and guidance applicable to working with children Follow the Setting's safeguarding policies and procedures at any nursery they attend Report any concerns they have about a child to the Setting's Designated Safeguarding Lead, and to MASH if the concern is urgent or the Setting's response is inadequate Report any concerns about an adult working with children to LADO Complete EYk's safeguarding self-declaration honestly during vetting Disclose to EYk any new safeguarding-related matter that arises after their profile goes live (for example, a new allegation, conviction, or referral) Hold a current Enhanced DBS check with the Children's Barred List check Not work through the platform during any period when they are barred or disqualified from working with children. Failure to comply with these obligations is grounds for immediate removal from the platform.

  2. What EYk does to reduce safeguarding risk EYk's role is to make sure that the Practitioners who appear on our platform have been baseline-checked, and that platform misuse is dealt with quickly. Specifically, EYk: 5.1 Vets every Practitioner before their profile goes live EYk's standard vetting includes: Enhanced DBS verification (including the Children's Barred List check), confirmed via certificate or DBS Update Service Identity verification Right-to-work confirmation Two professional references, verified directly with the previous Setting using the Setting's publicly listed contact details Qualification verification Confirmation of self-employed status (including UTR) A safeguarding self-declaration, in which the Practitioner is asked about any previous LADO referrals, dismissals related to conduct with children, criminal convictions, and barred-list status 5.2 Refuses or removes Practitioners where appropriate EYk will not approve a Practitioner where vetting reveals concerns we cannot reasonably resolve. We will remove or suspend a Practitioner already on the platform where: New information comes to light that creates concern about their suitability to work with children A LADO referral, criminal conviction, or barring decision is made or comes to our attention They breach EYk's Terms of Service or this Safeguarding Policy A Setting raises a credible safeguarding-related concern that we are able to verify 5.3 Maintains accurate records We keep an audit record of every vetting check (document type, identifying number, date, outcome, who carried out the check) for at least 6 years, in line with safer-recruitment good practice. Copies of identity documents and DBS certificates are deleted once verification is complete; we retain the verification record only. 5.4 Cooperates with statutory bodies Where MASH, LADO, the police, Ofsted, or another statutory body requests information in connection with a safeguarding matter, EYk will cooperate promptly and fully, in accordance with our legal obligations and our Privacy Policy. 5.5 Reviews this policy We review this Safeguarding Policy at least annually, and after any incident or change in law or guidance.

  3. Data protection and safeguarding We process some data — including criminal offence data (DBS) — to support our vetting. This is processed under UK GDPR Article 10 and the Data Protection Act 2018, Schedule 1, Part 2, paragraph 18 (Safeguarding of children and of individuals at risk). For full details see our Privacy Policy. Where a safeguarding concern is reported to us about a specific Practitioner or Setting, we may share relevant information with statutory bodies (MASH, LADO, Ofsted, police), even where consent has not been given, on the lawful basis that this is necessary for the protection of children.

  4. Allegations against EYk If anyone has a safeguarding-related concern about EYk itself — for example, about how EYk has handled information, or about a member of EYk's own team — please contact:

EYk directly: hello@earlyyearsklique.co.uk LADO for the area where the EYk team member lives or works The Information Commissioner's Office (for data-protection concerns): ico.org.uk

We will cooperate fully with any investigation.

  1. Children's data EYk is intended for use by professional adults. We do not collect personal data from children through the platform. Information about specific children may be discussed only in the context of a safeguarding concern, and will be handled in line with our Privacy Policy and the principles in this Safeguarding Policy.

  2. Useful contacts Emergency: 999 Police non-emergency: 101 NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (24/7) Oxfordshire MASH: 0345 050 7666 Oxfordshire LADO: via Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (lscb.oxfordshire.gov.uk) Ofsted concerns: 0300 123 1231 EYk platform concerns: hello@earlyyearsklique.co.uk

(Contact details for other local authorities can be found via the relevant council's safeguarding pages.)

  1. Changes to this policy We may update this Safeguarding Policy from time to time, particularly in response to changes in law, guidance, or operational practice. The "Last updated" date at the top reflects any changes. Significant changes will be drawn to users' attention.

  2. Contact Early Years Klique Ltd

14 Church Meadow, Milton-under-Wychwood, OX7 6JQ

Email: hello@earlyyearsklique.co.uk

Company number: 16501738

ICO registration: ZC133035