Safeguarding Voice

Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage 2026 Audiobook: Part 3 – The Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements

Thank you for taking the time to listen to this audiobook, created to support early years leaders, managers, practitioners and providers in understanding the safeguarding and welfare requirements within the Early Years Foundation Stage 2026.

These requirements form the foundation of safe, effective and high-quality early years practice. They set out the statutory expectations that help ensure children are healthy, safe, secure and supported to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Throughout this audiobook, we will explore the key responsibilities that providers and practitioners must understand and implement, including safeguarding and child protection, safer recruitment, staff training and supervision, health and safety, staff-to-child ratios, safer eating and sleeping practices, risk assessment, information sharing, record keeping, and working effectively with children and families.

The guidance reminds us that safeguarding is not simply about compliance. It is about creating environments where children feel safe, valued and supported, and where professionals are confident to identify concerns, take appropriate action and promote children's welfare at every opportunity.

As you listen, we encourage you to reflect on your own practice and consider how the requirements are embedded within your setting. Every policy, procedure and professional decision contributes to creating a culture where children can learn, develop and thrive.

Thank you for listening. We hope this audiobook strengthens your understanding of the EYFS safeguarding and welfare requirements and supports your ongoing commitment to providing safe, nurturing and child-centred care.

Every child deserves the best possible start in life. By understanding and applying the requirements explored throughout this audiobook, we can help create environments where children are protected, supported and able to flourish.

The Safeguarding Voice podcast brought to you by ECP Safeguarding.

Welcome to the Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 Audiobook: Part One and Annex A

Thank you for taking the time to listen to this audiobook, which has been created to support all staff in schools and colleges in understanding their safeguarding responsibilities under Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026. Reading and understanding Part One of the guidance is a statutory requirement for all staff, and Annex A contains important additional information for those who work directly with children.

Throughout this audiobook, you will be guided through the key principles, responsibilities and safeguarding issues that every member of staff needs to understand in order to help keep children safe. You will hear about the importance of adopting a child-centred approach, recognising that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone's responsibility and that every decision should be made in the best interests of the child.

The audiobook explores:

• The role of all staff in identifying concerns, responding appropriately and working as part of the wider safeguarding system.

• The safeguarding policies, procedures and reporting processes that every member of staff should know and follow.

• The role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and the importance of sharing concerns promptly and effectively.

• Understanding abuse, neglect and exploitation, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.

• Child-on-child abuse, online safety and the growing ways in which technology can feature within safeguarding concerns.

• Child criminal exploitation, child sexual exploitation, county lines, serious violence, domestic abuse, mental health concerns, radicalisation and other significant safeguarding risks.

• The importance of professional curiosity, trusting your instincts and maintaining an attitude of “it could happen here” when concerns arise.

• What to do when concerns are identified, including the importance of acting immediately, recording concerns accurately and sharing information appropriately to safeguard children.

The guidance reminds us that no single practitioner can ever have the full picture of a child's life. Safeguarding is most effective when professionals work together, share information promptly and take action at the earliest opportunity to ensure children receive the right help at the right time.

As you listen, we encourage you to reflect on how the information applies to your role and the children and young people you work with. The guidance emphasises the importance of building trusted relationships, listening to children's voices, recognising signs of vulnerability and remaining professionally curious when something does not feel right.

Ultimately, safeguarding is about ensuring that children are protected from harm, receive support as soon as concerns emerge and are able to grow up in circumstances that enable them to thrive. By understanding and applying the information contained within Part One and Annex A, every member of staff plays a vital role in creating a safer environment where children can learn, develop and achieve their best possible outcomes.

Thank you for listening. We hope this audiobook supports your understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and reinforces the importance of being child-centred, professionally curious, vigilant and confident in taking action when concerns arise.

Every action taken to safeguard a child matters. By listening to children, remaining curious, sharing concerns appropriately and acting when something does not feel right, we can help ensure that children receive the right help, at the right time, from the right people. Safeguarding is not simply a responsibility - it is a commitment to protecting children, promoting their welfare and ensuring they are able to thrive, achieve and be heard. Together, we can create safer environments where every child feels protected, valued and supported.

The Safeguarding Voice podcast brought to you by ECP Safeguarding.

Welcome to Chapter 3 of our audio book to Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.

In this second release, we move from principles into practice—exploring how the safeguarding system provides help, support, and protection for children and families at every level of need. Whether concerns are emerging or risks are significant, this chapter sets out how services respond with clarity, coordination, and purpose.

This part of the guidance is for everyone working directly with children and families, and for those who design, lead, or commission services. It will deepen your understanding of how universal services, early help, Family Help, and statutory intervention come together as a single, joined-up system—ensuring children receive the right help at the right time.

Chapter 3 places strong emphasis on early identification, timely intervention, and consistent relationships. It introduces and embeds the Family Help model, showing how targeted early help and statutory support align to create a seamless pathway for families. It also sets clear expectations for multi-agency assessment, decision-making, and planning, alongside the statutory duties that underpin child in need and child protection work.

You’ll explore the practical realities of safeguarding: how to recognise when families need support, how assessments should be carried out, and how practitioners work together to respond to risk, both inside and outside the home. The chapter also gives detailed guidance on responding to complex needs, including extra-familial harm, domestic abuse, exploitation, and the specific vulnerabilities of babies, disabled children, and young carers.

At its heart, this chapter is about action, what good safeguarding looks like in day-to-day practice, how collaboration works in real terms, and how systems must respond quickly, thoughtfully, and proportionately to keep children safe and help families thrive.

Let’s continue.

Listen now to Chapter 3: Providing Help, Support and Protection.

Read ECP's briefing: click here

Link to the full guidance document: click here

The Safeguarding Voice podcast brought to you by ECP Safeguarding.

In this round-table episode, our safeguarding consultants explore one of the UK’s most pressing digital questions: should social media be banned for under 16s?

Drawing on professional insight and real-world experience, the panel examines the impact of social media on young people’s mental health, exposure to harmful content, and risks such as online exploitation. The discussion also considers the balance between parental responsibility, platform accountability, and the role of government regulation.

With reference to the Online Safety Act 2023, the episode explores whether stronger safeguards are enough, or whether more restrictive approaches should be considered to better protect children and young people.

This episode offers a balanced and thought-provoking conversation for anyone working with children, supporting families, or navigating the realities of online safety today.

Online Safety Act briefing - https://ecp-safeguarding-blogs.blogspot.com/2024/10/online-safety-act-2023-explainer.html

Kids Online World - https://www.kidsonlineworld.com/

Internet Watch Foundation - https://www.iwf.org.uk/

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) - https://www.ceop.police.uk/Safety-Centre/

Childnet - https://www.childnet.com/

Education Support - https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/

NAPAC - https://napac.org.uk/

Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

Mind - https://www.mind.org.uk/

The Safeguarding Voice podcast brought to you by ECP Safeguarding.

Welcome to our audio guide to Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.

In this newly released edition, we bring you the latest statutory guidance in a clear and accessible audio format. Whether you’re travelling between visits, catching up during a busy day, or deepening your understanding of safeguarding practice, this guide is designed to support you, wherever and however you choose to listen.

This audiobook is for everyone who plays a role in the life of a child: teachers, social workers, health professionals, police colleagues, early years practitioners, volunteers, youth workers, and leaders across all safeguarding partnerships. If your work touches the lives of children or families, this guidance is written for you. Listening will help you feel more confident in your responsibilities, better connected across agencies, and more equipped to contribute to a system that protects children and supports families.

The 2026 update strengthens expectations for inclusive, anti‑racist and anti‑discriminatory practice; confirms the guidance applies to all children, including unborn babies; expands responses to harms such as domestic abuse, child sexual abuse, coercive control, online risks and group‑based exploitation; embeds the Family Help model by integrating early help and Section 17 support into a single multidisciplinary offer; and reinforces multi‑agency accountability with clearer information‑sharing duties, stronger use of data and impact‑focused reporting, all within a more streamlined statutory framework that supports consistent, high‑quality safeguarding practice

In Chapter 1, we begin with the foundations: what shared responsibility for safeguarding truly means in today’s system. You’ll explore the principles of child‑centred practice, the value of whole‑family approaches, and how strong professional relationships, curiosity, and effective information sharing underpin good safeguarding work. This opening chapter sets the scene for the guidance that follows and the collaborative culture it seeks to strengthen.

Let’s begin.
Listen now to Chapter 1: A Shared Responsibility.

Read ECP's briefing: click here

Link to the full guidance document: click here

The Safeguarding Voice podcast brought to you by ECP Safeguarding.

Welcome to our audio guide to Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023. In this audiobook, we present the guidance in a clear, accessible way, so whether you’re on the move, in between meetings, or looking to develop your understanding, you can listen and learn at your own pace.

This audiobook is for anyone working with children or families, teachers, social workers, health professionals, police colleagues, early years staff, volunteers, and leaders across all safeguarding partnerships. If your role involves the life of a child, this guidance is for you. Listening will help you feel more confident about your responsibilities and how we work together to keep children safe.

In Chapter 1, we explore what it really means to share responsibility for safeguarding. You’ll hear about taking a child‑centred and whole‑family approach, building positive relationships with parents and carers, and the importance of strong multi‑agency collaboration, including effective information sharing. This chapter sets the tone for the entire document, and the system it describes.

Listen now to Chapter 1: A Shared Responsibility.”

The Safeguarding Voice podcast brought to you by ECP Safeguarding.

Boarding schools and residential education settings present safeguarding responsibilities that extend far beyond the classroom. In this episode, we are joined by Jane Morris, Director of Safeguarding at Mill Hill Education Trust, to explore the unique safeguarding challenges within boarding environments.

The discussion looks at how staff are trained to recognise and respond to risk, the importance of creating a culture of openness and trust, and how schools balance privacy with supervision in residential life. We also explore the role of peer relationships and dormitory dynamics, alongside practical advice for parents on supporting their child’s wellbeing while staying informed about safeguarding arrangements.

This episode is relevant for educators, safeguarding leads, parents, carers, and policymakers, offering insight into how boarding settings can create safe, supportive environments where every child feels protected and heard.

Support resources mentioned in this episode

Education Support https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/

NAPAC https://napac.org.uk/

Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

Mind https://www.mind.org.uk/

The Safeguarding Voice podcast brought to you by ECP Safeguarding.

Boarding schools and residential education settings present safeguarding responsibilities that extend far beyond the classroom. In this episode, we are joined by Jane Morris, Director of Safeguarding at Mill Hill Education Trust, to explore the unique safeguarding challenges within boarding environments.

The discussion looks at how staff are trained to recognise and respond to risk, the importance of creating a culture of openness and trust, and how schools balance privacy with supervision in residential life. We also explore the role of peer relationships and dormitory dynamics, alongside practical advice for parents on supporting their child’s wellbeing while staying informed about safeguarding arrangements.

This episode is relevant for educators, safeguarding leads, parents, carers, and policymakers, offering insight into how boarding settings can create safe, supportive environments where every child feels protected and heard.

Support resources mentioned in this episode

Education Support https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/

NAPAC https://napac.org.uk/

Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

Mind https://www.mind.org.uk/

The Safeguarding Voice podcast brought to you by ECP Safeguarding.

In this episode, we are joined by Vicki Blackburn, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Head of Dame Alice Owen’s School, to discuss what it truly means to create effective safeguarding cultures. Culture is about more than policies and procedures—it’s about shared responsibility and mindset. We explore how schools, colleges, and other educational settings can move beyond compliance to create environments where every student feels safe, supported, and able to thrive.

Resources and Support:

Education Support – https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/

NAPAC – Support for survivors of abuse: https://napac.org.uk/

Samaritans – 24/7 support: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

Mind – Mental health support: https://www.mind.org.uk/

The Safeguarding Voice podcast brought to you by ECP Safeguarding.

Welcome to this EYFS audio book, where we present the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework in a clear and accessible way. The EYFS sets the national standards for early years care, learning and development, making sure every child from birth to five is safe, supported and given the best possible start.

Section 3 is essential listening for anyone working in early years: practitioners, leaders, managers, safeguarding leads, support staff and those responsible for maintaining high‑quality practice in group‑based or school‑based settings. If your role involves caring for children aged 0 to 5, then understanding these safeguarding and welfare requirements isn’t optional—it’s a legal duty, and it’s central to creating environments where children can thrive.

This audio book presents Section 3 of the EYFS, which focuses on safeguarding and welfare. You’ll hear about the policies and procedures every setting must have in place, the standards for staff suitability and training, expectations around supervision, first aid, behaviour support, SEND considerations, health and safety, and keeping accurate records. This section sets the foundation for keeping children safe, and ensuring your setting meets its statutory responsibilities every single day.

Full text version available here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68c024cb8c6d992f23edd79c/Early_years_foundation_stage_statutory_framework_-_for_group_and_school-based_providers.pdf.pdf

The Safeguarding Voice podcast brought to you by ECP Safeguarding.