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What child protection policies and procedures should I be concerned about?

The good news about preschools, day care services and other child care facilities is that in terms of the regulations that govern them, there are very strict guidelines relating to child protection policies and procedures. Some of the regulations that these services must adhere to include:

Making the welfare of the children in their care their paramount concern.
Respect for children, their rights, and their dignity.
Never subjecting children to abuse, or to any degrading behaviour.
In addition to these broad regulations, look out for the following in your child care facility’s regulations:
Assigning each child to an adult, who is responsible for knowing their location at all times.
That each group of children are under the supervision and care of a minimum of two adults at all times.
That there is an adult located near to each entrance of the facility at all times during the day, and that security is a priority.
Gates and entrances should be kept secure at all times to prevent unauthorised access, and any visitors to the facility should be required to sign in and out. Visitors should also be accompanied by a staff member at all times.
Parents and guardians of children, on the other hand, should have unrestricted access to classrooms and other areas at all times.
It should be possible to view all areas of the facility, through viewing panels, at all times, and any volunteers or student employees should be supervised at all times.
The arrival and departure of children to the facility should be supervised.
Physical punishment should not be allowed, and staff should be required to respect children, with a focus on promoting development.
Child protection training should be compulsory for staff, and should be provided regularly.
Children should also be encouraged to report any transgressions, and detailed records should be kept. This includes reporting bullying.
No child should be allowed to be released to anyone who is not their parent or guardian unless permission is granted in writing.
Children should be respected, in terms of their privacy and personal space, as well as with private matters, such as visiting the toilet, depending on their level of self care ability.

Lastly, children should be engaged, and their desires and feelings taken into account. This includes the giving and receiving of physical affection, where the child, and not the caregiver, should guide the level of contact.

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