Safeguarding

Are you visiting this page as you are concerned that a child is at risk of harm If yes please click on link below:

Safeguarding is everybody’s business

If you are worried about a child or young person who could be in danger, please contact Children’s Social Care by phone on 0300 123 2224 or email childrens@somerset.gov.uk. Otherwise, contact the police.

You can contact the police directly by dialling 101 and they will discuss with Children’s Social Care what action should be taken.

If you would like to speak to a social worker outside of office hours, please phone the Emergency Duty Team on 0300 123 2327

Calls will always be dealt with in the strictest confidence.

Report a Concern

Our Safeguarding Ethos

“Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right.”
Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), September 2026

At Clare House Nursery, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that every child has the right to grow up in a safe, secure, nurturing and inclusive environment where they feel valued, respected, listened to and protected from harm.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Every member of staff, volunteer, student, visitor and committee member has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to act immediately if they have concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing.

We recognise the vital role our nursery plays in identifying concerns early, providing help at the earliest opportunity and working collaboratively with families and partner agencies to achieve the best possible outcomes for children. We are committed to working in partnership with parents, carers and other professionals in accordance with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (September 2026), Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023), Keeping Children Safe in Education and local safeguarding partnership procedures.

Children will always be listened to, taken seriously and supported. We are committed to creating an environment where children feel safe, secure and confident to express themselves, knowing that their voice matter.

The Curious Practitioner

At Clare House Nursery we have developed an approach called “The Curious Practitioner.” Professional curiosity is the willingness and communication skill to explore and understand what is happening in a child’s life and within their family, rather than making assumptions or accepting things at face value.

Professional curiosity encourages practitioners to:

Build trusting relationships with children and families.
Ask respectful but purposeful questions when something does not feel right.
Think beyond their immediate professional role and consider the child’s lived experience holistically.
Observe, listen, record and share information appropriately.
Remain professionally challenging where explanations are unclear or concerns remain.
Be open to the unexpected and remain alert to signs that a child or family may require additional help or protection.

We will never make assumptions about what may be happening within a child’s home or family circumstances. Instead, we will seek clarification through respectful conversations, gather information sensitively and take appropriate action when required, following the Effective Support for Children and Families in Somerset guidance and local safeguarding procedures.

Our role is always to keep children safe—not to judge or criticise families. We recognise that early help, compassionate conversations and effective multi-agency working are essential in improving outcomes for children. Where concerns arise, the child’s welfare will always be our paramount consideration, and we will act promptly, proportionately and in their best interests.