Safeguarding
At Panda Early Years Recruitment, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is at the heart of everything we do. We expect all our staff, candidates, and partners to fully embrace our safeguarding responsibilities and follow our strict policies and procedures to ensure every child is protected.
Panda Early Years strictly adheres to the statutory guidance outlined in the latest Department for Education document: Keeping Children Safe in Education.
We are also fully committed to meeting the requirements set out in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, particularly in relation to barred individuals and the appropriate sharing of information with relevant authorities.
Our Safeguarding Commitment
Implementing robust safer recruitment practices to safeguard all children in Early Years settings.
Carefully screening and rejecting candidates who are unsuitable to work with children.
Responding to concerns about a candidate’s suitability during or after the recruitment process.
Taking appropriate action should concerns arise once a candidate is placed in a nursery or Early Years role.
All members of the Panda Early Years team receive up-to-date training in safeguarding, child protection, and safer recruitment. We ensure that all temporary staff placed in Early Years settings are also kept up to date with relevant training.
Safer Recruitment Procedures
We take great pride in our rigorous recruitment process, designed to ensure that all professionals placed through Panda Early Years meet the highest standards of safety, professionalism, and suitability.
Our process includes:
Clear and detailed job descriptions and person specifications, including safeguarding responsibilities.
A clear statement in all adverts noting our commitment to safeguarding and the requirement to work with children.
Enhanced DBS checks for every candidate, along with thorough identity and address verification in line with Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) standards.
- Conduct in-depth pre-interviews, including verbal pre-vetting to confirm DBS status, right to work, qualifications, and relevant work experience, to confirm the Candidate’s suitability.
Comprehensive pre-employment checks, including:
Two written references from the Candidate’s most recent professional experience.
Confirmation of right to work in the UK.
Where applicable, overseas police checks are required for candidates who have lived abroad for three months or more in the last five years.
Verification of relevant qualifications and Training, including Safeguarding Training and Pediatric First Aid Certificate.
Clarification of any gaps in employment history.
Confirmation that the candidate is not disqualified from working with children.
Collect and verify all required documentation, including proof of right to work, copies of the Candidate’s DBS certificate or Update Service check code, copies of qualifications and relevant training certificates (including Safeguarding and Paediatric First Aid)
- Deliver a comprehensive compliance package for each hired candidate, ensuring full safeguarding compliance
For any further questions about our safeguarding processes, please contact us at:
info@pandaearlyyears.com
Policy Date: 1st July 2025
Next Review Date: 1st July 2026