Safer Recruitment in Early Years

Having a safe recruitment process is vital to keeping children safe. This Safer Recruitment Training is delivered to meet the requirements of the legislation including the proposed EYFS changes for September 2025.

What you’ll learn

Safer Recruitment in Early Years Training

If you recruit staff and/or volunteers into Early Years settings, it is essential that you are trained in safer recruitment practices. Early Years providers have a legal duty to ensure robust recruitment processes that prevent unsuitable individuals from working with children. This course will help you understand how to embed safer recruitment into your policies and practice, supporting you to create a culture of safeguarding within your setting.

This safer recruitment course has been developed in line with statutory guidance, including:

• The Children Act 1989 / 2004
• ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (DfE 2023)
• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework – ‘Suitable People’ requirements
• EYFS Reform 2025 (pending approval)
• ‘Making Recruitment Safer’ campaign (Aug 2022)
• HR responsibilities and upcoming ETF (Education and Training Foundation) changes (September 2024)

Safer Recruitment for Early Years Course Content

Participants will gain the skills they need to ensure that safeguarding is at the heart of their recruitment decisions. By the end of this course, participants will have:

• Identified the key features of safer recruitment that help deter or prevent the appointment of unsuitable people
• Considered policies and practices that minimise opportunities for abuse or ensure its prompt reporting
• Begun to review their own organisation’s recruitment policies and practices with a view to creating a safer culture
• Understood their legal responsibilities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in Early Years settings
• Developed confidence in implementing robust recruitment procedures to safeguard children