ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to introduce student practitioners to aspects of safeguarding, child protection and child abuse. Safeguarding and child protection training is available online through websites such as the National Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children and at this present time through local safeguarding partnerships as stated under the Children and Social Work Act 2017. Having considered safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, one element of this concerns ‘protecting children from maltreatment’. This relates to the protection of children from maltreatment, which is sometimes referred to as abuse. The early years foundation stage document details the responsibilities of practitioners in the workplace in relation to the safeguarding and welfare of children. The chapter introduces the student practitioner to key aspects of the safeguarding of children. It defines the main categories of abuse, together with some possible signs and indicators as a general guide to recognition.
