RENAISSANCE NURSERIES Telephone 0333 335 6573
New Staff Training & Probation Plan
Creating a Safe Learning Environment
At Renaissance Nurseries, our foremost priority is the safety and well-being of every child in our care.
We understand the importance of equipping our staff with the appropriate knowledge and skills essential for fostering a secure environment. To this end, we have implemented a comprehensive induction plan for all new employees. This plan serves as an essential framework to ensure that each staff member is not only well-informed about the safeguarding policies and procedures, but also understands their critical role in promoting child safety. It encompasses a variety of topics, including recognising signs of distress, effective communication with children, and emergency response protocols. We hold our staff accountable for completing this induction plan by the conclusion of their probation period, reinforcing our unwavering commitment to safeguarding children. At Renaissance Nurseries, we believe that a well-informed team is key to providing a nurturing and safe educational experience for every child.
Empowering Our New Staff
All staff, including managers, are required to complete the Induction Training Plan for the first six-months of employment. This ensures staff have the appropriate knowledge, skills, and confidence to deliver safe, inclusive, and high-quality care and education in line with the EYFS statutory framework and Ofsted expectations.
For staff undertaking an Early Years Apprenticeship, relevant training may contribute towards on-the-job learning hours. Where an alternative programme is agreed with the training provider, staff must follow the plan set by the training provider and manager.
Face To Face
Induction - 8Hrs
Induction and Orientation (All Staff)
On Day 1, staff will take part in a structured induction to ensure a safe and confident start at Renaissance Nurseries. Staff will be welcomed to the setting, introduced to colleagues, and given a tour of the environment, including room organisation, routines, and expectations. A meeting with the Lead Manager or a member of the Senior Team will follow, providing an overview of the setting’s vision, values, and ethos, with a clear emphasis on safeguarding responsibilities and the expectation that all staff actively safeguard and promote the welfare of children at all times.
* Leadership and
Operational Induction
☐ Leadership-focused induction meeting completed
☐ Understanding of operational responsibilities confirmed
☐ Safeguarding leadership and oversight responsibilities explained
☐ Quality assurance expectations discussed
Online Tutorials
☐ Introduction to Calendly
☐ Introduction to Wufoo
☐ Introduction to When I Work
☐ Introduction to Famly
☐ Access to company intranet confirmed
To Do
Welcome and Orientation
☐ Welcome meeting with Lead Manager / Senior Staff
☐ Introduction to Renaissance Nurseries’ vision, values and ethos
☐ Tour of the setting completed
☐ Introductions to colleagues and key staff
☐ Overview of room organisation and daily routines
Safeguarding and Welfare
☐Safeguarding responsibilities explained and understood
☐ Named Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and reporting process identified
☐ Whistleblowing procedure explained
☐ Professional conduct and boundaries discussed
☐ Confirmation that staff must not work unsupervised until checks are complete
Policies and Expectations
☐ Key policies discussions (Safeguarding, Behaviour, Mobile Phones, Health & Safety)
☐ Staff Handbook access confirmed
☐ Expectations for professionalism, punctuality and attendance explained
Systems and Daily Practice
☐ Introduction to When I Work (rotas and attendance)
☐ Introduction to Famly (communication and records)
☐ Staff Portal / Intranet access explained
☐ Expectations for record keeping and confidentiality discussed
Month 1 and 2
Curriculum Delivery &
Quality of Education
☐ EYFS curriculum intent, implementation and impact understood
☐ Continuous provision and in-the-moment planning applied
☐ Supporting communication and language
☐ Supporting physical development and wellbeing
☐ Contributing to planning and learning experiences
☐ Demonstrating consistent safeguarding practice
☐ First probation meeting completed by month 3
Master Your Mandatory Skills!
☐ Complete Level 3 Safeguarding Training by end of month 1
☐ Complete Level 3 Food Hygiene by end of month 2
Health, Safety and
Emergency Procedures
☐Fire safety procedures explained
☐ Evacuation routes and assembly points identified
☐ Lockdown procedures explained (where applicable)
☐ Accident, incident and near-miss reporting process explained
☐ First aid arrangements and location of first aid equipment identified
EYFS Practice
and Child Development
☐ Understanding child development and learning through play
☐ Role of the key person understood
☐ Supporting behaviour and emotional wellbeing
☐ Observation, assessment and next steps introduced
☐ Inclusive practice and SEND awareness developed
☐ Partnership with parents discussed
SEND and Inclusive Practice
☐ Overview of SEND provision and inclusive practice
☐ Role of the Key Person explained
☐ Equality, diversity and inclusion expectations discussed
* Leadership & Management Plan
☐ Submit a draft 6 months Business Dvelopment Plan by end of month 2 and arrange a meeting to disucss the Plan
Probation Documents
Month 3
Professional Practice
& Independence
☐ Demonstrating professional conduct and boundaries
☐ Confidentiality and record keeping understood
☐ Behaviour management strategies applied consistently
☐ Supporting children with SEND and additional needs
☐ Effective communication with parents
☐ Maintaining a safe, inclusive learning environment
☐ Working with increased independence
Unlock Your Potential!
Complete Baby Trainings by end of month 3
☐ The Vulnerability of Babies
☐ Blossoming Babies
☐ Understanding Babies
☐ Understanding Breastfeeding
Month 4
☐ Reflective practice discussed in supervision
☐ Contributing ideas to improve practice
☐ Working collaboratively within the team
☐ Understanding inspection expectations
☐ Continued CPD and training completed
☐ Second probation meeting completed by month 5
Master Your Skills!
☐ Complete the EYFS – Group and School-Based Providers training by end of month 4
Month 5 and 6
Probation Review & Confirmation
☐ Safeguarding knowledge secure
☐ Quality of practice meets role expectations
☐ Professional conduct and attendance reviewed
☐ Ongoing CPD identified
☐ Employment confirmed / next steps agreed
☐ Complete trainings as agreed on the previous Probation Meeting by end of month 5
☐ Final probation meeting completed by end of month 6
Keeping Children Safe In Education
Physical Abuse
Physical Abuse can present through a variety of signs and symptoms that staff must be able to recognise and respond to appropriately. Indicators may include unexplained bruises, burns such as bite marks or cigarette burns, fractures, or injuries that do not align with the child’s age, developmental stage, or typical physical activity. Children may also present with frequent or recurring injuries, appear fearful of particular adults or environments, or demonstrate sudden changes in behaviour, including withdrawal, anxiety, hypervigilance, or aggression. Some children may avoid physical contact or appear unusually passive, subdued, or compliant.
In addition to physical abuse, staff must remain vigilant in identifying other serious forms of harm. Breast ironing or breast flattening, involving the pressing or massaging of breast tissue to delay development, may present through chest pain, restricted movement, or unexplained injuries to the breast area. Staff should also be aware of Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII), also known as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, in which a parent or carer deliberately fabricates, exaggerates, or induces illness in a child. Possible indicators include frequent medical consultations, discrepancies between reported and observed symptoms, or symptoms that occur only in the presence of the parent or carer. Harmful traditional practices such as Oral Infant Mutilation, which may involve injury to a baby’s mouth or extraction of tooth buds can present with oral injuries, infections, or feeding difficulties. Furthermore, Peer-on-Peer Abuse (Child-on-Child Abuse) may occur in the form of physical harm, bullying (including online bullying), sexual harassment, sexual assault, or coercive and controlling behaviours between children. Signs may include unexplained injuries, fear of particular peers, changes in friendships or social behaviour, or reluctance to attend nursery or going home.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional Abuse can manifest through various signs and symptoms that are crucial for staff to recognise. Signs include sudden changes in behaviour, such as increased anxiety, withdrawal, or unusual compliance. Children may show low self-esteem, become overly eager for adult approval, or struggle to form relationships. Other signs include excessive fear of making mistakes, frequent tearfulness, or regression to earlier developmental stages. These indicators must be recorded and addressed in line with safeguarding procedures.
Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE), including child trafficking and modern slavery involves children being groomed, coerced, or forced into activities such as county lines, theft, drug distribution, or labour exploitation. Indicators include unexplained money or possessions, going missing, or associating with high-risk individuals. Trafficked children may also show signs of neglect, exhaustion, or fear of authority. Serious and Violent Crime may involve dangerous peer groups, carrying weapons, unexplained injuries, or sudden changes in behaviour or friendships. Children may appear fearful of going out, reluctant to discuss activities, or show signs of coercion by older individuals.
Domestic Abuse, experienced directly or witnessed can result in aggression, withdrawal, anxiety, hypervigilance, or fear around certain adults. Staff must also remain alert to gang exploitation, county lines activity, theft or robbery, and fraud or scam involvement, where children may be pressured or manipulated. Some children may also be vulnerable to extremism or radicalisation, and staff must fulfil their responsibilities under the Prevent Duty.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual Abuse involves any sexual activity or behaviour imposed on a child, whether through physical contact, non-contact actions, or exposure to sexual content or behaviour. This includes acts carried out directly or indirectly, as well as situations in which a child is exploited for the sexual gratification of others. Signs of Sexual Abuse can vary considerably. Children may exhibit sudden changes in behaviour, display heightened anxiety, or show regressive behaviours such as bedwetting or clinginess. They may use sexualised language, engage in sexualised play, or demonstrate knowledge or behaviours that are not age-appropriate. Physical indicators may include unexplained injuries, discomfort, or sexually transmitted infections.
Staff must also remain highly vigilant in identifying other significant safeguarding risks. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. Possible indicators include difficulty walking or sitting, frequent urinary infections, prolonged or unexplained absences, or disclosures made by the child. FGM is illegal in the UK and is recognised as a severe form of child abuse. Honour-Based Violence (HBV) and Forced Marriage are additional forms of abuse that may place children at significant risk. Indicators can include excessive restrictions at home, fear of family reactions, or signs that a child is being prepared for travel against their will.
Neglect
Child Neglect refers to the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical, emotional, medical, or educational needs, and it is a serious form of harm that can have long-term effects on a child’s health, development, and wellbeing. Neglect can occur in isolation or alongside other forms of abuse, and it may be deliberate or due to an inability to provide appropriate care.
Signs of neglect can present in many ways such as consistent signs of hunger (seeking or hoarding food, or appear malnourished). Poor hygiene, such as body odour, dirty clothing, or untreated skin conditions, may also be evident. Children may wear inappropriate clothing for the weather, such as thin clothing in winter or clothing that is consistently too small or too large. Neglect may also involve a lack of supervision, where children are left alone for extended periods or placed in unsafe situations. A child may appear withdrawn, anxious, fearful, or display unusually adult-like behaviours, suggesting they are taking on responsibilities beyond their age. Medical neglect may be indicated by untreated injuries, repeated infections, missed health appointments, or a lack of essential medical care. Educational neglect can be identified through frequent or unexplained absences, persistent lateness, or a lack of engagement in learning. In severe cases, children experiencing neglect may show delays in speech, development, or social skills, or display challenging behaviours linked to unmet emotional needs.
Other Type of Abuse
It is essential to address other types of Abuse that can occur, emphasising the importance of upholding Online Safety, particularly as children are increasingly exposed to technology. Staff must be vigilant about the use of electronic devices, ensuring that children are protected from inappropriate content and cyberbullying while online. Intimate Care practices require sensitivity and adherence to our established guidelines to prevent any form of abuse. Furthermore, a robust whistleblowing policy empowers staff to report any concerns without fear of retaliation, fostering a culture of transparency and safety. Safe Sleeping and Safe Eating practices are also critical elements in protecting children from harm; it is vital that all staff are trained to recognise and respond to potential risks in these areas. Our Social Networking policy clearly outlines the expectations for both staff and parents, to safeguard children’s wellbeing and privacy.
Safeguarding Concerns & The LADO
If you have a safeguarding concern about someone working with children, it is crucial to act promptly and follow the appropriate procedures. The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) provides guidance for managing such concerns. It is essential to document your concerns and report them to the nursery's management team, DSL or Deputy DSL as soon as possible to ensure the safety and welfare of all children involved. In line with our Safeguarding Policy and Procedure, if a safeguarding concern arises, staff must immediately inform the Designated Safeguarding Lead within the nursery.
The nursery will then follow the procedures as outlined in our policy, ensuring that all allegations are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. Protecting children is our foremost priority, and we encourage open communication to maintain a safe environment for all.