Online Courses FAQs

Safer Recruitment in Pre-Schools FAQs

Safer recruitment applies to any roles in which employees work with children and vulnerable adults. Our FAQs are here to help if you work in a pre-school.

• What is the difference between nursery school and preschool?

  Preschool is optional for children from 2 years old and they can stay there until starting school. The alternative is nursery, which is normally attached to a school and is aimed at children in the last year before they begin school.

• What qualifications do you need to be a preschool manager?

  To manage a preschool, you need a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification in childcare, for example a Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce, foundation degree or HND in an early years related subject, or a degree in early years, childcare, child development or related subject. If you are the proprietor of a preschool you do not need a nationally recognised qualification in childcare.

• What qualifications do you need to run a preschool?

  If you are the proprietor of a preschool you do not need a nationally recognised qualification in childcare.

• Who can raise a safeguarding alert?

  A safeguarding alert is the notification of a concern, allegation or an incident of inappropriate behaviour, such as abuse or neglect, by anyone working with children, young people or vulnerable adults. Anyone can raise an alert, and they must be dealt with swiftly.

• Why are childcare staff ratios important?

  It’s generally better to have lower staff-to-child ratios because each child can receive more attention from staff or volunteers and any potential needs are more easily identified and responded to.