NSPCC and DfE Launch Free Safeguarding Training for Early Years Practitioners

New free safeguarding training for early years practitioners has been launched by the NSPCC in partnership with the Department for Education. The initiative aims to strengthen child protection across early years settings by equipping staff with essential skills to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns. Christian McMullen, Professional Learning Services Director at the NSPCC, explains the thinking behind the programme and how it supports the sector's vital role in keeping young children safe. The training addresses the unique safeguarding challenges faced in early years environments, where practitioners are often the first to spot signs of abuse or neglect. This collaboration between the national children's charity and government underscores the priority placed on prevention and early intervention. By making specialist training freely available, the programme seeks to ensure consistent, high-quality safeguarding practice across all early years provision, from nurseries to childminding settings.