Understanding nursery safety: what to expect and how we keep your child safe

When it comes to choosing a nursery, nothing matters more than knowing your child is safe, protected, and cared for as if they were part of the family. We understand just how difficult it can be to leave your child in someone else’s care, especially at a time when stories online or in the news may raise understandable concerns.

At Grandir UK, we are devastated to hear about the situations that have led to the harm of children. We have a specialist team who ensures the highest standard of safety and safeguarding is implemented successfully across all of our settings and adequate training is provided to each individual in our employment. We want to meet your concerns with clarity, openness and reassurance that there are trustworthy nursery settings out there which will put your child’s safety at the forefront. We’re here to show you exactly how we keep children safe, supported and thriving every day – because their well-being isn’t just part of our job, it’s at the heart of what we do.

What nursery safety really means

Nursery safety goes beyond just a set of routine safety measures, like keeping floors dry and closing gates. While these things matter and are implemented across all of Grandir UK settings, true and effective safety is much more than that. Nursery safety is about creating an environment where children are protected physically and emotionally and surrounded by people who truly care about their well-being.

With over 25 years of experience in Early Years education, Grandir UK is proud to offer quality childcare with staff who genuinely care and are invested in children’s safety and well-being, both inside and outside the nursery. For us, safety isn’t just a checklist to protect children – it’s a culture, a promise, and a daily practice.

A deep commitment to safety and well-being

Our commitment to safety and well-being extends far beyond our policies. It’s a shared responsibility and a guiding factor in every single one of our nurseries. From day one, every team member is trained in safeguarding children, fire safety and health and safety procedures -and this is just the beginning. Ongoing, scheduled training and continuous professional development (CPD) are built into our approach to ensure all staff are consistently up to date and confident in maintaining a safe and secure nursery environment for both children and colleagues.

Each of our nurseries has a qualified Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), whose responsibility it is to embed a culture where children’s safety and wellbeing is at the centre of all actions and decision making, oversee best practice, support the nursery team, and ensure there is a quick response to any primary concern, big or small. This includes carrying out regular risk assessments, which are a legal requirement under health and safety law, to identify potential hazards, prevent accidents, and create an environment where every child can explore, learn, and grow with confidence and support. Health and safety features like this are deeply embedded within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.

We also take great care in creating nursery environments that encourage safe exploration and learning. This includes child-friendly layouts, age-appropriate resources, soft play surfaces, secure fixtures, and clean, well-ventilated spaces – all part of our high safety and welfare requirements.

You can find out more about our comprehensive risk assessments and policies here.

The teams caring for your child

Trusting someone else to keep your child safe is one of the biggest leaps of faith a parent or guardian can make. That’s why we put so much time, attention and care into the teams that we hire and how we support them.

Every member of our team goes through a thorough recruitment process, which includes enhanced DBS checks, detailed reference checks, and value-led interviews that help us identify people who are not just qualified but are genuinely committed to giving a child’s life the best possible start.

All our nursery settings have qualified staff with relevant childcare qualifications, including those with paediatric first aid, fire safety and food safety training. But knowledge on paper is only part of what makes someone truly exceptional in childcare. We also invest in continuous professional development because we’re committed to nurturing emotionally intelligent, confident practitioners who truly understand the individual needs of every child in their care. To support this approach, every child is also assigned a key person, who will be their consistent caregiver, advocate, and emotional anchors throughout their Early Years journey.

Signs to be aware of and why you won’t find them at Grandir UK

Ensuring you choose a nursery that not only complies with health and safety procedures, but goes above and beyond, is extremely important. There are some key signs to look out for that may indicate a childcare provider isn’t prioritising this, including:

• A nursery environment that feels closed off to addressing questions or concerns
• Lack of regular risk assessments (which is legally required to protect children’s physical health)
• Poor communication with parents
• Outdated or poorly maintained facilities that could cause potential hazards (including play areas and outdoor spaces)
• Electrical equipment that’s not stored appropriately (e.g. dangling cables within children’s reach)
• Staff who are unaware of the details of the health and safety policy or fire evacuation procedures

When visiting a nursery, it is your right to ask about a nursery’s safeguarding and health and safety policies and how they implement it daily. Reading nursery online reviews will also give you a greater sense of how families experience a nursery, particularly on verified platforms like daynurseries.co.uk.

At Grandir UK, we take pride in doing things differently. Many of our team members have been with us for years, building familiarity and trust with families. We share regular updates via our Grandir UK app, welcome feedback, and invite you to be as involved as you want to be. From clear safeguarding posters in every nursery, to approachable nursery managers ready to talk, you’ll always know exactly what reasonable precautions are happening and why.

Our promise to you

Your child’s safety isn’t just a part of our work – it’s the foundation of everything we do. It shapes how we hire, how we train, how we design our nursery environments, and how we build relationships with you and your child. We want children to lead happy lives in a safe environment where they can flourish.

We understand that trust takes time, and we’re here for every step of that journey. If you have any questions, concerns, or simply want to get a feel for how our safety measures work, we invite you to book a visit to your local Grandir UK nursery, speak to our team, and see our approach to safety standards and care in action.