What Childcare Directors Should Be Doing Right Now to Protect Children and Their Service
When child abuse dominates the headlines, Early Childhood Directors often feel a wave of urgency and fear.
Even when incidents are unrelated to your service, the responsibility can feel overwhelming. You’re thinking about children’s safety, staff confidence, parent trust, compliance obligations, and the reputation of your centre all at once.
In moments like this, panic isn’t helpful. Purposeful, proactive action is.
Here are the most important steps Early Childhood Directors should take right now to protect children and their service.
Reaffirm Your Commitment to Child Protection
The first step isn’t rewriting policies or sending urgent emails, it’s clarity.
As a leader, you need to be confident in how your service protects children and how that protection is communicated.
Ask yourself:
- Are our child protection practices visible, not just documented?
- Do educators share a common understanding of safeguarding children?
- Can we clearly explain our approach to families if asked today?
A strong sense of direction at the leadership level sets the tone for everyone else.
Support and Steady Your Educators
Educators feel media pressure too.
Some may feel anxious about:
- Saying the wrong thing to children.
- Answering parents’ questions.
- Recognising early warning signs.
- Knowing when and how to act.
Right now, Service Directors should be:
- Checking in with staff.
- Reinforcing shared language around child safety.
- Reminding educators that they are not expected to handle concerns alone.
A calm, confident team is one of the strongest protective factors for children.
Make Child Safety Visible in Everyday Practice
Child protection shouldn’t be something that only appears during training sessions or audits.
Visible early learning safety measures might include:
- Educators modelling respectful boundaries.
- Children are encouraged to express feelings.
- Consistent language about asking for help.
- Safety concepts embedded into play and routines.
When safeguarding children is part of daily life, it reassures both children and families.
Review Policies, Then Look Beyond Them
Policies matter but policies alone don’t keep children safe.
Directors should ask:
- Do our policies translate into everyday educator practice?
- Are educators confident applying them?
- Do children understand safety in ways that are meaningful to them?
Child protection is strongest when policy, practice, and education align across the entire service.
Communicate Clearly With Families
Families don’t expect directors to control the news, but they do expect leadership.
Clear communication builds trust by:
- Acknowledging community concerns.
- Reinforcing the centre’s commitment to duty of care.
- Explaining how children are supported to feel safe and heard.
Silence can unintentionally increase anxiety. Calm, confident communication reassures families that child safety is taken seriously. (Here is a letter to send home to parents informing them of your commitment.)
Ensure Child Safety Education Is Proactive, Not Reactive
One of the most effective ways to protect children is to ensure they have the skills and language to express when something doesn’t feel right.
Quality child safety education:
- It is age-appropriate and child-friendly.
- Focuses on boundaries, feelings, and help-seeking.
- Is embedded consistently, not delivered once.
- Empowers children without creating fear.
This approach supports safeguarding children while strengthening a service’s overall duty of care.
Invest in Consistent Training and Shared Language
During times of heightened scrutiny, inconsistency is a risk.
Directors should ensure:
- All educators receive the same child protection guidance.
- Language around safety is consistent across rooms in the centre.
- Staff know exactly what to do if concerns arise.
Consistency protects children, educators, and services alike.
Shift From Reaction to Prevention
When media coverage drives action, it’s tempting to react quickly and move on once attention fades.
The most effective Early Childhood Services do the opposite.
They invest in:
- Embedded child safety education.
- Ongoing professional learning.
- Clear frameworks that guide daily practice.
This proactive approach reduces risk, builds confidence, and demonstrates a genuine commitment to the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
Moving Forward With Confidence
Early Childhood Directors don’t need to respond to fear with panic.
They need to respond with leadership, structure, and clarity.
A well-designed Early Years child safety program provides:
- Clear guidance for educators.
- Consistent messaging for families.
- Practical strategies for daily practice.
- A proactive approach to safeguarding children.
When child protection is embedded thoughtfully and consistently, it strengthens service safety, supports duty of care, and reassures everyone involved.
A Practical Next Step for Directors
If you’re looking for a structured way to strengthen child protection practices across your service, a comprehensive Early Years Child Safety Curriculum supported by online training can provide clarity and consistency for your entire team.
Programmes designed specifically for early learning settings help directors move beyond reactive responses and embed child safety education into everyday practice, supporting educators, reassuring families, and empowering children.
Exploring a proactive, child-friendly approach to safeguarding children is one practical step you can take right now to protect both the children in your care and the service you lead.
I have created a free Child Safety Action Checklist for Childcare Directors to help you.
Warm regards,
Holly-ann Martin OAM
