Why physical security is becoming part of the ECEC child safeguarding conversation

Every child has the right to feel safe, secure and supported in early childhood education and care (ECEC) environments. While the vast majority of educators and services are deeply committed to children’s safety and wellbeing, recent safeguarding discussions have highlighted the importance of strong systems, clear processes and proactive approaches to preventing harm.

In more recent times, high-profile child safeguarding cases and increased regulatory focus have contributed to broader conversations about how early learning services can continue strengthening child safe practices, including the role of physical environments, supervision and security measures.

Amid government calls for a national CCTV assessment to help deter and tackle misconduct, many ECEC professionals are wondering to what extent physical security measures can be introduced into childcare environments without negatively impacting the children in their care.

The pros and cons of heightened security

For the vast majority of ECEC professionals who place child welfare above all else in their roles, discussions about increased security measures in childcare environments can bring about mixed feelings. On the one hand, any instance of neglect or abuse in an ECEC space is one too many, so any way to mitigate that behaviour should at least be considered; on the other, the overimplementation of physical security measures could introduce novel problems.

The case for increased security measures

Following recent safeguarding concerns, national discussions have considered the role of CCTV and other protective measures as part of broader child safety strategies.

There is evidence to support this claim, with school security cameras and related physical security measures in both Australia and the UK being shown to help address neglect and abuse in learning environments. 

However, technology should be viewed as one part of a broader child safety approach. Strong leadership, a positive child safe culture, effective supervision, robust recruitment processes and clear reporting pathways remain central to protecting children.

Balancing security with child-centred environments

While the presence and use of physical security solutions in ECEC environments could prove instrumental in improving safeguarding, they shouldn’t be considered a silver bullet. Primarily, as demonstrated in the aforementioned London school case, if tools are not used responsibly and little oversight is maintained, safeguarding issues can be easily hidden from regulators.

In addition, studies into the psychological impacts of increased security measures in schools have returned mixed results, raising questions about the large-scale benefits of high security.

Some studies suggest the presence of security solutions like door locks and environmental safety measures can increase feelings of physical safety among children. However, others suggest measures deployed for protection can exacerbate feelings of anxiety or fear among vulnerable children.

Considerations for strengthening safeguarding practices

As physical security becomes a more prominent part of the child safeguarding conversation, ECEC professionals must make difficult decisions. Based on available evidence, personal experience and an understanding of the unique environment in which they operate, leaders must decide how and to what extent security systems should be strengthened and controlled.

For persons working in ECEC services, lessons can be taken from broader education-sector safety practices to help ensure security measures are deployed responsibly and effectively, these best practices can provide a foundation for childcare workers to improve safeguarding.

Oversight and technology controls

Perhaps the most important best practice associated with heightened security measures is to introduce safeguards regarding how technologies are used and managed. Security solutions like cameras and access systems can only be effective if they’re controlled and managed by trusted persons, with protections in place to prevent systems and data from being mishandled.

Childcare leaders must:

• Inform guardians of where security systems are in operation.
• Ensure security data stored in a secure environment.
• Ensure access to security data is restricted and monitored.
• Implement a two person rule for security data administration.
• Implement clear policies regarding the use of personal devices, photography, digital platforms and child information. 

Access control and physical security

Controlling access to ECEC environments should be considered a major safeguarding priority. Access control technologies like credential readers and smart locks can help to ensure only authorised persons are granted access to high-risk areas, with permissions granted based on a person’s role to help ensure individuals can only enter areas required to perform their duties.

Childcare leaders should:

• visitor management processes
• authorised collection procedures
• sign-in/out systems
• supervision planning
• Regular review of access procedures

Vetting, training and incident reporting

While technological measures can help to strengthen protections and cover security gaps, it can be said that the most impactful way to improve physical security is to prevent abusers from ever gaining facility access. Creating and maintaining strict vetting, training and incident reporting workflows must be viewed as a priority undertaking for improving physical security.

Childcare leaders must:

• Perform thorough background and reference checks for all candidates and guests.
• Enforce frequent mandatory child protection and incident reporting training.
• Run regular training sessions on recognising signs of abuse and neglect.
• Establish policies for immediately documenting and reporting safeguarding concerns.
• Conduct frequent assessments of incident logs in search of anomalies and trends.

Maintaining balance in safeguarding and childcare

As physical security becomes a bigger part of safeguarding conversations, it’s important to ensure novel measures are deployed responsibly. A balance must be maintained between safety and care; measures should be subtle and effective, not overbearing and fear-inducing. 

There is no one-size-fits all approach to this pursuit, with different ECEC environments and facilities requiring unique protections. For now, childcare leaders, trusted ECEC workers and regulators must continue driving conversations forward to continue strengthening safe, supportive and child-centred early learning environments.

Author 

Sean Toohey is a freelance journalist and digital media specialist with extensive experience covering news, developments and emerging trends in the commercial security industry. Currently focused on security technologies and data privacy, Sean’s work explores the adoption and impact of smart technologies like AI, the IoT and cloud computing on modern industries.