The King’s Speech (13 May 2026) offered a clear signal about the future direction of safeguarding across services supporting children. While much of the national conversation often focuses on schools or statutory services, there are important and immediate implications for nurseries, preschools and childcare providers. For those of us in early years, the direction of travel is unmistakable: safeguarding is no longer something that sits adjacent to our work it is becoming ever more central, structured, and scrutinised. Recent failures are signalling the actions we all must take with the greatest of urgency.

One of the most notable shifts is the expectation that early years providers will be more fully integrated into local safeguarding systems. About time. Childcare settings have always played a vital role in protecting children, and in early identification and intervention, but historically, they have not always been embedded in safeguarding partnerships in the same way as schools or statutory agencies. Our voice has not been equally regarded. I know that because I have sat around multi-agency tables and had to battle to be heard. That is changing.

We are now moving towards mandatory and active participation in multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, alongside local authorities, health services, and the police. This is not simply about attending meetings, it’s about being recognised, and behaving, as a core safeguarding partner. For many providers, this will require a cultural as well as operational shift. And I must say that requires resource which is time, money, and training.

Another clear theme is stronger and more consistent multi-agency information sharing. In early years, we often hold crucial pieces of the safeguarding picture, changes in behaviour, attendance patterns, family dynamics. The evolving legislative landscape suggests that sharing this information will become less discretionary and more expected. It should be the golden thread that defines the Best Start in Life strategy, Family Hubs, and modern day early education and childcare practice. This places a premium on: confident decision-making; clear record keeping; and professional curiosity.

Getting this right isn’t simply about compliance, it’s about ensuring children do not fall through gaps between services. And that concerns, no matter how small, and no matter whether they meet so-called thresholds and risk criteria are properly regarded.

With this increase in integration comes greater scrutiny of safeguarding culture and practice within settings. The expectations being reinforced include:

• Safer recruitment, ensuring robust vetting and selection processes;
• Whistleblowing, with a strong, transparent culture of speaking up internally and externally;
• Responding to absences, particularly unexplained or repeated patterns;
• Ongoing training, not just at induction but as a continuous improvement process;
• Identification of harm, including coercive control and child sexual abuse;
• Leadership and management of the highest quality with equal regard to other colleagues in the children’s services and education profession.

For providers, this means safeguarding cannot be a static policy document, it must be a lived, visible culture played out in the here and now, not applied retrospectively when abuse or risk is confirmed. There is also a notable focus on accountability within larger nursery chains and groups. Proposals discussed in Parliament suggest that bigger organisations may be required to attend safeguarding meetings; participate in local audits; and engage in training at a system level. Crucially, compliance could become linked to registration and funding.

This signals a move towards holding corporate structures, not just individual settings, accountable for safeguarding practice. For operators of scale, this will demand consistency, oversight, and strong governance across all sites. It will be interesting to discover how big is big, and to understand why smaller scale providers may not be included in this way.

Perhaps most importantly, there is an enhanced focus on babies and very young children. Updated safeguarding guidance is strengthening protections for: unborn children; babies; and those in care arrangements.

This reflects a growing understanding that vulnerability is often greatest in the earliest stages of life, and that early years providers are uniquely placed to notice the subtle indicators others may not see. So what should providers be doing now? The implications are tangible and immediate. Settings should consider:

• Reviewing safeguarding policies to ensure they reflect current expectations and emerging guidance;
• Refreshing Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and staff training, ensuring depth as well as compliance;
• Strengthening record keeping and escalation procedures, with clarity and consistency;
• Deepening engagement with local safeguarding partnerships, moving beyond passive involvement;
• Evidencing safer recruitment and whistleblowing cultures, particularly in anticipation of inspection.

These are not new ideas. Unfortunately, this has been a common characteristic of when systems have failed. We do need them to be applied more rigorously and consistently across the sector. If there is a single takeaway from these announcements, it is this:

Early years providers are no longer seen as operating at the edge of safeguarding systems. We are being positioned firmly at their centre. This is both a challenge and an opportunity. A challenge because expectations are increasing, and accountability is tightening. But an opportunity because it recognises the critical role early years professionals play in protecting and shaping children’s lives. About time. As a sector, we should welcome this recognition, while also ensuring we are ready to meet the responsibility that comes with it.

James Hempsall OBE