This FGM training for early years staff provides a clear, professional understanding of female genital mutilation as a safeguarding issue: what it is, why it is practised, and the responsibilities practitioners hold when they identify risk. FGM is a procedure in which the female genital organs are injured or changed with no medical reason — a frequently traumatic and violent act that can cause harm in many ways.
The scale of the issue makes awareness in early years settings genuinely important. UNICEF estimated in 2016 that up to 200 million women and girls worldwide have undergone FGM. In England and Wales, an estimated 103,000 women aged 15–49 and approximately 24,000 women aged 50 and over who have migrated here are living with its consequences, while around 10,000 girls under 15 who have migrated to England and Wales are likely to have undergone FGM.
What you’ll learn
- What is meant by the term FGM and the forms it can take
- How FGM can impact individuals and communities
- Why FGM is practised and how practitioners can get involved in tackling it
- The indicators and risk factors to recognise, set in the context of safeguarding
- Your legal responsibilities when FGM risk is identified
- The range of support available and other work taking place in the community
Who this course is for
This course is designed for practitioners, managers and wider staff in nurseries, pre-schools and other early years settings who hold safeguarding responsibilities towards young children. Because the girls most at risk are often very young, awareness within early years teams plays a real part in prevention and protection.
Why this training matters
FGM is a safeguarding and legal issue, not a cultural one, and the course places its indicators and risk factors firmly in the context of practitioners’ safeguarding and legal responsibilities. Understanding what to look for, and what support exists for those affected, equips your team to act appropriately and confidently if concerns arise. Your completion certificate also provides evidence for compliance and audit.
How the course works
The course is completed online at your own pace, with a guided duration of around two hours. It can be taken individually or rolled out across your team as part of your setting’s wider safeguarding training programme.
Your certificate
Successful candidates are awarded the National Nursery Training Female Genital Mutilation Course Completion Certificate, confirming completion for compliance and audit purposes and supporting your continuing professional development (CPD). National Nursery Training is an NFAQ-accredited provider and an accredited CPD Training Provider (#776846) with the CPD Accreditation Group.
