The aim is to keep children protected from harm at all times, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility who is in the workplace.
It protects vulnerable children and adults from abuse and neglect.
It is important to ensure children are protected at all times in the work setting, as the children are in your care and you are there to keep them away from harm whether its accidental of whether they are actually at risk from others.
It is also important for the parents to trust the people they are leaving their child with and for them not to have any concerns
There is not one particular legislation that covers child protection or safeguarding within the UK