Little Swans Safeguarding Statement

We believe that children learn best at Little Swans when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs are met and when they have positive relationships with the adults caring for them. We aim to create an environment which is welcoming safe and stimulating, and where children are able to enjoy their learning through play, to grow in confidence and to fulfill their potential.

Written policies and procedures are required to safeguard children or promote equality of opportunity, all staff members are given copies of these policies and procedures as part of their induction, and been explained to through training, practical assessments and supervisions. Updates are shared through staff meetings and email correspondence, this is also shared with parent/carers. All our policies and procedures are kept in a red folder in the main entrance of the nursery; policies can also be viewed online at www.littleswans.org.uk

It is essential that children are provided with safe and secure environments in which to interact and explore rich and diverse learning and development opportunities.

Information on safeguarding children within our organisation

February 2013

Within this organisation we undertake to safeguard children from harm and abuse at all times

We do this by ensuring that we have a robust recruitment procedure in place for vetting any one who works within our setting.

We also aim to ensure that all of our staff are trained in safeguarding children externally and during their induction. They are able to recognise signs and symptoms of abuse as well as effectively implementing our procedures when concerns arise.

Our safeguarding procedures are available for you to view at any time, please ask a member of staff if you wish to read them or they can be found on the nursery website www.littleswans.org.uk

We have procedures in place for allegations made against staff members in accordance with section 22 of the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB) procedures

We expect any one working within our organisation to ensure they carry out their duties using safe working practices and by not allowing themselves to be left in a position whereby allegations are made against them. All staff are aware of our whistle blowing procedures, and know how to make concerns known to management about other staff members. Staff also know how to make concerns known to ofsted if they are worried about any aspects of management’s behaviour.

If you as a parent /carer or visitor have genuine reason to believe that a child may have been abused by any one working for our organisation, we ask that in the first instance you bring it to the attention of a manager. If your concerns are about the management we ask that you contact Ofsted on 0300 123 1231

Please be very clear what you are alleging, as we have a statutory duty to follow procedures when an allegation has been made.

Whilst our first duty is always to safeguard children, false malicious and unfounded allegations do have a devastating effect on individuals and the organisation as a whole.

If you make a genuine allegation the following procedure will be followed:

• Please do not talk directly to the person who you are making the allegation against

• Talk to a manager in a quiet area away from staff and children.

• Please do not talk to other staff members or parents; we need to maintain the confidentiality of your child and the member of staff.

• The manager should reassure you that procedures are being followed

• We may decide to suspend the alleged perpetrator whilst a course of action is decided upon

• We will not in the first instance tell them the nature of the allegation

• We will inform ofsted

• We will inform someone from the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board(BSCB) position of trust team

• If the concerns are such that the position of trust team deems it to be an internal disciplinary matter they may ask us to undertake our own investigation, and to follow our organisations disciplinary procedures.

• Dependent upon the nature of the concerns the police and Social care team may become involved

• Dependent upon the nature of the concerns the police may speak to you and your child

• Dependent upon the nature of the concerns your child may be subject to an examination to determine any possible injury.

• A position of trust coordination meeting may be held to discuss the concerns, and to find a way forward, in order to reach an outcome

• You will be told the outcome of any such meetings.

Your child’s well being is paramount to us please be reassured we will do everything in our power to safeguard all children within our setting by following safe working practices and by following the correct procedures if an allegation does arise about any one working or volunteering within our organisation

Little Swans Day Nursery

Intimate Care (safe care) and Toileting Policy

May 2013

Reviewed by Samantha Tranter, Nursery Manager

Aim

At Little Swans Day Nursery we aim to meet the individual needs of all our children and promote their welfare and emotional well-being. We recognise and assist children with intimate care where needed, and ensure that the children are treated with courtesy, dignity, and respect at all times.

Intimate care is defined as care involving washing, touching or carrying out a procedure to intimate personal areas which some children may need support in doing because of their young age, physical difficulties or other special needs.

Where a child has intimate care needs, a designated qualified member of staff takes responsibility to provide their care. We address issues on an individual basis.

Due to the developmental stages of the children that we work with, we support them with their personal care, for example reminding the children to go to the toilet and about personal hygiene. This supports their understanding of self-care routines as well as developing their independence.

As outlined in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS); September 2012, we are responsible for children’s personal care skills, as an essential part of Personal Development.

On some occasions, children come to our setting in nappies. We support children sensitively and with dignity in this matter. Also, from time to time some children will have accidents and need to be attended to. During registration and your child’ home visit their key person will advise you of the procedures at nursery and what your child needs to have with them each day they attend e.g. spare clothes. Staff will share information about your child’s day at nursery; including toileting and nappy changes, this is given verbally and included on daily report sheets/diaries.

Implementation

•Staff training

All staff are knowledgeable about intimate care/personal care. They are aware of their responsibilities, relevant policies and procedures in place (including adhering to Child Protection and Safeguarding, Health and Safety and Confidentiality). The designated employed adult is trained; DBS (Disclosure, Barring Scheme) checked and has received training for very specific intimate care procedures where relevant. During their induction period staff are supervised and supported when carrying out self-care, only staff members who have provided satisfactory references and have a clear DBS check can carry out such self -care routines.

Key Persons follow each child’s care plan in agreement with parent/carers and they undertake their duties in a professional manner at all times. They are fully aware of best practice including hygiene.

•Intimate care / personal care plan

If a child requires regular assistance with intimate care, staff meet with the parents to discuss the child’s needs and devise an agreed intimate / personal care plan. Relevant health personnel are involved if needed. We monitor and review the plan on a regular basis and access any further training as and when it is required.

•Practice

The designated practitioner who provides the care (in most cases: the child’s key person) forms a strong, trusting relationship with the child. They ensure that it is a positive experience that is safe and comfortable for all. Whilst the child is having their needs met, it is treated as a time to interact and promote their personal, social and emotional development.

Each child; age and developmentally appropriate is encouraged to undertake as much of the procedure for themselves as possible, including washing hands, dressing/undressing, hygiene and toileting.

The children’s toilet areas and nappy changing facilities/areas are used to attend to children’s needs and every effort is made to ensure privacy and modesty.

Most procedures are carried out by one member of staff. However, careful consideration is given to the child’s individual circumstances/needs to determine how many practitioners might need to be present when a child needs help with intimate care. If a child is unhappy or anxious about the care being provided, the issue will be addressed and discussed with parents/carers to ensure that we continually meet a child’s needs.

Each child who attends nursery has a self-Care record which is completed each day, recording nappy changes, toileting, sleep as well as food charts for under one’s. It is the responsibility of all key persons to ensure the information recorded is accurate and shared with each child’s parent/carer.

•Working with parents

We work closely with parents/carers forming partnerships to identify and ensure we meet each child’s needs, reviewing these regularly through the key person system in place at nursery. Cultural and religious values are respected when planning and we seek to engage in regular communication with parents, and monitor and review the plan together.

•Working with outside agencies

We work closely with outside agencies and utilise their knowledge and expertise where necessary. Our setting based SENCO Jennifer Owen and her assistant Emma Sloan, coordinate this approach in consultation with management as well as parent/carers and the child’s key person.

Disposal of nappies, aprons and gloves safely

At Nursery we have good hygiene practices in place when disposing waste to prevent infection.

We follow stringent nappy changing procedures which are included in all staff inductions to ensure the safe disposal of waste, see below.

Changing a nappy

•A clean disposable apron and gloves is worn every time a child is changed, after having washed their hands thoroughly.

•Whilst changing, children’s skin is cleaned with disposable wipe/creams if needed, these are provided by parent/carers.

•Nappies and ’pull ups’, gloves, aprons and wipes are disposed of hygienically and safely, they are placed in nappy bags and disposed of immediately in the internal/external bins provided by the nursery.

This policy has been written in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act (amended 2005) and in conjunction with the nursery’s health and safety policy, Safeguarding / child protection procedures and staff inductions.

This policy will be reviewed annually or when a change in practice or legislation requires.

Policy Updated: May 2013

Signed: ……………………………………………………..

Miss Tranter, Nursery Manager

Little Swans Day Nursery

Managing Sick Children Policy and Procedure

Reviewed: September 2013

Reviewed by: Elaine Boulton

Aims

This policy has been written in order to promote the good health of the children in our care, in line with the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

EYFS Welfare Standards: Safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare

At little Swans Day nursery the welfare of all children is of paramount importance to all staff. This policy will highlight staff responsibilities when dealing with a sick child as well as provide information for parents/carers about the procedures and policies in place at Little Swans Day Nursery.

It is highly likely that at some point a child who attends the nursery may become sick from an illness, resulting in them feeling generally poorly and unwell. It is the responsibility of nursery staff to communicate effectively with parents and carers.

The nursery takes responsibility to explain clearly to parents our legal and moral approach when dealing with sickness and accidents with a child in our care, and have implemented effective procedures to support the process (see accident and medication policies). We want to share this responsibility and it is expected that parents/carers will adhere to specific procedures and practices detailed within this policy.

Procedures

 In the event of a child being taken ill or running a high temperature of 39 degrees or above the following will be done:

• Contact the child’s parents explaining their child’s condition. From their observations they will either ask parent’s to collect or email a consent form for medication to be given. Where reasonably practical, staff should ask parents to come into nursery and complete the medication form.

• Children will only be given medicine with consent and if they have their own medication on site, otherwise parents must collect

• Staff will comfort the child

• Offer a cool drink of water

• Remove any excessive clothing

• Damp them down with (lukewarm flannel)

• Open windows/ put a fan on if necessarily

• Observe the child and look for signs of their condition getting worse

PROCEDURE FOR A SERIOUS EVENT

 In the event of a life threatening episode such as: faints, fits, convulsions whilst in our care staff will carry out the following procedure:

• An ambulance will be called

• Observations made and information passed onto the emergency services

• Parents will be contacted immediately, where possible to come to the nursery or to meet the member of staff at the hospital who will accompany the child in the ambulance

• The staff member will take the child’s medical form with them and will be guided by the professional medical staff opinion as to medical procedures. (As approved by the parents on their child’s medical form).

• Staff will then complete an emergency record card, detailing the events for future reference and copy of this must be sent to the nurse educators

 Requests for staff to apply any prescribed creams, drops or ointments will be taken on an individual basis, and will be done in accordance with the nursery’s ‘Administration of Medicines Policy’. Before any medicine is administered to a child a medication consent form must be completed by the parent/carer who holds parental responsibility.

 If a child has been prescribed a course of antibiotics then they must receive the first dose at home prior to their return to nursery.

Children showing no signs of illness but not themselves

• If your child has not been his/her normal self at home but is not showing signs of illness when brought into nursery, please mention it to the member of staff you hand your child over to , and let them know how best to contact you throughout the day

Children who are ill

• It is at the nursery manager/nursery owner discretion whether or not to allow a child into the nursery if they are showing signs of illness, even if there is no exclusion period or if this is after any exclusion period or if this is after any exclusion period has passed; or if a doctor has stated that they are not infectious

• The manager will need to take into account

Nursery and Staff Responsibilities

 Where a child is taken ill, or is need of medication not previously prescribed or agreed, staff will inform the Nursery Manager immediately.

 To inform all parents/carers of any accidents/incidents involving their child while in the care of Little Swans Day Nursery

 To ensure all relevant records/documents are completed correctly and sign by the appropriate persons.

 To adhere to nursery policies and procedures.

 To determine at point of entry the person who holds parental responsibility for the child and ensure the named person completes medication consent etc…

 In the event of infectious illnesses nursery will follow the exclusion periods outlined by the Health Protection Agency Guidance on infection control in schools and other settings, HPA April 2010. Children must not return to nursery until the quarantine period is finished.

 Under the Children Act regulations, Ofsted will be notified of any infectious, notifiable and communicable diseases. Details are available at website www.doh.gov.uk

 After a bout of sickness and/or diarrhea parents will be called to collect their child immediately. Viruses stay active in bodily fluids and faeces. To minimise the risks of contamination to other children and staff a nursery exclusion period of 24 hours after the last episode is required.

 Dependent on the situation and reasons for accident/ incident nursery will inform Ofsted and Birmingham’s Safeguarding Children’s Board. (See Safeguarding policy and procedures)

Parental Responsibilities

 Parents/carers are required to provide emergency contact numbers, and those of a known person who can collect their child in their absence. This forms part of the statutory legal requirements for Ofsted Registration.

 Consent is obtained from Parents/carers when registering with the nursery, which gives nursery permission to sought emergency medical treatment in their absence as detailed in their child’s contract.

 Parents/Carers are expected to inform and update nursery immediately of any change to contact numbers or addresses. Records are updated each parent evening in April and November.

 Parents/Carers are requested to notify nursery if their child is diagnosed with a contagious illness. This is to ensure that we can notify other parents/carers of vulnerable children and pregnant women. We can also track trends, and in exceptional circumstances we are required to inform the local health authority of any outbreaks of notifiable diseases. The nursery is required to maintain the appropriate confidentiality.

 It is vital that parents/carers inform nursery of any illness or diseases that may impact on the child’s wellbeing whilst in our care. Staff need relevant information to ensure they are best prepared should a child be taken ill.

 To disclose any past or current medical history during registration e.g. convulsions and asthma, to enable staff to consult with parents/carers as well as other professionals who may be able to advise and assist when developing a care plan or alert card for their child’s condition and wellbeing, as well as identifying areas where staff training may be required.

 Parent/carers must always seek medical advice from a GP or Health Visitor.

 Where appropriate, inform parents of the symptoms to look out for in their own child and provided with information on where to seek further help and advice.

 Staff in the nursery will follow strict hygiene routines at all times to minimise the spread of infection.

Children suffering from certain infectious diseases will be excluded from the setting for the following periods of time.

• A child who is sick or has diarrhea whilst at the nursery is to be collected immediately and kept away for 24 hours following the last bout of sickness or diarrhea

• Gloves will be worn when dealing with blood or other bodily fluids

• Parents will always be contacted and informed if their child has a high temperature of 101F/38C or above

• To prevent the spread of conjunctivitis, suspected cases will be reported immediately to parents who will be asked to take their child from the nursery to be seen by a Doctor

• Chicken Pox- children need to be absent from nursery for a minimum of 5 days from the onset of the rash. After this time, if all the spots have dried and scabbed over, the child can return to the nursery. Parents will also be contacted if their child develops a rash or suspected thrush. This will need to be checked by a Doctor whose advice should be followed.

Illness Outbreaks

If there is an outbreak of an Illness in the nursery then the manager or owner will consult with the local Health Protection Unit for advice. We may decide to exclude children in order to control an outbreak even where this is not listed on our normal exclusion policy.

Infectious Communicable and Conditions Reporting

If a child has an illness we would request that the parent/s contact the nursery as soon as possible.

If it is an infectious communicable disease we will inform staff parents and carers as soon as possible

If there is an outbreak of a notifiable disease at the nursery we will inform the local Health Protection Unit, RIDDOR (If appropriate), and Ofsted.

This is particularly important in case a child has come into contact with a pregnant staff member or parent/carer.

If a case of head lice is found at the nursery, the child’s parents or carers will be discreetly informed when they collect the child. Other parents will be warned to check their own children via a letter sent out by the nursery. Care will be taken not to identify the child affected.

Head Injuries

 If a child has sustained a bump to the head parents/carers will be informed on collection and giving a bumped head letter. Staff are responsible for ensuring the accident/incident has been recorded on the child’s records, as detailed in the accident procedures and their name has been written on the whiteboard.

 Management may ask a member of staff to contact parents/ carers by telephone after a child has bumped their head if they feel it is necessarily to inform the parents/carers of the accident/incident immediately. If the head or face injury is more severe parents will be advised to collect their child and seek medical attention, this will also be recorded on the child’s records.

 Parents/carers will be asked to sign the accident/incident sheet to acknowledge that they have been informed. This must be done on the same day.

Foreign Objects

 The nursery will not remove foreign objects from eyes, nose or ears. This is invasive and may cause a child to become distressed. Parents/carers will be contacted and advised to collect their child and seek medical attention. This will recorded on the child’s incident record, parent/carers must sign the document when they collect their child.

 Occasionally children may get sand in their eyes during day to day activities. If this happens the event will be noted on a child’s accident record, parents/carers will be advised to seek medical attention if the eye becomes irritated or painful.

 If a child receives an insect sting that remains attached to the child, parents/carers will be contacted to seek medical assistance. This will be recorded on a child’s incident record.

 Staff will monitor any child, if their condition worsens while waiting for parents/carers an ambulance will be called to assist.

Management retain the right to ask any parent to take their child home if the child is found to be not well on entering nursery and during their day at nursery.

A copy of the Guidance for Infection Control in schools and other childcare settings is displayed on the noticeboard in the main outside entrance for parents/carers and on the staff notice board in the office for staff, and covers the appropriate exclusion periods from nursery.

Please note the list below list is not exhaustive but contains the most common exclusions. In addition, we reserve the right to consult the NHS Direct Website for further advice and information. These guidelines are produced in support of our sickness policy.

Parents should always seek advice from their GP or Accident and Emergency department regarding the specific symptoms of their child. Phone NHS Direct 111 on landline or mobile. Or www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.

The Administration and Guidance on Managing Medication

July 2013

Policy reviewed by Samantha Tranter, Nursery Manager

Early Years Foundation stage:

Safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare: ‘providers must promote the good health of all children; take necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection, and take appropriate action when children are ill. 1.4 Health and well-being

Policy Statement

We would ask all parents and carers to request their doctor to prescribe medication wherever possible which can be taken outside the setting day.

However we recognise that there are times when it may be necessary for a child to take medication whilst attending the setting. Medicines will only be accepted in the nursery when essential; that is when it would be detrimental to a child’s health if the medicine were not administered during the nursery day. We are prepared to take responsibility for those occasions however we will usually only administer PRESCRIBED medication, but MAY administer some over the counter medications, according to the needs of the individual child.

All medication that has been agreed to be administered must be in the original container/packaging and include the medication information leaflet as well as the prescribers’ instruction for administration.

We will not normally administer the first dose of any medication.

This Policy:

• Details the manner in which medications must be stored

• Includes effective management systems to support individual children with long term or complex medical needs

• Details the procedure for responding to medical emergencies, cases of notifiable diseases, communicable diseases and outlines any applicable exclusion periods.

Roles and Responsibilities within this policy

Which staff are authorised to administer prescribed medication?

• Only the manager, Nursery Owner, Assistant Manager, supervisors and qualified staff can administer medication to children. In circumstances where a child as complex medical needs the authorised person may be a person who has been appointed as a one to one carer for that child.

• Should a child need to receive medication whilst at the setting, parents/carers will be asked to come in and personally hand over the medication to the Supervisor of the area, or a qualified member of staff on duty. If parents are unable to be released from work, either Mrs Boulton or Samantha Tranter will administer a sachet of Calpol or equivalent, to the correct dosage specified. We will only do this once a medication form has been faxed or emailed over to the nursery with the parents/carers signature and date.

Notifying parents or designated adult of child illness

 Should a child become ill at the setting the key person, with the manager, nursery owner, assistant manager or supervisor’s knowledge, Must contact the child’s parents immediately.

Children with Special Medical Needs

Should we be asked to admit a child to the setting with special medical needs, we will, in partnership with the parents/carers, the child’s health visitor and our medical advisors, discuss individual needs.

Where appropriate an individual management Plan/Alert Card will be developed in partnership with parents/carers and appropriate health care professional e.g. the child’s Health Visitor, Specialist Nurse, GP and/or Nurse Educator.

Any resulting training needs will be met specific to the individual child and reviewed regularly according to the needs of the child and any changes to their condition.

1. On Admission to the Setting

All parents/carers will be asked to complete an admissions form giving full details of their child’s medical conditions, regular medication, emergency contact numbers, name of family doctor, details of hospital consultants, allergies, special dietary requirements etc. A care plan will be completed for children with specific medical needs, involving the parents and relevant health professionals.

2. Administration of Medication in the Setting

2.1 No medication will be given without prior written consent from parents/carers.

2.2 It is the responsibility of parents/carers to provide a sufficient amount of medication and to ensure that it is in date.

2.3 The medication should be in the original container as prescribed by the doctor and as dispensed by the pharmacist, clearly labelled with:

• Childs name

• Name of medication

• Strength of medication

• How much to be given

• When to be given

• Date dispensed and/or expiry date

• Length of treatment or stop date where appropriate

2.4 A consent form must be completed (see appendix 1) by parents/carers. This form will be kept at the bottom of the stairs in the main building or in the main entrance of Jelly babies by the Belfast sink.

2.5 A separate form will be required for each medication.

2.6 Parents/carers will be required to sign an Early Years Record of Administration of Medication Form (see appendix 2) when collecting the child to acknowledge medication administered that day.

2.7 If medication needs to be replenished this should be done in person by the parents/carer, who should also ensure medication is in date.

2.8 Parents/carers must notify Little Swans in writing should the medication;

• Need to be changed

• Be discontinued before the completion of the course

• Dosage change

In this instance a new supply of medication, correctly labelled with the new dose must be provided and a new consent form completed.

2.9 Reasons for any non administration of regular medication will be recorded and the parents/carers informed on that day.

2.10 No child will be given Aspirin unless it has been prescribed for the child by a doctor.

2.11 Non – Prescribed medication can only be authorised for the following reasons:

1. Teething

2. Mild skin conditions

3. Mild allergies such as hay fever

4. High temperature (Calpol and Nurofen)

2.12 If a parent signs a consent form for non-prescribed medication and at the designated time for administration there is no evident health reason for the child to receive the medication the manager, nursery owner or in their absence assistant manager may reserve the right not to administer the medication but MUST inform the parent of this decision e.g. Calpol would not be administered to a child with no signs or symptoms of fever or pain unless advised otherwise by a medical professional.

2.13 The administration of non-prescribed medication for pain relief must be restricted to 2 consecutive days. If symptoms persist beyond 2 days duration then parents should consult a doctor.

3. Emergency Medication

3.1 Parents /carers must provide any emergency medications e.g. Epipen reliever (blue) inhaler with spacer. The pharmacy label must be attached to the medication.

3.2 It is parents/carers responsibility to ensure emergency medication is in date and that there is sufficient amount in the setting.

3.3 Emergency medication will be kept in the setting and always accessible (never in a locked cupboard/room).

3.4 Emergency medication will accompany the child on any off site visits and will be kept by the member of staff who will be administering it, should it be required.

3.5 Staff who agrees to administer emergency medication will have training from an appropriate health care professional.

3.6 All emergency medicines, such as asthma inhalers and Epi-pens, must be stored in a clear plastic container with the child’s name and photograph visible. A copy of the child’s individual care plan must be placed in the container.

3.7 In the event of a child refusing to take emergency medication we will follow our emergency procedure and always call for an ambulance. Parents/ carers will be informed as soon as possible.

4. Refusing Medication

4.1 If a child refuses to take medication, staff will not force them to do so.

4.2 The refusal will be noted and parents/carers will be informed as soon as possible on the same day.

4.3 We will not restrain a child to administer medication unless it is an emergency (e.g. Epipen).

5. Storage and Disposal of Medication

Staff must ensure that the supplied container is clearly labelled with the child’s name (as registered at nursery), name and dose of the medicine and frequency of administration.

5.1 All medication with the exception of emergency medication and those requiring refrigeration will be kept out of reach of the children and stored in the designated areas in children’s rooms.

5.2 Medication requiring refrigeration will be stored in the fridge inside a plastic container clearly labelled “MEDICATION” it will be stored away from food and will not be accessible to children.

5.3 Medicines will be stored strictly in accordance with the product instructions and in the original container in which they are dispensed. Instructions for administration must be clear.

5.4 Emergency medication will be accessible to staff at all times.

5.5 A regular check will be made of the medication every 6-8 weeks. Parents/carers will be asked to collect any medication which is no longer needed, is out of date or no longer clearly labelled.

5.6 Where a child needs two or more prescribed medicines each must be in a separate container.

5.7 All prescriptions must be in English.

6. Notifying Health Authority or Regulatory Bodies of Notifiable diseases

6.1 The manager, nursery owner or assistant manager MUST notify the Health Protection agency immediately of any suspected outbreak of notifiable disease (Appendix 1)

6.2 The manager or assistant manager must ensure the nursery owner has been informed if absent from setting.

7. Children on long term medication

7.1 A care plan must be completed by the child’s key person in consultation with the parent, nursery manager, owner or assistant manager and medical professionals, for all children on long term medication to ensure that the staff team have sufficient information to meet the child’s individual medical needs.

7.2 Parents only need to complete one written permission sheet for the child’s medication (this applies to long term medication only). This must be reviewed every three months or sooner if there is a change of prescription or condition of the child.

7.3 The prescribed medication procedure must be followed when administering long term medication.

8. Children with complex medical needs

8.1 A meeting must be arranged prior to the child starting at the nursery to discuss the child’s needs and arrangements for medication. This meeting will be led by the nursery manager or nursery owner. A care plan must be completed for all children with complex needs to ensure that the staff team have sufficient information to meet the child’s individual medical needs.

8.2 If the administration of prescribed medication requires technical/medical knowledge then individual training must be provided for approved members of staff by a qualified health professional or any other person deemed competent.

8.3 The manager/owner must ensure that training occurs before a child starts at nursery.

8.4 Training must be specific to the individual child concerned, and accurate records of training kept.

9. Sickness and Infection Control

9.1 Children must be well enough to attend the nursery and to participate in the full range of experiences on offer, including access to opportunities outdoors.

9.2 Parents must be advised of the procedures for children who are ill of infectious and of the need for parents to inform the nursery about illness or condition affecting their child. This must include the possibility of the child being excluded from the nursery whilst ill or infectious, as well as the procedures for contacting parents, or another person as identified on the child’s registration forms if their child becomes ill.

10. Exclusions and Notifications of Communicable Diesases

10.1 There are some infections which require exclusion periods from the nursery to ensure the control of the spread of infections. The guidance from the health protection agency MUST be followed.

10.2 Signs must be placed in the noticeboard and room doors informing parents of the infection.

10.3 Fact sheets are available on the Internet and can be given to parents upon request.

10.4 Consideration must be given to the risk of infection to all those visiting or working at the nursery particularly for those infections where there is a potential risk during pregnancy.

11. Notifiable Diseases

12.1 If the nursery manager or owner has reason to believe that any child/staff member suffering from a notifiable disease the following steps must be followed:

> Inform the appropriate regulatory bodies

> Contact the Local Health Protection Agency and follow any advice given

>Record incident detailing child’s/staff details and the type of infection. Ensure any

advice received is also noted and ensure that the incident is recorded

>Ensure staff are made aware of procedures or any symptoms that they need to be aware of

>Ensure confidentiality

This policy has been approved & authorised by:

Name: Samantha Tranter

Position: Nursery Manager

Date: July 2013

Signature:

Appendix One

List of Notifiable Diseases

Diseases notifiable (to Local Authority Proper Officers) under the Health Protection (Notification)

Regulations 2010:

•Acute encephalitis

•Acute meningitis

•Acute poliomyelitis

•Acute infectious hepatitis

•Anthrax

•Botulism

•Brucellosis

•Cholera

•Diphtheria

•Enteric fever (typhoid or paratyphoid fever)

•Food poisoning

•Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)

•Infectious bloody diarrhoea

•Invasive group A streptococcal disease and scarlet

fever

•Legionnaires’ Disease

•Leprosy

•Malaria

•Measles

•Meningococcal septicaemia

•Mumps

•Plague

•Rabies

•Rubella

•SARS

•Smallpox

•Tetanus

•Tuberculosis

•Typhus

•Viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF)

•Whooping cough

•Yellow fever

Little Swans Day Nursery

Smoking, Drugs and Alcohol Policy

July 2013

Reviewed by Miss Tranter, Nursery Manager

Policy Statement for Smoking Drugs and Alcohol

References/Legislation that informs this policy

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – 1989 (Ratified 1999)

The Children Act 1989

The Children Act 2004 (Every Child matters)

The Medicines Act 1968

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH)

Smoke-Free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations

Smoke–Free (Signs) Regulations

1. Introduction

1.1 It is the intention of Little Swans day Nursery to promote and protect the health and well being of its children, employees and other visitors to the nursery. It is recognised that smoking is bad for health and unpleasant to many users of buildings and services. We believe that those working with children are in a unique position to act as positive role models and have a responsibility to send out consistent messages about hazards of smoking. This also applies to alcohol and drug abuse.

1.2 This policy applies to all employees, parents, trainees, students, contractors and other users and visitors to the nursery.

1.3 Smoking is strictly prohibited on or near the nursery premises. Should a member of staff wish to have a cigarette on their break they must not light up in the nursery, buildings, or grounds and this includes doorways, entrances, walkways, playgrounds or car park. Staff are not permitted to consume alcohol during their contracted hours of work or to care for the children if they have consumed alcohol prior to commencing work. Consumption of alcohol is not permitted in the nursery, buildings or grounds and this includes doorways, entrances, walkways, playgrounds or the car park.

1.4 The same applies to all drugs other than those prescribed by a doctor and considered appropriate for intake while working with children.

1.5 Such medication must not be kept in a handbag. It must be taken from the bag and put into a medicine cabinet locked away in a secure drawer that children have no access too. It is the responsibility of the person to whom the medication belongs, to ensure the medication is stored correctly, well away from all children in the office. Staff needing to take prescribed medication during their working hours, must do in the office/staff room.

1.6 Misuse of prescription drugs and over the counter drugs, including legal highs is also prohibited at any time.

2. Parent/Carer co-operation

2.1 Parents/carers are not allowed to smoke, take drugs or consume alcohol while on the nursery premises. This includes trips with the nursery off the premises and in the presence of other children at nursery or parents.

2.2 Parents/carers are forbidden to bring alcohol or drugs into the nursery grounds.

Parents/carers being abusive to children, staff members or other parents while on the premises will be asked to leave. Police may be called in this instance. In the event we will ask that someone comes to take responsibility of the child. I.e. grandparent, auntie. If a carer has been abusive we will inform the parent and wait for them to collect the child. The perpetrator will no longer be allowed into or near the nursery premises.

2.3 The parent/carer that has been abusive may be told to refrain from bringing their child to nursery while an inquiry takes place. However if the incident is severe enough to have police involved the parent/carer may be told that their child’s place had been permanently revoked. Under these circumstances no monies outstanding for the week will be reimbursed to the parent.

2.4 Parents/carers are asked not to take calls on their mobile phones while dropping/collecting their child from nursery. We understand that at time this may not be possible, however, we ask parents/carers to refrain from using aggressive/abusive language while on their mobile phone, inside, or on nursery premises.

2.5 Any supply of drugs via parent/carer while on/in nursery premises will result in a loss of child place and result in a phone call to local authorities to report the incident.

2.6 Cigarettes/tobacco and lighters, alcohol, drugs/medicine are forbidden to be left in a child’s bag/belongings. These will be discarded by a staff member and the parent/carer will be informed immediately. This may result in loss of child’s place.

2.7 All our staff has the right to work without concern of intimidation or assault. We will not accept this behaviour on the premises and will ask anyone who does not respect this to leave. We will take further action if this is not adhered to.

We have a nursery collection policy for a parent/carer under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The following guidelines will apply:

We will manage the incident tactfully to ensure that the professional relationship with the family is maintained.

• If a senior staff member has any concerns regarding the child’s welfare, we would endeavour to speak to the parent/carer about their child’s needs. Procedure will be followed in guidance with the nursery Safeguarding Policy.

• We will ensure that there is two staff present when speaking to a parent so that staff should not jeopardise their own safety or others in these situations.

• In the event that the parent/carer arrives at the nursery under the influence of alcohol or drugs we will ask that someone comes with the parent/carer to take responsibility of the child.

• Should this not happen, although we have no legal right to withhold a child from a parent/carer, we reserve the right to contact any relevant authorities that we deem appropriate i.e. the police, partner etc. Any member of staff feeling under threat should contact the police in the first instance.

• Full written report will be made of the incident.

• A child’s safety is our main concern and as such this will determine the course of action taken.

• When events are booked, individuals to be made aware of the Smoking, Drugs and Alcohol Policy.

3. Parents

3.1 Parents to be informed of this Smoking, Drugs and Alcohol Policy and any changes thereafter through newsletters and other forms of communication.

3.2 Parents/carers will be offered the same confidential support and given details for support services as employees, should it be required.

4. Signage

4.1 Clearly worded no smoking signs will be sited at the gates, entrance(s) and in the prominent positions throughout the nursery premises. This complies with current legislation.

Review

This policy will be monitored annually by management in consultation with staff and a report made to parents asking for their views and considerations to be taken into account.

Samantha Tranter, Nursery Manager …………………………………………… Date ……………………….

Review Date July 2014

Emergency Evacuation Policy

July 2013

This policy was reviewed by Miss Samantha Tranter, Nursery Manager

Rationale

The occupational Health, Safety Regulations and the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, requires the employer to have procedures in place in case of emergencies. An emergency evacuation plan minimises the threat to life and property.

This policy has been developed to assist with the safe and orderly evacuation of the children, staff and other persons on the nursery premises.

Aim of policy

The aim of this policy is to:

• Establish the procedures for staff to follow in an emergency

• Inform staff of their responsibilities in an emergency situation through the completion of staff inductions and ongoing supervision.

• Ensure staff are aware of and understand possible situations that may result in an emergency evacuation being conducted.

• Ensure that staff are trained in and participate in emergency evacuation practices (e.g. fire drills).

• Ensure children are trained in and participate with evacuation procedures through regular practice drills. Also using everyday occurrences and activities to promote

‘Keeping safe’.

• Establish a process for documenting emergency procedures and notifying Ofsted and other relevant agencies as well as families of emergency evacuation situations. The procedures are laminated and attached to the: Visitors Book and all signing in and out registers.

Implementation

As soon as a fire is noticed, report directly to management using the phones available in all areas, the fire alarms will activate alerting all staff to start the evacuation procedure.

Before attempting to put out any fire, ensure management have been informed and children, staff and other persons are at a safe distance from the fire.

1. All Children are to be taken to the appropriate evacuation area on hearing the fire alarms. (The fire alarm is connected in the main building and jelly babies). The alarm is not connected to any other external areas in the nursery as they are considered low risk – by the fire officer/ department.

2. The staff present in each room (at the time of the emergency evacuation) must promptly assign responsibilities. These include:

A designated member of staff will call the fire brigade/ emergency services. They will give the details to the operator as detailed on the Emergency Aid cards by each phone in nursery.

a. A staff member from each room will check all areas of the room for children that may be out of sight e.g. in the bathroom areas etc…

b. A qualified staff member from each room will collect the register and signing in / out registers that parent/ carers complete.

c. A member of staff will inform Rolos Staff by telephone or any other means appropriate for the situation, that fire alarm is sounding.

d. All staff members are to assist the children to the emergency evacuation area.

e. The member of staff last to leave the building will check back to ensure all children are out and close all windows and fire doors along the evacuation route.

f. Supervisors of each area or in their absence a qualified member of staff will check that all children in their area are accounted for by checking the attendance register and taking a roll call.

3. The manager, nursery owner or assistant manager is to collect the staff sign in/out register, kept in the office. If there is time she will turn off the power at the main switchboard. On exit off the main building she will close all doors and windows.

4. Management will bring out a first aid kit and their mobile phones.

5. All staff MUST assemble in the evacuation area and remain there until instructed by the fire brigade / emergency services or management. At this time, management will re check each areas attendance register and head count the children. Management are also responsible for checking that all their staff, students and visitors are accounted for by checking the daily attendance sheets and visitor book.

6. Any staff or children unaccounted for must be reported immediately to management and the emergency services personnel.

7. Once everybody is assembled in the emergency evacuation area, staff are not to attempt to re- enter the nursery until the area is declared safe by the Fire Brigade/ Emergency Services.

Staff Should:

• REMEMBER THAT THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN AND STAFF IS PARAMOUNT

• Only extinguish small fires if trained to use a fire extinguisher (Management, supervisors and some qualified staff members have received training).

• Report all fires/ emergencies to management – even those that have been extinguished no matter how minor they are considered to be.

• Never enter a room that contains or is filled with smoke.

• Never enter a room if the door is warm/ hot to touch.

Following the occurrences of a real emergency evacuation, management MUST:

1. Document in detail the emergency evacuation situation and report to Ofsted.

2. Review and evaluate the measures taken.

3. Manage any identified hazards or risks in order to prevent the emergency occurring again.

Following an emergency evacuation practice, management MUST document the following:

1. The date and time of the emergency evacuation practice.

2. Raise any concerns, or identified hazards and risks, in order to eliminate or minimise those risks in a real emergency.

3. Complete the white fire log book, this can be found in the office.

Emergency Evacuation Procedures should:

1. Be practised every three months (Minimum) by all staff and children.

2. Be discussed with children on a regular basis to ensure their understanding of and familiarity with evacuation procedures.

3. Be discussed and reviewed at staff meetings, with appropriate changes implemented to ensure that it runs smoothly in case of a real emergency.

Notification to families:

• If the nursery experiences a real emergency evacuation, families will be notified of the following:

1. The nature of the emergency that occurred and the location of the emergency.

2. Date and time of emergency.

3. How the children responded to the situation, and what families and nursery can/ will do to follow up the incident in order to support and reassure their child.

4. What precautions or actions the nursery will take to prevent this kind of emergency occurring again or minimise the risk.

  Little Swans Day Nursery 

Health and Safety Policy

July 2013

Aim:

At Little Swans Day Nursery it is our aim to provide a healthy and safe environment for children and staff. We make our setting a safe and healthy place for children, parents, staff, volunteers/students and visitors.

• We aim to make children, parents and staff aware of health and safety issues to minimise the hazards and risks to enable the children to thrive in a healthy and safe environment.

• Staff members responsible for health and safety are :

Samantha Tranter, Nursery Manger, Elaine Boulton, Owner and Attya Shahin, Supervisor.

 They have undertaken health and safety training and regularly update their knowledge and understanding of health and safety.

 They are responsible for ensuring regular inspections take place and risk assessments are carried out as necessary and accurately

 We display the necessary health and safety poster on the wall in the office

At all times employees, volunteers, students and visitors will co-operate fully in implementing health and safety initiatives.

Insurance Cover

We have Public Liability and employers’ liability insurance. The certificate for public liability insurance is on display in:

The main entrance, Insurance is provided by AVIVA

EYFS key themes and commitments

A Unique Child Positive Relationships Enabling Environments Learning and Development

1.3 Keeping Safe

1.4 Health and well – being

1.2 Inclusive Practice

2.2 Parents as partners

2.4 Key Person 3.3 The Learning Environment

3.2 Supporting Every Child

3.4 The Wider Context 4.2 Learning and Development

Procedures:

Awareness raising:

• Our induction training for staff and volunteers/ students includes a clear explanation of health and safety issues so that all adults are able to adhere to our policy and procedures as they understand their shared responsibility for health and safety.

• Records are kept of these induction sessions and new staff, volunteers/students are asked to sign the records to confirm that they have taken part and understand their responsibilities.

• All staff are responsible for maintaining a safe environment through vigilance and careful planning.

• Staff are responsible for ensuring they report any defect likely to put any child or adult at risk from illness or injury.

• Health and safety issues are explained to the parent/carers of new children so that they understand the part played by these issues in the daily routine at the nursery. Parent/carers are informed of any changes to the procedure through our monthly newsletters, website, letters, nursery blog and Twitter.

• As necessary, health and safety training is included in the annual training plans of staff, and health and safety is discussed regularly at our monthly staff meetings and regular supervisor meetings.

• We operate a no smoking policy

• Children are made aware of health and safety issues through discussions, planned activities and routines.

Safety of adults

• Employees/ adults are expected to take responsible care of their own health and safety at all times.

• Staff, volunteers and students are provided guidance about safe storage, movement, lifting and erection of large pieces of equipment.

• When adults need to reach up to store equipment or change display boards etc... They are provided with safe and appropriate equipment to do so.

• All warning signs, fires exit s etc... Are clear and visible.

• Adults do not remain in the building on their own or leave on their own once nursery closes, during the opening hours of 7.30am and 6pm

• The sickness of staff and their involvement in accidents is recorded. The records are regularly reviewed to identify issues that need to be addressed.

• We keep a record of all substances that may be hazardous to health – such as cleaning chemicals, or gardening chemicals if used. This states what the risks are and what to do if they have contact with eyes or skins or are ingested. It also states where they are stored.

• We keep all cleaning chemicals in their original containers and store the securely out of reach of children.

Windows

• Low level windows are made from materials that prevent accidental breakage or are made safe

• Windows are protected from accidental breakage or vandalism from people outside the nursery

• Windows above the ground floor area are secured so that children cannot climb through them

Doors

• We take precautions to prevent children’s fingers being trapped

• All entrances and exits into the classroom areas have gates fitted with locks

• Staff discuss with children about ‘keeping safe’ and not opening and closing the gates

Floors

• All floor surfaces are checked daily to ensure they are clean and not uneven, wet or damaged. Wet floor signs are used to prevent slips and falls.

Electrical/gas equipment

It is the responsibility of all users to inspect appliances for loose wiring, faulty plugs etc., before using them. Electrical faults must be reported immediately. Faulty equipment must be removed from usage and clearly labelled as such. No-one should attempt to repair the equipment themselves.

The following lists shows examples of electrical faults:

• Equipment not working;

• Loose Wiring;

• Broken casing around wires or applications;

• Electrical arcing (sparks);

• Plugs becoming warm…etc.

All employees, whether paid or voluntary, have a responsibility to observe basic principles of electrical safety as well as inspecting appliances before use, i.e.:

• Ensure that hands are dry before using an electrical appliance;

• Ensure that adequate instructions are obtained before using unfamiliar electrical equipment and comply with the manufacturer’s instructions;

• Leads should never be pulled to remove a plug or to lift or move an appliance;

• Switch of by the mains, unplug and put away all electrical equipment (where appropriate)when not in use;

• Sockets must not be overloaded by the use of adaptors (when in doubt error on the side of safety/seek qualified advice)

• If extension cables are used then these must be placed in such a way so not to cause a hazard to anybody else.

• All electrical / gas equipment conforms to safety requirements and is checked regularly.

• Our boiler/electrical switch gear/meter cupboard is not accessible to the children. Where these cupboards are in the classrooms these are locked with a key at all times.

• Fires, heaters, electric sockets, wires and leads are properly guarded and all children are taught not to touch them and the reasons why.

• There are sufficient sockets to protect overloading.

• The temperature of hot water is controlled to prevent scalds.

• Lighting and ventilation is adequate in all areas including storage areas.

All electrical equipment will be maintained on a routine basis

Fire

Management are responsible for ensuring that precautions are taken against fire through the

routine maintenance of fire safety equipment, through reviewing and posting emergency fire procedures in buildings and educating employees, whether paid or voluntary, in safe practices.

It is the duty of all employees paid or voluntary, to co-operate in the implementation of this policy and report to the management committee any instances where the proper procedures are not being implemented e.g. obstruction of escape routes.

Within the premises, the setting operates a No Smoking Policy. It is the responsibility of each individual smoker to ensure that they only smoke outside the building, outside the library building and ensure that their cigarette is properly extinguished.

• Fire alarms and fire doors are checked regularly at the nursery, and failure to comply with safety regulations or faults must be immediately reported to management.

• Staff and children participate in regular fire drills which take place quarterly (every three months) at the nursery.

• Details of the drill and any faults, recommendations etc… are reported in the nursery’s fire log

• Children are taught through activities and circle time about fire and what to do if they hear the alarm.

• As part of staff inductions the fire procedure, locations of extinguishers, blankets and exits are made known.

Emergency procedures

• Management will ensure that all members of staff are aware of the nursery’s planned emergency procedures in the event of accidents, injuries, illness, fire etc…

RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995)

Your responsibilities under RIDDOR

Under RIDDOR certain work related incidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive. They have an incident contact centre - telephone 0845 300 9923.

Any of the following should be reported if it happens to a member of the public, including a parent or child, or an employee on the nursery premises:

• A death or major injury , which includes a fracture (but not of fingers, thumbs or toes), an amputation, dislocation, permanent or temporary loss of sight, and an injury from an electric shock;

• A reportable disease;

• A dangerous occurrence, which didn’t but could have resulted in a reportable injury;

• An injury resulting in hospital admission.

Such incidents must also be reported to Ofsted.

First aid Boxes:

These are kept in each area and can be clearly identified. It is the responsibility of management to ensure directly or by delegation, that the boxes are properly stocked.

Laura Hall Is the designated member of staff.

COSHH (The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations)

Chemicals are widely used for a variety of processes in childcare and cleaning, and some are extremely hazardous. To comply with these regulations a list will be kept by the manager of all hazardous or potentially hazardous substances that are used in the nursery. A copy of this list will be kept at the setting.

In addition to chemicals, all body fluids are to be treated as substances hazardous to health and should be carefully dealt with using protective gloves and materials that can be safely disposed of.

Management are to be informed of any hazardous substances which it proposes to bring onto the premises for the use by employees, paid or voluntary or other users.

Any persons using such chemicals must observe the following guidelines:

• All substances, which are included on the COSHH list, including bleach and general household chemicals, are to be stored in a safe place out of reach of children;

• All hazardous substances e.g. bleach, solvents, glues containing solvents are to be used with care;

• Always read the label before use and follow the manufacturer’s instructions;

• Avoid inhalation, ingestion and skin contact of all chemical substances;

• Always wear the appropriate protective clothing e.g. gloves etc.;

• Products must never be mixed as this could give rise to hazardous by-products e.g. bleach will give off chlorine gas if mixed with an acidic cleaner such as Harpic;

• Those using the substance must be familiar with the First Aid procedures to be used in the event of an accident.

In the interest of Health and Safety, substances hazardous to health should only be used if there is no less harmful or harmless alternative.

Storage

• All resources and materials from which children select are stored safely.

• All equipment and resources are stored or stacked safely to prevent them accidentally falling or collapsing.

Outdoor area

• Our outdoor area is situated at the rear of the nursery; a brick wall around the perimeter ensures the area is secure for children, with a key coded gate for additional security.

• A daily outdoor check is completed by a staff member before children use the area.

• Adults and children are alerted to any dangers in the outdoor area. E.G. pesticides etc...

• Where water can form a pool on equipment it is emptied before children start playing outside.

• Our outdoor sand pit and soil pit is covered when not in use, checked daily and cleaned regularly.

• All outdoor activities are supervised at all times.

Outings and trips

• As far as possible all children will have access to all activities taking place off the premises.

• A risk assessment will be undertaken to ensure the safety of all participants during visits taking place off site.

• No child will participant in a visit unless parental consent has been sought beforehand.

Cleanliness of premises

The nursery recognises that it has a duty to set appropriate standards of cleanliness throughout its premises and to maintain these by:

• Investigating and acting upon any accidents/incidents that have occurred due to lack of cleanliness;

• Providing enough funding to achieve and maintain a good standard of cleanliness;

• Providing facilities for the safe and convenient storage of cleaning equipment and materials;

• Promoting good housekeeping practices amongst employees and other users of the premises.

All employees, whether paid or voluntary, have a responsibility to maintain a good standard of cleanliness by:

• Observing good personal and environmental hygiene practices;

• Carefully disposing of rubbish into appropriate bags/containers provided, particularly where broken glass or dangerous waste is concerned;

• Tidying up and putting away equipment and materials after use;

• Cleaning up spillages, debris, litter etc., as soon after the occurrence as possible;

• Reporting any shortfalls in standards to the appropriate person.

Hygiene

• We regularly seek information from the Environmental Health Department and the Health Authority to ensure that we keep up –to-date with the latest recommendations.

• Our daily routines encourage children to learn about personal hygiene.

• We have a daily cleaning routine for the setting which includes play rooms, hallways/cloakrooms, kitchen, office/staff room, toilet areas and nappy changing areas.

• We have a schedule in each area for cleaning resources and equipment, dressing up clothes and furnishings.

• The toilet areas have a high standard of hygiene including hand washing and drying facilities and the disposal of nappies.

• We implement good hygiene practices by:

 Cleaning tables between activities

 Cleaning toilets regularly

 Wearing protective clothing - such as aprons and disposable gloves – as appropriate

 Changing children’s clothes

 Providing tissues and ensuring individual use of flannels, towels and bibs.

Food Handling

The nursery has a responsibility to maintain acceptable levels of hygiene and health and safety with respect to food.

All employees, paid or voluntary, who handle food, have a responsibility to:

• Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene;

• Refrain from handling food when they or anyone at home are suffering from an infectious disease or have boils, ulcers, cuts or rashes , diarrhoea, eye, ear or throat infection or any untoward discharge;

• Adhere to the nursery’s Health and Safety Policy;

• Report shortcomings to the appropriate person, e.g. faulty or damaged storage, preparation and service equipment;

• All foods must be checked to ensure that they are of the quality, substance and temperature required and that they are within their use-by-dates;

• All foods must be stored under conditions that will prevent their deterioration. Instructions on the label, if present, should be followed.

Environment and the workplace

The nursery is legally obliged to maintain a safe and acceptable working environment in as far as is reasonable and practicable. Employees, paid or voluntary, have a responsibility to co-operate to maintain this environment.

Lighting

Must be suitable and sufficient in every part of the nursery through which people either pass through or work in. Doorways and potential hazards like steps must be well lit. Artificial lighting apparatus must be properly maintained and fluorescent lights must be flicker free.

Noise at work regulations 1989

Applies to all workplaces requiring assessments of noise levels and the taking of appropriate preventive action where there are excessive noise levels.

Space

Around machinery and equipment must be adequate to ensure that safe working practices are achievable.

Heating

The setting must ensure that the a reasonable temperature (not less than 16 centigrade) can be maintained in every room which people are employed to work

Ventilation

Must be effective and suitable to ensure circulation of adequate supplies of wither fresh or artificially purified air.

VDUs (Visual Display Units)

For safe operation the equipment needs to be properly installed and consideration given to the following points:

• Make sure that the screen is sharp, clean and individual characters can be easily read;

• The characters should not flicker or move;

• There should be no reflection on the screen;

• Ensure that there is adequate lighting to the desk surface adjacent to the machine;

• Ensure that the user’s chair has an adjustable height and back support so that a proper sitting position can be maintained.

Activities and resources

• Before purchase or loan, equipment and resources are checked to ensure that they are safe for the ages and stages of development of the children currently attending the nursery.

• The lay out of play equipment allows adults and children to move safely and freely between activities.

• All equipment is regularly checked for cleanliness and safety and any dangerous items are removed, repaired or discarded.

• All materials, including paint and glue, are non toxic and suitable for the purpose.

• Sand is clean and suitable for children’s play.

• Physical play is constantly supervised.

• Children are taught to handle and store tools safely.

• Children who are sleeping are checked regularly at 15 minute intervals. Staff complete a sleep chart recording all information.

• Children learn about health, safety and personal hygiene through the activities we provide and the routines we follow.

• Any faulty equipment is removed from use and is repaired. If it can not be repaired then it is discarded.

• Large pieces of equipment are discarded only with the consent of management/owner.

Accident, injury, illness and Health

Maintenance of property and equipment to ensure personal safety is the overall responsibility of the management. All employees, whether paid or voluntary, are responsible for the correct and safe use of all property and equipment in the setting and for the reporting of any faults or hazards to their supervisor or management.

The aim of any policy relating to accidents must stress that in the first instance every effort should be made to avoid an accident happening. The following list provides an indication of areas that require special attention:

• Beware of wet floors

• Equipment should not be turned on when unattended and in such a position as to cause others to trip over it;

• Doors and drawers should be closed when not in use;

• Equipment should be stored in a safe manner in cupboards;

• Filing cabinets should not be overloaded;

• Climbing onto chairs or desks is not permitted. Appropriate equipment should be used to reach high levels;

• Step-ladders must be properly adjusted and secured. If more that the three lower steps are to be used it needs to be supported by a second person;

• Correct methods must be employed when lifting or moving heavy objects;

• Working areas must be kept tidy and clear of obstruction;

• Fire doors must not be wedged open.

This is not exhaustive!

Parent Partnership and Shared Care Policy

Reviewed: April 2013

Reviewed by: Elaine Boulton Nursery Owner

Parent Policy and Shared Care Statement

Little Swans Day Nursery recognises that parents are the primary carers and educators of children. Our aim is to work in partnership with parents to support and encourage the children to feel safe and secure in an enabling environment which values the diversity and equalities of all our families. This will ensure that the children develop a sense of belonging and it supports emotional well-being and enables the children to learn and develop and become lifelong learners.

We work in close co-operation with parents in order to ensure high standards of care and achievement for all of our children. By working in close partnership with parents we nurture the development of trust, respect, confidence, independence, self-esteem and the desire to learn.

Open Door Policy

At Little Swans we operate an open door policy that encourages parent partnership. Parents are welcomed into the nursery at all times and the manager’s office door is quite literally “open” (unless a private interview is already taking place) and parents are always welcome to call in.

Key Practitioners

Each room at Little Swans Day Nursery has key people, so you will be seeing the same faces all of the time. Our Supervisors are all room based, along with our qualified staff. Junior staff move around to gain experience.

At the nursery we have a colour code system, allowing you to identify our staff and their role quickly.

Navy top Management

Red top Supervisors

Royal Blue Qualified Nursery Nurses

Sky Blue Trainees

Yellow Tabards Students on Placement

You will quickly get to know the faces of the people in your child’s room, and to help you out with remembering names, there is a staff photograph board in all areas as well as just inside the entrance of the main building.

Each child is designated a key person, this is their special carer. They may form the strongest bond with your child. However at Little Swans we also wait to see if a special relationship forms with your child and another key person. One that your child may have selected themselves.

Because our staff starts their shift at different times, you may not hand them over to their main carer on arrival. However you will be leaving them in the hands of a qualified member of staff that is a regular early morning member.

You will have time on arrival to pass on messages through this member of staff, who will make sure all messages are given to the main carer as soon as they start their shift. This is done through a diary entry. Each area has a diary that they use every day to make entries; regarding messages to staff that may or may not have started their shift, from the parent. These messages can be simple entries such as “J has been complaining about a headache could you keep an eye on him?” The key Person will read the entries and talk to staff prior to starting their shift, so they are aware of parent’s wishes and endeavour to carry them out.

You will meet your child’s key person during the settling in stage and at your home visit, prior to your child taking up a permanent place.

It is important that this partnership is two way, and we would like you to share information with your child’s key person. This may be how they have slept, if they have had a bad night or may be something that they have particularly enjoyed doing at home, which they can then continue to enjoy at nursery. Likewise your child’s key person will tell you about your child’s likes and dislikes at nursery. For example if your child enjoyed making a splash in water play! You could talk about this with them at bath time and continue the fun!

This makes strong bonds between the nursery and home and will help your child to feel secure and loved by us as well as you. We ask for parent input on a daily basis when dropping off and collecting your child.

Each day your child will come home with a daily report detailing how they have spent their time at nursery, along with sleeps, nappy changes, what they have eaten during mealtimes as well as the amount, snack times as well as any requests for nappies, food (for the under one`s ) or wipes.

Parents Evenings

These are more formal feedback sessions with your child’s key person, in order to discuss development. They are held twice a year; In April and November. You will also receive a Transition Document, prepared by the key person, which will detail your child’s progress in the Early Years Foundation Stage. These are completed each time your child moves areas or move to new setting, and are important information for your child’s new key person as well as for parents and carers.

You will also receive an end of year report, of which a copy will be sent to your child’s new school. The report will help your child’s class teacher to settle your child without too much disruption and upset.

Children’s Profile and Planning

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage and Framework. Each child has an individual profile, called a Learning Journey. This is photographic evidence of your child taking part in activities in all areas of their learning. The staff enjoy writing in these “Journals” and as your child moves on through the groups you will have a wonderful memento to keep. Superb memories...

The staff team, through observations and talking to your child, will plan activities for them to enjoy, based on their interests and stage of development.

We ask you to help plan for your child’s learning by completing initial information forms telling us about your child’s routine, interests, likes and dislikes as well as other members of the family who are important to them. As we plan our activities around the children’s interests it is good to hear when they have been on a visit to a farm or park as well as visits to additional family members such as aunties, uncles, and grandparents.

If they have a favourite story at home, you could tell us about this and we could arrange activities around it.

Please feel free to access your child’s Learning Journey which will be in your child drawer in their base room. We also provide time during half term for parents to come into nursery and look at their child’s journey with them. You are welcome to contribute to your child’s Learning Journey by bringing in photographs from home, or telling your key practitioner about milestones your child has achieved when at home with you.

Trips and Outings

The children access many activities held off the premises. Our babies and 2 year olds visit a special sensory room at Oakland’s Children’s Centre, which is close by (10 minutes walk), and is both wonderful and relaxing with music and touchy feely equipment especially to encourage your child to develop their senses.

Our 3 and 4 year old have trips to Nature Centres, parks, theme parks as well as theatre productions. They also take part in educational visits such as a Mosque or church. They have story sessions at the library as well as play and stay for the two year olds and computer lessons where they are fortunate to have the use of a computer each.

Our two year olds have Molly Music who comes into the nursery the first Friday of each month. Starting from April 2012. Helen who owns and runs the company comes into the setting with her dog puppet Molly. During the sessions the children listen to a variety of music, learning new actions, accompanying the songs with instruments.

We are also looking into visiting our local primary school that hold a rhyme time session Wednesday mornings from 9.30am.

We ask for parents to volunteer their time to accompany our children on these well organised trips.

We have a professional dance teacher, Mrs Philippa Simms who comes into nursery during term time to teach the children modern and classical dance which helps to develop hand and eye co-ordination. Phillipa also teaches the children dance routines which the children perform in front of parents during our leaver’s assembly, at the end of each year, as well as our Christmas nativity.

Preschool also visit the Elderly at their Sheltered Accommodation twice a year, during Christmas and Easter, to sing to our senior citizens as well as them singing to our children.

Organised Parties

The children have a Christmas party held for all the family including extended family and parents which takes place off the premises at Sheldon Heath Social Club. Father Christmas, children’s games, raffle, buffet, as well as children’s disco ensures your child goes home happy and very tired!! A fabulous time is had by all and we are now into our 8th year of running this very special occasion. All staff help to organise activities, food etc. It is such a special time for all.

During Easter we hold an Easter Fun Day for children, parents, carers and grandparents and extended family to attend. Held at the local Scout Hut we have an Easter egg hunt, art and craft activities, a prize for the best Easter Bonnet as well as a cake sale tea and coffee while you get to mix with other parents and staff.

We also hold a fancy dress competition at Halloween again held at Sheldon Heath Social. Where parents, staff, children, extended family members as well as carers get to dress up as witches, pumpkins ghosts and mummies. The best dressed receives a prize!!

During the year at nursery we have a traditional Christmas party where once again the children play party games, eat wonderful food donated by our parents and have a special visit from Santa.

We also have a Halloween party, fancy dress day, festival celebration days along with an Easter party, Easter bonnet competitions etc etc!!

Family and Carers Helping out at the Nursery

We have Grandparents, dads, mums and aunties who come into nursery and tell stories to the children or help out with activities. The children love to show off their family members to others, and we are always on the lookout for new recruits.....

Our parent partnership coordinators at the nursery are Jenny Owen and Laura Hall both of whom work in Heroes.

Newsletters/Communication

At the beginning of each month we send a nursery newsletter home detailing the events taking place, along with any trips or outings for the month ahead, and general news. We also email the newsletter for those with internet access.

As well as our monthly newsletters we also have a two parent notice boards. One is before entering the main building. On this notice board you will also see the phone number and address for Ofsted in case you would like to contact them regarding the nursery and the care of your child. We then have a large display parent notice board on the inside of the main entrance. Each area also has a notice board just outside of the classroom detailing specific events, interests for that particular age group and staff details as well as children’s key groups.

Every two months we hold a Learning Journey drop in session. This is where you have the opportunity to come into nursery and speak with your child’s key person and look at your child’s Learning Journey. During this visit you can discuss any concerns or issues you may have or just come for a cuppa and a chat.

You can also take advantage of our end of month SENCO drop in session with Jenny and Emma, our nursery Special Educational Needs Coordinator and assistant. It is held the last Thursday of every month at 2pm until 3pm, though this can be extended or time rearranged for specific circumstances. Again if you have any concerns about your child’s development you can come into nursery and discuss them in private. However, please remember our open door policy, should you need to see a staff member on speck.

Nursery Website and blogs

Our nursery website can be found at www.littleswans.org.uk we update the content regular and provide parents with information regarding policies and further development at the nursery. Each room has a weekly blog which is updated with information about the activities the children participate in and other information regarding staff.

Twitter

Do check us out on Twitter under the name of swansyardley. We twitter interesting events each day, that are taking place at the nursery as well as general information that will be of interest to you. Also if the weather is bad, instead of waiting for staff to open the nursery at 7.30am before phoning, go onto twitter and see if the weather has caused a problem for us .

Questionnaires

We ask our parents and carers for more formal feedback every year in the form of a parent’s questionnaire as we really appreciate your input so thank you in advance for taking the time to complete these.

Comments and Suggestions

We have a comments and suggestion box in the entrance hall of the main building. Please feel free to post suggestions that will help our nursery to develop and move forward, as well as letting us know if you are happy with the existing service you receive.

Along with this, ideas for activities, trips etc are welcome as are comments about our care and our staff team. Our staff get a “special thanks” on the staff board for any specific feedback they get.

Parent Steering Group

Our Parent Steering Group, called Cygnet has been running for a year now and is very successful. We have eight parents who attend our meetings every six weeks. During the meetings we discuss developments at the nursery and how we can work together to move the nursery forward by taking into consideration their thoughts and ideas and working together as a partnership.

If you are interested in joining this group please speak with Jenny Owen, Smarties room supervisor or Laura Hall, Rolos nursery nurse. Both girls helped to establish the parent group and would be very interested in other parents joining.

Data Protection Policy

Reviewed by: Elaine Boulton February 2013

Little Swans Day Nursery is fully committed to compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 which came into force on 1st March 2000. The nursery will therefore follow procedures which aim to ensure that all employees, elected members, trainees/placement staff, helpers of the nursery who have access to any personal data held by or on behalf of the nursery are fully aware of and abide by their duties under the data Protection Act 1998.

Statement of Policy

In order to operate efficiently Little Swans has to collect and use information about people/children with whom it works. These may include members of the public, current, past and prospective employees as well as parents and carers.

In addition it may be required by law to collect and use information in order to comply with requirements of central government.

This personal information must be handled and dealt with properly, however it is collected, recorded and used, and whether it be on paper in computer records or recorded by any other means, and therefore are safeguards within the Act to ensure this.

Little Swans Nursery regards the lawful and correct treatment of personal information as very important to its successful operations and to maintaining confidence between the nursery and those with whom it carries out business and/or cares for. The nursery will ensure that it treats personal information lawfully and correctly.

To this end the nursery fully endorses and adheres to the principles of Data Protection as set out in the data Protection Act 1998.

Miss Tranter nursery Manager and Mrs. Boulton nursery owner have specific responsibility for data protection in the nursery

The nursery will conform to:

The terms of the 1998 Data Protection Act, and any subsequent relevant legislation, to ensure personal information is treated in a manner which is fair and lawful.

Ofsted advice and guidance which is supplied in the Early Years Foundation Stage Welfare Requirements framework.

Information and guidance displayed on the Information Commissioner’s website (www.dataprotection.gov.uk)

This Policy should be used in conjunction with the following nursery policies: E policy, Internet policy, social networking and safeguarding policies.

Policy:

2 Data Gathering

2.1 All personal data relating to staff, children and their families or other people of whom we have contact, whether held on computer or in paper files, are covered by the Act.

2.2 Only relevant personal data may be collected and the person from whom it is collected should be informed of the data’s intended use and any possible disclosures of the information that may be made.

3 Data Storage

3.1 Personal data will be stored in a secure and safe manner.

3.2 Electronic data will be protected by a password and firewall systems operated by the bursary (please refer to E policy)

3.3 Computer workstations are positioned in the office. Management/ staff using the systems will remain conscious of casual observers.

3.4 Manual data will be stored where it is not accessible to anyone who does not have a legitimate reason to view or process that data.

3.5 Particular attention will be paid to the need for security of sensitive personal data.

3.5 Strict checks are applied to determine the length of time information is held.

4 Data Checking

4.1 The nursery will issue regular reminders to staff and parents to ensure that personal data held is up to date and accurate. In addition twice yearly during parent’s evening it is good practice of the nursery to issue all parent/ carers with new contact detail forms to be completed.

4.2 Any errors discovered will be rectified and, if the incorrect information has been disclosed to a third party; any recipients will be informed of the correct data.

5 Data Disclosures

5.1 Personal data will only be disclosed to organization’s or individuals for whom consent has been given to receive the data, or organization’s that have a legal right to receive the data without consent being given (safeguarding policy)

5.2 When requests to disclose personal data are received by telephone it is the responsibility of the nursery to ensure the caller is entitled to receive the data and they are who they say they are. It is good practice to call them back, preferably by a switchboard, to ensure the possibly of fraud is minimized.

5.3 If a personal request is made for personal data to be disclosed it is again the responsibility of the nursery to ensure the caller is entitled to receive the data and that they are who they say they are. If the person is not known personally by the nursery, proof of identity must be requested. It may be necessary for the caller to request data in writing.

5.4 Requests for children’s names for Birthday parties and Christmas card lists can be given by a member of permanent nursery staff. Note only children’s first names should be given and their classroom.

5.5 Separate parental consent is sought for group photographs of children prior to them being displayed or distributed. Consent should clearly identify the purpose for the photograph and it use as well as who will receive photos; this includes learning journeys.

6.6 Personal data will not be used in newsletters, website or other media without prior consent form the subject.

6.7 Personal Data will only be disclosed to Police Officers if they are able to supply a WA170 form which notifies of a specific, legitimate need to have access to specific personal data. This form is the agreed procedure between Birmingham city Council and West Midlands Police.

6.8 A record should be kept of any personal data disclosed so that the recipient can be informed if the data is later found to be inaccurate.

7 Subject Access Requests

7.1 If the nursery receives a written request form to see any or all personal data that the nursery holds about them; should be treated as a Subject Access Request and the nursery will respond within the 40 day deadline.

7.2 Informal requests to view or have copies or personal data will be dealt with wherever possible at a mutually convenient time but, in the event of any disagreement over this, the person requesting the data will be instructed to make their application in writing and the nursery will comply with its duty to respond within the 40 day time limit.

8 The policy will be included in staff inductions as of January 2012

9 Data protection statements will be included on any forms that are used to collect personal data.

10 CCTV

Images of people are covered by the Data Protection Act, and so is information about people which is derived from images – for example, vehicle registration numbers.

The use of CCTV at the nursery is covered by the Act. This is regardless of the number of cameras or how sophisticated the equipment is.

Purpose

Elaine Boulton, Nursery Owner and Samantha Tranter, Nursery Manager is responsible for the control of images recorded and their purpose. The CCTV at the nursery is used to safeguard the children as well as staff and other adults on the premises. The security of the premises is also recorded when the nursery is closed this also includes the car park area.

Management may decide to use the CCTV as part of supervision and monitoring practices of staff throughout the nursery. This will be discussed with individual staff members and a written report will be kept on their employment records; this will support quality and the delivery of our service.

All benefits from installing CCTV at the nursery have been considered.

Retention

Recordings of CCTV will be kept on the hard drive for 28 days. There is no time scale stated in the Act; however due to the nature of the organisation and the vulnerability of our children we feel this is an appropriate time scale.

In the event of recordings being copied and kept for safeguarding concerns, criminal offences or any other practices deemed inappropriate by management; Individuals concerned will be informed of this in writing.

Images will be recorded onto a USB memory stick and kept in a designated area until the footage is no longer required.

During inductions all staff is made aware of the CCTV and sign a consent form, providing permission for images to be recorded; in guidance with the policies and procedures in place at the nursery.

Informing others

This policy will be reviewed and updated February 2014 or when changes in practice/ legislation require the nursery to.