Policies & Procedures
Last reviewed Sept 2008
ARRIVAL / COLLECTION PROCEDURE
On the first visit to the Soft-PlaySkool parents will be required to complete enrolment forms for the child, and medication form if necessary. Subsequent visits will follow the arrival / collection procedure laid out below.
On arrival each child will be encouraged to hang their coat and bag on their own peg and place their shoes in the pockets provided. Child’s name and time of arrival will be entered into the register. On collection of the child time of leaving should be entered in the register. Should parents / guardians be unable to collect the child they will be asked to provide a password to ensure the child is not allowed to go with anyone unauthorised. Any changes to regular times or people picking up will be recorded on the relevant day in the register.
Authorised persons should have their photos on the ‘People Who Pick Me Up’ sheet. Where possible we would ask that the person who will be picking up the child be introduced to us before hand.
SECURITY
In addition to the arrival / collection procedure security policy locks have been fitted to all external doors and security chains are in use.
A visitors book will be in use to monitor anyone other than staff who have access to the premises. Anyone not vetted by Ofsted will be accompanied by a member of staff at all times whilst on the premises. At no time will any unauthorised person be in unsupervised contact with the children.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FOR UNCOLLECTED CHILDREN
All children should be collected promptly to avoid unnecessary distress to the child. If a delay is unavoidable, a phone call to reassure the child and inform staff of the situation is advisable.
In the event of any delay, staff will endeavour to contact parent s and then the designated emergency contact. If child is still uncollected staff will have to contact Social Services to provide suitable care, however, this is a last resort and every effort will be made by staff to return the child to his/her parent as soon as is possible. An additional charge may be made for extended delays.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
In line with regulations we operate an Equal Opportunity Policy. All children will be treated as individuals and encouraged to develop, as such, within the friendly play-based environment of the Soft-PlaySkool.
No discrimination will be made with regard to Gender, Race, Religion, Culture, Employment or Family Backgrounds and any specific beliefs, diets etc will be reflected in choice of activities, with topics being chosen to give children a well-rounded and unprejudiced view of the world. Parents are asked to include any specific cultural / religious needs their child may have on the Registration and Child Profile sheets and are welcome to discuss these with us. Staff will act in a manner to reflect this policy and training will be undertaken to increase staff awareness of these matters.
SPECIAL NEEDS / INCLUSION POLICY
Children with Special Needs will also be made welcome and encouraged to integrate with the other children. Whilst being aware of, and sensitive to, type and severity of the individual’s needs, every effort will be made by staff to help children enjoy the full range of the facilities available.
Should a child have a physical or mental condition for which a carer would need extensive knowledge, we reserve the right to postpone admission to the nursery until training and research can be carried out. This is in order that our staff are able to care for the child in a manner specific to their needs, and is in for the benefit of both the children in our care and also our staff. In certain circumstances it may be in the best interests of the child to seek specialised care.
At Little Fishes we follow the Code of Practice with regard to Special Educational Needs and we promote inclusion within the nursery, providing Individual Educational Plans where necessary ~ adapting activities to provide for a wide range of children’s needs. Should a member of staff or parent express concerns regarding any child’s progress or development the designated Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) for the nursery would support staff in developing an action plan to provide for the child’s needs. Should the SENC0 feel the need for any further support we would then contact the Area SENCo who can provide further advice and support for the child and provision. Should this involvement become necessary the child’s parent(s) would be informed and a mutually suitable arrangement would be made. As with all aspects of the children’s care we respect parent/carer’s wishes and under no circumstances would further specific advice be sought without prior written consent form the child’s parent/ carer.
PROCEDURE FOR SAFE AND EFFECTIVE USE OF SENSORY SLEEP ROOM
The sensory sleep room offers a nurturing, child-centred sensory supportive environment. It is used to facilitate empowerment, relaxation, sensory awareness, communication, tolerance and general awareness of self, peers and the environment.
The sensory sleep room is available for small groups and individual sessions. The room must be left in a clean and orderly condition. All children without nappies should use the toilet before using the sensory sleep room. Staff must supervise any child using the room, preferably key workers can support their key children.
The baby room supervisor will organise and co-ordinate a rota for all children at Little Fishes to enjoy time in the sensory sleep room. Children with additional needs may benefit from shorter / more frequent sessions.
When staff are not in the room or baby area the door must be kept locked.
Resources should not be removed from the sensory sleep room without prior request from the baby supervisor. Staff can locate support information by referring to the sensory sleep room resource file located on the shelf in sensory sleep room.
POLICY FOR SAFE PROCEDURE ON OUTINGS
At times it may be beneficial to the children to go on outings (e.g. park, library) and at such times we will ensure that all children are kept safe by increasing staff/child ratios, where possible, to 1:2. From time to time larger outings or sponsored events may be organised individually or between settings. At such times parents will be invited to accompany us.
PROCEDURE IN CASE OF MISSING CHILDREN
In the unlikely event of a child becoming lost whilst in our care, the following procedure will be adhered to. The most senior member of staff on duty would thoroughly search the immediate area. The remaining children in the group would be head-counted and gathered to a safe area, and quiet activities provided for them, with enough staff to ensure minimum care ratios are maintained. All extra staff will assist in the search.
Should there be no sign of the child after a preliminary search of the area, the search leader would contact the local police and inform parents. The search would, however, be continued, in accordance with police advice.
The outcome and details of the incident will be recorded and relayed to Ofsted at the next available opportunity.
PARENTS AS PARTNERS
Parents are encouraged to discuss any aspect of their child’s care with our nursery staff, in particular their child’s key worker. Any concerns or suggestions will be logged and dealt with individually and each child’s records will be available for the parent to view as required.
Each child is individual and will therefore take different lengths of time to settle into the new environment. We encourage parents to stay until they feel the child is happy with us and we do operate an open door policy with parents free to visit at any time. However, frequent visits can be unsettling for a confident child and therefore recommend a phone call to check how a child is settling. If, after staff’s best efforts, a child is still inconsolable the parent will be contacted to collect them.
Should any parent or staff member feel it would be beneficial for a child to have a home visit to aid the settling process, this may be arranged at a mutually suitable time with your setting manager.
In conjunction with the nursery care we provide, parents are encouraged to visit our website www.littlefishes.net. This is updated weekly with news and activity sheets to provide a basis for the parent to share in their child’s learning and progress and keep parents informed of any changes or forthcoming events.
BEHAVIOUR AND DISCIPLINE
Children will be encouraged to learn and display positive behaviour such as respect, responsibility, self-discipline, co-operation and consideration. This will be achieved through positive reinforcement and appropriate examples being set by staff showing respect to children and each other and displaying good manners. In most cases children will be given the chance to reconcile their own disagreements and staff should act as mediators, offering solutions where necessary. Staff should avoid discussing the child’s behaviour when the child is present. Staff will ensure that activities, resources and positive attention are provided to reduce the likelihood of children craving negative attention. In order to promote self-esteem and provide children with the ability to evaluate their own behaviour, children will be encouraged to discuss what is expected of them during ‘share times’ (e.g. circle time, lunch time) throughout the day and discipline will be consistent and fair. Positive behaviour will be praised and rewarded by attention, responsibility and merit stamps. Staff are aware that some kinds of behaviours may arise from a child’s special needs.
Unacceptable behaviour will be discouraged by suitable intervention from a member of staff. This may involve removal of the child from the situation and calm discussion of the situation in a manner appropriate to the child’s age and ability. It will be made clear to the child that it is the behaviour, and not the child, that is unwelcome. Distraction techniques and time out will be used where necessary however under no circumstances will physical punishment, shaking or verbal abuse be used or threatened. Adults will not shout or raise their voice in a threatening way. Holding may be used only in order to prevent a harmful situation to themselves or another child or staff member, but will never be used in an aggressive manner towards any child. In the occasion that physical intervention should become necessary the circumstances and individuals involved will be recorded on an incident report and discussed with the parents at the end of the session. This will be signed by both parent and staff member and kept on the child’s file.
Persistently unacceptable behaviour will be closely monitored, recorded and discussed with parents in order to develop a suitable programme to modify the behaviour. The Behaviour Management representative and the child’s Keyworker will work with the parents to establish an effective strategy to maintain consistency of approach between nursery and home.
Little Fishes operates an anti-bullying policy for both staff and children. Staff will be subject to disciplinary procedure involving notification to Ofsted, suspension or dismissal. Children will be treated as for any unacceptable behaviour and it will be made clear that the behaviour is unkind and unwelcome here. Parents will be consulted as above and support from other professional assistance may be required in exceptional circumstances. Written permission from parents will always be requested and parents with be fully involved in all stages of the process.
CHILD PROTECTION
Staff are fully trained in Child Protection issues and will be observant in order that any significant changes in behaviour will be recorded in the child’s file. These records will be kept confidential but parents will be encouraged to discuss any concerns about their child.
Any injuries incurred at home or at the Soft-PlaySkool will be recorded in the child’s peresonal accident record and signed by both staff and parent.
If a member of staff has concerns about an individual these will be discussed discreetly with a senior member of staff. Regulations dictate that Social Services are informed of any serious concerns over a child’s welfare.
In the unlikely event of an allegation of abuse being made against staff, Ofsted’s C.I.E team and Social Services’ Child Protection Unit will be informed immediately and an investigation will conducted. The employee in question will be suspended immediately and will remain so for the duration of the investigation. Staff will be fully co-operative with police and social services and relevant records will be made available.
HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
At Little Fishes Soft-PlaySkool we promote a healthy lifestyle through teaching and example and maintain high standards of safety and cleanliness throughout the nursery.
To prevent the spread of contagious infections, strict cleaning schedules are adhered to and regular checks are made to ensure standards stay high. Cleaning that requires the use of toxic chemicals will be carried out away from children to ensure their safety. All chemicals are stored in clearly labelled containers out of reach of children.
Good personal hygiene is encouraged through routine and example and the use of hand washing routines, covering mouth during coughing, chewing with mouth closed and other good practices. Staff are trained in Basic Food Hygiene and Paediatric First Aid, to ensure that the physical wellbeing of your child is our number one priority.
Weekly Health and Safety checks are carried out by our Health and Safety representative and Risk Assessments are carried on buildings, equipment and routines to ensure there is no undue risk to staff or children. Furniture and equipment conforms to Fire Safety regulations and British Safety Standards.
Fire Drills are carried out on a fortnightly basis and all staff are informed of emergency routines including use of fire extinguishers and blankets. Fire fighting equipment is checked annually by the Fire services.
At Little Fishes Soft-PlaySkool we provide a safe and secure environment for your child to enjoy. We aim to prepare your children for their life ahead and, to this end, older children are encouraged to begin to understand the safety risks in their own play and to take care of themselves and others. Children learn these skills through a variety of child led activities and staff example but are supervised at all times to ensure their own, and others’ safety.
Mid morning and afternoon we provide a healthy, nutritious snack, paying particular attention to children’s individual dietary needs and contributing towards their 5 daily portions of fruit and vegetables. All staff are made aware of any food allergies that children may have and take steps to prevent accidental contamination. When heating babies’ bottles and meals we heat over boiling water until warm. Heated milk will be tested on the wrist and heat sensitive spoons are used to further safeguard your little ones.
Should you wish your child to bring home-made food to be re-heated, and in order to agree to microwave heating of food, you will be required to sign a separate copy of the following for your child’s file
Policy to Allow Microwave Heating of Children’s Meals
In the event that a weaned child stays all day and/or is required to have a hot meal, it may be necessary to use a microwave to heat food. In order to maximise your child’s safety we have the following policy regarding this.
Any microwave heating of food will be supervised by a senior member of staff and, in the case of pre-packed ready-meals, will be carried out according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. The food will then be stirred thoroughly to remove any hot spots and left to stand for at least 1 minute to allow heat to disperse.
Should a parent wish to bring home-made food to be re-heated, they do so on the understanding that it will have been cooled in less than 2 hours and stored at a maximum of 5*C, prior to being brought into the nursery. It is also understood that such food will not have been re-heated at home prior to bringing in, as this can allow harmful bacteria to build up in the food. At Little Fishes we undertake to store this food at less than 5*C and ensure it has been heated to at least 75*C (82*C reheating), stirred regularly to remove hot spots and left to stand for at least 1 minute as above. .
We reserve the right to refuse high risk foods, such as egg and rice, and ask that, where possible, you avoid these in your child’s meals.
The above policy has been written to comply with current Health & Safety guidelines and should be read in conjunction to our Health and Safety Policy.
Please see your branch manager for a copy if relevant.
ACCIDENT PROCEDURE
Although every effort has been made to reduce injury and maintain a safe play facility young children are still prone to bumps and bruises. All accidents to children will be recorded along with any actions taken. This record will then be discussed with the parent who will sign that they have been informed.
Please ensure that staff are notified of any significant marks on your child which may have arisen from accidents at home. In the same way as our normal accident forms, we request that parents complete an ‘accident at home’ form in such cases for the protection of staff and to aid communication.
Should emergency care be necessary staff will arrange transport to hospital and the parent will be informed. A member of staff will stay with the injured child until the parent arrives.
SICKNESS POLICY
In the interests of maintaining a healthy environment, staff reserve the right to refuse access to a child who appears to have an infectious illness and/or is unable to cope with the busy Soft-PlaySkool environment. Should a child become ill whilst in our care staff will assess the condition of the child and contact the parent accordingly. For usual childhood illnesses, siblings of sick children will be admitted if they display no signs of illness.
Any child suffering from sickness or diarrhoea will be readmitted to the nursery provided they have been clear for at least 48hrs. If we discover 2 or more cases of food poisoning, or any communicable diseases, we will notify Ofsted and Environmental Health in confidence.
Following an infectious illness, a child will be deemed able to return to the Soft-PlaySkool when he/she is no longer infectious according to guidelines and able to cope with the busy environment.
ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINE POLICY
In general, only medicines prescribed by the child’s GP may be administered.
Should you wish your child to be administered with a medicine not prescribed by a doctor they should discuss this with a senior member of staff and a decision will be made based on individual circumstance, for example if your child requires cream for nappy rash or teething relief gels/powders. Blanket permission at or following registration, in anticipation of necessary administration of non-prescribed medicine, will not be accepted. We advise that if your child is suffering from frequent or acute pain, the advice of a GP should be sought and any relevant medicines prescribed, or written advice received from your doctor (e.g. for calpol following inoculations)
Medicines containing Aspirin or Ibuprofen will NEVER be administered unless prescribed by your GP.
In all cases an ‘Administration of Medicines’ consent form must be completed and signed and the child’s medicine labelled clearly with :
- Child’s name
- Exact Dosage
- Time or times of day to be given
Medicine may only be administered by trained first aid personnel. Medicines must be clearly labelled and stored in a safe and appropriate manner well away from children. Administration records should be initialled by the parent at the end of each day.
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
We feel sure that your child will be really happy with us at Little Fishes however should you have any concerns at all please feel free to discuss these with a senior member of staff, write to the nursery or email us on fun4kids@littlefishes.net
In the event of a complaint being made we will respond, in writing, within 28 days. All details of the complaint, subsequent correspondence, investigations and outcome, will be logged and filed. The complaints log is available for parents to view on request.
Alternatively you may contact Ofsted at the address below ~
Ofsted Early Years
Freshford House
Redcliff Way
Bristol
BS1 6LX
Tel ~ 0845 601 4771
OTHER USEFUL CONTACT NUMBERS
Social Services
North Devon District ~ Children & Families 01271 388660
Out of Hours emergency contact 0845 600388
Emergency ‘Little Fishes’ Staff Contact 07786 367801