HighHouse Day Nursery Established 1985 |
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Please find Nursery Policies as follows: Staffing and employment policy Non-collection of children policy Special educational needs/disability policy Staffing and employment policy
High House Nursery Ltd Introduction High House Nursery expects the highest standards of conduct from all employees, and will treat seriously any concern that an employee may have about illegal or improper conduct. Employees will be expected, through agreed procedures and without fear of recrimination, to bring to the attention of the manager any serious impropriety or beach of procedure. Purpose The procedure is designed to enable employees to notify the manager of any reasonable suspicion of illegal or improper conduct. The procedure requires all employees to act responsible to uphold the reputation of the Nursery and to help maintain public confidence. It is a procedure in which the manager will expect to act swiftly and constructively in the investigation of any concerns in accordance with the nursery’s disciplinary procedure. Concern about a colleague’s professional capability should be dealt with using this procedure. When should it be used? The procedure is not designed to replace or be used as an alternative to the grievance procedure, which should be used where an employee is only aggrieved about her own situation. Employees who are worried about wrong doing at work do not necessarily have a personal grievance. Employees must act in good faith and must have reasonable grounds for believing the information to be accurate. No employees who use this procedure in good faith will not be penalised for doing so. The nursery will not tolerate harassment/ or victimisation of any employee raising concerns. Blowing the Whistle on Malpractice. Malpractice covers a wide range of concerns. The types of activity that should be disclosed include but are not limited to the following:-
Mechanism for raising concerns Where the issue concerns your manager or, having made your report, you believe she has failed to take appropriate action, then you should bring it to the attention of the other manager, or contact Ofsted helpline on 08456 404046. Depending on the nature of the concern, the complainant will be asked to do this in writing. It will be helpful to note down any facts and dates as they happen. Employees who want to use this procedure but feel uneasy about it may wish to consult a trade union initially and bring a friend or trade union representative along to any discussions, so long as the third party is independent of the issue. Where anonymity is requested efforts will be made to meet the request where appropriate but that might not always be possible. The earlier and more open the expression of concern the easier it will be to take appropriate action. Each case will be investigated thoroughly with the aim of informing the complainant of the outcome of any investigation as quickly as possible.
October 2009
Signed
HIGH HOUSE NURSERY LTD
Student placement policy Statement of intent This nursery recognises that qualifications and training make an important contribution to the quality of the care and education provided by early years settings. As part of our commitment to quality, we offer placements to students undertaking early years qualifications and training, including those studying for the CACHE level 2 Certificate in Pre-school Practice and CACHE level 3 Diploma in Pre-school Practice, NVQ level 2 and 3.. Aim We aim to provide for students on placement with us experiences that contribute to the successful completion of their studies and that provide examples of quality practice in early years care and education. Methods
Signed October 2009
HIGH HOUSE NURSERY LTD
Staffing and employment policy
Statement of intent We provide a staffing ratio in line with the requirements of the National Standards for Day Care to ensure that children have sufficient individual attention and to guarantee care and education of a high quality. Our staff are appropriately qualified and we carry out checks for criminal and other records through the Criminal Records Bureau in accordance with statutory requirements. Aims To ensure that children below school age and their parents are offered high quality early years care and education. Methods
October 2009
Signed
HIGH HOUSE NURSERY LTD Statement of intent High House Nursery provides an environment in which all children are supported to reach their full potential. Ute Hart is our Special Educational Needs Coordinator Aims
Methods
Sept 2006
High House Nursery Ltd
Smoking policy
Statement of intent This nursery believes that the health and safety of children is of paramount importance therefore we have adopted a strictly no smoking policy.
October 2009
Signed
High House Nursery Ltd Many childhood infectious disease are highly communicable in the early stages and parents are advised to keep their children at home if exhibiting any signs of illness. IF IN DOUBT, please phone the nursery. The staff will advise whether your child should attend. No child with any of the following will be permitted to attend the nursery:-
It is acknowledged that it is not always possible to diagnose any of the above, or another infectious illness, your child may return to the nursery the following day. As an exception to this, any child who has suffered from diarrhoea or vomiting whilst attending the nursery or at home will be required to remain away from the nursery for a minimum of 48 hours from the last vomit or diarrhoea.
HIGH HOUSE NURSERY LTD
At High House Nursery Ltd we want children to feel safe, stimulated, happy and to feel secure and comfortable with staff. We also want parents to have confidence in both their children's well being and their role as active partners with the Nursery. Aim We aim to make the Nursery a welcome place where children settle quickly and easily because consideration has been given to the individual needs and circumstances of children and their families. Methods
HIGH HOUSE NURSERY LTD High House Nursery believes that children benefit most from Nursery education and care when parents and Nursery’s work together in partnership. Our aim
Method In order to fulfil these aims:
October 2009
Signed
Fees Parent/carers will be invoiced at the beginning of each month and are expected to settle their invoices promptly. High House Nursery reserves the right to issue a fine resulting from the non- payment of fees. Terms and conditions need to be signed and given to the nursery prior to the child starting. The nursery reserves the right to refuse a child’s entrance if these forms are not in our possession. If fees are not paid the nursery reserves the right to take legal action to recover the monies owed.
October 2009
Signed
Non-collection of children policy
Statement of intent In the event that a child is not collected by an authorised adult at the end of a session, the nursery puts into practice agreed procedures. These ensure the child is cared for safely by an experienced and qualified practitioner who is known to the child. Aim In the event that a child is not collected by an authorised adult, we will ensure that the child receives a high standard of care in order to cause as little distress as possible. We inform parents/carers of our procedures so that, if they are unavoidably delayed, they will be reassured that their children will be properly cared for. Methods 1 Parents of children starting at the nursery are asked to provide specific information which is recorded on our Registration Form, including: (a) home address and telephone number - if the parents do not have a telephone, an alternative number must be given, perhaps a neighbour or close relative; (b) place of work, address and telephone number (if applicable); (c) mobile telephone number (if applicable); (d) names, addresses and telephone numbers of adults who are authorised by the parents to collect their child from the nursery, for example a childminder or grandparent; (e) information about any person who does not have legal access to the child; and (f) If a child is not collected at the end of the session, we follow the following procedures: 2 On occasions when parents or the persons normally authorised to collect the child are not able to collect the child, they record the name, address and telephone number of the person who will be collecting their child and hand this in writing to the nursery manager. This is tehn written in the ‘collection of child arrangement book. 3 Parents are informed that if they are not able to collect the child as planned, they must inform us so that we can begin to take back-up procedures.
4 We provide parents with our contact telephone number. We also inform parents that - in the event that their children are not collected from nursery by an authorised adult and the staff can no longer supervise the child on our premises - we apply our child protection procedures as set out in our child protection policy. 5 If a child is not collected at the end of the session, we follow the following procedures: 6 The office is checked for any information about changes to the normal collection routines. 7 If no information is available, parents/carers are contacted at home or at work. 8 If this is unsuccessful, the adults who are authorised by the parents to collect their child from the nursery - and whose telephone numbers are recorded on the Registration Form - are contacted. 9 All reasonable attempts are made to contact the parents or nominated carers. 10 The child does not leave the premises with anyone other than those named on the Registration Form and/or that their parents have specified in writing to the office 11 If no-one collects the child after one hour and there is no-one who can be contacted to collect the child, we apply the procedures for uncollected children. 12 We contact our local authority social services department (telephone number -0845 6037630) 13 The child stays at setting in the care of two fully-vetted workers until the child is safely collected either by the parents or by a social worker; 14 Social services will aim to find the parent or relative if they are unable to do so, the child will be admitted into the care of the local authority. 15 Under no circumstances are staff to go to look for the parent, nor do they take the child home with them. 16 A full written report of the incident is recorded in the child's file. 17 Depending on circumstances, we reserve the right to charge parents for the additional hours worked by our staff. 18 Ofsted may be informed (telephone number 0845 601 4771 ).
October 2009
Signed
If a child goes missing from the nursery 1 The person in charge will carry out a thorough search of the buildings and garden. 2 The register is checked to make sure no other child has also gone astray. 3 Doors and gates are checked to see if there has been a breach of security whereby a child could wander out. 4 Person in charge talks to staff to establish what happened 5 If the child is not found within 10 minutes the parent is contacted and the missing child is reported to the police. The investigation 1 The nursery manager carries out a full investigation taking written statements from all the staff present at the time. 2 The key person/ staff writes an incident report detailing: 3 the date and time of the report; 4 what staff/ children were in the group; 5 when the child was last seen in the group; 6 what has taken place in the group since then; and 7 the time it is estimated that the child went missing. 8 A conclusion is drawn as to how the breach of security happened. 9 If the incident warrants a police investigation all staff co-operate fully. In this case, the police will handle all aspects of the investigation, including interviewing staff. Social Services may be involved if it seems likely that there is a child protection issue to address. 10 The incident is reported under RIDDOR arrangements and is recorded in the incident book; the local authority health and safety officer may want to investigate and will decide if there is a case for prosecution. 11 OFSTED is informed. Signed October 2009
September 2009
Statement of intent This nursery recognises that qualifications and training make an important contribution to the quality of the care and education provided by early years settings. As part of our commitment to quality, we offer placements to students undertaking early years qualifications and training, including those studying for the CACHE level 2 Certificate in Pre-school Practice and CACHE level 3 Diploma in Pre-school Practice.
Aim We aim to provide for students on placement with us experiences that contribute to the successful completion of their studies and that provide examples of quality practice in early years care and education.
Methods 1 We require students to meet the 'suitable person' requirements of Ofsted. 2 We require schools placing students under the age of 17 years with the setting to vouch for their good character. 3 We supervise students under the age of 17 years at all times and do not allow them to have unsupervised access to children. 4 Students who are placed in our setting on a short term basis are not counted in our staffing ratios. 5 Trainee staff employed by the nursery may be included in the ratios if they are deemed competent. 6 We take out employers' liability insurance and public liability insurance, which covers both trainees and voluntary helpers. 7 We require students to keep to our confidentiality policy. 8 We co-operate with students' tutors in order to help students to fulfil the requirements of their course of study. 9 We provide students, at the first session of their placement, with a short induction on how our nursery is managed, how our sessions are organised and our policies and procedures. 10 We communicate a positive message to students about the value of qualifications and training. 11 We make the needs of the children paramount by not admitting students in numbers that hinder the essential work of the nursery. 12 We ensure that trainees and students placed with us are engaged in bona fide early years training, which provides the necessary background understanding of children's development and activities.
June 2007
HIGH HOUSE NURSERY LTD
As an organisation using the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, Meadows Montessori complies fully with the CRB Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. It undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed.
The Nursery is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users of its services, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical / mental disability or offending background.
We actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential and welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. We select all candidates for interview based on their skills, qualifications and experience.
A Disclosure is only requested after a thorough risk assessment has indicated that one is both proportionate and relevant to the position concerned. For those positions where a Disclosure is required, all application forms and recruitment briefs will contain a statement that a Disclosure will be requested in the event of the individual being offered the position.
Where a Disclosure is to form part of the recruitment process, we encourage all applicants called for interview to provide details of their criminal record at an early stage in the application process. We request that this information is sent under separate, confidential cover, to a designated person and we guarantee that this information will only be seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process.
At interview, or in a separate discussion, we ensure that an open and measured discussion takes place on the subject of offences or other matters that might be relevant to the position. Failure to reveal information that is directly relevant to the position sought could lead to withdrawal of an offer of employment.
We undertake to discuss any matter revealed in a Disclosure with the person seeking the position before withdrawing a conditional offer of employment.
Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an applicant from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offences.
June 2007
HIGH HOUSE NURSERY LTD
Staffing and employment policy
Statement of intent We provide a staffing ratio in line with the requirements of the National Standards for Day Care to ensure that children have sufficient individual attention and to guarantee care and education of a high quality. Our staff are appropriately qualified and we carry out checks for criminal and other records through the Criminal Records Bureau in accordance with statutory requirements. Aims To ensure that children below school age and their parents are offered high quality early years care and education. Methods 1 To meet this aim we use the following ratios of adult to child: 2 Children aged 3 months – 2 years of age: 1 adult : 3 children 3 Children aged two years – 3 years of age: 1 adult : 4 children; and 4 Children aged three – five years: 1 adult : 8 children 5 A minimum of two staff/adults are on duty at any one time. 6 We use a key person system to ensure that each child has a named member of staff with whom to form a relationship and who plans with parents for the child's well-being and development in the nursery. The key person meets regularly with the family for discussion and consultation on their child's progress. 7 We hold regular staff meetings to undertake curriculum planning and to discuss children's progress, their achievements and any difficulties that may arise from time to time. 8 We work towards offering equality of opportunity by using non-discriminatory procedures for staff recruitment and selection. 9 All staff have job descriptions which set out their staff roles and responsibilities. 10 We welcome applications from all sections of the community. Applicants will be considered on the basis of their suitability for the post, regardless of marital status, age, gender, culture, religious belief, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. Applicants will not be placed at a disadvantage by our imposing conditions or requirements that are not justifiable. 11 Our nursery leader holds the P.G.C.E. Early Years E.Y.P.S and deputy holds the NNEB and NVQ Level 3 or an equivalent qualification and a minimum of half of our staff hold the CACHE level 2 Certificate in Pre-school Practice or an equivalent or higher qualification. 12 We provide regular in-service training to all staff - whether paid staff or volunteers - through the Pre-school Learning Alliance and external agencies. 13 Our nursery budget allocates resources to training. 14 We provide staff induction training in the first week of employment. This induction includes our Health and Safety Policy and Child Protection Policy. Other policies and procedures will be introduced within an induction plan. 15 We support the work of our staff by holding regular supervision meetings and appraisals. 16 We are committed to recruiting, appointing and employing staff in accordance with all relevant legislation and best practice. 17 We use Ofsted guidance on obtaining references and criminal record checks through the Criminal Records Bureau for staff and volunteers who will have substantial access to children.
June 2007
FeesParent/carers will be invoiced at the beginning of each month and are expected to settle their invoices prompt.
High House Nursery reserves the right to issue a fine resulting from the non- payment of fees. This fine will be no greater than Ł25 for any single month.
Non-collection of children policy
Statement of intent In the event that a child is not collected by an authorised adult at the end of a session, the nursery puts into practice agreed procedures. These ensure the child is cared for safely by an experienced and qualified practitioner who is known to the child.
Aim In the event that a child is not collected by an authorised adult, we will ensure that the child receives a high standard of care in order to cause as little distress as possible. We inform parents/carers of our procedures so that, if they are unavoidably delayed, they will be reassured that their children will be properly cared for.
Methods 1 Parents of children starting at the nursery are asked to provide specific information which is recorded on our Registration Form, including: 2 home address and telephone number - if the parents do not have a telephone, an alternative number must be given, perhaps a neighbour or close relative; 3 place of work, address and telephone number (if applicable); 4 mobile telephone number (if applicable); 5 names, addresses and telephone numbers of adults who are authorised by the parents to collect their child from the nursery, for example a childminder or grandparent; 6 information about any person who does not have legal access to the child; and 7 who has parental responsibility for the child. 8 On occasions when parents or the persons normally authorised to collect the child are not able to collect the child, they record the name, address and telephone number of the person who will be collecting their child and hand this in writing to the nursery manager 9 Parents are informed that if they are not able to collect the child as planned, they must inform us so that we can begin to take back-up procedures.
10 We provide parents with our contact telephone number. We also inform parents that - in the event that their children are not collected from nursery by an authorised adult and the staff can no longer supervise the child on our premises - we apply our child protection procedures as set out in our child protection policy. 11 If a child is not collected at the end of the session, we follow the following procedures: 12 The office is checked for any information about changes to the normal collection routines. 13 If no information is available, parents/carers are contacted at home or at work. 14 If this is unsuccessful, the adults who are authorised by the parents to collect their child from the nursery - and whose telephone numbers are recorded on the Registration Form - are contacted. 15 All reasonable attempts are made to contact the parents or nominated carers. 16 The child does not leave the premises with anyone other than those named on the Registration Form and/or that their parents have specified in writing to the office 17 If no-one collects the child after one hour and there is no-one who can be contacted to collect the child, we apply the procedures for uncollected children. 18 We contact our local authority social services department (telephone number -0845 6037630) 19 The child stays at setting in the care of two fully-vetted workers until the child is safely collected either by the parents or by a social worker; 20 Social services will aim to find the parent or relative if they are unable to do so, the child will be admitted into the care of the local authority. 21 Under no circumstances are staff to go to look for the parent, nor do they take the child home with them. 22 A full written report of the incident is recorded in the child's file. 23 Depending on circumstances, we reserve the right to charge parents for the additional hours worked by our staff. 24 Ofsted may be informed (telephone number 0845 601 4771 ).
June 2007
Statement of intent This nursery believes that the health and safety of children is of paramount importance therefore we have adopted a strictly no smoking policy.
June 2007
Policy on Complaints It is clearly of paramount importance that our nursery should run smoothly and that parents and staff work together in a spirit of cooperation in the child’s best interests. In the event of complaints from either staff or parents every effort will be made to respond quickly and appropriately and the following procedure will be followed:
1 If a parent feels that he/she has cause for complaint they should speak to either the Officer in Charge (Vanessa Callan) or the Director (Andrea Ramsden)
1 Where a complaint is made to the staff, the Officer in Charge should be informed immediately
2 The Officer in charge will respond to any complaint as quickly as possible. We will talk with staff and parents to overcome the problem
3 All complaints will be investigated where these relate to one or more of the National Standards
4 An account of the findings and any action taken will be given to the parent within 28 days
5 A written record of complaints is kept, actions taken and the outcome of the investigation. Records will be retained for 10 years form the date on the complaints sheet
6 After a complaint has been resolved the final outcome will be applied. Any recommendations for changes in procedure will be made
7 It is clearly understood that parents have the right to contact Ofsted (tel: 0845 6014771 or www.ofsted.gov.uk/childcare) if they feel that they have not received a satisfactory response to their complaint.
We aim to work as a partnership with parents. We are always open to suggestion and we are eager to listen and to discuss these ideas with you.
June 2007
Missing child If a child goes missing from the nursery 1 The person in charge will carry out a thorough search of the building and garden. 2 The register is checked to make sure no other child has also gone astray. 3 Doors and gates are checked to see if there has been a breach of security whereby a child could wander out. 4 Person in charge talks to staff to establish what happened 5 If the child is not found the parent is contacted and the missing child is reported to the police. If a child goes missing from an outing where parents are not attending and responsible for their own child, the nursery ensures that there is a procedure that is followed. 1 As soon as it is noticed that a child is missing, staff on the outing ask children to stand with their designated person and carry out a headcount to ensure that no other child has gone astray. One member of staff searches the immediate vicinity but does not search beyond that. 2 The person in charge is informed, if she is not on the outing, and makes her way to the venue to aid the search and be the point of contact for the police as well as support staff. 3 Staff take the remaining children back to the nursery. 4 The person in charge of the nursery contacts the child's parent who makes their way to the setting or outing venue as agreed with the person in charge. 5 The staff contact the police using the mobile phone and report the child as missing. 6 In an indoor venue, the staff contact the venue's security who will handle the search and contact the police if the child is not found. 7 The person in charge contacts the nursery manager.
The investigation 1 The nursery manager carries out a full investigation taking written statements from all the staff present at the time, or who were on the outing. 2 The key person/ staff writes an incident report detailing: 3 the date and time of the report; 4 what staff/ children were in the group/outing; 5 when the child was last seen in the group/outing; 6 what has taken place in the group/outing since then; and 7 the time it is estimated that the child went missing. 8 A conclusion is drawn as to how the breach of security happened. 9 If the incident warrants a police investigation all staff co-operate fully. In this case, the police will handle all aspects of the investigation, including interviewing staff. Social Services may be involved if it seems likely that there is a child protection issue to address. 10 The incident is reported under RIDDOR arrangements and is recorded in the incident book; the local authority health and safety officer may want to investigate and will decide if there is a case for prosecution. 11 OFSTED is informed.
June 2007
Statement of intent Our nursery will work with children, parents and the community to ensure the safety of children and to give them the very best start in life. The key commitments of the Pre-school Learning Alliance policy for safeguarding children: 1. The Alliance is committed to building a 'culture of safety' in which children are protected from abuse and harm in all areas of its service delivery. 2. The Alliance is committed to responding promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns of abuse that may occur and to work with statutory agencies in accordance with the procedures that are set down in 'What to do if you are worried a child is being abused' (DoH 2004). 3. The Alliance is committed to promoting awareness of child abuse issues throughout its training and learning programmes for adults. It is also committed to empowering young children, through its early childhood curriculum, promoting their right to be strong, resilient and listened to. Aims Our aims are to carry out this policy by: 1 promoting children's right to be strong, resilient and listened to by creating an environment in our nursery that encourages children to develop a positive self image, which includes their heritage arising from their colour and ethnicity, their languages spoken at home, their religious beliefs, cultural traditions and home background; 2 promoting children's right to be strong, resilient and listened to by encouraging children to develop a sense of autonomy and independence; 3 promoting children's right to be strong, resilient and listened to by enabling children to have the self confidence and the vocabulary to resist inappropriate approaches; 4 helping children to establish and sustain satisfying relationships within their families, with peers, and with other adults; and 5 working with parents to build their understanding of and commitment to the principles of safeguarding all our children.
The legal framework for this work is: Primary legislation The Children Act 1989 - s 47 The Protection of Children Act 1999 Data Protection Act 1998 The Children Act 2004 (Every Child Matters) The Children (NI) Order The Children (Scotland) Order
Guidance What to Do if You are Worried a Child is Being Abused (2004) The Framework for the Assessment of children in Need and Their Families (2000) Working Together to Safeguard Children (revised 1999) The Common Assessment Framework 2005
Secondary Legislation Sexual Offences Act (2003) Criminal Justice and Court Services Act (2000) Human Rights Act (1999) Race Relations (Amendment) Act (2000) Race Relations (Amendment )Act (1976) Regulations Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 Liaison with other bodies 1 We work within the Area Safeguarding Children Committee guidelines. 2 We have a copy of 'What to do if you a worried a child is being abused' for parents and staff and all staff are familiar with what to do if they have concerns. 3 We have procedures for contacting the local authority on child protection issues, including maintaining a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of social workers, to ensure that it is easy, in any emergency, for the nursery and social services to work well together. 4 We notify the registration authority (Ofsted) of any incident or accident and any changes in our arrangements which may affect the wellbeing of children. 5 Details of the local National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) contacts are also kept. 6 If a referral is to be made to the local authority social services department, we act within the Area Safeguarding Children and Child Protection guidance in deciding whether we must inform the child's parents at the same time. Methods Key Commitment 1 The Alliance is committed to building a 'culture of safety' in which children are protected from abuse and harm in all areas of its service delivery.
Staffing and volunteering 1 Our designated person who co-ordinates child protection issues is Claire Hutley.
2 We provide adequate and appropriate staffing resources to meet the needs of children. 3 Applicants for posts within the setting are clearly informed that the positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. 4 Candidates are informed of the need to carry out 'enhanced disclosure' checks with the Criminal Records Bureau before posts can be confirmed. 5 Where applications are rejected because of information that has been disclosed, applicants have the right to know and to challenge incorrect information. 6 We abide by Ofsted requirements in respect of references and Criminal Record Bureau checks for staff and volunteers, to ensure that no disqualified person or unsuitable person works at the nursery or has access to the children. 7 Volunteers do not work unsupervised. 8 We abide by the Protection of Children Act requirements in respect of any person who is dismissed from our employment, or resigns in circumstances that would otherwise have lead to dismissal for reasons of child protection concern. 9 We have procedures for recording the details of visitors to the nursery. 10 We take security steps to ensure that we have control over who comes into the nursery so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children. Key Commitment 2 The Alliance is committed to responding promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns of abuse that may occur and to work with statutory agencies in accordance with the procedures that are set down in 'What to do if you are worried a child is being abused' (DoH 2004.)
Method Responding to suspicions of abuse 1 We acknowledge that abuse of children can take different forms - physical, emotional, and sexual as well as neglect. 2 When children are suffering from physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or may be experiencing neglect, this may be demonstrated through the things they say (direct or indirect disclosure) or through changes in their appearance, their behaviour, or their play. 3 Where such evidence is apparent, the child's key person makes a dated record of the details of the concern and discusses what to do with the setting leader or manager who is acting as the 'designated person'. The information is stored on the child's personal file. 4 Staff in the nursery take care not to influence the outcome either through the way they speak to children or by asking questions of children. Allegations against staff 1 We ensure that all parents know how to complain about staff or volunteer action within the nursery, which may include an allegation of abuse. 2 We follow the guidance of the Area Safeguarding Children Committee when responding to any complaint that a member of staff or volunteer has abused a child. 3 We respond to any disclosure by children or staff that abuse by a member of staff may have taken, or is taking place, by first recording the details of any such alleged incident. 4 We refer any such complaint immediately to the local authority's social service department to investigate. 5 We co-operate entirely with any investigation carried out by social services in conjunction with the police. 6 Our policy is to suspend the member of staff on full pay for the duration of the investigation; this is not an indication of admission that the alleged incident has taken place, but is to protect the staff as well as children and families throughout the process.
Disciplinary action 1 Where a member of staff or a volunteer is dismissed from the setting or internally disciplined because of misconduct relating to a child, we notify the Department of Health administrators so that the name may be included on the List for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults.
Key Commitment 3 The Alliance is committed to promoting awareness of child abuse issues throughout its training and learning programmes for adults. It is also committed to empowering young children, through its early childhood curriculum, promoting their right to be strong, resilient and listened to.
Method Training 2 We seek out training opportunities for all adults involved in the nursery to ensure that they are able to recognise the signs and symptoms of possible physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect and so that they are aware of the local authority guidelines for making referrals. 3 We ensure that all staff know the procedures for reporting and recording their concerns in the nursery.
Planning 1 The layout of the rooms allows for constant supervision. No child is left alone with staff or volunteers in a one to one situation without being visible to others.
Curriculum 2 We introduce key elements of child protection into our programme to promote the personal, social and emotional development of all children, so that they may grow to be 'strong, resilient and listened to' and so that they develop understanding of why and how to keep safe. 3 We create within the nursery a culture of value and respect for the individual, having positive regard for children's heritage arising from their colour, ethnicity, languages spoken at home, cultural and social background. 4 We ensure that this is carried out in a way that is developmentally appropriate for the children.
Disclosures Where a child makes a disclosure to a member of staff, that member of staff: 1 offers reassurance to the child; 2 listens to the child; and 3 gives reassurance that she or he will take action. The member of staff does not question the child
Recording suspicions of abuse and disclosures Staff make a record of: 1 the child's name; 2 the child's address; 3 the age of the child; 4 the date and time of the observation or the disclosure; 5 an objective record of the observation or disclosure; 6 the exact words spoken by the child as far as possible; 7 the name of the person to whom the concern was reported, with date and time; and 8 the names of any other person present at the time. These records are signed and dated and kept in the child's personal file. All members of staff know the procedures for recording and reporting.
Informing parents 1 Parents are normally the first point of contact. 2 If a suspicion of abuse is recorded, parents are informed at the same time as the report is made, except where the guidance of the local Area Safeguarding Children Committee does not allow this. 3 This will usually be the case where the parent is the likely abuser. In these cases the investigating officers will inform parents.
Confidentiality 1 All suspicions and investigations are kept confidential and shared only with those who need to know. Any information is shared under the guidance of the Area Safeguarding Children Committee.
Support to families 2 The nursery believes in building trusting and supportive relationships with families, staff and volunteers in the group. 3 The nursery makes clear to parents its role and responsibilities in relation to Child Protection, such as for the reporting of concerns, providing information, monitoring of the child, and liaising at all times with the local social services department. 4 The nursery continues to welcome the child and the family whilst investigations are being made in relation to any alleged abuse. 5 We follow the Child Protection Plan as set by the social services department in relation to the nursery's designated role and tasks in supporting the child and the family, subsequent to any investigation. 6 Confidential records kept on a child are shared with the child's parents or those who have parental responsibility for the child in accordance with the procedure and only if appropriate under the guidance of the Area Safeguarding Children Committee.
June 2007
Statement of intent This nursery regards snack and meal times as an important part of the nursery's session. Eating represents a social time for children and adults and helps children to learn about healthy eating.
Aim At snack time, we aim to provide nutritious food, which meets the children's individual dietary needs. We aim to meet the full requirements of The National Standards for Day Care on Food and Drink (Standard 8).
Methods 1 Before a child starts to attend the nursery, we find out from parents their children's dietary needs and preferences, including any allergies. 2 We record information about each child's dietary needs in her/his registration record and parents sign the record to signify that it is correct. 3 We regularly consult with parents to ensure that our records of their children's dietary needs - including any allergies - are up to date. 4 We display current information about individual children's dietary needs so that all staff and volunteers are fully informed about them. 5 We implement systems to ensure that children receive only food and drink that is consistent with their dietary needs and preferences as well as their parents' wishes. 6 We provide nutritious food, avoiding large quantities of saturated fat, sugar and salt and artificial additives, preservatives and colourings. 7 At snack time we offer: 8 fruit; 9 milk or water; 10 a biscuit. 11 We take care not to provide food containing nuts or nut products and are especially vigilant where we have a child who has a known allergy to nuts. 12 Through discussion with parents and research reading by staff, we obtain information about the dietary rules of the religious groups to which children and their parents belong, and of vegetarians and vegans, and about food allergies. We take account of this information in the provision of food and drinks. 13 We require staff to show sensitivity in providing for children's diets and allergies. Staff do not use a child's diet or allergy as a label for the child or make a child feel singled out because of her/his diet or allergy. 14 We organise meal and snack times so that they are social occasions in which children and staff participate. 15 We use meal and snack times to help children to develop independence through making choices, serving food and drink and feeding themselves. 16 We provide children with utensils that are appropriate for their ages and stages of development and that take account of the eating practices in their cultures. 17 We have fresh drinking water constantly available for the children. We inform the children that they can ask for water at any time during the session. 18 We inform parents who provide food for their children about the storage facilities available in the nursery. 19 In order to protect children with food allergies, we have rules about children sharing and swapping their food with one another. 20 For children who drink milk, we provide whole pasteurised milk.
Packed lunches We: 1 inform parents of our policy on healthy eating; 2 encourage parents to provide sandwiches with a healthy filling, fruit, and milk based deserts such as yoghurt. We discourage sweet drinks and can provide children with water or milk; 3 discourage packed lunch contents that consist largely of crisps, processed foods, sweet drinks and sweet products such as cakes or biscuits. We reserve the right to return this food to the parent as a last resort; 4 provide children bringing packed lunches with plates and cups and cutlery; and 5 ensure staff sit with children to eat their lunch so that the mealtime is a social occasion.
Fire Drills are carried out every month; a record of this is kept in our Fire drill book
Fire exits are clear and accessible
There are copies of our emergency evacuation procedure in every room
Teachers carry copies of their registers with them at all times in case of an emergency.
Fire extinguishers are readily available and regularly serviced
June 2007
HIGH HOUSE NURSERY LTD
Statement of intent Our nursery is committed to valuing diversity by providing equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children and families. Aim We aim to: 1 provide a secure environment in which all our children can flourish and in which all contributions are valued; 2 include and value the contribution of all families to our understanding of equality and diversity; 3 provide positive non-stereotyping information about gender roles, diverse ethnic and cultural groups and people with disabilities; 4 improve our knowledge and understanding of issues of anti-discriminatory practice, promoting equality and valuing diversity; and 5 make inclusion a thread that runs through all of the activities of the setting. The legal framework for this policy is: 1 Race Relations Act 1976; 2 Race Relations Amendment Act 2000; 3 Sex Discrimination Act 1986; 4 Children Act 1989; and 5 Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001. Methods Admissions Our setting is open to all members of the community. 1 We advertise our service widely. 2 We reflect the diversity of members of our society in our publicity and promotional materials. 3 We provide information in clear, concise language, whether in spoken or written form. 4 We base our admissions policy on a fair system. 5 We ensure that all parents are made aware of our equal opportunities policy. 6 We do not discriminate against a child or their family, or prevent entry to our setting, on the basis of colour, ethnicity, religion or social background, such as being a member of a travelling community or an asylum seeker. 7 We do not discriminate against a child with a disability or refuse a child entry to our setting because of any disability. 8 We develop an action plan to ensure that people with disabilities can participate successfully in the services offered by the setting and in the curriculum offered. 9 We take action against any discriminatory behaviour by staff or parents. Displaying of openly racist insignia, distribution of racist material, name calling, or threatening behaviour are unacceptable on or around the premises and will be dealt with in the strongest manner. Employment 1 Posts are advertised and all applicants are judged against explicit and fair criteria. 2 Applicants are welcome from all backgrounds and posts are open to all. 3 We may use the exemption clauses of the Race Relations Act and the Sex Discrimination Act where this is necessary to enable the service to best meet the needs of the community. 4 The applicant who best meets the criteria is offered the post, subject to references and checks by the Criminal Records Bureau. This ensures fairness in the selection process. 5 All job descriptions include a commitment to equality and diversity as part of their specifications. 6 We monitor our application process to ensure that it is fair and accessible. Training 1 We seek out training opportunities for staff and volunteers to enable them to develop anti-discriminatory and inclusive practices, which enable all children to flourish. 2 We review our practices to ensure that we are fully implementing our policy for equality, diversity and inclusion. Curriculum The curriculum offered in the nursery encourages children to develop positive attitudes about themselves as well as to people who are different from themselves. It encourages children to empathise with others and to begin to develop the skills of critical thinking. We do this by: 1 making children feel valued and good about themselves; 2 ensuring that children have equality of access to learning; 3 recognising the different learning styles of girls and boys, making appropriate provision within the curriculum to ensure each child receives the widest possible opportunity to develop their skills and abilities; 4 positively reflecting the widest possible range of communities in the choice of resources; 5 avoiding stereotypes or derogatory images in the selection of books or other visual materials; 6 celebrating a wide range of festivals; 7 creating an environment of mutual respect and tolerance; 8 helping children to understand that discriminatory behaviour and remarks are hurtful and unacceptable; 9 ensuring that the curriculum offered is inclusive of children with special educational needs and children with disabilities; 10 ensuring that children learning English as an additional language have full access to the curriculum and are supported in their learning; and 11 ensuring that children speaking languages other than English are supported in the maintenance and development of their home languages. Valuing diversity in families 1 We welcome the diversity of family lifestyles and work with all families. 2 We encourage children to contribute stories of their everyday life to the nursery. 3 We encourage parents/carers to take part in the life of the setting and to contribute fully. 4 For families who speak languages in addition to English, we will develop means to ensure their full inclusion. 5 We offer a flexible payment system for families of differing means. Food 1 We work in partnership with parents to ensure that the medical, cultural and dietary needs of children are met. 2 We help children to learn about a range of food, and of cultural approaches to mealtimes and eating, and to respect the differences among them.
June 2007
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HIGH HOUSE NURSERY LTD. 7 GRANARD BUSINESS CENTRE, LONDON, NW7 2DQ REGISTERED ENGLAND 2862905
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