Policies

Accident and Emergency

It is our policy to keep children safe when they are in our care.

 

The premises have been checked by Ofsted and they meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage in England. We also regularly review, update and practise fire evacuation procedures. Dates and times of fire drills are recorded.

 

Accidents to children, staff’s own children, or members of staff

 

As a registered childcare provider, we are legally required to have a valid first-aid certificates before registration.

 

All staff can administer basic first-aid treatment, and a first-aid kit is clearly labelled and easily accessible throughout the setting.

 

We hold written permission from parents (on parent registration form) to seek emergency treatment for their child if it is needed.

 

If a member of staff sustains injury, we will administer first aid, and where possible arrange cover for that team member if they need to receive medical treatment. If we are unable to do so, we will enforce a partial close down. (See partial close down policy)

 

Procedure (how we will put the statement into practice)

 

If there is an accident to a child:

• First, we reassure the injured child while making sure that the other children in our care are safe. This may mean strapping a baby in a buggy or sitting an older child somewhere safe where we can see them.
• Then, if the accident is a minor one and requires only basic first aid, we deal with it ourselves. If not, we will ring 999 for help.
• If we must accompany or take a child to hospital, we will contact alternative staff to arrange cover. If we are unable to get cover for the staff member who is with the injured/sick child, we will follow our partial close policy.
• If I accompany or take a child to hospital, a staff member will contact the child’s parent and ask them to meet us at the hospital as soon as possible.

 

We will always do our best to make sure the children in our care are safe, reassured and kept calm.

 

Accidents off site:

Contact details are taken with us when we are away from the setting, in order to follow procedures above should an accident occur off site.

(These contact details will be stored on the Holly Grove mobile phone, and can be accessed via the Famly app)

 

Other emergencies:

Should any other emergency occur (such as a terrorist attack, or a member of family or staff becoming ill) we will contact parents as soon as possible. We expect that parents will also contact us in the event of any accident or emergency which may befall them.

Should it not be possible for parents to contact us, then we will keep the children safe until such time as parents can contact us.

 

Recording:

 

We will record all details on an accident/incident form via Famly. A paper copy will be made available upon request.

 

If the incident is significant e.g. if a child is taken to hospital for a broken bone we will inform Ofsted, the local child protection agency, the Health and Safety Executive and our insurance company as soon as is reasonably practicable but in any event within 14 days of the incident occurring.

 

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Policy statement: Alcohol and other drugs

 

It is our policy to keep children safe when they are in our care.

In order to do we will ensure that neither the staff, nor anyone else who has contact with the children whilst at our setting, is under the influence of alcohol or any other drug (including prescribed medications) which may affect the ability to care for children.

We will ensure that anyone who has contact with the children in our care whilst at our setting, who is taking medication which may affect their ability to care for children, will seek medical advice. They will only work directly with children if it is confirmed that their ability to look after the children will not be impaired.

 

We will ensure that alcohol and other drugs are kept safely under lock and key, away from children.

We have a duty of care to all children in our setting. If a parent/carer or any other person arriving to collect a child is believed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the manager or deputy manager in charge, will determine whether the child is able to leave the setting with them. If we deem them unsuitable, we will keep the child(ren) at the setting and call the second contact, or emergency contacts. If we are then unable to contact anyone else, we will call the duty social worker. 

If anyone arrives to collect the child(ren) and they are under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and they are driving, we will call the police immediately. 

If this becomes a regular occurrence, we will report it as a safeguarding concern.

 

 

 

 

Babysitting

 

Holly Grove Childcare, Blossom Grove and The Grove do not provide a babysitting service outside of our normal operating hours.  However, we understand that parents sometimes ask our staff to babysit for their children and this policy has been implemented to clarify some points regarding private arrangements between staff and parents.  For the purpose of this policy, ‘Babysitting’ is defined as ad-hoc weekday, evening or weekend care. Holly Grove, Blossom Grove and The Grove are not responsible for any private arrangements or agreements that are made, this is between the staff member and family. However, staff members must inform us if they are babysitting or caring for a child that attends the nursery outside of the setting.  We require the staff member and parent to sign a copy of the staff or parent declaration form which we will keep on file for the child and staff member.  

 

Holly Grove, Blossom Grove and The Grove have a duty of care to safeguard all children attending the setting so if a staff member has concerns for a child following a private babysitting type arrangement, they need to pass these concerns on to the Safeguarding lead within the setting. 

 

Holly Grove, Blossom Grove and The Grove will not be held responsible for any health and safety, or other, issues that may arise from these private arrangements

 

Parental responsibilities  

We have rigorous recruitment and suitability processes in place to ensure that we employ competent and professional members of staff and uphold our duty to safeguard children whilst on our premises and in the care of our staff.  This procedure includes interviews, references, full employment history and DBS checks as well as several other processes.  Whilst in our employment all staff are subject to ongoing supervision, observation and assessment to ensure that standards of work and behaviour are maintained in accordance with our policies.  We have no such control over the conduct of staff outside of their position of employment.  Parents should make their own checks as to the suitability of a member of staff for babysitting.

 

We will not take responsibility for any health and safety issues, conduct, grievances or any other claims arising out of the staff member’s private arrangements outside of the setting.  The member of staff will not be covered by our insurance whilst babysitting as a private arrangement.

 

Out of hours work arrangements must not interfere with the staff member’s employment at the setting and all private arrangements should be made outside of working hours.

 

Staff responsibilities – The Data Protection Act

 

All staff are bound by contract and the Data Protection Act which means;  

·       That they are unable to discuss any confidential issues regarding the setting, other staff members, parents or other children.

·       That they must not look for personal information regarding a family in the setting. It is the responsibility of the family to provide all necessary information should they wish to enter into a private babysitting arrangement. 

·       That they must not take photographs of any child for whom they are babysitting on their personal mobile phone or camera.

·       That they must not take any nursery property i.e. cameras, laptops, tablets away from the nursery at any time, including to a babysitting job which falls outside of their employment with Holly Grove, Blossom Grove and/or The Grove.

 

Personal Vehicles

 

It will be the staff member’s responsibility to ensure they have the appropriate insurance, MOT and child restraints or child safety seats if they are transporting children in a car. It is not the responsibility of Holly Grove, Blossom Grove and/or The Grove when private babysitting arrangements are made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Behaviour

Holly Grove Childcare recognise the need to set out reasonable and appropriate limits to manage the behaviour of children in our care.

By providing a happy, safe environment, the children in our care will be encouraged to develop social skills to help them be accepted and welcome in society as they grow up.

Procedure (how we put the statement into practice)

We keep up to date with behaviour management issues and relevant legislation by taking regular training and by reading relevant publications.

All parents have access to a copy of our Behaviour Policy.

We will not administer physical punishment, cause pain, discomfort, humiliate or hurt any child in our care.

We endorse positive discipline as an effective way of setting boundaries for children.

We agree methods to manage children’s behaviour with parents before the placement starts. These are discussed with parents during initial visits before the contract is signed.

Wherever possible we try to meet parents’ requests for the care of their children according to their values and practices. Records of these requirements are agreed and kept attached to the child record forms. These records are revisited and updated during regular reviews with parents.

We expect parents to inform us of any changes in the child’s home circumstances, care arrangements or any other change which may affect the child’s behaviour such as a new baby, parents’ separation, divorce, new partner or any bereavement. All information shared will be kept confidential unless there appears to be a child protection issue.

We work together with parents to make sure there is consistency in the way the children are cared for. A consistent approach benefits the child’s welfare and helps ensure that the child is not confused. We offer regular review meetings with parents to discuss their child’s care and any issues or concerns, preferably when the child is not present.

We will only physically intervene, and possibly restrain, a child to prevent an accident, such as a child running into the road, or to prevent an injury or damage. We will record when this occurs and inform parents on the same day, or as soon as reasonably practicable.

We record all significant behaviour incidents as an incident on Famly. We will discuss these with the parents of the child concerned so that together we can work to resolve any behavioural issues.

We acknowledge the strength and range of children’s feelings and try to help children to find constructive solutions for managing these

We encourage responsibility by talking to children about choices and their possible consequences.

We aim to be firm and consistent so that children know and feel secure within the boundaries we set.

We will respond positively to children who constantly seek attention or are disruptive.

 

We will help children maintain their self-esteem by showing we disapprove of the challenging behaviour, not the child themselves.

If we have concerns about a child’s behaviour which we cannot resolve in partnership with parents, we will ask for permission from the parents to talk it through with another childcare professional. We may contact PACEY, the NSPCC, health visitor or the local early years team (or other relevant advice service) for confidential advice.

We aim to work in close partnership with all parents to meet the needs of their children. Maintaining good communication between both parties will aid this. We expect that parents will immediately bring to our attention any aspect of the service they are not happy with so that every effort can be made to resolve the matter. Parents can make a complaint both verbally, or in writing.

 

It is a condition of our registrations to investigate all written complaints relating to the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and we will notify the complainant with a written outcome within 28 days of the receipt of the complaint.

 

We display Ofsted’s poster for parents which introduces Ofsted's childcare responsibilities and gives Ofsted contact details.

 

Procedure (how we will put the statement into practice)

We will investigate all complaints and notify the complainant of the outcomes of the investigation within 28 days.

We will keep a written record of all complaints and their outcome for at least three years. Confidentiality will be maintained but as required, we will provide Ofsted, on request, with a written record of all complaints within a specified period and the action taken as a result of each complaint.

We will record the following information:

• The name of the person making the complaint.
• The Early Years Foundation Stage requirement(s) to which the complaint relates.
• The nature of the complaint.
• The date and time of the complaint.
• Any action taken in response to the complaint.

The outcome of the complaint investigation (for example, ways the service has improved).

• Details of the information and findings that were given to the person making the complaint, including any action taken.

If the complaint cannot be resolved or if the complaint is of a serious nature and you feel you cannot discuss it with us, please contact Ofsted on 03001 231231.

 

Parents and staff are to keep private and confidential any sensitive information they may accidentally learn about members of staff, my family, setting, staff members and children and families attending, unless it is a child protection issue.

Ofsted may require seeing our records at any time.

Parents have the right to inspect all records about their child at any time.

We record all accidents in accident forms, and they are kept in the child file or on our online system - Famly. We will notify our insurance company of all accidents which may result in an insurance claim, e.g. an accident involving a doctor or hospital visit.

Our insurance company will log and acknowledge receipt of the correspondence and forward the information to the company providing our public liability policy to enable a claim number to be allocated.

We will inform Ofsted, the local child protection agency and the Health and Safety Executive of any significant injuries, accidents or deaths as soon as possible. We will inform Ofsted within 14 days of the incident.

Holly Grove family of childcare’s liability insurance states that the total life of the policy is 21 years and 4 months to enable the child to make a claim against the policy at a later date.

We record all significant incidents on our online nursery management system (Family) and we will share these with parents so that together we can work to resolve any issues.

If we keep records relating to individual children on my computer we will ask for the parent’s permission. We will store the information securely, for example, in password-protected files, to prevent viewing of the information by others with access to the computer. Backup files will be stored on a memory stick which we will lock away when not being used.

If we record information on a personal computer, or take digital photographs or videos as part of our observations, we have taken the necessary action to register with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).

Limiting the risk of Covid-19 infection spreading in the setting

Day to day Infection control measure

Measures put in place:

 

We will continue to encourage children to exercise good hand hygiene in our setting and we would ask you to reaffirm this at home.  For coughs, sneezes and runny noses we will be following the “catch it, bin it, kill it” routine with children.

 

The exclusion table from Public Health has now been updated to include Covid-19. "Infection Respiratory infections including coronavirus (COVID-19)"

 

Children and young people should not attend if they have a high temperature and are unwell.

 

Exclusion period Children and young people who have a positive test result for COVID-19 should not attend the setting for 3 days after the first day of symptoms. Adults should remain away from the setting for 5 days following the onset of symptoms.

 

Children with mild symptoms such as runny nose, and headache who are otherwise well can continue to attend the setting. 

 

Managing an Outbreak

During an outbreak or incident, when there are either several cases, or indications of more serious disease, additional measures may be required.

These could include:

·         considering communications to raise awareness among parents or carers and students (ensuring this is accessible for those who speak other languages or with lower levels of literacy)

·         reinforcing key messages amongst children and young people, including the importance of hand and respiratory hygiene measures using materials such as the e-Bug resources

·         discussing with health visitors (childcare settings), school nurses (all schools) or student health services (higher education settings) about the support they can offer, particularly where a child or young person may face barriers to accessing health care.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities/exclusion-table?fbclid=IwAR2sEPIgrGBKY2mEUj01vd_Z2wfX3CN4tZiYhXkV61X767hokr0fshMpG2I

Providers must take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of children, staff and others on the premises in the case of fire or any other emergency and must have an emergency evacuation procedure – Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage – 2014:27, point 3.55

Nicola Cosgrove is responsible for making all staff aware of fire safety procedures.

A fire drill will take place 4x a year and will occur on different days and at different times to ensure all children experience a fire drill during their stay. Fire drills will be logged and timed, indicating who was involved and any comments regarding the practice.

A fire evacuation plan will be placed on the notice board outside of the kitchen.

Smoke detectors and fire alarms are fitted throughout the property and it is Nicola Cosgrove's responsibility to ensure they are in working order. These will be checked weekly.

In the event of a fire the following procedures must be followed;

All staff are to lead children out of the building at their nearest exit and walk to the fire safety point located at the bottom of the garden at the rear of the property. Only if the rear of the property is inaccessible do staff exit to the front of the property.

Babies and toddlers are placed in pushchairs which are located in the shed at the rear of the property. One member of staff leads children outside and then stays with the children outside whilst a second member of staff will collect children who are unable to walk. Once children are out safely they will be comforted and parents contacted. Nicola Cosgrove or a Deputy Manager in charge will always leave the property taking a phone or tablet with them that can access the register and parent contact information. A fire evacuation kit will be stored in the shed with umbrellas to keep children dry in wet weather. Whilst checking the property Nicola Cosgrove or a Deputy Manager in charge will call the fire brigade.

Once all children are safely outside Nicola Cosgrove or a Deputy Manager in charge will make sure all doors are closed and check the register to ensure all children are out of the building.

Nicola Cosgrove or a Deputy Manager in charge will support any staff or children with special needs or disabilities to leave the building.

Ofsted will be notified if there is a disruption to business or if children have been injured during the fire.

 

The policy will be updated if there are any changes to legislation.

It will be reviewed annually or after any fire drill which has identified significant requirements.

Staff will be notified of any changes to the policy and will sign and date the policy.

This policy is written in line with Holly Grove Family of childcare’s Health and Safety, Risk Assessment, Equality of Opportunity and critical indecent policies

From 13 December 2014, all food businesses including childcare providers need to provide allergen information on the foods they sell or provide. Food allergens pose a significant risk to consumers with allergic conditions, which may even be life threatening. Children are particularly vulnerable because of their reduced level of control over the foods they eat.

As a childcare provider, it is our responsibility to ensure that we provide food allergen information for the food we serve and that this is accurate, consistent and verifiable. This allergen information should be easily accessible and readily available to parents, who leave or may leave children in my care.

There are 14 allergens currently listed under food law that we must declare. These are:

• cereals containing gluten, eg wheat (including spelt and khorasan), rye, barley and oats and their hybridised strains
• crustaceans, eg prawns, crab and lobster
• eggs
• fish
• peanuts
• soybeans
• milk
• nuts, eg almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecan nuts, Brazil nuts, pistachio, cashew, macadamia nuts or Queensland nuts
• celery (including celeriac)
• mustard
• sesame
• sulphur dioxide/sulphites (preservatives used in some foods and drinks) at levels above 10mg per kg or per litre
• lupin
• molluscs, eg clams, mussels, whelks oysters, snails and squid

 

We will produce an overview of the meals and snacks that we provide. These are available to you on asking. If at any point there are any changes to your child's dietary requirements please notify us as soon as possible. We will endeavour to work in partnership with parents and carers to ensure all children with allergies are catered for. We will work closely with parents and carers to help with the identification process of any new allergies children may develop. Once a child has been diagnosed or is under consultation by a dietitian, we will require medical evidence of known allergies to be kept in the child's file. Parents and carers who require a specific diet (none religious, vegetarian or consultant lead) that we can not accommodate, will be given the option to bring a packed lunch instead of the food provided by Holly Grove, Blossom Grove and/or The Grove.

 

It is our duty to ensure the safety of children and staff in compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and our registration with OFSTED.  Whilst we will endeavour to maintain a full service and cause the minimum disruption to our provision, we may from time to time be forced to close the setting due to circumstances out of our control. 

 

The decision to close the setting is not taken lightly and will be made based on the assessment of a number of factors and information which may include weather and travel circumstances, the spread of an infectious illness, access to and condition of the setting and availability of appropriate levels of qualified staff. Ultimately the decision to open or close the setting will be made by Nicola Cosgrove or a Deputy Manager in charge, and every effort will be made to contact all staff, parents and carers as soon as is practicably possible. The following procedures will be followed wherever possible:

 

·       If a decision to close is made before the day of closure or before 7.30 am on the day of closure, all parents and carers will be emailed and/or sent a text message accordingly at the time of the decision. A message will also be posted on Famly and our Facebook group informing parents a message has been sent. 

·       If a decision to close is made on the day of closure after 7.30 am, all parents and carers will be contacted by text or telephone accordingly. A message will also be posted on Famly.

·       Depending on the circumstances, a message confirming the closure will be left on the settings mobile phone whenever possible. 

·       The decision for ongoing closures will be assessed on a daily basis. 

 

In the event of the whole setting closing for an indefinite length of time, parents may be asked to pay a contribution at parental discretion

This will not affect their rights to a place at the setting.

It is our policy to promote and ensure the good health and safety of children in our care in line with the requirements laid out in the EYFS Framework, and Health and Safety Executive.

 

Safety and suitability of premises, environment and equipment

 

In order to ensure children’s safety in our setting we have a range of safety equipment which is regularly checked to ensure they are in good repair.

 

Smoke alarms are tested regularly, and fire drills are carried out and recorded. We have a designated fire officer within the setting, and all staff are aware of procedures put in place in the event of a fire.

 

The premises are secure to ensure children’s safety and prevent intruders and there is a procedure for checking the identity of visitors.

 

Holly Grove Childcare, Blossom Grove and The Grove will ensure that we take all reasonable steps to ensure any staff, and children in our care are not exposed to risks and we will demonstrate how we manage risk.

 

Risk assessments will identify aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis, when and by whom these aspects will be checked and how we will remove or minimise the risk. The management team, and all members of staff will check the environment daily.

All equipment used in the setting is regularly checked for damage and wear and tear and replaced, when necessary, for example high chairs, buggies, cots.

 

Any vehicles used to transport children in our care is regularly serviced, has an up-to-date MOT, and is insured for business use.

 

All car seats are checked regularly and used correctly in accordance with seat belt regulations.

 

All gardening equipment is locked in the shed, and dangerous plants have been removed.

 

All staff in the setting hold a current paediatric first aid certificate.

Health

 

A minimum of 2 members of staff holds a food hygiene certificate.

 

We encourage children to learn about good hygiene by promoting regular hand washing. Staff within the setting are made aware of any good hygiene practices in place on gaining employment.

 

When providing meals and snacks, children are encouraged to make healthy choices and the benefits of an active lifestyle are promoted, e.g. access to outdoor play. We are aware that physical activity plays a key role in a child's development.

 

Baby changing mats are cleaned after each use, disposable gloves and aprons are available for use. Hands are washed between every nappy change

 

Holly Grove Childcare, Blossom Grove and The Grove have registered with our local environmental health department, and ensure correct storage, hygiene of food preparation areas and preparation of food.

 

All areas accessible to children including toys and equipment are regularly cleaned and checked for damage. If any toys are damaged, they will be removed from the setting to minimise risk of harm to both children and staff. Large appliances within the setting are cleaned regularly and a record of the dates they are cleaned is kept.

 

This policy also links with accident and emergency procedures, illness, risk assessment, no smoking and outings policy.

 

This policy supports the following requirements and standards:England
Meeting the Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements
Safety and Suitability of premises, environment and equipment.  Risk Assessment

It is our policy to keep children safe when they are in our care, promote good health and take necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection within the childcare setting and while we are off site.

Procedures (how we will put the statement into practice)

Sick children

If there is a child in our setting who becomes ill whilst in our care, or whom we believe has an infectious illness or disease (for example a severe cold or stomach upset) we will;

Contact the parents as agreed to arrange for the immediate collection of the child. This must be within 30 minutes.

Ensure the child is excluded from the setting until they have been well for 48 hours, or in accordance with Health Authority guidelines.

If we believe a child in our setting is suffering from a disease or illness which requires notification we will inform the parents/guardians of my concerns and act on advice given by the Health Protection Agency (details of which can be found at www.hpa.org.uk) as to when they will be able to return to our setting. we will also inform Ofsted of any action taken.

Days that are missed through illness, are non-transferable and non-refundable.

We make parents aware of our sickness exclusion policy and keep a record of the arrangements for the exclusion of a child should they become ill whilst in our setting.

In accordance with the contract agreed with parents we expect to be paid for the child’s place even if they are excluded from the setting due to an illness or infectious disease.

If any staff have a confirmed infectious disease, parents will be informed as soon as possible.

If the setting has to close or reduce the number of children attending due to staff illness, then we will follow our full/partial close down policy. Parents will not be charged for these missed sessions.

We inform the parents of other children in the setting, if a child we care for has a diagnosed infectious disease.

We will inform Ofsted or the Health Protection Agency if we believe we have an outbreak of infectious disease or illness at our setting.

 

Hygiene

We ensure all adults and children in our setting are aware of good hand-washing procedures, before eating or handling food and after using the toilet.

Children are encouraged to independently use the hygiene station set up in each room.

We ensure there is a supply of tissues available for children.

We immediately clean up any spillage of body fluids using a disposable cloth and gloves.

We wear disposable gloves and an apron for changing nappies. We discard the gloves after each change.

We ensure that any animals on the premises are safe to be around children and do not pose a health risk.

Promoting Healthy eating.

All of our menus are created and based on healthy eating guidance for children and babies. Our babies are weaned following NHS guidance and in partnership with parents.

Children with allergies and specific dietary requirements are catered for following latest guidance. Please see allergen policy.

To encourage healthy eating, children are encouraged to try all foods offered to them, depending on their needs. Alternative food is provided in the event that a child will not try the menu of the day. We will continue to reintroduce these foods each meal time. Chatty lunch times and snack times are encouraged, to enable discussion around healthy eating and the importance of a balanced diet.

Food is used as part of sensory play for very young children, to encourage sampling new tastes and textures.

Water and milk (and milk alternatives) are offered throughout the day for hydration. Children are encouraged to use differentiated drinking containers depending on their age and stage of development.

Children are encouraged to make, prepare and chose menus and snacks

We make sure that we actively include all children and their families.

 

Procedure (how we put the statement into practice)

 

We provide a range of challenging and enjoyable opportunities for each child to learn and develop to their full potential, taking into account age and stage of development, gender, ethnicity, religion, home language, and ability.

 

We provide, and make sure that all children have access to, a range of books, toys and other resources which reflect positive images and examples of the diversity of life in our society.

We will work closely with parents and other agencies where appropriate to ensure individual children’s needs are met.

 

We will ensure that my business documentation, policies and documents are accessible to all.

 

We will promote self-esteem, and appreciation of others by celebrating the differences which make us all unique.

 

We will regularly review our risk assessments to ensure accessibility and reasonable adjustments are made.

 

We challenge racist and other discriminatory remarks, attitudes and behaviour from all children and adults with whom we have contact.

 

We are aware of all legislation and existing codes of practice produced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and under the Equalities Act 2010.

 

We will anticipate the care we give to all children regardless of their individual needs, and the possibility of reasonable adjustment.

 

We will regularly review, monitor and evaluate our practice and keep up to date by attending relevant training.

 

As an Ofsted registered childcare provider, we aim to follow the requirements of EYFS (2014) and the Childcare Register (2012) and provide an inclusive environment for ALL children and their families. We are also required to comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and the SEND Code of Practice 2014

 

We will do this by:

• Regularly talking to parents/carers about the individual needs of each child
• Talking to children about their likes/dislikes and interests
• Encouraging parents to tell us
•  about family culture/religion/beliefs
• Providing a wide range of resources and activities which reflect the diversity of our local area and further afield
• Supporting each child through sensitive observation, regular assessment and individually planned activities to achieve their full potential
• Providing individual support depending on child’s needs
• Using the 2 year progress check to highlight any areas of concern
• Focusing on the positive things that each child can do
• Challenging any forms of prejudice
• Providing resources which challenge stereotypical ideas
• Sharing information with parents/carers about children’s learning and development- and providing ideas for home learning-as required by EYFS 2014
• Seeking permission to ask for support from outside agencies where appropriate
• Attending appropriate training to ensure I have skills and knowledge that needed to support children and their families
• Encourage children to respect each other as individuals

 

I welcome your feedback on my service at any time and I am happy to discuss my policies verbally, or provide them in a different format if needed

 

Lisa Thomson is the designated SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) for Holly Grove Childcare.

If we believe a child needs additional support, we will speak to parents and ask their permission to approach agencies which will support their child. we will follow the graduate approach set out in the Department for Education SEND Code of Practice to ensure every child receives the best possible care, learning and development

 

www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-25

 

A SEND guide for parents and carers is available from

www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-guide-for-parents-and-carers

Below are the time frames children should be absent from the setting if they have an infectious illness:

Vomiting/diarrhoea 48 hours after the last occurrence of diarrhoea or sickness.

Covid-19. 3 days isolation. 24 hours clear of a high temperature.

Chickenpox until all vesicles have crusted over

Measles 4 days from onset of rash.

Mumps 7 days and when swelling has gone down.

German Measles 4 days from onset of rash.

Conjunctivitis If treated by a doctor – return to setting when fully recovered.

Dysentery until recovered

Scabies until treatment is underway

Lice until treated

Ringworm until treatment is started and skin has healed

Impetigo until lesions are crusted and healed, or 48 hours

after antibiotics started

Whooping cough 21 days from onset of cough

Infective jaundice Minimum 7 days following the appearance of jaundice.

We will endeavour to seek advice from appropriate authorities before accepting a child with an infectious illness into the setting. Please keep us up-to-date with any illnesses your child may have, even if it is only suspected. The above guidelines are to protect and care for all of the children and staff in our setting.

Further infromation can be found at Public Health England – Guidance on infection control in schools and other childcare settings.

Other infectious illnesses may not be included on this list and advice will be given upon request.

Nappy Changing, Toilet Training and Toileting Policy.

Nappy Changing

Staff are given a step by step guide how to change a nappy, following infection control guidelines and inline with our safeguarding policy.  Staff must have a full DBS and EY2 form in place in order to change nappies.  Any staff under the age of 18 must wait until they are 18 before they can carry out nappy changing duties.  Apprentices must be over 18 and have been in post for 6 months before they can change nappies.  All staff will be given a nappy changing induction and will have spot check inspections to ensure that hygiene is at the highest level.  All staff are trained in safeguarding children and can identify any signs of neglect or abuse that need reporting to management.

Frequency and recording

Nappies will be checked and changed regular intervals throughout the day. 

Staff will record on Famly; who changed the nappy, when, nature of change, if cream has been applied and any signs of nappy rash or soreness. 

Toilet Training

We will work closely with parents to support toilet training.  We do not have a specific age when children must be out of nappies and will depend on each child’s individual development.  We ask that parents discuss this area of their development before they start the process so that we can prepare for this at our setting.  We will take into account each child’s individual needs and development.  We will offer a potty, toilet and toilet trainer seats to help support potty training.  Initially we will encourage the children to go to the toilet, leading on to children prompting toilet time themselves.  Children will be closely supported through this stage of development. If a child has more 3 accidents within one session, we will put a nappy on.  Over time we encourage independence to self-wipe, dress after toileting, hand wash and flushing of the toilet.  Eventually, when a child is confident, we will move on to distance supervision of toileting.  This involves the chid telling us they need the toilet, us asking if they need help, checking in and asking if they are ok? Wiping themselves (checking again if they need help) and asking at the end if they have washed their hands, flushed the toilet and dressed themselves again correctly.  All of this is within sight or ear shot of an adult to ensure children have privacy and independence when using the toilet.  We work closely with the Community Nursery Nurse who offers current advice and guidance on toilet training.

Documents and websites used to support toilet training

ERIC toileting

What to expect when

Early years outcomes

Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage; 3.1,3.2,3.28,3.6

In light of recent Terror attacks in the country, this procedure is designed to be followed in the event of a major incident, accident or terrorist attack.

As precautionary measures, we will take the following steps to try to protect all children within our care:

During outings, children are to wear hi visibility vests and/or wristbands. These wristbands will state the setting name and mobile number, to be used in the unlikely event that a child is missing from sight. Hi visibility vests allow us to see children more easily in busy areas such as school playgrounds and parks.

During outings, we will carry contact details and emergency information for all children linked to the setting, and a first aid kit.

On our Iphone, we have a medical ID set up, stating that we are childcare providers and may have children in our care. This is one thing that the emergency services would look for, should we become incapacitated in any way, and it will direct them to look for children and their emergency information. We do advise that parents with compatible phones do the same, as the medical ID settings on many phones can provide valuable emergency information and contacts.

We will avoid busy places such as city centres, large train stations, and other places where large crowds of people congregate, to the best of our ability

If we are involved in a major incident, we will attempt take the following steps to protect children to the best of our ability:

• Remain calm always
• Attract children’s attention and reassure them if frightened.
• Lead the children to the nearest place of safety, whether it is to hide or leave the area.
• Contact the emergency services and follow advice given.
• If possible, contact children’s emergency contacts, and ask for children to be collected as soon as is safely possible.
• Record the incident, including dates, times, details of the incident, names of anybody involved, and action taken, including as much information as I can.
• Report the incident to OFSTED within 14 days.
• Report the incident to my insurance provider.
• Review Emergency Procedure as needed.

If a parent is involved in a major incident, accident or terror attack, or is delayed due to any of these instances, we will continue to care for their child(ren) for as long as needed, until the child is collected.

If there is an incident close to, or in our setting, we will put our setting into ‘lockdown’. Doors and windows will remain locked, and access to and from the property will be restricted. Children will be reassured and moved to a safe area. We will contact emergency contacts as soon as it is safe for us to do so, and they will be updated where possible. Children will remain in our care until The manager (Nicola Cosgrove), the Deputy manager (Natalie Thomas or Raygan Finnerty), or emergency services say it is safe to leave/enter the building.

Procedure if a child is lost or goes missing whilst in our care.

We will safely supervise children when we are at setting and when we go on outings or trips. Where necessary we will undertake a risk assessment.

The children will be given clear rules and instructions as to where they can play inside and outside of the setting.

External doors and gates will be locked at all times and a key will be stored at the side of the door.

We will teach the children about safety when we are out and about and tell them what to do if they do become lost according to their age and stage of development, e.g. stay where they are, meet up at a certain place, use their mobile phone to summon help.

If a child goes missing, we will tell the police, provide a description and search the area.

If a child goes missing in a public place e.g. a library, park, shop or shopping centre we will also alert the staff and security staff.

Then, we will contact the parents and Ofsted (in England)

Other children in our care will be kept with us and reassured.

As a childcare provider we will ensure that we implement an effective procedure to meet the individual needs of a child when administering medicines. In order to achieve this we will do the following:

Procedures (how we will put the statement into practice)

We will keep a written record of a child’s need for medication and ask parents to update regularly

We will keep written records of all medicines administered to children in our care on Famly. Parents will be notified via the app that their child has been administered medication.

We will inform parents when a medicine has been administered including the time and dosage.

We will store all medicines safely [either in the refrigerator or in a high cabinet in the kitchen] and strictly in accordance with the product instructions and in the original container in which it was dispensed.

We will obtain prior written permission from parents for each and every medicine to be administered before any medication is given. This includes but is not limited to; an online form completed when a child is dropped off, text message, email.

We will work in partnership with parents to ensure the correct medication, dosage etc is given.

If the administration of prescription medicine requires technical/medical knowledge then we will attend training from a qualified health professional. The training will be specific to the child in question.

If any of our staff are involved in the administration of a prescription medicine that requires technical/medical knowledge then we will ensure that they have attended individual training from a health care professional, specific to the child in question.

We will only administer prescription medication to the child if it is prescribed for by a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist.

If a child is prescribed antibiotics for the first time, we ask that they do not attend for a minimum of 24 hours after the first dose.

We will only administer non-prescription medication such as pain and fever relief with parents’ previous written consent and only when there is a health reason to do so.

We will never administer medicines containing aspirin to a child under the age of 16 unless they have been prescribed by a doctor.

 

In an emergency, if we do not administer the medicine whilst the child is in our care, we will inform parents of who will be responsible for the administration of medicines to their child.

If we have a child in our care with long-term medical needs then we will ensure that satff have sufficient information about the child’s medical condition and will work in partnership with parents and any other health professionals to assist the administration of any prescribed medication and the management of any other health needs such as a gastrostomy tube.

Additional guidance for the Childcare Register

Providers on the Childcare Register, apart from home childcarers, are required to maintain a written record of any medicine administered to a child for whom the childcare is provided, including:

The details of the product and the date of its administration

The name of the person who administered the medicine and the circumstances

A record of parental consent or the consent of a carer, if the parent has identified another person.

If your child requires medication to control their temperature we will only administer once. We will then contact parents/carers and ask them to collect their child within 30 minutes. If they are unable to collect within this time frame, we will call alternative contacts and make arrangements for the child to be collected by them.

There is no guidance relating to whether the medication is prescribed or otherwise so long as the provider keeps a written record.

It is our policy to keep children safe on outings whilst in our care.

Procedure (how we put the statement into practice)

In order to do this we will ensure that:

The ratio of adults to children on any outing will never be less than 1:4.

Where possible,we may carry out a trial run and full risk assessment of the proposed outing.

We obtain written parental permission for children to take part in regular outings whilst in our care. 

We take essential records and equipment for each child on outings as necessary, including contact telephone numbers for parents (stored in the setting phone or on Famly), a first-aid kit and a mobile telephone.

We will suppy high visability jackets for the children to wear when we leave the setting. Children will also wear a wristband that are printed with telephone numbers that can be used to contact Holly Grove or The Grove. 

We keep records of all vehicles in which children are transported, including insurance details and a list of named drivers, and make these available to parents upon request.

Nicola Cosgrove will ensure that any member of staff transporting children in their own vehicle has adequate insurance cover and age appropriate car safety seats. This also applies to the use of mini cabs.

We make parents aware of what we will do in the event of a lost child.

This policy also links with the accident and emergency procedures.

We are required by law to always stay within our adult:child ratios.

If under any circumstances (staff illness etc.) we do not have enough staff members in place to care for the children at Holly Grove Childcare or The Grove, we will be forced to put in place a partial close down.

If this were to happen, we will allocate spaces to children based on their specific childcare requirements.

We will endevour to not choose the same children on more than one occasion, however this may not always be possible.

We will give parents as much notice as possible, though it could be short notice.

We will not charge for the days that a child has missed due to a partial close down, and a refund will be issued with the next invoice.

Early years providers need to have close physical contact with the young children in their care to support their emotional needs, basic care routines, and to provide a safe and secure environment. However, practitioners need to find an approach that balances the use of physical contact with potential safeguarding concerns.

What are the different types of physical contact?

It is important that staff should only touch children in ways that are appropriate to their professional or agreed role and responsibilities. There are three main types of physical contact as follows.

1. Positive handling

Early years practitioners can use positive handling in a range of normal daily interactions such as:

· giving guidance to children, such as how to hold a paintbrush or use climbing equipment

· providing comfort and emotional support, such as placing an arm around a distressed child

· providing intimate care, such as nappy changing or toileting (see also a model Nappy Changing and Toilet Training Policy

· providing first aid.

Staff must always be aware and respect the fact that all children respond to physical contact and touch in different ways. Some children are over demonstrative and may demand a great deal of affection and physical contact, while others may try to avoid it altogether. Where possible, staff should give any physical comfort when sought by a child, such as cuddles, in view of others. There may also be children who have experienced emotional, physical or sexual abuse and they will need very sensitive support and care. Staff must also respect any cultural sensitivities to physical contact.

All children have a right to safety, privacy and dignity when contact of a physical or intimate nature is required and depending on their abilities, age and maturity should be encouraged to act as independently as possible. Staff should ensure that intimate care such as nappy changing and toileting, or changing wet clothes is carried out one-to-one by a child’s key person wherever possible, staying visible to other practitioners but maintaining a child’s privacy, for example, leaving the door ajar.

2. Physical intervention

Physical intervention can include mechanical and environmental means such as high chairs, stair gates or locked doors which are used to ensure a child’s safety. Using the environment to ensure they are safe.

3. Restrictive physical intervention

This involves the use of physical intervention intentionally to restrict a child’s movement against his or her will, reducing any risk to the child, other children or adults in the immediate area. In most cases, this will be through the use of the adult’s body rather than mechanical or environmental methods.

Staff must only use restrictive physical intervention in extreme circumstances when children are in danger of hurting themselves, others or of causing significant damage to property. It should be used in the context of positive behaviour management approaches and alongside other strategies. Where possible, every effort should be made to avoid the need for physical restraint through dialogue and diversion. Staff should use the minimum restrictive force necessary to maintain safety and for as short a period as possible.

Restrictive physical intervention must never be used as a punishment or as an alternative to other methods which would be effective. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework states that staff must not use or threaten corporal punishment to a child, and must not use or threaten any punishment which could adversely affect a child's wellbeing. However, it says that physical intervention can be taken for the purposes of averting immediate danger of personal injury to any person (including the child) or to manage a child’s behaviour if absolutely necessary. Under these circumstances staff will not be taken to have used corporal punishment and therefore will not have committed an offence.

Each local authority offers specific guidance on restrictive physical intervention and techniques of physical restraint need to be learned from experienced professionals. Staff must also receive training and support in behaviour management.

It is important that any use of restrictive physical intervention is recorded as soon as possible and within 24 hours of the incident. A physical restraint record should show who was involved, the reason physical intervention was considered appropriate, how the child was held, when it happened and for how long. It should also include any subsequent injury or distress and what was done in relation to this. Parents must be informed and given a copy of the record. This will be recorded in our incident log.

Practitioner concerns

While physical contact is essential to the basic care routines and emotional wellbeing of children at nursery, many early years staff may still have several concerns such as:

· protecting themselves from potential safeguarding allegations

· balancing the emotional needs of the child with best practice

· using physical restraint with children when they are in danger or at risk of danger

· physical handling of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

 

Staff must be consistent in their use of positive behaviour support, physical contact and restrictive physical interventions and therefore it is essential that they receive relevant training in these areas as well as having a secure knowledge of safeguarding.

If staff identify behaviours relating to physical contact that are giving them cause for concern, they must report this to their designated safeguarding lead or another senior member of staff immediately, following the procedures in our whistleblowing policy.

It is our policy to keep children safe by assessing any risks to their safety whilst allowing them the opportunity to take measured risks to support their learning and development.

 

Procedure (how we put the statement into practice)

In order to do this, we will ensure that:

Staff check the setting every morning before the minded children arrive to ensure that it is a safe environment for the children to play in.

 

We risk assess any environment that we take the children into, for example, walking to school; the shops; library; and toddler groups etc. If we are planning to take the children into environments that are unknown to us, we will try to do a risk assessment in advance, so we are aware of any potential hazards.

 

We assess any risks and hazards when using transport and take action when necessary to minimise any accidents or incidents.

Where appropriate, we have written risk assessments. These detail:

• the environment to be checked
• the hazards
• who might be harmed and how?
• what we are doing now
• what further action is required?
• frequency of checks

We also include a review date and review when there is a significant change in our setting.

Our activities will be well planned and organised. We will plan for the unique needs of each child depending on their age and stage of development, allowing children the freedom to explore, develop concepts and learn how to predict and avoid dangerous situations.

 

This policy also links with my Accident and Emergency procedures, Health and Safety, and Outings policy.

Safeguarding

Our first responsibility and priorities are towards the children in our care. If we have any cause for concern we will report it to the relevant bodies, following the Doncaster Safeguarding Children Partnership (DSCP) procedures, contact details can be found on appendix 1.

Nicola Cosgrove is the lead safeguarding practitioner within the setting. She will be responsible for reporting and follow up any allegations in relation to safeguarding of children and staff members within the setting, where staff members are unable to. If staff have any concerns, no matter how small, they have a duty to report this to Nicola Cosgrove or her deputy in her absence.

We understand that child abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, neglect, domestic or a mixture of these, and are aware of the signs and symptoms of these. See appendix 2

We are aware that we must have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism. This is referred to in the Prevent Duty. We are also aware of the signs and indicators of extremism or radicalisation. If we have any concerns, we will contact the Prevent Officer in our local area and the DSCP.

We are aware of the Department for Education telephone helpline (020 7340 7264) to raise concerns relating to extremism directly. Concerns can also be raised by email to counter.extremism@education.gsi.gov.uk

We must notify Ofsted of any allegations of abuse that are alleged to have taken place while the child is in our care, including any allegations against staff, or any members of Nicola Cosgrove's immediate family, or other adults or children in Nicola Cosgrove's home (Holly Grove) who have had contact with minded children.

We must also ensure that no individual who is unsuitable to work with children has unsupervised access to a child in our care. We have read and understand the safeguarding and welfare requirements of EYFS. We have also read the national statutory guidance document Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and What to do if you are Worried a Child is being Abused - Advice for Practitioners 2015.

Procedure (how we put the statement into practice)

We keep up to date with child protection issues and relevant legislation by taking regular training courses and by reading relevant publications [for example, The Childcare Professional, or Nursery World].

We have copies of the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership procedures. Every six months we check that we have the latest version of the relevant procedures (or any documents that may replace them in the future).

We follow the procedures outlined in our confidentiality policy. All staff sign a confidentiality agreement as part of their induction process.

We work together with parents to make sure the care of their child is consistent – please refer to our Working with Parents policy.

Children will only be released from our care to the parent/carer or to someone named and authorised by them. A password will be used to confirm identity if the person collecting the child is not previously known to us. We do not store passwords on file, parents are encouraged to create a new password each time an unknown person collects their child to prevent passwords being learned.

Parents must notify us of any concerns they have about their child and any accidents, incidents or injuries affecting the child, which we will record and ask parents to sign.

Unless we believe that it would put the child at risk of further harm, we will discuss concerns with a child’s parent if we notice:

·         Significant changes in a child’s behaviour

·         Bruising or marks not consistent with a reported accident

·         Any comments made by a child which give us cause for concern

·         Signs of neglect.

If a child tells us that they or another child is being abused, we will:

·         Show that we have heard what they are saying, and that we take their allegations seriously.

·         Encourage the child to talk, but we will not prompt them or ask them leading questions. We will not interrupt when a child is recalling significant events and will not make a child repeat their account.

·         Explain what actions we must take, in a way that is appropriate to the age and understanding of the child.

·         Record what we have been told using exact words where possible.

·         Make a note of the date, time, place, and people who were present at the discussion.

Staff will report any concerns to Nicola Cosgrove (DSL). She will make a referral to MASH. We will call the local social services’ duty desk for advice and an assessment of the situation, or to identify if an Early Help referral is recommended. We will follow this phone call up with a letter to the Duty team within 48 hours. We will record the concern and all contact with Children’s Services thereafter.

Families who require support before things become too difficult for them can access Early Help with their permission. Nicola Cosgrove can complete an application for parents and carers with their consent or can signpost them to complete it themselves, using the online application form.

Early Help is focused on prevention, early intervention, and the provision of support for families to prevent or reduce the need for statutory services. By working with families to identify their strengths, Early Help is focused on building resilience and creating sustainable change that enables families to overcome any future challenges.

If an allegation is made against a member of staff, any member of Nicola Cosgrove's family or any other adult or child in the setting we will report it to Ofsted and LADO, following the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership procedures. We will also contact PACEY’s Information Line on 0845 880 0044 for advice and support. Referrals to LADO will be within 24hours and to Ofsted within 14 days. Contact details can be found in appendix 1.

 

In all instances we will record:

·         The child’s full name and address

·         The date and time of the record

·         Factual details of the concern, for example bruising, what the child said, who was present

·         Details of any previous concerns

·         Details of any explanations from the parents

·         Any action taken such as speaking to parents.

It is not our responsibility to attempt to investigate the situation ourselves.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises of all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genital organs or any other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM is most often carried out on young girls aged between infancy and 15 years old. It is often referred to as ‘cutting’, ‘female circumcision’, ‘initiation’, ‘Sunna’ and ‘infibulation’.

If we suspect a child has been a victim of FGM, or is at risk of undergoing FGM, we will report this to the police. Calls to 101 are answered by trained police officers and staff in the control room of the local police force. The call handler will log the call and refer it to the relevant team within the force, who will call you back to ask for additional information and discuss the case in more detail.

The use of mobile phones and cameras

We understand that mobile phones and smart watches are an everyday part of life for parents and childcare providers, and with that in mind have laid out our procedure for their use:

We will ensure Nicola Cosgrove's mobile phone and the setting’s phones are fully always charged and with us in case of emergencies.

We have the facility to take photographs on both our mobile phones and tablets and will seek your permission to take any photographs of your child to record activities and share their progress with you.

Any photographs taken will be deleted after either emailing to you, adding the to our online learning journal or published for advertising purposes (with parental permission).

We will not publish any photographs of your child on any social networking sites or share with any other person without your permission.

We do not allow children to bring their own mobile phones into setting.

Parents and carers are not permitted to use mobile phones within our setting.

All visitors must leave their mobile phone in a locked area upon arrival.

Staff are not permitted to access their mobile phones within the setting or while working with children. Staff must store their phone, on silent in a designated locked area. Staff may access their phone in staff only areas during their lunch break. Staff cannot use their personal phones at any time around children.

All mobile phones are password protected.

We have registered with the Information Commissioners Office as a data controller.

CCTV is in use around the property, and a sign is in place to notify parents and visitors. CCTV is reviewed by management and access will not be granted to parents/carers.

Smart watches that can take photographs are not permitted within setting.

Parents and guardians will be provided with a copy of our safeguarding policy in the parent pack and have access to updates on the Blossom Grove website.

 

 

Appendix 1

Useful contact numbers

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Tel: 01302 737332
Email: LADO@doncaster.gov.uk

Doncaster Safeguarding Children Partnership(DSCP)
Tel: 01302 734214
Email: dscp@doncaster.gov.uk

Prevent Duty reporting

South Yorkshire Police Prevent Team

Business Hours - As below

Out of Hours - Emergency 999

Out of Hours - Non-emergency 101

Prevent Staff operate on call via the 101 - 24/7 365

Prevent internal email: Prevent_Inbox@southyorks.pnn.police.u

FGM Reporting
Tel: 101
If you suspect a child is in immediate danger: 999
You should be prepared to provide the call handler with the following information:
• explain that you are making a report under the FGM mandatory reporting duty
your details:
                name
                contact details (work telephone number and e-mail address) and times when you will be available to be called back
                Role
                Place of work

• details of your organisation’s designated safeguarding lead:
                Name
                Contact details (work telephone number and e-mail address)
                place of work

• the girl’s details:
                Name
                Age/date of birth
                Address

• if applicable, confirm that you have undertaken, or will undertake, safeguarding actions.

as required by the Working Together to Safeguard Children (in England) you will be given a reference number for the call and should ensure that you document this in your records (see section 2.3b).

Where it is believed there is immediate risk of significant harm the police should be contacted on 999

Appendix 2

Physical abuse

Symptoms include:

• bruises
• broken or fractured bones
• burns or scalds.
• bite marks.

It can also include other injuries and health problems, such as:

• scarring
• the effects of poisoning, such as vomiting, drowsiness or seizures
• breathing problems from drowning, suffocation, or poisoning.

Head injuries in babies and toddlers can be signs of abuse so it is important to be aware of these. Visible signs include:

• swelling
• bruising
• fractures
• being extremely sleepy or unconscious
• breathing problems
• seizures
• vomiting
• unusual behaviour, such as being irritable or not feeding properly.

Emotional abuse
Symptoms include.

• seem unconfident or lack self-assurance.
• struggle to control their emotions.
• have difficulty making or maintaining relationships.
• act in a way that is inappropriate for their age.

The signs of emotional abuse can also be different for children at different ages.

Babies and pre-school children who are being emotionally abused or neglected might:

• be overly affectionate to strangers or people they do not know well.
• seem unconfident, wary or anxious.
• not have a close relationship or bond with their parent
• be aggressive or cruel towards other children or animals.

Older children might:

• use language you would not expect them to know for their age.
• act in a way or know about things you would not expect them to know for their age.
• struggle to control their emotions.
• have extreme outbursts.
• seem isolated from their parents.
• lack social skills.
• have few or no friends.

Neglect

Neglect can be many different things, which can make it hard to spot. Broadly speaking, there are four types of neglect.

• Physical neglect
  A child's basic needs, such as food, clothing, or shelter, are not met or they are not properly supervised or kept safe.
• Educational neglect
  A parent does not ensure their child is given an education.
• Emotional neglect
  A child does not get the nurture and stimulation they need. This could be through ignoring, humiliating, intimidating, or isolating them.
• Medical neglect
  A child is not given proper health care. This includes dental care and refusing or ignoring medical recommendations.

Symptom of neglect:

poor appearance and hygiene

• being smelly or dirty
• being hungry or not given money for food
• having unwashed clothes
• having the wrong clothing, such as no warm clothes in winter
• having frequent and untreated nappy rash in infants.

Health and development problems

• anaemia
• body issues, such as poor muscle tone or prominent joints.
• medical or dental issues
• missed medical appointments, such as for vaccinations.
• not given the correct medicines
• poor language or social skills
• regular illness or infections
• repeated accidental injuries, often caused by lack of supervision.
• skin issues, such as sores, rashes, flea bites, scabies, or ringworm
• thin or swollen tummy
• tiredness
• untreated injuries
• weight or growth issues.

Housing and family issues

• living in an unsuitable home environment, such as having no heating
• being left alone for a long time
• taking on the role of carer for other family members.

Change in behaviour.

• becoming clingy
• becoming aggressive
• being withdrawn, depressed or anxious.
• changes in eating habits
• displaying obsessive behaviour
• finding it hard to concentrate or take part in activities.
• missing school
• showing signs of self-harm

Sexual abuse

Emotional and behavioural signs

• Avoiding being alone with or frightened of people or a person they know.
• Language or sexual behaviour you would not expect them to know.
• Having nightmares or bed-wetting.
• Alcohol or drug misuse.
• Self-harm.
• Changes in eating habits or developing an eating problem.
• Changes in their mood, feeling irritable and angry, or anything out of the ordinary.
• Change in normal behaviour for the child, for example suddenly not attending education or avoiding wanting to go home/running away.

Physical signs

• Bruises.
• Bleeding, discharge, pains, or soreness in their genital or anal area.
• Sexually transmitted infections, including in the throat.
• Pain/soreness in throat
• Pregnancy.
• Difficulty in walking/sitting that are not usual for the child.

We are aware that safeguarding is not limited to those mentioned above. We have a duty of care to protect children from:

·         Witchcraft

·         Cuckooing

·         Radicalisation and extremism

·         Breast ironing

·         Dangerous dogs

·         County lines

·         Child sexual exploitation

This list is not exhaustive

Holly Grove Childcare, Blossom Grove and The Grove operate a Safe Sleep Policy that specifies “back to sleep” position. Our policy requires that the key person or manager discuss the Safe Sleep Policy with a child’s parent or guardian before admission. All key persons working in our nursery are required to receive induction training on the Safe Sleep Policy.

When introducing or sharing the policy with our parents the following will be discussed:

• Ask about the baby’s sleep position at home
• Explain the nursery “back to sleep” policy that is implemented to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Tell the Parents that “Back to Sleep” is recommended by the Foundation of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (FSIDS).
• Inform the parents that even though most babies will be fine, there is a higher risk of SIDS when an infant is placed to sleep on their stomach or side.
• Some babies have medical conditions that require stomach sleeping. If the parent insists that their baby be placed on his /her stomach or side to sleep, they will be asked to provide a note from the baby’s doctor that specifies the sleeping position; this note will be placed within the baby area or sleep room.
• If parents have further questions about SIDS and infant sleeping positions, they will be given the phone number for the FSIDS and the national Back to Sleep campaign.
• Review of the baby sleep policy.
  
  

Safe sleep policy

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)is the unexpected death of a seemingly healthy baby for whom no cause of death can be determined based on an autopsy, an investigation of the place where the baby died and a review of the baby’s medical history.

In the belief that proactive steps can be taken to lower the risk of SIDS in childcare settings and that parents and childcare professionals can work together to keep babies safer while they sleep. Holly Grove Childcare, Blossom Grove and The Grove will practice the following sleep policy:

• All key persons will receive training on our Safe Sleep Policy and SIDS risk reduction.
• Babies will always be placed on their backs to sleep unless there is a signed sleep position medical waiver on file. A copy will be given to the keyperson.
• FSIDS recommends that babies are placed on their backs to sleep, but when babies can easily turn over from the back to stomach, they can be allowed to adopt whatever position they prefer when the baby turns onto his/her side or stomach.
• FSIDS recommends that using a dummy at the start of any sleep period reduces the risk of cot death. If a dummy forms part of your child’s sleep routine, it will always be used at sleep times. FSID recommends that the dummy should be stopped when the baby is between 6 and 12 months old. (The key person will work with parents to phase out dummies sensitively, considering children’s emotional needs.)
• Visual supervision is always required, and a member of staff will accompany sleeping children at all times. At least every 15 minutes the supervising person will visually check on the child; looking for the rise and fall of the chest and if the sleep position has changed. We will be especially alert to monitoring a sleeping baby during the first weeks the baby is in our care.
• Steps will be taken to keep babies from becoming too warm or over heating by regulating the room temperature, avoiding excess bedding and not overdressing or over-wrapping the baby; room temperature will be kept between 16-20 degrees.
• All babies must sleep in a cot or an approved bed/mattress. Babies may not sleep in a nesting ring, car seat, bouncy chair etc.
• Babies’ heads will not be covered with blankets or bedding; babies cots will not be covered with bedding.
• Loose bedding, pillows, bumper pads etc, will not be used in cots.
• Awake babies will be given supervised “tummy time”.
• Toys and stuffed animals, including comforters will be moved to the side of the child whilst they are sleeping.
• A safety approved cot with a firm fitting mattress or a sleep mat will be used.
• No smoking is permitted on the premises and key persons who smoke will ensure that their clothes and breathe do not smell of smoke when caring for caring for babies or any other children within the nursery.
• All parents of babies cared for in this nursery will receive a copy of our safe sleep policy before admission.
• From the age of 2 and when the child is able to roll themselves with ease, they will be permitted to sleep on a large cushion.

Procedure

Cots/sleep mats will be covered with a clean, well fitted sheet. No cushions or pillows.

Sleeping children will be placed foot to the bottom of the cot/mat.

Blankets will be tucked no higher than the armpits of the child.

Comforters will be moved to the side of the child once they are sleeping.

A member of staff to sit in with the child(ren) at all times. Do not leave children unsupervised at any time.

Regular 15-minute checks will be carried out for all children and logged on Famly. This will include, watching for the rise and fall of the chest, faces uncovered, blankets remain below shoulders, comforters away from the face, and room temperature checked.

It is our policy to ensure that children are in a smoke-free environment whilst in our care.

 

Procedure (how we put the statement into practice)

 

We will ensure that:

 

• No-one smokes or uses electronic cigarettes in any room where the children in my care are present or about to be present, in any our setting or any other setting.

 

• No-one smokes or uses electronic cigarettes in an outside play area when the children in my care are present or about to be present.

 

• If, in exceptional circumstances, the children in our care are expected to use any space that has been used for smoking or vaping then we will ensure that there is adequate ventilation to clear the atmosphere.

 

• Holly Grove/The Grove is a smoke/vape free zone and visitors are asked not to smoke anywhere on our premises (including outdoor spaces).

 

• If a member of staff smokes, they will not be permitted to smoke or use electronic cigarettes during work hours, or whilst wearing their uniform. This includes travelling to and from the setting.

Attendance is recorded daily on Family, our nursery management system. Each month this data is analysed by the deputy manager. Attendance, late collection and incidents are analysed at this time.

Parents can be contacted via the Famly app and can also be contacted by their contact details on the Famly app.

Parents are encouraged to check their contact details annually and to notify us of any changes.

Procedure if a child is not collected

If a child is not collected within 20 minutes of the agreed collection time, we will try calling the parents’ contact numbers.

If there is no response, we will the call the listed emergency contacts.

During this time, we will continue to safely look after the child and the other children in our care.

We will continue to try the parents’ contact numbers and emergency numbers, but if we have heard nothing after 1 hour from the original agreed collection time, we will then inform the local authority duty social worker (MASH).

We will charge an additional fee for late collections

 

Holly Grove Childcare, Blossom Grove Childcare and The Grove will take all necessary steps to keep children safe and well – Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage – 2014:16, point 3.2

 

In the event of an employee raising a concern the following procedure will be put into place:

Staff will complete the Concerns form.

Inform Nicola Cosgrove (manager and DSL) of any concerns

If the concern is about Nicola Cosgrove, contact the L.A Early Years department.

Nicola Cosgrove will contact the Ofsted whistle blowing hotline – 0300 123 3155, email: whistleblowing@ofsted.gov.uk

 

How employees will be safeguarded when they have raised a concern:

The concern will be confidential and will not be discussed with any parties not involved in the concern – this is by the whistle blower, manager or the person involved in the alleged concern.

The whistle blower will be safeguarded from any victimisation or harassment following the concern, where necessary staff involved will not be left to work alone together.

Allegations can be anonymous and can be reported directly to your manager or Ofsted.

How your concern will be investigated

NC will investigate and make a decision if the concern needs to be escalated. Appropriate agencies will be contacted if the concern is a safeguarding issue. Staff will be given the opportunity to give their side of the concern and the issue will be monitored. The concern will be dealt with within a week and monitoring will take place within an appropriate time frame depending on the nature of the concern. Nicola Cosgrove will monitor any concerns.

A written and verbal response will be given to the whistle blower following the concern. The time frame for this will be one week after the monitoring period is over.

Should the whistle blower be unhappy with the outcome of the monitoring and the feedback given, they have two weeks to appeal the decision in writing to their manager. Following this, the concern should be escalated to the LA Early Years Team.

 

All records will be kept within employee files in a locked filing cabinet in accordance with ICO guidelines.

If a safeguarding child protection concern is raised and found to be true Nicola Cosgrove will notify DBS of any changes to their employees circumstances. (Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) was established under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and merges the functions previously carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). www.homeoffice.gov.uk)

 

Types of concerns that need reporting

* If the concern is unlawful i.e. theft, fraud, corruption etc.

* If the concern involves failure to comply with legal obligation

* If there is a health and safety risk

* If there is criminal activity which included safeguarding children

* If there is a miscarriage of duty

* Improper conduct or unethical behaviour

* If a person does not adhere to the settings policies and procedures

 

N.B. This list is not exhaustive

We aim to work in partnership with parents and carers to meet the needs of the children we care for.

 

We respect that parents are children’s first and most enduring educators. When parents and practitioners work together in early year’s settings, the results have a positive impact on children’s development and learning.

 

We treat all children and adults equally and create a welcoming, inclusive environment in our setting

 

Procedure (how we put the statement into practice)

 

We keep up to date about working in partnership with parents and carers and with relevant legislation by taking regular training and by reading relevant publications such as The Childcare Professional and Nursery World.

 

All parents receive or have access to a copy of our policies and procedures, information about the types of activities provided, the daily routines and how parents can share learning at home.

 

Contracts and records

We draw up and sign a written contract with parents before the placement starts. The contract is signed by the parent/s, Nicola Cosgrove and dated. We give copies to the parent(s) and any other party involved in the contractual arrangements.

 

We review the contract with parents every 6-12 months or when circumstances change.

 

We issue a receipt for all payments received from parents.

 

We meet parents’ requests for the care of their children according to their values and practices, preferences and attitudes.

 

We keep records of these requests with the child record forms which also contain emergency contact numbers, dietary requirements/preferences, food allergies, health requirements, and information about who has legal contact with the child and who has parental responsibility for the child.  These records are revisited and updated during regular reviews with parents.

Communication with parents

 

We work together with parents to make sure that the care of their child is consistent.

We make time for discussion about a child’s needs by sharing information with parents about daily

routines and activities in the setting and in the child’s home.

 

Ways of sharing this information can include inviting parents to add to children’s online learning journal, email, telephone, face-to-face meetings, and informal day to day feedback.

 

We will discuss any changes in the child’s home circumstances which may impact on the child’s development or our ability to care for a child. 

We offer regular (6 monthly, by request) review meetings with parents to discuss their child’s learning and development, share observations and discuss next steps.

 

At the end of the school term, we will provide parents with an assessment report, and a communication sheet for parent’s feedback.

 

We welcome parents’ feedback on our service. Please refer to our Complaints Policy for the procedures for managing negative feedback.

 

We display our Ofsted registration certificates and the Ofsted poster for parents which introduces Ofsted's childcare responsibilities and gives Ofsted contact details.

 

Ofsted inspections

We will notify all parents in advance when we are to be inspected by Ofsted so that parents can contribute their views to the inspector.

We will supply parents with a copy of the Ofsted report within five working days of receiving the report (by request).

All significant incidents are recorded on incident forms and will be shared and discussed with parents so that we can work together to resolve any issues.