Policies

Aim

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

Procedure

The member of staff responsible for health and safety is the manager

He/she is competent to carry out these responsibilities. He/she has undertaken health and safety training and regularly updates his/her knowledge. We display the necessary health and safety poster in the reception foyer near the entrance and the parent’s information board.

Risk Assessments

A responsible approach to Health and Safety, based upon risk assessment, can minimize injury and ill health to staff, children, their families and our visitors. Risk assessments, to assess the level of risk will be carried out and will be reviewed on a regular basis. These findings will be recorded and stored in the Risk Assessment Folder.

Our risk assessment procedure includes:

• Checking for hazards and risks indoors and outdoors, in our activities and procedures. Our assessments cover adults and children
• Deciding which areas need attention
• Developing an action plan which specifies the action required the timescales for action, the person responsible for the action
• We maintain lists of health and safety issues which are checked daily, weekly and annually

Insurance cover

• We have public liability insurance and employer’s liability insurance.
• The certificate is displayed in the reception foyer near the entrance and the parent’s information board.

Awareness training

Our induction training for staff and volunteers includes a clear explanation of health and safety issues so that all adults are able to adhere to our policy and understand their shared responsibility for health and safety. The induction includes training covering matters of employee well being, including safe lifting and the storage of potentially dangerous substances.

• Records are kept of these induction training sessions and new staff and volunteers are asked to sign the records to confirm they have taken part.
• Health and safety issue are explained to the parents of the new children.
• As necessary, health and safety training is included in the annual training plans of staff and health and safety is discussed at regular staff meetings.
• We have a no smoking policy.
• Children are made aware of health and safety issues through discussions, planned activities and routines.

Children’s safety

Only persons who have been checked for criminal records by an enhanced disclosure from the criminal records bureau and are registered with OFSTED as child carers, have unsupervised access to the children, including helping them with toileting.

• Adults do not normally supervise the children on their own.
• All children are supervised by adults at all times.
• Whenever children are on the premises at last two adults are present.

Security

• Systems are in place for the safe arrival and departure of the children. The times are recorded.
• The arrival and departure times of adults, staff, volunteers and visitors are recorded.
• Our systems prevent unauthorised access to our premises.
• Our systems prevent children from leaving our premises unnoticed.
• The personal possessions of staff are securely stored during nursery sessions.

Doors

• We take precautions to prevent children’s fingers from being trapped in doors.
• There are visual panels on all doors leading to children areas to avoid accidents.

Floors

• All surfaces are checked daily to ensure they are clean, not uneven and undamaged.
• All walkways are kept clear at all times.

Kitchen

• Children do not have access to the kitchen.
• All surfaces are clean and non porous.
• There are separate facilities for hand washing and washing up.
• Cleaning materials and other dangerous materials are stored out of children’s reach.

Electrical equipment

• All electrical equipment conforms to safety requirements and is checked regularly.
• Electrical switchgear is not accessible to children.
• Fires, heaters, electric sockets, wires, leads are properly guarded and children are taught not to touch them.
• Lighting and ventilation is adequate in all areas.

Storage

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

Outdoor area

• Our outdoor area is securely fenced.
• Our outdoor area is checked for safety and cleared of rubbish daily.
• Adults and children are alerted to the dangers of poisonous plants, herbicides and pesticides.
• Where water can form a pool on equipment, it is emptied before children start playing.
• Out outdoor sand pit is covered when not in use.
• All outdoor activities are supervised at all times.

Hygiene

• We regularly seek information from the environmental health department and the health authority to ensure that we keep up to date with the latest recommendations.
• Our daily routines encourage the children to learn about personal hygiene.
• We have a daily cleaning routine for the nursery.
• We have a schedule for cleaning resources and equipment.
• The toilet are has a high standard of hygiene including hand washing and drying facilities.
• We implement good hygiene practices by:

  • Cleaning tables between activities
  • Checking toilets regularly
  • Wearing protective clothing
  • Providing sets of clean clothes
  • Providing tissues and wipe
  • Ensuring sole use of flannels and towels.

Activities

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

• The layout of play equipment allows children and adults to move safely and freely between activities.
• All equipment is regularly checked for cleanliness and safety and dangerous items are discarded or repaired.
• All materials are non toxic.
• Sand is clean and suitable for children’s play.
• Physical play is constantly supervised.

Food and Drink

• Staff that prepares and handles food receive appropriate training and understand and comply with food safety and hygiene regulations.
• All food and drink is stored appropriately.
• Adults do not carry hot drink through the nursery and do no walk about with food and drinks.
• Fresh drinking water is available for the children at all times.
• We operate systems to ensure that children do not have access to food/drinks to which they are allergic.

Outings and visits

• We have agreed procedures for the safe conduct of outings.
• A risk assessment is carried out before an outing.
• An outings form is completed before an outing.
• Parents always sign consent before a major outing.
• Our ratio is one adult: two children.
• The children are appropriately supervised.
• Records are kept of the vehicles used to transport children with named drovers and appropriate insurance cover.

Fire safety

Fire doors are clearly marked, never obstructed and easily opened from the inside.

Our emergency evacuation procedures are approved by the Fire safety officer and are:

• Clearly displayed in the premises
• Explained to new members of staff, volunteers and parents
• Practised at least once every 6 weeks
• Records are kept of fire drills and servicing of fire safety equipment.

First aid and medication

At least one member of staff per room must have a current first aid certificate. The firs aid training must be relevant to infants and young children.

Our first aid kit:

• Complies with the health and safety regulations 1981
• Is regularly checked by a designated member of staff and re stocked as necessary
• Is easily accessible to adults and clearly labelled their location
• Is kept out of the reach of children.

At the time of admission, parents give written consent for medical advice or treatment to be sought.

Accident / Incident

In case of minor accidents / incidents follow the Accident / Incident Policy. If case of major accident where a chid has been taken to the hospital accident/ incident policy is followed and 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 and in that case, OFSTED is informed.

Staff Pregnancy

If a member of staff is pregnant and employed in a position which has been identified as posing a risk to their health or to that of the unborn child, the staff member should be notified immediately and arrangements will be made to eliminate the risk.

For this reason staff members are required to notify the manager as soon as they are aware that they may be pregnant and arrangements will be made by the manager to carry out a Pregnant Workers Risk Assessment. Reasonable adjustments will be made if necessary.