Contents

1.1 Children’s rights and entitlements

Policy statement

• We promote children's right to be strong, resilient and listened to by creating an environment in our setting that encourages children to develop a positive self-image, which includes their heritage arising from their colour and ethnicity, their languages spoken at home, their religious beliefs, cultural traditions and home background.
• We promote children's right to be strong, resilient and listened to by encouraging children to develop a sense of autonomy and independence.
• We promote children's right to be strong, resilient and listened to by enabling children to have the self-confidence and the vocabulary to resist inappropriate approaches.
• We help children to establish and sustain satisfying relationships within their families, with peers, and with other adults.
• We work with parents to build their understanding of, and commitment to, the principles of safeguarding all our children.

What it means to promote children’s rights and entitlements to be ‘strong, resilient and listened to’.

To be strong means to be:

• secure in their foremost attachment relationships, where they are loved and cared for by at least one person who is able to offer consistent, positive and unconditional regard and who can be relied on; 
• safe and valued as individuals in their families and in relationships beyond the family, such as day care or school; 
• self-assured and form a positive sense of themselves – including all aspects of their identity and heritage;
• included equally and belong in our setting and in community life;
• confident in their own abilities and proud of their achievements;
• progressing optimally in all aspects of their development and learning;
• part of a peer group in which they learn to negotiate, develop social skills and an identity as global citizens, respecting the rights of others in a diverse world; and
• able to represent themselves and participate in aspects of service delivery that affects them, as well as aspects of key decisions that affect their lives.

To be resilient means to:

• be sure of their self-worth and dignity;
• be able to be assertive and state their needs effectively;
• be able to overcome difficulties and problems;
• be positive in their outlook on life;
• be able to cope with challenge and change;
• have a sense of justice towards themselves and others;
• develop a sense of responsibility towards themselves and others; and
• be able to represent themselves and others in key decision making processes.

To be listened to means:

• adults who are close to children recognise their need and right to express and communicate their thoughts, feelings and ideas;
• adults who are close to children are able to tune in to their verbal, sign and body language in order to understand and interpret what is being expressed and communicated;
• adults who are close to children are able to respond appropriately and, when required, act upon their understanding of what children express and communicate; and 
• adults respect children’s rights and facilitate children’s participation and representation in imaginative and child centred ways in all aspects of core services.

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1.2 Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults

Policy statement

Our setting will work with children, parents and the community to ensure the rights and safety of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Our Safeguarding Policy is based on three key commitments.

Procedures

We carry out the following procedures to ensure we meet the three key commitments of this policy, which incorporates responding to child protection concerns.

Key commitment 1

We are committed to building a 'culture of safety' in which children, young people and vulnerable adults are protected from abuse and harm in all areas of our service delivery.

• Our designated person who co-ordinates child, young person and vulnerable adult protection issues is Lucia Federici
• When the setting is open but the designated person is not on site, a suitably trained deputy is available at all times for staff to discuss safeguarding concerns.
• The designated person and the suitably trained deputy and ensure they have relevant links with statutory and voluntary organisations with regard to safeguarding.
• The designated person (and the person who deputises for them) understands LSCB safeguarding procedures, attends relevant LSCB training at least every two years and refreshes their knowledge of safeguarding at least annually.
• We ensure all staff are trained to understand our safeguarding policies and procedures and that parents are made aware of them too.
• All staff have an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues, are alert to potential indicators and signs of abuse and neglect and understand their professional duty to ensure safeguarding and child protection concerns are reported to the local authority children’s social care team or the NSPCC. They receive updates on safeguarding at least annually.
• All staff are confident to ask questions in relation to any safeguarding concerns and know not to just take things at face value but can be respectfully sceptical.
• All staff understand the principles of early help (as defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2015) and are able to identify those children and families who may be in need of early help and enable them to access 
• All staff understand LSCB thresholds of significant harm and understand how to access services for families, including for those families who are below the threshold for significant 
• All staff understand their responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulations and the circumstances under which they may share information about you and your child with other 
• All staff understand how to escalate their concerns in the event that they feel either the local authority and/or their own organisation has not acted adequately to 
• All staff understand what the organisation expects of them in terms of their required behaviour and conduct, and follow our policies and procedures on positive behaviour, online safety (including use of mobile phones), whistleblowing and dignity at work.
• Children have a key person to build a relationship with, and are supported to articulate any worries, concerns or complaints that they may have in an age appropriate 
• All staff understand our policy on promoting positive behaviour and follow it in relation to children showing aggression towards other 
• Adequate and appropriate staffing resources are provided to meet the needs of 
• Applicants for posts within the setting are clearly informed that the positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 
• Enhanced criminal records and barred lists checks and other suitability checks are carried out for staff and volunteers prior to their post being confirmed, to ensure that no disqualified person or unsuitable person works at the setting or has access to the 
• Where applications are rejected based on information disclosed, applicants have the right to know and to challenge incorrect 
• Enhanced criminal records and barred lists checks are carried out on anyone living or working on the premises.
• Volunteers must:
  • be aged 17 or over;
  • be considered competent and responsible;
  • receive a robust induction and regular supervisory meetings;
  • be familiar with all the settings policies and procedures;
  • be fully checked for suitability if they are to have unsupervised access to the children at any time.
• Information is recorded about staff qualifications, and the identity checks and vetting processes that have been completed including:
• the criminal records disclosure reference number;
• certificate of good conduct or equivalent where a UK DBS check is not appropriate;
• the date the disclosure was obtained; and
• details of who obtained it.

• All staff and volunteers are informed that they are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders or reprimands and warnings which may affect their suitability to work with children (whether received before or during their employment with us).
• All staff and volunteers are required to notify us if anyone in their household (including family members, lodgers, partners etc.) has any relevant convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands or warnings or has been barred from, or had registration refused or cancelled in relation to any childcare provision or have had orders made in relation to care of their children.
• We notify the Disclosure and Barring Service of any person who is dismissed from our employment, or resigns in circumstances that would otherwise have led to dismissal for reasons of a child protection concern.
• Procedures are in place to record the details of visitors to the setting.
• Security steps are taken to ensure that we have control over who comes into the setting so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children.
• Steps are taken to ensure children are not photographed or filmed on video for any other purpose than to record their development or their participation in events organised by us. Parents sign a consent form and have access to records holding visual images of their child.
• Any personal information is held securely and in line with data protection requirements and guidance from the ICO.
• The designated person in the setting has responsibility for ensuring that there is an adequate online safety policy in place.
• We keep a written record of all complaints and concerns including details of how they were responded to.
• We ensure that robust risk assessments are completed, that they are seen and signed by all relevant staff and that they are regularly reviewed and updated, in line with our health and safety policy.
• The designated officer will support the designated person to undertake their role adequately and offer advice, guidance, supervision and support.
• The designated person will inform the designated officer at the first opportunity of every significant safeguarding concern, however this should not delay any referrals being made to children’s social care, the LADO, Ofsted or RIDDOR.

Key commitment 2

We are committed to responding promptly and appropriately to all incidents, allegations or concerns of abuse that may occur and to work with statutory agencies in accordance with the procedures that are set down in 'What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused' (HMG, 2015) and the Care Act 2014.

Responding to suspicions of abuse

• We acknowledge that abuse of children can take different forms - physical, emotional, and sexual, as well as neglect.
• We ensure that all staff have an understanding of the additional vulnerabilities that arise from special educational needs and/or disabilities, plus inequalities of race, gender, language, religion, sexual orientation or culture, and that these receive full consideration in relation to child, young person or vulnerable adult protection.
• When children are suffering from physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or experiencing neglect, this may be demonstrated through:

• significant changes in their behaviour;
• deterioration in their general well-being;
• their comments which may give cause for concern, or the things they say (direct or indirect 
• disclosure);
• changes in their appearance, their behaviour, or their play;
• unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect; and
• any reason to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting.

• We are aware of the ‘hidden harm’ agenda concerning parents with drug and alcohol problems and consider other factors affecting parental capacity and risk, such as social exclusion, domestic violence, radicalisation, mental or physical illness and parent’s learning disability.
• We are aware that children’s vulnerability is potentially increased when they are privately fostered and when we know that a child is being cared for under a private fostering arrangement, we inform our local authority children’s social care team.
• We are prepared to take action if we/I have concerns about the welfare of a child who fails to arrive at a session when expected. The designated person will take immediate action to contact the child’s parent to seek an explanation for the child’s absence and be assured that the child is safe and well. If no contact is made with the child’s parents and the designated person has reason to believe that the child is at risk of significant harm, the relevant professionals are contacted immediately and LSCB procedures are followed. If the child has current involvement with social care the social worker is notified on the day of the unexplained absence. 
• We are aware of other factors that affect children’s vulnerability that may affect, or may have affected, children and young people using our provision, such as abuse of children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities; fabricated or induced illness; child abuse linked to beliefs in spirit possession; sexual exploitation of children, including through internet abuse; Female Genital Mutilation and radicalisation or extremism.
• In relation to radicalisation and extremism, We follow the Prevent Duty guidance for England and Wales published by the Home Office and LSCB procedures on responding to radicalisation.
• The designated person completes online Channel training, online Prevent training and attends local WRAP training where available to ensure they are familiar with the local protocol and procedures for responding to concerns about radicalisation.
• We are aware of the mandatory duty that applies to teachers and health workers to report cases of Female Genital Mutilation to the police.
• We also make ourselves aware that some children and young people are affected by gang activity, by complex, multiple or organised abuse, through forced marriage or honour based violence or may be victims of child trafficking. While this may be less likely to affect young children in our care, We may become aware of any of these factors affecting older children and young people who We may come into contact with.
• Where we believe that a child in our care or that is known to us may be affected by any of these factors We follow the procedures below for reporting child protection concerns and follow the LSCB procedures.
• Where such evidence is apparent, the child's key person makes a dated record of the details of the concern and discusses what to do with the member of staff who is acting as the designated person. The information is stored on the child's personal file. 
• In the event that a staff member or volunteer is unhappy with the decision made of the designated person in relation to whether to make a safeguarding referral they must follow escalation procedures.
• We refer concerns to the local authority children’s social care team and co-operate fully in any subsequent investigation. NB In some cases this may mean the police or another agency identified by the Local Safeguarding Children Board. 
• We take care not to influence the outcome either through the way we speak to children or by asking questions of children.
• We take account of the need to protect young people aged 16-19 as defined by the Children Act 1989. This may include students or school children on work placement, young employees or young parents. Where abuse is suspected we follow the procedure for reporting any other child protection concerns. The views of the young person will always be taken into account, but the setting may override the young person’s refusal to consent to share information if it feels that it is necessary to prevent a crime from being committed or intervene where one may have been, or to prevent harm to a child or adult. Sharing confidential information without consent is done only where not sharing it could be worse than the outcome of having shared it.
• All staff are also aware that adults can also be vulnerable and know how to refer adults who are in need of community care services.
• We have a whistleblowing policy in place.
• Staff/volunteers know they can contact the organisation Public Concern at Work for advice relating to whistleblowing; if they feel that the organisation has not acted adequately in relation to safeguarding they can contact the NSPCC whistleblowing helpline.

Recording suspicions of abuse and disclosures

• Where a child makes comments to a member of staff that give cause for concern (disclosure), or a member of staff observes signs or signals that give cause for concern, such as significant changes in behaviour; deterioration in general well-being; unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect; that member of staff:

• listens to the child, offers reassurance and gives assurance that she or he will take action;
• does not question the child, although it is OK to ask questions for the purposes of clarification;
• makes a written record that forms an objective record of the observation or disclosure that includes: the date and time of the observation or the disclosure; the exact words spoken by the child as far as possible; the name of the person to whom the concern was reported, with the date and time; and the names of any other person present at the time.

• These records are signed and dated and kept in the child's personal file, which is kept securely and confidentially.
• The member of staff acting as the designated person is informed of the issue by the member of staff at the earliest opportunity, and within one working day.
• Where the Local Safeguarding Children Board stipulates the process for recording and sharing concerns, We include those procedures alongside this procedure and follow the steps set down by the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

Making a referral to the local authority children's social care team

• The Pre-school Learning Alliance's publication Safeguarding Children contains procedures for making a referral to the local children's social care team, as well as a template form for recording concerns and making a referral. 
• We keep a copy of this document alongside the procedures for recording and reporting set down by our Local Safeguarding Children Board, which We follow where local procedures differ from those of the Pre-school Learning Alliance.

Escalation process

• If [I/we] feel that a referral made has not been dealt with properly or that concerns are not being addressed or responded to, we will follow the LSCB escalation process.
• We will ensure that staff are aware of how to escalate concerns.

Informing parents

• Parents are normally the first point of contact. Concerns are discussed with parents to gain their view of events, unless it is felt that this may put the child at risk, or interfere with the course of a police investigation. Advice will be sought from social care if necessary.
• Parents are informed when We make a record of concerns in their child’s file and that We also make a note of any discussion We have with them regarding a concern.
• If a suspicion of abuse warrants referral to social care, parents are informed at the same time that the referral will be made, except where the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board does not allow this, for example, where it is believed that the child may be placed at risk. 
• This will usually be the case where the parent is the likely abuser.
• If there is a possibility that advising a parent beforehand may place a child at greater risk (or interfere with a police response) the designated person should seek advice from children’s social care, about whether or not to advise parents beforehand, and should record and follow the advice given.

Liaison with other agencies

• We work within the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines.
• The current version of ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ is available for parents and staff and all staff are familiar with what they need to do if they have concerns.
• We have procedures for contacting the local authority regarding child protection issues, including maintaining a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of social workers, to ensure that it is easy, in any emergency, for the setting and children's social care to work well together.
• We notify Ofsted of any incident or accident and any changes in our arrangements which may affect the well-being of children or where an allegation of abuse is made against a member of staff (whether the allegations relate to harm or abuse committed on our premises or elsewhere). Notifications to Ofsted are made as soon as is reasonably practicable, but at the latest within 14 days of the allegations being made.
• Contact details for the local National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) are also kept.

Allegations against staff

• We ensure that all parents know how to complain about the behaviour or actions of staff or volunteers within the setting, or anyone living or working on the premises occupied by the setting, which may include an allegation of abuse.
• We respond to any inappropriate behaviour displayed by members of staff, volunteer or any other person living or working on the premises, which includes:
• inappropriate sexual comments;
• excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities, or inappropriate sharing of images.
• We follow the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board when responding to any complaint that a member of staff or volunteer within the setting, or anyone living or working on the premises occupied by the setting, has abused a child.
• We ensure that all staff and volunteers know how to raise concerns about a member of staff or volunteer within the setting. We respond to any concerns raised by staff and volunteers who know how to escalate their concerns if they are not satisfied with our response
• We respond to any disclosure by children or staff that abuse by a member of staff or volunteer within the setting, or anyone living or working on the premises occupied by the setting, may have taken, or is taking place, by first recording the details of any such alleged incident.
• We refer any such complaint immediately to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) to investigate and/or offer advice:

• We also report any such alleged incident to Ofsted (unless advised by LADO that this is unnecessary due to the incident not meeting the threshold), as well as what measures we have taken. We are aware that it is an offence not to do this.
• We co-operate entirely with any investigation carried out by children’s social care in conjunction with the police.
• Where the management team and children’s social care agree it is appropriate in the circumstances, the member of staff or volunteer will be suspended for the duration of the investigation. This is not an indication of admission that the alleged incident has taken place, but is to protect the staff, as well as children and families, throughout the process.

Disciplinary action

Where a member of staff or volunteer has been dismissed due to engaging in activities that caused concern for the safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults, We will notify the Disclosure and Barring Service of relevant information, so that individuals who pose a threat to children and vulnerable groups can be identified and barred from working with these groups.

Key commitment 3

We are committed to promoting awareness of child abuse issues throughout our training and learning programmes for adults. We are also committed to empowering children through our early childhood curriculum, promoting their right to be strong, resilient and listened to.

Training

• Training opportunities are sought for all adults involved in the setting to ensure that they are able to recognise the signs and signals of possible physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse (including child sexual exploitation) and neglect and that they are aware of the local authority guidelines for making referrals.
• Designated persons receive appropriate training, as recommended by the Local Safeguarding Children Board, every two years and refresh their knowledge and skills at least annually. 
• We ensure that all staff know the procedures for reporting and recording any concerns they may have about the provision.
• We ensure that all staff receive updates on safeguarding via emails, newsletters, online training and/or discussion at staff meetings at least once a year.

Planning

• The layout of the rooms allows for constant supervision. No child is left alone with staff or volunteers in a one-to-one situation without being within sight and/or hearing of other staff or volunteers. The setting also makes use of CCTV cameras in accordance with our CCTV policy at 1.7.

Curriculum

• We introduce key elements of keeping children safe into our programme to promote the personal, social and emotional development of all children, so that they may grow to be strong, resilient and listened to and so that they develop an understanding of why and how to keep safe.
• We create within the setting a culture of value and respect for individuals, having positive regard for children's heritage arising from their colour, ethnicity, languages spoken at home, cultural and social background.
• We ensure that this is carried out in a way that is developmentally appropriate for the children.

Confidentiality

• All suspicions and investigations are kept confidential and shared only with those who need to know. Any information is shared under the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

Support to families

• We believe in building trusting and supportive relationships with families, staff and volunteers.
• We make clear to parents our role and responsibilities in relation to child protection, such as for the reporting of concerns, information sharing, monitoring of the child, and liaising at all times with the local children’s social care team.
• We will continue to welcome the child and the family whilst investigations are being made in relation to any alleged abuse.
• We follow the Child Protection Plan as set by the child’s social worker in relation to the setting's designated role and tasks in supporting that child and their family, subsequent to any investigation.
• Confidential records kept on a child are shared with the child's parents or those who have parental responsibility for the child in accordance with the Confidentiality and Client Access to Records procedure, and only if appropriate under the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

Legal framework

Primary legislation

• Children Act (1989 s47)
• Protection of Children Act (1999)
• The Children Act (2004 s11) 
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006)
• Childcare Act (2006)

Secondary legislation

• Sexual Offences Act (2003)
• Criminal Justice and Court Services Act (2000)
• Equality Act (2010)
• General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) (2018)
• Data Protection Act (1998) 
• Childcare (Disqualification) Regulations (2009)
• Children and Families Act (2014)
• Care Act (2014)
• Serious Crime Act (2015)
• Counter-Terrorism and Security Act (2015)

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1.3 Uncollected child

Policy statement

In the event that a child is not collected by an authorised adult by their expected collection time, we put into practice agreed procedures. The child will receive a high standard of care in order to cause as little distress as possible.

We inform parents/carers of our procedures so that, if they are unavoidably delayed, they will be reassured that their children will be properly cared for.

Procedures

• Parents are asked to provide the following specific information when their child starts attending our setting, which is recorded on our Registration Form:
• Home address and telephone number - if the parents do not have a telephone, an alternative number must be given, perhaps a neighbour or close relative.
• Place of work, address and telephone number (if applicable).
• Mobile telephone number (if applicable).
• Names, addresses and telephone numbers of adults who are authorised by the parents to collect their child from the setting, for example a childminder or grandparent.
• Who has parental responsibility for the child.
• Information about any person who does not have legal access to the child.
• On occasions when parents are aware that they will not be at home or in their usual place of work, they inform us in writing of how they can be contacted.
• On occasions when parents, or the persons normally authorised to collect the child, are not able to collect the child, they provide us with written details of the name, address and telephone number of the person who will be collecting their child. We agree with parents how to verify the identity of the person who is to collect their child.
• Parents are informed that if they are not able to collect the child as planned, they must inform us so that we can begin to take back-up measures. 
• If a child is not collected at their expected collection time, we follow the procedures below:
• The child’s file is checked for any information about changes to the normal collection routines.
• If no information is available, parents/carers are contacted at home or at work.
• If this is unsuccessful, the adults who are authorised by the parents to collect their child - and whose telephone numbers are recorded on the Registration Form - are contacted.
• All reasonable attempts are made to contact the parents or nominated carers.
• The child does not leave the premises with anyone other than those named on the Registration Form or in their file.
• If no-one collects the child within 30 minutes of their expected collection time and there is no named contact who can be contacted to collect the child, we apply the procedures for uncollected children.
• We contact the local authority children’s social care team: Children, Schools & Families: 0300 123 4043

If the children’s social care team is unavailable or as our local authority advise we will contact the local police

• Or the out of hours duty officer (where applicable): Children, Schools & Families: 0300 123 4043
• After an additional 15 minutes if the child has not been collected, we will contact the above statutory agencies again.
• The child stays at the setting in the care of two of our fully-vetted workers, one of whom will be our manager or deputy manager until the child is safely collected either by the parents or by a social care worker, or by another person specified by social care.
• Social care will aim to find the parent or relative. If they are unable to do so, the child will become looked after by the local authority.
• Under no circumstances will we go to look for the parent, nor leave the setting premises with the child.
• We ensure that the child is not anxious and we do not discuss our concerns in front of them.
• A full written report of the incident is recorded in the child’s file.
• Depending on circumstances, we reserve the right to charge parents for the additional hours worked.
• Ofsted may be informed: 0300 123 1231

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1.4 Missing child

Policy statement

Children’s safety is our highest priority, both on and off the premises. Every attempt is made, through the implementation of our outings procedure and our exit/entrance procedure, to ensure the security of children is maintained at all times. In the unlikely event of a child going missing, our missing child procedure is followed.

Procedures

Child going missing on the premises

• As soon as it is noticed that a child is missing, the child’s key person/the relevant member of staff alerts our setting manager.
• The register is checked to make sure no other child has also gone astray.
• Our manager will carry out a thorough search of the building and garden. 
• Doors and gates are checked to see if there has been a breach of security whereby a child could wander out.
• If the child is not found, our manager calls the police immediately and reports the child as missing. If it is suspected that the child may have been abducted, the police are informed of this.
• The parent(s) are then called and informed.
• A recent photo and a note of what the child is wearing is given to the police. 
• Our manager talks to our staff to find out when and where the child was last seen and records this.

Child going missing on an outing

• As soon as it is noticed that a child is missing, the staff members on the outing ask children to stand with their designated carer and carry out a headcount to ensure that no other child has gone astray. 
• One staff member searches the immediate vicinity, but does not search beyond that.
• Our senior staff member on the outing contacts the police and reports that child as missing.
• Our manager is contacted immediately (if not on the outing) and the incident is recorded.
• Our manager contacts the parent(s).
• Our staff take the remaining children back to the setting as soon as possible.
• According to the advice of the police, a senior member of staff, or our manager where applicable, should remain at the site where the child went missing and wait for the police to arrive. 
• A recent photo and a description of what the child is wearing is given to the police.
• Our staff keep calm and do not let the other children become anxious or worried.

The investigation

• Ofsted are informed as soon as possible and kept up-to-date with the 
• We will carry out a full investigation, taking written statements from all our staff and volunteers who were 
• Our manager speaks with the parent(s) and explains the process of the 
• The parent(s) may also raise a complaint with us or Ofsted.
• Each member of staff present writes an incident report detailing:
• The date and time of the incident.
• Where the child went missing from e.g. the setting or an outing venue.
• Which staff/children were in the premises/on the outing and the name of the staff member who was designated as responsible for the missing child.
• When the child was last seen in the premises/or on the outing, including the time it is estimated that the child went missing.
• What has taken place in the premises or on the outing since the child went missing.
• The report is counter-signed by the senior member of staff and the date and time added.
• A conclusion is drawn as to how the breach of security happened.
• If the incident warrants a police investigation, all our staff co-operate fully. In this case, the police will handle all aspects of the investigation, including interviewing staff and parents. Children’s social care may be involved if it seems likely that there is a child protection issue to address.
• In the event of disciplinary action needing to be taken, Ofsted are advised.
• The insurance provider is informed.

Managing people

• Missing child incidents are very worrying for all concerned. Part of managing the incident is to try to keep everyone as calm as possible.
• Our staff will feel worried about the child, especially the key person or the designated carer responsible for the safety of that child for the outing. They may blame themselves and their feelings of anxiety and distress will rise as the length of time the child is missing increases.
• They may be the understandable target of parental anger and they may be afraid. Our manager ensures that any staff under investigation are not only fairly treated, but receive support while feeling vulnerable.
• The parents will feel angry, and fraught. They may want to blame our staff and may single out one staff member over others; they may direct their anger at our manager. When dealing with a distraught and angry parent, there should always be two members of staff one of whom is our manager. No matter how understandable the parent’s anger may be, aggression or threats against our staff are not tolerated, and the police should be called.
• The other children are also sensitive to what is going on around them. They too may be worried. Our remaining staff caring for them need to be focused on their needs and must not discuss the incident in front of them. They should answer children’s questions honestly, but also reassure them.
• In accordance with the severity of the final outcome, our staff may need counselling and support. If a child is not found, or is injured, or worse, this will be a very difficult time. We will use their discretion to decide what action to take.
• Our staff must not discuss any missing child incident with the press without taking advice.

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1.5 Online safety (inc. mobile phones and cameras)

Policy statement

We take steps to ensure that there are effective procedures in place to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults from the unacceptable use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) equipment or exposure to inappropriate materials in the setting. 

Procedures

• Our designated person responsible for co-ordinating action taken to protect children is Lucia Federici

Information Communication Technology (ICT) equipment

• Only ICT equipment belonging to the setting is used by staff and children.
• The designated person is responsible for ensuring all ICT equipment is safe and fit for purpose. 
• All computers have virus protection installed.
• The designated person ensures that safety settings are set to ensure that inappropriate material cannot be accessed.

Internet access

• Children do not have unsupervised access to the internet.
• If staff access the internet with children it is for the purposes of promoting their learning.
• The designated person has overall responsibility for ensuring that children and young people are safeguarded and risk assessments in relation to online safety are completed.
• The designated person ensures staff have access to age-appropriate resources to enable them to assist children to use the internet safely.

Email

• Parents and staff are not normally permitted to use setting equipment to access personal emails.
• Staff do not access personal or work email whilst supervising children.
• Staff send personal information by encrypted email and share information securely at all times.

Mobile phones – children

• Children do not bring mobile phones or other electronic devices with them to the setting. If a child is found to have a mobile phone or ICT device with them, this is removed and stored in the office until the parent collects them at the end of the session.

Mobile phones – staff and visitors

• Personal mobile phones are not used by our staff on the premises during working hours. They will be stored in lockers.
• In an emergency, personal mobile phones may be used in an area where there are no children present, with permission from the manager.
• Our staff and volunteers ensure that the setting telephone number is known to family and other people who may need to contact them in an emergency.
• If our members of staff or volunteers take their mobile phones on outings, for use in case of an emergency, they must not make or receive personal calls, or take photographs of children.
• Parents and visitors are requested not to use their mobile phones whilst on the premises. We make an exception if a visitor’s company or organisation operates a lone working policy that requires contact with their office periodically throughout the day. Visitors will be advised of a quiet space where they can use their mobile phone, where no children are present.
• These rules also apply to the use of work-issued mobiles, and when visiting or supporting staff in other settings.

Cameras and videos

• Our staff and volunteers must not bring their personal cameras or video recording equipment into the setting.
• Photographs and recordings of children are only taken for valid reasons i.e. to record their learning and development, or for displays within the setting, with written permission received by parents (see the Registration form). Such use is monitored by the manager.
• Where parents request permission to photograph or record their own children at special events, general permission is gained from all parents for their children to be included. Parents are advised that they do not have a right to photograph anyone else’s child or to upload photos of anyone else’s children.
• If photographs of children are used for publicity purposes, parental consent must be given and safeguarding risks minimised, for example, ensuring children cannot be identified by name.

Social media 

• Staff are advised to manage their personal security settings to ensure that their information is only available to people they choose to share information with.
• Staff should not accept service users, children and parents as friends due to it being a breach of expected professional conduct. 
• In the event that staff name the organisation or workplace in any social media they do so in a way that is not detrimental to the organisation or its service users. 
• Staff observe confidentiality and refrain from discussing any issues relating to work
• Staff should not share information they would not want children, parents or colleagues to view. 
• Staff should report any concerns or breaches to the designated person in their setting. 
• Staff avoid personal communication, including on social networking sites, with the children and parents with whom they act in a professional capacity. If a practitioner and family are friendly prior to the child coming into the setting, this information is shared with the manager prior to a child attending and a risk assessment and agreement in relation to boundaries is agreed. 

Electronic learning journals for recording children’s progress

• Managers seek permission from the senior management team prior to using any online learning journal. A risk assessment is completed with details on how the learning journal is managed to ensure children are safeguarded.
• Staff adhere to the guidance provided with the system at all times.

Use and/or distribution of inappropriate images

• Staff are aware that it is an offence to distribute indecent images. In the event of a concern that a colleague or other person is behaving inappropriately, the Safeguarding Children and Child Protection policy, in relation to allegations against staff and/or responding to suspicions of abuse, is followed 
• Staff are aware that grooming children and young people on line is an offence in its own right and concerns about a colleague’s or others’ behaviour are reported (as above).

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1.6 Lockdown

Policy statement

We recognise the potentially serious risks to children, staff and visitors in emergency or harmful situations.  A lockdown may take place where there is a perceived risk of threat to the nursery, its staff, children, visitors or property.

Where possible, we will act to ensure the safety of all personnel in the setting in the following situations:

• In the event that unauthorised person(s) considered dangerous are on the school grounds
• In instances including domestic breakdowns where estranged parties are attempting to abduct children.
• In instances where personnel, volunteers, parents or visitors within the setting become a threat to others.
• In emergency situations within the environs of the setting where there is a potential risk from spills or poisonous fumes.

Procedures

• A lockdown will be initiated by a member of staff blowing the whistle and shouting lockdown, lockdown lockdown  to gather all of the children together and take them inside the building as quickly as possible.
• Our Manager will immediately call 
• Staff will move the children out of sight to the gym and close the door and blinds taking the pre-school mobile phone and 
• Group leaders will complete a head count of the children whilst the Manager quickly checks the premises for any other 
• Staff will secure all windows and doors and close the curtains in the hall, gym and 
• Everyone will remain out of sight until further instructions are received from the emergency 
• The staff will attempt to keep the children as quiet and calm as possible until the dangerous situation is over.

Once the danger has passed

• When we are completely sure that the danger is over, we will leave our safe place and continue our activities as far as 
• The Manager will contact all parents to inform them of the incident.
• Records will be made of the event and actions taken will be recorded in our incident book
• Ofsted and Early years will be informed within 24 hours of the incident occurring.

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2.1 Employment

Policy statement

We meet the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, ensuring that our staff and volunteers are appropriately qualified, and we carry out checks for criminal and other records through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in accordance with statutory requirements.

Procedures

Vetting and staff selection

• We work towards offering equality of opportunity by using non-discriminatory procedures for staff recruitment and selection.
• All our staff have job descriptions, which set out their roles and responsibilities.
• We welcome applications from all sections of the community. Applicants will be considered on the basis of their suitability for the post, regardless of disability, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, age, marriage or civil partnership. Applicants will not be placed at a disadvantage by our imposing conditions or requirements that are not justifiable.
• We follow the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and Ofsted guidance on checking the suitability of all staff and volunteers who will have unsupervised access to children. This includes obtaining references and ensuring they have a satisfactory enhanced criminal records check with barred list(s) check through the DBS. This is in accordance with requirements under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006) and the Protection of Freedoms Act (2012) for the vetting and barring scheme.
• Where an individual is subscribed to the DBS Update Service we carry out a status check of their DBS certificate, after checking their identity and viewing their original enhanced DBS certificate to ensure that it does not reveal any information that would affect their suitability for the post.] 
• We keep all records relating to the employment of our staff and volunteers; in particular those demonstrating that suitability checks have been done, including the date of issue, name, type of DBS check and unique reference number from the DBS certificate, along with details of our suitability decision. 
• Our staff are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings which may affect their suitability to work with children – whether received before, or at any time during, their employment with us. 
• Where we become aware of any relevant information which may lead to the disqualification of an employee, we will take appropriate action to ensure the safety of children. In the event of disqualification, that person’s employment with us will be terminated.

Notifying Ofsted of changes

• We inform Ofsted of any changes to our Registered Person (trustees/director(s)/owner(s)and/or our manager.

Training and staff development

• Our manager and deputy hold the CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce or an equivalent qualification and at least half of our other staff members hold the CACHE Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce or an equivalent or higher qualification.
• We provide regular in-service training to all our staff - whether paid staff or volunteers.
• Our budget allocates resources to training.
• We provide our staff with induction training in the first week of their employment. This induction includes our Health and Safety Policy and Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy. Other policies and procedures are introduced within an induction plan.
• We support the work of our staff by holding regular supervision meetings and appraisals.
• We are committed to recruiting, appointing and employing staff in accordance with all relevant legislation and best practice.

Staff taking medication/other substances

• If a member of staff is taking medication which may affect their ability to care for children, we ensure that they seek further medical advice. Our staff will only work directly with the children if medical advice confirms that the medication is unlikely to impair their ability to look after children properly.
• Staff medication on the premises will be stored securely and kept out of reach of the children at all times.
• If we have reason to believe that a member of our staff is under the influence of alcohol or any other substance that may affect their ability to care for children, they will not be allowed to work directly with the children and further action will be taken.

Managing staff absences and contingency plans for emergencies

• Our staff take their holiday breaks when the setting is closed. Where a staff member may need to take time off for any reason other than sick leave or training, this is agreed with our manager with sufficient notice.
• Where our staff are unwell and take sick leave in accordance with their contract of employment, we organise cover to ensure ratios are maintained.
• Sick leave is monitored and action is taken where necessary, in accordance with the individual’s contract of employment.

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2.2 Student placements

Policy statement

We recognise that qualifications and training make an important contribution to the quality of the care and education we provide. As part of our commitment to quality, we offer placements to students undertaking early years qualifications and training. We also offer placements for school pupils on work experience.

We aim to provide for students on placement with us, experiences that contribute to the successful completion of their studies and that provide examples of quality practice in early years care and education.

Procedures

• We require students on qualification courses to meet the Suitable Person requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and have a satisfactory enhanced DBS check with barred list check(s).
• We require students in our setting to have a sufficient understanding and use of English to contribute to the well-being of children in our care.
• We require schools, colleges or universities placing students under the age of 17 years with us to vouch for their good character.
• We supervise students under the age of 17 years at all times and do not allow them to have unsupervised access to children.
• Students undertaking qualification courses who are placed in our setting on a short term basis are not counted in our staffing ratios. 
• Students and apprentices, over the age of 17, who are undertaking a level 3 qualification may be considered to be counted in the ratios if our manager deems them to be suitably qualified and experienced.
• We take out employers' liability insurance and public liability insurance, which covers both students and voluntary helpers.
• We require students to keep to our Confidentiality and Client Access to Records Policy.
• We co-operate with students' tutors in order to help students to fulfil the requirements of their course of study.
• We provide students, at the first session of their placement, with a short induction on how our setting is managed, how our sessions are organised and our policies and procedures.
• We communicate a positive message to students about the value of qualifications and training.
• We make the needs of the children paramount by not admitting students in numbers that hinder the essential work of the setting.
• We ensure that trainees and students placed with us are engaged in bona fide early years training, which provides the necessary background understanding of children's development and activities.

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3.1 Induction of employees and volunteers

Policy statement

We provide an induction for all employees and volunteers in order to fully brief them about the setting, the families we serve, our policies and procedures, curriculum and daily practice.

Procedures

• We have a written induction plan for all new staff, which includes the following:
• Introductions to all employees and volunteers.
• Familiarisation with the building, health and safety, and fire and evacuation procedures.
• Ensuring our policies and procedures are read and adhered to.
• Introduction to the parents, especially parents of allocated key children where appropriate.
• Familiarisation with confidential information in relation to any key children where applicable.
• Details of the tasks and daily routines to be completed.
• The induction period lasts at least two weeks. The manager inducts new employees and volunteers. A member of the senior management team inducts new managers.
• During the induction period, the individual must demonstrate understanding of and compliance with policies, procedures, tasks and routines.
• Successful completion of the induction forms part of the probationary period.
• Following induction, we continue to support our staff to deliver high quality performance through regular supervision and appraisal of their work.

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3.2 First aid

Policy statement

We are able to take action to apply first aid treatment in the event of an accident involving a child or adult. At least one adult with a current first aid certificate is on the premises, or on an outing, at any one time. Newly qualified staff who achieved an early years qualification at level 2 or 3 on or after 30 June 2016 also have a paediatric first aid certificate in order to be counted in the adult:child ratios. The first aid qualification includes first aid training for infants and young children. We have evidence of due diligence when choosing first aid training and ensure that it is relevant to adults caring for young children.

Procedures

• Information about who has completed first aid training and the location of the first aid box is provided to all our staff and volunteers. A list of staff and volunteers who have current PFA certificates is displayed in the setting.
• The first aid box is easily accessible to adults and is kept out of the reach of children.
• There is a named person in the setting who is responsible for checking and replenishing the first aid box contents/I regularly check and replenish the first aid box contents.
• Medication is only administered in line with our Administering Medicines policy.
• In the case of minor injury or accidents, first aid treatment is given by a qualified first aider/I will administer first aid. 
• In the event of minor injuries or accidents, we normally inform parents when they collect their child, unless the child is unduly upset or we have concerns about the injury. In which case we will contact the child’s parents for clarification of what they would like to do, i.e. whether they wish to collect the child and/or take them to their own GP.
• An ambulance is called for children requiring emergency treatment. We contact parents immediately and inform them of what has happened and where their child has been taken.
• Parents sign a consent form at registration allowing a member of staff to take their child to the nearest Accident and Emergency unit to be examined, treated or admitted as necessary on the understanding that they have been informed and are on their way to the hospital.
• Accidents and injuries are recorded in our accident record book and, where applicable, notified to the Health and Safety Executive, Ofsted and/or local child protection agencies in line with our Recording and Reporting of Accident and Incidents Policy.

Legal framework

• Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations (1981)

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4.1 The role of the key person and settling-in

Policy statement

We believe that children settle best when they have a key person to relate to, who knows them and their parents well, and who can meet their individual needs. We are committed to the key person approach which benefits the child, the parents, the staff and the setting. It encourages secure relationships which support children to thrive, give parents confidence and make the setting a happy place to attend or work in.

We want children to feel safe, stimulated and happy in the setting and to feel secure and comfortable with our staff. We also want parents to have confidence in both their children's well-being and their role as active partners with our setting. We aim to make our setting a welcoming place where children settle quickly and easily because consideration has been given to the individual needs and circumstances of children and their families.

The key person role is set out in the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Each child must have a key person. These procedures set out a model for developing a key person approach that promotes effective and positive relationships for children.

Procedures

• We allocate a key person before the child starts.
• The key person is responsible for:
• Providing an induction for the family and for settling the child into our setting. 
• Completing relevant forms with parents, including consent forms.
• Explaining our policies and procedures to parents with particular focus on policies such as safeguarding.

‒Offering unconditional regard for the child and being non-judgemental.

‒Working with the parents to plan and deliver a personalised plan for the child’s well-being, care and learning.

‒Acting as the key contact for the parents.

• Developmental records and for sharing information on a regular basis with the child’s parents to keep those records up-to-date, reflecting the full picture of the child in our setting and at home. 

‒Having links with other carers involved with the child and co-ordinating the sharing of appropriate information about the child’s development with those carers.

‒Encouraging positive relationships between children in her/his key group, spending time with them as a group each day.

• We promote the role of the key person as the child’s primary carer in our setting, and as the basis for establishing relationships with other adults and children.

Settling-in

• Before a child starts to attend our setting, we use a variety of ways to provide his/her parents with information. These include written information (including our website and policies), displays about activities available within the setting, open days and individual meetings with parents.
• During the half-term before a child is enrolled, we provide opportunities for the child and his/her parents to visit the setting.
• The key person welcomes and looks after the child and his/her parents at the child's induction session and during the settling-in process.
• When a child starts to attend, we explain the process of settling-in with his/her parents and jointly decide on the best way to help the child to settle into the setting.
• Younger children will take longer to settle in, as will children who have not previously spent time away from home. 
• When parents leave, we ask them to say goodbye to their child and explain that they will be coming back, and when.
• We do not believe that leaving a child to cry will help them to settle any quicker. We believe that a child's distress will prevent them from learning and gaining the best from the setting.
• Within the first four to six weeks of starting, we discuss and work with the child's parents to begin to create their child's record of achievement.

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5.1 Staffing

Policy statement

We provide a staffing ratio in line with the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure that children have sufficient individual attention and to guarantee care and education of a high quality. Our staff are appropriately qualified and we carry out checks for enhanced criminal records and barred list checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service in accordance with statutory requirements.

Procedures

To meet this aim we use the following ratios of adult to children:

Children aged two years: 1 adult : 4 children:

• at least one member of staff holds a full and relevant level 3 qualification; and
• at least half of all other staff hold a full and relevant level 2 qualification.

Children aged three years and over: 1 adult : 8 children:

• at least one member of staff holds a full and relevant level 3 qualification; and
• at least half of all other staff hold a full and relevant level 2 qualification.
• We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements where a Qualified Teacher, Early Years Professional or other suitable level 6 qualified person is working directly with children aged three and over between the hours of 8am and 4pm as follows:
• there is at least one member of staff for every 13 children; and
• at least one other member of staff holds a full and relevant level 3 qualification.
• The number of children for each key person takes into account the individual needs of the children and the capacity of the individual key person to manage their cohort.
• We only include those aged 17 years or older within our ratios. Where they are competent and responsible, we may include students on long-term placements and regular volunteers. 
• A minimum of two staff/adults are on duty at any one time; one of whom is either our manager or deputy.
• Our manager deploys our staff, students and volunteers to give adequate supervision of indoor and outdoor areas, ensuring that children are usually within sight and hearing of staff, and always within sight or hearing of staff at all times.
• All staff are deployed according to the needs of the setting and the children attending.
• Our staff, students and volunteers inform their colleagues if they have to leave their area and tell colleagues where they are going.
• Our staff, students and volunteers focus their attention on children at all times and do not spend time in social conversation with colleagues while they are working with children.
• We assign each child a key person to help the child become familiar with the setting from the outset and to ensure that each child has a named member of staff with whom to form a relationship. The key person plans with parents for the child's well-being and development in the setting. The key person meets regularly with the family for discussion and consultation on their child's progress and offers support in guiding their development at home.
• We hold regular staff meetings to undertake curriculum planning and to discuss children's progress, their achievements and any difficulties that may arise from time to time.

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6.1 Administering medicines

Policy statement

While it is not our policy to care for sick children, who should be at home until they are well enough to return to the setting, we will agree to administer medication as part of maintaining their health and well-being or when they are recovering from an illness. We ensure that where medicines are necessary to maintain health of the child, they are given correctly and in accordance with legal requirements.

In many cases, it is possible for children’s GPs to prescribe medicine that can be taken at home in the morning and evening. As far as possible, administering medicines will only be done where it would be detrimental to the child’s health if not given in the setting. If a child has not had a medication before it is advised that the parent keeps the child at home for the first 48 hours to ensure there are no adverse effects, as well as to give time for the medication to take effect.

Our staff are responsible for the correct administration of medication to children for whom they are the key person. This includes ensuring that parent consent forms have been completed, that medicines are stored correctly and that records are kept according to procedures. In the absence of the key person, the manager is responsible for the overseeing of administering medication. We notify our insurance provider of all required conditions, as laid out in our insurance policy.

Procedures

• Children taking prescribed medication must be well enough to attend the setting.
• We only usually administer medication when it has been prescribed for a child by a doctor (or other medically qualified person). It must be in-date and prescribed for the current condition. 
• Children's prescribed medicines are stored in their original containers, are clearly labelled and are inaccessible to the children. On receiving the medication, the member of staff checks -1that it is in date and prescribed specifically for the current condition.
• Parents must give prior written permission for the administration of medication. The staff member receiving the medication will ask the parent to sign a consent form stating the following information. No medication may be given without these details being provided:
• the full name of child and date of birth
• the name of medication and strength
• who prescribed it
• the dosage and times to be given in the setting
• the method of administration
• how the medication should be stored and its expiry date
• any possible side effects that may be expected
• the signature of the parent, their printed name and the date
• The administration of medicine is recorded accurately in our medication record book each time it is given and is signed by the person administering the medication. Parents are shown the record at the end of the day and asked to sign the record book to acknowledge the administration of the medicine. The medication record book records the:
• name of the child
• name and strength of the medication
• name of the doctor that prescribed it
• date and time of the dose
• dose given and method
• signature of the person administering the medication and a witness who verifies that the medication has been given correctly
• If the administration of prescribed medication requires medical knowledge, we obtain individual training by a health professional.
• No child may self-administer. Where children are capable of understanding when they need medication, for example with asthma, they should be encouraged to tell their key person what they need. However, this does not replace staff vigilance in knowing and responding when a child requires medication. 
• We monitor the medication record book is monitored to look at the frequency of medication given in the setting. 

Storage of medicines

• All medication is stored safely in a cupboard or refrigerated as required. Where the cupboard or refrigerator is not used solely for storing medicines, they are kept in a marked plastic box.
• The manager is responsible for ensuring medicine is handed back at the end of the day to the parent.
• For some conditions, medication may be kept in the setting to be administered on a regular or as-and-when- required basis. Key persons check that any medication held in the setting, is in date and return any out-of-date medication back to the parent.

Children who have long term medical conditions and who may require ongoing medication

• We carry out a risk assessment for each child with a long term medical condition that requires on-going medication. This is the responsibility of our manager alongside the key person. Other medical or social care personnel may need to be involved in the risk assessment. 
• Parents will also contribute to a risk assessment. They should be shown around the setting, understand the routines and activities and point out anything which they think may be a risk factor for their child.
• For some medical conditions, key staff will need to have training in a basic understanding of the condition, as well as how the medication is to be administered correctly. The training needs for staff form part of the risk assessment.
• The risk assessment includes vigorous activities and any other activity that may give cause for concern regarding an individual child’s health needs.
• The risk assessment includes arrangements for taking medicines on outings and advice is sought from the child’s GP if necessary where there are concerns.
• An individual health plan for the child is drawn up with the parent; outlining the key person’s role and what information must be shared with other adults who care for the child.
• The individual health plan should include the measures to be taken in an emergency.
• We review the individual health plan every six months, or more frequently if necessary. This includes reviewing the medication, e.g. changes to the medication or the dosage, any side effects noted etc.
• Parents receive a copy of the individual health plan and each contributor, including the parent, signs it.

Managing medicines on trips and outings

• If children are going on outings, the key person for the child will accompany the children with a risk assessment, or another member of staff who is fully informed about the child’s needs and/or medication.
• Medication for a child is taken in a sealed plastic box clearly labelled with the child’s name, the original pharmacist’s label and the name of the medication. Inside the box is a copy of the consent form and a card to record when it has been given, including all the details that need to be recorded in the medication record as stated above. For medication dispensed by a hospital pharmacy, where the child’s details are not on the dispensing label, we will record the circumstances of the event and hospital instructions as relayed by the parents.
• On returning to the setting the card is stapled to the medicine record book and the parent signs it.
• If a child on medication has to be taken to hospital, the child’s medication is taken in a sealed plastic box clearly labelled with the child’s name and the name of the medication. Inside the box is a copy of the consent form signed by the parent.
• This procedure should be read alongside the outings procedure.

Legal framework

• The Human Medicines Regulations (2012)

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6.2 Managing children who are sick, infectious, or with allergies

Policy statement

We aim to provide care for healthy children through preventing cross infection of viruses and bacterial infections and promote health through identifying allergies and preventing contact with the allergenic trigger.

Procedures for children who are sick or infectious

• If children appear unwell during the day – for example, if they have a temperature, sickness, diarrhoea or pains, particularly in the head or stomach – our manager will call the parents and ask them to collect the child, or to send a known carer to collect the child on their behalf.
• If a child has a temperature, they are kept cool, by removing top clothing and sponging their heads with cool water, but kept away from draughts.
• The child's temperature is taken using a forehead thermometer strip, kept in the first aid box.
• In extreme cases of emergency, an ambulance is called and the parent informed.
• Parents are asked to take their child to the doctor before returning them to the setting; we can refuse admittance to children who have a temperature, sickness and diarrhoea or a contagious infection or disease.
• Where children have been prescribed antibiotics for an infectious illness or complaint, we ask parents to keep them at home for 48 hours before returning to the setting.
• After diarrhoea, we ask parents keep children home for 48 hours following the last episode.
• Some activities, such as sand and water play, and self-serve snacks where there is a risk of cross-contamination may be suspended for the duration of any outbreak.
• We a list of excludable diseases and current exclusion times. The full list is obtainable from

www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1194947358374 and includes common childhood illnesses such as measles.

Reporting of ‘notifiable diseases’

• If a child or adult is diagnosed as suffering from a notifiable disease under the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010, the GP will report this to Public Health England.
• When we] become aware, or are formally informed of the notifiable disease, our manager informs Ofsted and contacts Public Health England, and acts on any advice given.

HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis procedure

HIV virus, like other viruses such as Hepatitis A, B and C, are spread through body fluids. Hygiene precautions for dealing with body fluids are the same for all children and adults. We:

• Wear single-use vinyl gloves and aprons when changing children’s nappies, pants and clothing that are soiled with blood, urine, faeces or vomit.
• Bag soiled clothing for parents to take home for cleaning.
• Clear spills of blood, urine, faeces or vomit using mild disinfectant solution and mops; any cloths used are disposed of with the clinical waste.
• Clean any tables and other furniture, furnishings or toys affected by blood, urine, faeces or vomit using a disinfectant.
• Ensure that children do not share tooth brushes, which are also soaked weekly in sterilising solution.

Nits and head lice

• Nits and head lice are not an excludable condition; although in exceptional cases we may ask a parent to keep the child away until the infestation has cleared.
• On identifying cases of head lice, we inform all parents ask them to treat their child and all the family if they are found to have head lice.

Procedures for children with allergies

• When children start at the setting we ask their parents if their child suffers from any known allergies. This is recorded on the Registration Form.
• If a child has an allergy, we complete a risk assessment form to detail the following:

-The allergen (i.e. the substance, material or living creature the child is allergic to such as nuts, eggs, bee stings, cats etc).

-The nature of the allergic reactions (e.g. anaphylactic shock reaction, including rash, reddening of skin, swelling, breathing problems etc).

-What to do in case of allergic reactions, any medication used and how it is to be used (e.g. Epipen).

-Control measures - such as how the child can be prevented from contact with the allergen.

-Review measures.

• This risk assessment form is kept in the child’s personal file and a copy is displayed where our staff can see it.
• Generally, no nuts or nut products are used within the setting.
• Parents are made aware so that no nut or nut products are accidentally brought in, for example to a party.

Insurance requirements for children with allergies and disabilities

• If necessary, our insurance will include children with any disability or allergy, but certain procedures must be strictly adhered to as set out below. For children suffering life threatening conditions, or requiring invasive treatments; written confirmation from our insurance provider must be obtained to extend the insurance.
• At all times we ensure that the administration of medication is compliant with the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• Oral medication:

- Asthma inhalers are now regarded as ‘oral medication’ by insurers and so documents do not need to be forwarded to our insurance provider. Oral medications must be prescribed by a GP or have manufacturer’s instructions clearly written on them

- We must be provided with clear written instructions on how to administer such medication.

- We adhere to all risk assessment procedures for the correct storage and administration of the medication.

- We must have the parents or guardians prior written consent. This consent must be kept on file. It is not necessary to forward copy documents to [our/my] insurance provider.

• Life-saving medication and invasive treatments:

These include adrenaline injections (Epipens) for anaphylactic shock reactions (caused by allergies to nuts, eggs etc) or invasive treatments such as rectal administration of Diazepam (for epilepsy).

• We must have:

-a letter from the child's GP/consultant stating the child's condition and what medication if any is to be administered;

-written consent from the parent or guardian allowing our staff to administer medication; and

-proof of training in the administration of such medication by the child's GP, a district nurse, children’s nurse specialist or a community paediatric nurse.

• Key person for special needs children requiring assistance with tubes to help them with everyday living e.g. breathing apparatus, to take nourishment, colostomy bags etc.:

-Prior written consent must be obtained from the child's parent or guardian to give treatment and/or medication prescribed by the child's GP.

-The key person must have the relevant medical training/experience, which may include receiving appropriate instructions from parents or guardians.

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6.3 Recording and reporting of accidents and incidents

Policy statement

We follow the guidelines of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) for the reporting of accidents and incidents. Child protection matters or behavioural incidents between children are not regarded as incidents and there are separate procedures for this.

Procedures

Our accident book:

• is kept in a safe and secure place;
• is accessible to our staff and volunteers, who all know how to complete it; and
• is reviewed at least half termly to identify any potential or actual hazards.

Reporting accidents and incidents

• Ofsted is notified as soon as possible, but at least within 14 days, of any instances which involve:
• food poisoning affecting two or more children looked after on our premises
• a serious accident or injury to, or serious illness of, a child in our care and the action we take in response
• the death of a child in our care
• Local child protection agencies are informed of any serious accident or injury to a child, or the death of any child, while in our care and we act on any advice given by those agencies.
• Any food poisoning affecting two or more children or adults on our premises is reported to the local Environmental Health Department.
• We meet our legal requirements in respect of the safety of our employees and the public by complying with RIDDOR. We report to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE):
• Any work-related accident leading to an injury to a member of the public (child or adult), for which they are taken directly to hospital for treatment.
• Any work-related accident leading to a specified injury to one of our employees/me or one of my employees. Specified injuries include injuries such as fractured bones, the loss of consciousness due to a head injury, serious burns or amputations.
• Any work-related accident leading to an injury to one of our employees/me or one of my employees which results in them being unable to work for seven consecutive days. All work-related injuries that lead to one of our employees being incapacitated for three or more days are recorded in our accident book.
• When one of our employees suffers from a reportable occupational disease or illness as specified by the HSE.
• Any death, of a child or adult, that occurs in connection with a work-related accident.
• Any dangerous occurrences. This may be an event that causes injury or fatalities or an event that does not cause an accident, but could have done; such as a gas leak.
• Information for reporting incidents to the Health and Safety Executive is provided in the Pre-school Learning Alliance's Accident Record publication. Any dangerous occurrence is recorded in our incident book (see below).

Incident book

• We have ready access to telephone numbers for emergency services, including the local police. Where we are responsible for the premises we have contact numbers for the gas and electricity emergency services, and a carpenter and plumber. Where we rent premises we ensure we have access to the person responsible and that there is a shared procedure for dealing with emergencies.
• We ensure that our staff and volunteers carry out all health and safety procedures to minimise risk and that they know what to do in an emergency.
• On discovery of an incident, we report it to the appropriate emergency services – fire, police, ambulance – if those services are needed.
• If an incident occurs before any children arrive, our manager risk assesses this situation and decide[s] if the premises are safe to receive children. Our manager may decide to offer a limited service or to close the setting.
• Where an incident occurs whilst the children are in our care and it is necessary to evacuate the premises/area, we follow the procedures in our Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation Policy or, when on an outing, the procedures identified in the risk assessment for the outing.
• If a crime may have been committed, we ask all adults witness to the incident make a witness statement including the date and time of the incident, what they saw or heard, what they did about it and their full name and signature.
• We keep an incident book for recording major incidents, including some of those that that are reportable to the Health and Safety Executive as above.
• These incidents include:
• a break in, burglary, or theft of personal or our setting's property
• an intruder gaining unauthorised access to our premises
• a fire, flood, gas leak or electrical failure
• an attack on an adult or child on our premises or nearby
• any racist incident involving families or our staff on the setting's premises
• a notifiable disease or illness, or an outbreak of food poisoning affecting two or more children looked after on our premises
• the death of a child or adult
• a terrorist attack, or threat of one
• In the incident book we record the date and time of the incident, nature of the event, who was affected, what was done about it or if it was reported to the police, and if so a crime number. Any follow up, or insurance claim made, is also recorded.
• In the event of a terrorist attack, we follow the advice of the emergency services with regard to evacuation, medical aid and contacting children's families. Our standard Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation Policy will be followed and our staff will take charge of their key children. The incident is recorded when the threat is averted.
• In the unlikely event of a child dying on our premises, through cot death in the case of a baby for example, the emergency services are called and the advice of these services are followed.
• The incident book is not for recording issues of concern involving a child. This is recorded in the child's own file.

Common Inspection Framework

• As required under the Common Inspection Framework, we maintain a summary record of all accidents, exclusions, children taken off roll, incidents of poor behaviour and discrimination, including racist incidents, and complaints and resolutions.

Legal framework

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

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6.4 Nappy changing

Policy statement

No child is excluded from participating in our setting who may, for any reason, not yet be toilet trained and who may still be wearing nappies or equivalent. We work with parents towards toilet training, unless there are medical or other developmental reasons why this may not be appropriate at the time.

We provide nappy changing facilities and exercise good hygiene practices in order to accommodate children who are not yet toilet trained.

We see toilet training as a self-care skill that children have the opportunity to learn with the full support and non-judgemental concern of adults.

Procedures

• Our key persons have a list of personalised changing times for the children in their care who are in nappies or ‘pull-ups’; and change nappies according to this schedule, or more frequently where necessary.
• We encourage young children from two years to normally wear pull ups, or other types of trainer pants, as soon as they are comfortable with this and if their parents agree.
• Our key persons undertake changing children in their key groups; back up key persons change them if the key person is absent. 
• Children are changed within sight or earshot of other staff whilst maintaining their dignity and privacy at all times.
• Our changing area is warm, with a safe area to lay children and no bright lights shining down in their eyes.
• Each child has their own bag with their nappies or pull ups and changing wipes.
• Our staff put on gloves and aprons before changing starts and the areas are prepared. Paper towel is put down on the changing mat freshly for each child.
• All our staff are familiar with our hygiene procedures and carry these out when changing nappies.
• Our staff never turn their back on a child or leave them unattended whilst they are on the changing mat.
• We are gentle when changing; we avoid pulling faces and making negative comments about ‘nappy contents’.
• We do not make inappropriate comments about children’s genitals when changing their nappies.
• In addition, we ensure that nappy changing is relaxed and a time to promote independence in young children.
• We encourage children to take an interest in using the toilet; they may just want to sit on it and talk to a friend who is also using the toilet.
• We encourage children to wash their hands, and have soap and towels to hand. They should be allowed time for some play as they explore the water and the soap.
• We do not use anti-bacterial hand wash liquid or soap for young children; young skin is quite delicate and anti-bacterial products kill off certain good bacteria that children need to develop their own natural resistance to infection.
• Older children access the toilet when they have the need to and are encouraged to be independent.
• Cloth nappies, trainer pants and ordinary pants that have been wet or soiled are rinsed and bagged for parents to take home.
• We have a ‘duty of care’ towards children’s personal needs. If children are left in wet or soiled nappies/pull ups in the setting this may constitute neglect and will be a disciplinary matter.

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6.5 Food and drink

Policy statement

We regard snack and meal times as an important part of our day. Eating represents a social time for children and adults, and helps children to learn about healthy eating. At snack and meal times, we aim to provide nutritious food, which meets the children's individual dietary needs.

Procedures

We follow these procedures to promote healthy eating in our setting.

• Before a child starts to attend the setting, we ask their parents about their dietary needs and preferences, including any allergies. (See the Managing Children who are Sick, Infectious or with Allergies Policy.)
• We record information about each child's dietary needs in the Registration Form and parents sign the form to signify that it is correct.
• We regularly consult with parents to ensure that our records of their children's dietary needs – including any allergies - are up-to-date. 
• We display current information about individual children's dietary needs so that all our staff and volunteers are fully informed about them.
• We implement systems to ensure that children receive only food and drink that is consistent with their dietary needs and preferences, as well as their parents' wishes.
• We provide nutritious food for snacks, avoiding large quantities of saturated fat, sugar and salt and artificial additives, preservatives and colourings..
• We take care not to provide food containing nuts or nut products and we are especially vigilant where we have a child who has a known allergy to nuts.
• Through discussion with parents and research reading, we obtain information about the dietary rules of the religious groups to which children and their parents belong, and of vegetarians and vegans, as well as about food allergies. We take account of this information in the provision of food and drinks.
• We show sensitivity in providing for children's diets and allergies. We do not use a child's diet or allergy as a label for the child, or make a child feel singled out because of her/his diet or allergy.
• We organise meal and snack times so that they are social occasions in which children and adults participate.
• We use meal and snack times to help children to develop independence through making choices, serving food and drink and feeding themselves.
• We have fresh drinking water constantly available for the children. We inform the children about how to obtain the water and that they can ask for water at any time during the day.
• In accordance with parents' wishes, we offer children arriving early in the morning, and/or staying late, an appropriate meal or snack.
• We inform parents who provide food for their children about the storage facilities available in our setting. 
• We give parents who provide food for their children information about suitable containers for food.
• In order to protect children with food allergies, we discourage children from sharing and swapping their food with one another.

Packed lunches 

For children staying in the morning parents are required to provide them with a packed lunch. We:

• ensure perishable contents of packed lunches are refrigerated or contain an ice pack to keep food cool;
• inform parents of our policy on healthy eating;
• inform parents of whether we have facilities to microwave cooked food brought from home;
• encourage parents to provide sandwiches with a healthy filling, fruit, and milk based deserts, such as yoghurt or crème fraîche, where we can only provide cold food from home. We discourage sweet drinks and can provide children with water or diluted fresh fruit juice;
• discourage packed lunch contents that consist largely of crisps, processed foods, sweet drinks and sweet products such as cakes or biscuits. We reserve the right to return this food to the parent as a last resort;
• provide children bringing packed lunches with plates, cups and cutlery; and
• ensure that adults sit with children to eat their lunch so that the mealtime is a social occasion.

Legal framework

• Regulation (EC) 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Hygiene of Foodstuffs.

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6.6 Food hygiene

Policy statement

We provide and/or serve food for children on the following basis:

• Snacks.

We maintain the highest possible food hygiene standards with regard to the purchase, storage, preparation and serving of food.

We are registered as a food provider with the local authority Environmental Health Department. 

Procedures

• Our staff with responsibility for food preparation understand the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) as it applies to our setting. This is set out in Safer Food, Better Business for Caterers (Food Standards Agency 2011). The basis for this is risk assessment of the purchase, storage, preparation and serving of food to prevent growth of bacteria and food contamination.
• All our staff follow the guidelines of Safer Food, Better Business.
• All our staff who are involved in the preparation and handling of food have received training in food hygiene.
• The person responsible for food preparation and serving carries out daily opening and closing checks on the kitchen to ensure standards are met consistently. (See Safer Food, Better Business)
• We use reliable suppliers for the food we purchase.
• Food is stored at correct temperatures and is checked to ensure it is in-date and not subject to contamination by pests, rodents or mould.
• Packed lunches are stored in a cool place; un-refrigerated food is served to children within 4 hours of preparation at home.
• Food preparation areas are cleaned before and after use.
• There are separate facilities for hand-washing and for washing-up.
• All surfaces are clean and non-porous.
• All utensils, crockery etc. are clean and stored appropriately.
• Waste food is disposed of daily.
• Cleaning materials and other dangerous materials are stored out of children's reach.
• Children do not have unsupervised access to the kitchen.
• When children take part in cooking activities, they:
• are supervised at all times;
• understand the importance of hand-washing and simple hygiene rules;
• are kept away from hot surfaces and hot water; and
• do not have unsupervised access to electrical equipment, such as blenders etc.

Reporting of food poisoning

Food poisoning can occur for a number of reasons; not all cases of sickness or diarrhoea are as a result of food poisoning and not all cases of sickness or diarrhoea are reportable.

• Where children and/or adults have been diagnosed by a GP or hospital doctor to be suffering from food poisoning and where it seems possible that the source of the outbreak is within our setting, the manager will contact the Environmental Health Department to report the outbreak and will comply with any investigation.
• We notify Ofsted as soon as reasonably practicable of any confirmed cases of food poisoning affecting two or more children looked after on the premises, and always within 14 days of the incident.

Legal framework

• Regulation (EC) 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Hygiene of Foodstuffs

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6.7 COVID-19

Policy statement

Since 1 June, early years settings have been able to welcome back children of all ages.  Since this point, the setting has planned and implemented the ‘system of controls’, building on the hierarchy of protective measures that have been in use throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. 

From 20 July, early years settings are no longer required to keep children in small, consistent groups within settings but can return to normal group sizes. The setting has still considered how we can minimise mixing within settings, for example where they use different rooms for different age groups, keeping those groups apart as much as possible.

Keeping children and staff safe is our utmost priority. The ‘system of controls’ provides a set of principles that when followed will effectively minimise risks. 

Procedures:

System of controls

Prevention:

1) minimise contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, do not the setting

• Children, staff and other adults must not come into settings if they have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or have tested positive in the last 10 days. We will ensure anyone developing those symptoms during the day is sent home.
• If anyone in the setting has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19): a high temperature, new and persistent cough or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia), however mild, they should self-isolate for at least 10 days from when their symptoms started; or if they are not experiencing symptoms, but have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), they should self-isolate for at least 10 days starting from the day the test was taken.
• If they have tested positive whilst not experiencing symptoms, but develop symptoms during the isolation period, they should restart the 10 day isolation period from the day they develop symptoms.
• If a child is awaiting collection, they will be moved, to the office where they can be isolated behind a closed door with appropriate adult supervision. The window should be opened for ventilation. If they need to go to the bathroom while waiting to be collected, they will be taken to a separate bathroom if possible. The bathroom will be cleaned and disinfected using standard cleaning products before being used by anyone else.
• Any members of staff who have helped someone with symptoms and any children who have been in close contact with them do not need to go home to self-isolate. However, they must self-isolate and arrange for a test if they develop symptoms themselves (in which case, they should arrange a test), if the symptomatic person subsequently tests positive (see below) or they have been requested to do so by NHS Test and Trace.
• Everyone must wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with soap and running water or use hand sanitiser after any contact with someone who is unwell. The area around the person with symptoms must be cleaned with normal household disinfectant after they have left to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.
• PHE is clear that routinely taking the temperature of children is not recommended as this is an unreliable method for identifying coronavirus (COVID-19).

2) clean hands thoroughly more often than usual

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an easy virus to kill when it is on the skin. This can be done with soap and running water or hand sanitiser.
• We will ensure that children clean their hands regularly, including:
  • when they arrive at the setting
  • when they return from breaks
  • when they change rooms
  • before and after eating

• We will ensure the setting has enough hand washing or hand sanitiser ‘stations’ available so that all children and staff can clean their hands regularly
• We will build these routines into setting culture, and ensure younger children and those with complex needs understand the need to follow them

3) ensure good respiratory hygiene by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach

• The ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach continues to be very important, so the setting will ensure they have enough tissues and bins available in the setting to support children and staff to implement this routine. As with hand cleaning, the setting will ensure younger children are helped to get this right, and all children understand that this is now part of how the setting operates.
• PHE does not (based on current evidence) recommend the use of face coverings in schools and as such staff in the setting will not be required to wear a face mask. The evidence will be kept under review. PHE advises that for safety reasons, face masks should not be used for children under three. In addition, misuse may inadvertently increase the risk of transmission and there may also be negative effects on communication and thus children’s development.

4) introduce enhanced cleaning, including cleaning frequently touched surfaces often using standard products, such as detergents and bleach

• In order to facilitate cleaning, we will remove unnecessary items from learning environments where there is space to store them elsewhere. Public health advice is to remove all soft toys, and any toys that are hard to clean, such as those with intricate parts. Where practicable, we will also remove soft furnishings, for example pillows, bean bags and rugs.
• We have put in place a cleaning schedule that ensures cleaning is generally enhanced and includes:
  • more frequent cleaning of rooms that are used by different groups
  • frequently touched surfaces being cleaned more often than normal
  • ensuring that there are clear procedures for maintaining cleaning processes for food preparation areas, dining areas and table coverings
• Different groups will not be allocated their own toilets, but toilets will be cleaned regularly and children must be encouraged to clean their hands thoroughly after using the toilet

5) minimise contact between groups where possible

• Early years settings are no longer required to arrange children and staff in small, consistent groups so can return to normal group sizes.
• We will minimise mixing within the setting, for example where we use different rooms for different age groups, keeping those groups apart as much as possible. Minimising contact between groups can reduce the number of children and staff required to self-isolate in the event of children or staff testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).
• Returning to normal group sizes is based on the fact that the overall risk to children from coronavirus (COVID-19) is low. It also recognises that early years settings are typically smaller than schools. Adopting the ‘system of controls’ set out here in a robust way will ensure there are proportionate safeguards for children as well as staff and reduce the chance of transmission.
• Parents and carers are encouraged to limit the number of settings their child attends, ideally ensuring their child only attends the same setting consistently. This should also be the same for staff.
• To limit adult to adult contact, parents are asked to drop off and collect their children from outside the nursery building. Parents will only be permitted to enter the building if it is essential.
• We will continue to use the Family App to communicate with parents and carers digitally, for example when providing handover information at the end of the day.
• Drop off and collections will be adapted:
  • At Kinder Lodge, parents will drop off and collect their child from the front gate. There will be a queuing system in place and parents are asked to keep their distance from each other and not congregate in the car park. If the queue is full parents are asked to wait in their car until there is a space.
  • At Sandpit House the kiss and drop system will continue to be operational. Parents are asked to not step onto the veranda directly in front of the front entrance.
• Children at both settings are to leave lunch boxes on the trolley which will be outside the entrance on arrival. It will be brought in once all children have arrived.

6) where necessary, wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)

• The majority of staff in the setting will not require PPE beyond what they would normally need for their work. PPE is only needed in a very small number of cases, including:
  • where an individual child becomes ill with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms while at a setting, and only then if a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained
  • where a child already has routine intimate care needs that involves the use of PPE, in which case the same PPE should continue to be used (e.g. gloves when changing nappies)

Response to any infection:

7) engage with the NHS Test and Trace process

• We understand the NHS Test and Trace process and how to contact our local PHE health protection team. Staff members and parents/carers understand that they will need to be ready and willing to:
  • book a test if they are displaying symptoms. Staff and children must not come into the setting if they have symptoms and must be sent home to self-isolate if they develop them in the setting. All children can be tested, including children under 5, but children under 11 will need to be helped by their parents or carers if using a home testing kit
  • provide details of anyone they have been in close contact with if they were to test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or if asked by NHS Test and Trace
  • self-isolate if they have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms
• Anyone who displays symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can and should get a test. Tests can be booked online through the NHS website, or ordered by telephone via NHS 119 for those without access to internet. Essential workers, which includes anyone involved in education or childcare, have priority access to testing.
• The government will ensure that it is as easy as possible to get a test through a wide range of routes that are locally accessible, fast and convenient. We will release more details on new testing avenues as and when they become available and we will work with early years settings, so they understand the easiest route to get a test.
• Parents, carers and staff must inform us immediately of the results of the test:

  • if someone tests negative, and they feel well and no longer have symptoms similar to coronavirus (COVID-19), they can stop self-isolating. They could still have another virus, such as a cold or flu – in which case it is still best to avoid contact with other people until they are better. Other members of their household can also stop self-isolating

  • if someone tests positive, they should follow COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection and should continue to self-isolate for at least 10 days from the onset of their symptoms and then return to the setting only if they do not have symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell or taste. This is because a cough or anosmia can last for several weeks once the infection has gone. The at least 10-day period starts from the day when they first became ill. If they still have a high temperature, they should keep self-isolating until their temperature returns to normal. Other members of their household should continue self-isolating for the full 14 days.

8) manage confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) amongst the setting community

• We will take swift action when we become aware that someone who has attended has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). The setting will contact the local health protection team. This team will also contact us directly if they become aware that someone who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) attended the setting – as identified by NHS Test and Trace.
• The local health protection team will work with us to carry out a rapid risk assessment to confirm who has been in close contact with the person during the period that they were infectious, and ensure they are asked to self-isolate.
• The local health protection team will work with us in this situation to guide us through the actions we need to take. Based on the advice from the local health protection team, we will send home those people who have been in close contact with the person who has tested positive, advising them to self-isolate for 14 days since they were last in close contact with that person when they were infectious. Close contact means:
  • direct close contacts - face to face contact with an infected individual for any length of time, within 1 metre, including being coughed on, a face to face conversation, or unprotected physical contact (skin to skin)
  • proximity contacts - extended close contact (within 1-2m for more than 15 minutes) with an infected individual
  • travelling in a small vehicle, like a car, with an infected person
• The local health protection team will provide definitive advice on who must be sent home. To support them in doing so, we will keep a record of:
  • children and staff in specific groups/rooms 
  • close contact that takes places between children and staff in different groups/rooms
• This will be a proportionate recording process.
• Household members of those who are sent home do not need to self-isolate themselves unless the child or staff member who is self-isolating subsequently develops symptoms. If someone in a group that has been asked to self-isolate develops symptoms themselves within their 14-day isolation period, they should follow COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection. They should get a test, and:
  • if the test delivers a negative result, they must remain in isolation for the remainder of the 14-day isolation period. This is because they could still develop the coronavirus (COVID-19) within the remaining days
  • if the test result is positive, they should inform us immediately, and should isolate for at least 10 days from the onset of their symptoms (which could mean the self-isolation ends before or after the original 14-day isolation period). Their household should self-isolate for at least 14 days from when the symptomatic person first had symptoms, following COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection

9) contain any outbreak by following local health protection team advice

• If the setting has two or more confirmed cases within 14 days, or an overall rise in sickness absence where coronavirus (COVID-19) is suspected, we will contact our local health protection team who will be able to advise if additional action is required.

10) notify Ofsted

• Any confirmed cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the setting (either child or staff member), and/or if the setting is advised to close as a result, will be swiftly reported to Ofsted through the usual notification channels. 

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7.1 Promoting positive behaviour

Policy statement

We believe that children flourish best when their personal, social and emotional needs are understood, supported and met and where there are clear, fair and developmentally appropriate expectations for their behaviour.

As children develop, they learn about boundaries, the difference between right and wrong, and to consider the views and feelings, and needs and rights, of others and the impact that their behaviour has on people, places and objects. The development of these skills requires adult guidance to help encourage and model appropriate behaviours and to offer intervention and support when children struggle with conflict and emotional situations. In these types of situations key staff can help identify and address triggers for the behaviour and help children reflect, regulate and manage their actions

Procedures

In order to manage children’s behaviour in an appropriate way we will:

• attend relevant training to help understand and guide appropriate models of behaviour;
• implement the setting’s behaviour procedures including the stepped approach;
• have the necessary skills to support other staff with behaviour issues and to access expert advice, if necessary;

Stepped approach

Step 1

• We will ensure that EYFS guidance relating to ‘behaviour management’ is incorporated into relevant policy and procedures;
• We will be knowledgeable with, and apply the setting’s procedures on Promoting Positive Behaviour;
• ensure that all staff are supported to address issues relating to behaviour including applying initial and focused intervention approaches (see below).

Step 2 

• We address unwanted behaviours using the agreed and consistently applied initial intervention approach. If the unwanted behaviour does not reoccur or cause concern then normal monitoring will resume. 
• Behaviours that result in concern for the child and/or others will be discussed between the key person, the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) or/and manager. During the meeting, the key person will use their knowledge and assessments of the child to share any known influencing factors (new baby, additional needs, illness etc.) in order to place the behaviour into context. Appropriate adjustments to practice will be agreed and if successful normal monitoring resumed. 
• If the behaviour continues to reoccur and remains a concern then the key person and SENCO should liaise with parents to discuss possible reasons for the behaviour and to agree next steps. If relevant and appropriate, the views of the child relating to their behaviour should be sought and considered to help identify a cause. If a cause for the behaviour is not known or only occurs whilst in the setting then the behaviour coordinator will suggest using a focused intervention approach to identify a trigger for the behaviour. 
• If a trigger is identified then the SENCO and key person will meet with the parents to plan support for the child through developing an action plan. If relevant, recommended actions for dealing with the behaviour at home should be agreed with the parent/s and incorporated into the plan. Other members of the staff team should be informed of the agreed actions in the action plan and help implement the actions. The plan should be monitored and reviewed regularly by the key person and SENCO until improvement is noticed.

All incidents and intervention relating to unwanted and challenging behaviour by children should be clearly and appropriately logged.

Step 3 

• If, despite applying the initial intervention and focused intervention approaches, the behaviour continues to occur and/or is of significant concern, then the behaviour coordinator and SENCO will invite the parents to a meeting to discuss external referral and next steps for supporting the child in the setting. 
• It may be agreed that the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) or Early Help process should begin and that specialist help be sought for the child  – this support may address either developmental or welfare needs. If the child’s behaviour is part of a range of welfare concerns that also include a concern that the child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, follow the Safeguarding and Children and Child Protection Policy (1.2). It may also be agreed that the child should be referred for an Education, Health and Care assessment. (See Supporting Children with SEN policy 9.2) 
• Advice provided by external agencies should be incorporated into the child’s action plan and regular multi-disciplinary meetings held to review the child’s progress.

Initial intervention approach

• We use an initial problem solving intervention for all situations in which a child or children are distressed on in conflict. All staff use this intervention consistently.
• This type of approach involves an adult approaching the situation calmly, stopping any hurtful actions, acknowledging the feelings of those involved, gathering information, restating the issue to help children reflect, regain control of the situation and resolve the situation themselves.
• High Scope’s Conflict Resolution process provides this type of approach but equally any other similar method would be suitable. Periodically the effectiveness of the approach will be checked.
  
   Focused intervention approach
• The reasons for some types of behaviour are not always apparent, despite the knowledge and input from key staff and parents.
• Where we have considered all possible reasons, then a focused intervention approach should then be applied.
• This approach allows the key person to observe, reflect, and identify causes and functions of unwanted behaviour in the wider context of other known influences on the child.
• We follow the ABC method which uses key observations to identify a) an event or activity (antecedent) that occurred immediately before a particular behaviour, b) what behaviour was observed and recorded at the time of the incident, and c) what the consequences were following the behaviour. Once analysed, the focused intervention should help determine the cause (e.g. ownership of a toy or fear of a situation) and function of the behaviour (to obtain the toy or avoid a situation) and suitable support will be applied.

Use of rewards and sanctions 

• All children need consistent messages, clear boundaries and guidance to intrinsically manage their behaviour through self-reflection and control.
• Rewards such as excessive praise and stickers may provide an immediate change in the behaviour but will not teach children how to act when a ‘prize’ is not being given or provide the child with the skills to manage situations and their emotions. Instead, a child is taught how to be ‘compliant’ and respond to meet adult’s own expectations in order to obtain a reward (or for fear of a sanction). If used then the type of rewards and their functions must be carefully considered before applying.
• Children should never be labelled, criticised, humiliated, punished, shouted at or isolated by removing them from the group and left alone in ‘time out’ or on a ‘naughty chair’. However, if necessary children can be accompanied and removed from the group in order to calm down and if appropriate helped to reflect on what has happened.

Use of physical intervention

• The term physical intervention is used to describe any forceful physical contact by an adult to a child such as grabbing, pulling, dragging, or any form of restraint of a child such as holding down. Where a child is upset or angry, staff will speak to them calmly, encouraging them to vent their frustration in other ways by diverting the child’s attention. 
• Staff should not use physical intervention – or the threat of physical intervention, to manage a child’s behaviour unless it is necessary to use ‘reasonable force in order to prevent children from injuring themselves or others or damage property‘ (EYFS).’
• If ‘reasonable force’ has been used for any of the reasons shown above, parents are to be informed on the same day that it occurs. The intervention will be recorded as soon as possible within the child’s file, which states clearly when and how parents were informed.
• Corporal (physical) punishment of any kind should never be used or threatened.

Challenging Behaviour/Aggression by children towards other children

• Any aggressive behaviour by children towards other children will result in a staff member intervening immediately to challenge and prevent escalation.
• If the behaviour has been significant or may potentially have a detrimental effect on the child, the parents of the child who has been the victim of behaviour and the parents of the child who has been the perpetrator should be informed.
• The designated person will contact children’s social services if appropriate and will consider whether notifying the police if appropriate.
• The designated person will make a written record of the incident, which is kept in the child’s file; in line with the Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults policy.
• The designated person should complete a risk assessment related to the child’s challenging behaviour to avoid any further instances.
• The designated person should meet with the parents of the child who has been affected by the behaviour to advise them of the incident and the setting’s response to the incident.
• Ofsted should be notified if appropriate.
• Relevant health and safety procedures and procedures for dealing with concerns and complaints should be followed.
• Parents should also be asked to sign risk assessments where the risk assessment relates to managing the behaviour of a specific child.

Challenging unwanted behaviour from adults in the setting

• Settings will not tolerate behaviour from an adult which demonstrates a dislike, prejudice and/or discriminatory attitude or action towards any individual or group. This includes negativity towards groups and individuals living outside the UK (xenophobia). This also applies to the same behaviour if directed towards specific groups of people and individuals who are British Citizens residing in the UK. 
• Allegations of discriminatory remarks or behaviour including xenophobia made in the setting by any adult will be taken seriously. The perpetrator will be asked to stop the behaviour and failure to do so may result in the adult being asked to leave the premises and in the case of a staff member, disciplinary measures being taken. 
• Where a parent makes discriminatory or prejudiced remarks to staff at any time, or other people while on the premises, this is recorded on the child’s file and is reported to the setting manager. The procedure is explained and the parent asked to comply while on the premises. An ‘escalatory’ approach will be taken with those who continue to exhibit this behaviour. The second stage comprises a letter to the parent requesting them to sign a written agreement not to make discriminatory remarks or behave in a discriminatory or prejudiced manner; the third stage may be considering withdrawing the child’s place.

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8.1 Health and safety general standards

Policy statement

We believe that the health and safety of children is of paramount importance. We make our setting a safe and healthy place for children, parents, staff and volunteers.

• We aim to make children, parents, staff and volunteers 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.
• Our member of staff responsible for health and safety is Lucia Federici.  She is competent to carry out these responsibilities. 
• She has undertaken health and safety training and regularly updates her knowledge and understanding.
• We display the necessary health and safety poster in the kitchen.

Insurance cover

We have public liability insurance and employers' liability insurance. The certificate for public liability insurance is displayed in the kitchen.

Procedures

Awareness raising

• 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 procedures as they understand their shared responsibility for health and safety. The induction training covers matters of employee well-being, including safe lifting and the storage of potentially dangerous substances.
• We keep records of these induction training sessions and new staff and volunteers are asked to sign the records to confirm that they have taken part.
• We explain health and safety issues to the parents of new children, so that they understand the part played by these issues in the daily life of the setting.
• As necessary, health and safety training is included in the annual training of staff, and health and safety is discussed regularly at our staff meetings.
• We operate a no-smoking policy.
• We make children aware of health and safety issues through discussions, planned activities and routines.

Windows

• Low level windows are made from materials that prevent accidental breakage or we ensure that they are made safe.
• We ensure that windows are protected from accidental breakage or vandalism from people outside the building.
• We ensure that any blind cords are secured safely and do not pose a strangulation risk for young children.

Doors

• We take precautions to prevent children's fingers from being trapped in doors.

Floors and walkways

• All our floor surfaces are checked daily to ensure they are clean and not uneven, wet or damaged. Any wet spills are mopped up immediately.
• Walkways are left clear and uncluttered.

Electrical/gas equipment

• We ensure that all electrical/gas equipment conforms to safety requirements and is checked regularly.
• Our boiler/electrical switch gear/meter cupboard is not accessible to the children.
• Fires, heaters, wires and leads are properly guarded and we teach the children not to touch them.
• We check storage heaters daily to make sure they are not covered.
• There are sufficient sockets in our setting to prevent overloading.
• We ensure that the temperature of hot water is controlled to prevent scalds.
• Lighting and ventilation is adequate in all areas of our setting, including storage areas.

Storage

• All our resources and materials, which are used by the children, are stored safely.
• All our equipment and resources are stored or stacked safely to prevent them accidentally falling or collapsing.

Outdoor area

• Our outdoor area is securely fenced. All gates and fences are childproof and safe.
• Our outdoor area is checked for safety and cleared of rubbish, animal droppings and any other unsafe items before it is used.
• Adults and children are alerted to the dangers of poisonous plants, herbicides and pesticides.
• Our pool/pond is securely covered or otherwise guarded.
• We leave receptacles upturned to prevent collection of rainwater. Where water can form a pool on equipment, it is emptied and cleaned before children start playing outside.
• Our outdoor sand pit is covered when not in use and is cleaned regularly.
• We check that children are suitably attired for the weather conditions and type of outdoor activities; ensuring that suncream is applied and hats are worn during the summer months.
• We supervise outdoor activities at all times; and particularly children on climbing equipment.

Hygiene

• We seek information from the Public Health England 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 setting, which includes the play room(s), kitchen, rest area, toilets and nappy changing areas. Children do not have unsupervised access to the kitchen.
• We have a schedule for cleaning resources and equipment, dressing-up clothes and furnishings.
• The toilet area has a high standard of hygiene, including hand washing and drying facilities and disposal facilities for nappies.
• We implement good hygiene practices by:
• cleaning tables between activities;
• cleaning and checking toilets regularly;
• wearing protective clothing - such as aprons and disposable gloves - as appropriate;
• providing sets of clean clothes;
• providing tissues and wipes; and
• ensuring individual use of flannels, towels and toothbrushes.

Activities, resources and repairs

• Before purchase or loan, we check equipment and resources to ensure that they are safe for the ages and stages of the children currently attending the setting.
• We keep a full inventory of all items in the setting for audit and insurance purposes.
• The layout of our play equipment allows adults and children to move safely and freely between activities.
• All our equipment is regularly checked for cleanliness and safety, and any dangerous items are repaired or discarded.
• We make safe and separate from general use any areas that are unsafe because of repair is needed.
• All our materials, including paint and glue, are non-toxic.
• We ensure that sand is clean and suitable for children's play.
• Physical play is constantly supervised.
• We teach children to handle and store tools safely.
• We check children who are sleeping at regular intervals of at least every ten minutes. 
• If children fall asleep in-situ, it may be necessary to move or wake them to make sure they are comfortable.
• Children learn about health, safety and personal hygiene through the activities we provide and the routines we follow.
• Any faulty equipment is removed from use and is repaired. If it cannot be repaired it is discarded. Large pieces of equipment are discarded only with the consent of the manager and the management team. 

Jewellery and accessories

• Our staff do not wear jewellery or fashion accessories, such as belts or high heels, that may pose a danger to themselves or children.
• Parents must ensure that any jewellery worn by children poses no danger; particularly earrings which may get pulled, bracelets which can get caught when climbing or necklaces that may pose a risk of strangulation.
• We ensure that hair accessories are removed before children sleep or rest.

Safety of adults

• We ensure that adults are provided with guidance about the safe storage, movement, lifting and erection of large pieces of equipment.
• We provide safe equipment for adults to use when they need to reach up to store equipment or to change light bulbs.
• We ensure that all warning signs are clear and in appropriate languages.
• We ensure that adults do not remain in the building on their own.
• We record the sickness of staff and their involvement in accidents. The records are reviewed termly to identify any issues that need to be addressed.

Control of substances hazardous to health

• Our staff implement the current guidelines of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH).
• Hazardous substances are stored safely away from the children.
• We carry out a risk assessment for all chemicals used in the setting. This states what the risks are and what to do if they have contact with eyes or skin or are ingested. 
• We keep all cleaning chemicals in their original containers.
• We keep the chemicals used in the setting to the minimum in order to ensure health and hygiene is maintained. 
• Environmental factors are taken into account when purchasing, using and disposing of chemicals.
• All members of staff are vigilant and use chemicals safely.
• Members of staff wear protective gloves when using cleaning chemicals. 

Legal framework

• Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999)
• Electricity at Work Regulations (1989)
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) (2002)
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992 (As Amended 2004))
• Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations (1992)

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8.2 Maintaining children’s safety and security on premises

Policy statement

We maintain the highest possible security of our premises to ensure that each child is safely cared for during their time with us.

Procedures

Children's personal safety

• We ensure all employed staff have been checked for criminal records via an enhanced disclosure with children’s barred list check through the Disclosure and Barring Service.
• Adults do not normally supervise children on their own.
• All children are supervised by adults at all times.
• Whenever children are on the premises at least two adults are present.
• We carry out risk assessments to ensure children are not made vulnerable within any part of our premises, nor by any activity.

Security

• Systems are in place for the safe arrival and departure of children.
• 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.
• We only allow access to visitors with prior appointments. 
• Our staff check the identity of any person who is not known before they enter the premises.
• We keep front doors and gates locked shut at all times. Back doors are kept locked shut at all times where they may lead to a public or unsupervised area.
• The personal possessions of staff and volunteers are securely stored during sessions.
• Minimal petty cash is kept on the premises.

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8.3 Supervision of children on outings and visits

Policy statement

Children benefit from being taken outside of the premises on visits or trips to local parks, or other suitable venues, for activities which enhance their learning experiences. We ensure that there are procedures to keep children safe on outings; all staff and volunteers are aware of and follow the procedures as laid out below.

Procedures

• All off site activity has a clearly identified educational purpose with specific learning and development outcomes.
• There is a designated lead for each excursion who is clear about their responsibility as designated lead.
• We ask parents to sign a general consent on registration for their children to be taken out on local short outings as a part of the daily activities of the setting. This general consent details the venues used for daily activities.
• We assess the risks for each local venue used for daily activities, which is reviewed regularly.
• We always ask parents to sign specific consent forms before major outings; and the risks are assessed before the outing takes place.
• An excursion will not go ahead if concerns are raised about its viability at any point.
• Any written outing risk assessments are made available for parents to see. 
• Our adult to child ratio is high, normally one adult to two children, depending on their age, sensibility and the type of venue, as well as how it is to be reached.
• A minimum of two staff accompany children on outings. 
• Named children are assigned to individual staff member to ensure that each child is well supervised, that no child goes astray and that there is no unauthorised access to children. Staff frequently count their designated children and ensure hands are held when on the street and crossing the road.
• Parents who accompany us on outings are responsible for their own child only. Where parents have undergone vetting with us as volunteers, they may be included in the adults to child ratio and have children allocated to them.
• We take a mobile phone on outings, as well as supplies of tissues, wipes, spare clothing and nappies, medicines required for individual children, a mini first aid kit, snacks and water. The amount of equipment will vary and be consistent with the venue and the number of children, as well as how long they will be out for. We apply sun cream to children as needed and ensure they are dressed appropriately for the type of outing and weather conditions.

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8.4 Risk assessment

Policy statement

We believe that the health and safety of children is of paramount importance. We make our setting a safe and healthy place for children, parents, staff and volunteers by assessing and minimising the hazards and risks to enable the children to thrive in a healthy and safe environment.

Risk assessment means:

Taking note of aspects of your workplace and activities that could cause harm, either to yourself or to others, and deciding what needs to be done to prevent that harm, making sure this is adhered to.

The law does not require that all risk is eliminated, but that ‘reasonable precaution’ is taken. This is particularly important when balancing the need for children to be able to take appropriate risks through physically challenging play. Children need the opportunity to work out what is not safe and what they should do when faced with a risk.

Health and safety risk assessments inform procedures. Staff and parents should be involved in reviewing risk assessments and procedures – they are the ones with first-hand knowledge as to whether the control measures are effective – and they can give an informed view to help update procedures accordingly.

This policy is based on the five steps below:

• Identification of a risk: Where is it and what is it?
• Who is at risk: Childcare staff, children, parents, cooks, cleaners etc?
• Assessment as to whether the level of a risk is high, medium, low. This takes into account both the likelihood of it happening, as well as the possible impact if it did.
• Control measures to reduce/eliminate risk: What will you need to do, or ensure others will do, in order to reduce that risk?
• Monitoring and review: How do you know if what you have said is working, or is thorough enough? If it is not working, it will need to be amended, or maybe there is a better solution.

Procedures

• Our manager undertake training and ensure our staff and volunteers have adequate training in health and safety matters. 
• Our risk assessment process covers adults and children and includes:
• determining where it is helpful to make some written risk assessments in relation to specific issues, to inform staff practice, and to demonstrate how we are managing risks if asked by parents and/or carers and inspectors;
• checking for and noting hazards and risks indoors and outside, in relation to our premises and activities;
• assessing the level of risk and who might be affected;
• deciding which areas need attention; and
• developing an action plan that specifies the action required, the time-scales for action, the person responsible for the action and any funding required.
• Where more than five staff and volunteers are employed, the risk assessment is written and is reviewed regularly.
• We maintain lists of health and safety issues, which are checked daily before the session begins, as well as those that are checked on a weekly and termly basis when a full risk assessment is carried out.
• Our manager ensures that checks, such as electricity and gas safety checks, and any necessary work to the setting premises are carried out annually and records are kept. 
• Our manager ensures that staff members carry out risk assessments that include relevant aspects of fire safety, food safety for all areas of the premises.
• We take precautions to reduce the risks of exposure to Legionella (Legionnaires disease). Our manager we are familiar with the HSE guidance and risk assess accordingly.

Legal framework

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999)

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8.5 Fire safety and emergency evacuation

Policy statement

We ensure the highest possible standard of fire precautions are in place. The person in charge and our staff are familiar with the current legal requirements. Where necessary we seek the advice of a competent person, such as our Fire Officer or Fire Safety Consultant. A Fire Safety Log Book is used to record the findings of risk assessment, any actions taken or incidents that have occurred and our fire drills. We ensure our policy is in line with the procedures specific to our building, making reasonable adjustments as required.

Procedures

Fire safety risk assessment

• The basis of fire safety is risk assessment, carried out by a ‘competent person’.
• The manager has received training in fire safety sufficient to be competent to carry out the risk assessment; this will be written where there are more than five staff and will follow the Government guidance Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Educational Premises (HMG 2006).
• Our fire safety risk assessment focuses on the following for each area of the setting:
• Electrical plugs, wires and sockets.
• Electrical items.
• Gas boilers.
• Cookers.
• Matches.
• Flammable materials – including furniture, furnishings, paper etc.
• Flammable chemicals.
• Means of escape.
• Anything else identified.
• Where we rent premises, we will ensure that we have a copy of the fire safety risk assessment that applies to the building and that we contribute to regular reviews.

Fire safety precautions taken

• We ensure that fire doors are clearly marked, never obstructed and easily opened from the inside.
• We ensure that smoke detectors/alarms and fire fighting appliances conform to BS EN standards, are fitted in appropriate high risk areas of the building and are checked as specified by the manufacturer.
• We have all electrical equipment checked annually by a qualified electrician. Any faulty electrical equipment is taken out of use and either repaired or replaced.
• 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; and
• practised regularly, at least once every six weeks.
• Records are kept of fire drills and of the servicing of fire safety equipment.

Emergency evacuation procedure

• How children are familiar with the sound of the fire alarm.
• How the children, staff and parents know where the fire exits are.
• How children are led from the building to the assembly point.
• How children will be accounted for and who by.
• How long it takes to get the children out safely.
• Who calls the emergency services, and when, in the event of a real fire.
• How parents are contacted.

Fire drills

We hold fire drills termly and record the following information about each fire drill in the Fire Safety Log:

• The date and time of the drill.
• How long it took to evacuate.

Legal framework

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

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8.6 No-smoking

Policy statement

We comply with health and safety regulations and the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage in making our setting a no-smoking environment - both indoors and outdoors.

Procedures

• All staff, parents and volunteers are made aware of our No-smoking Policy.
• No-smoking signs are displayed prominently.
• The No-smoking Policy is stated in information for parents and staff.
• Staff who smoke do not do so during working hours or when travelling to work.
• E-cigarettes are not permitted to be used on the premises. 
• Smoking is not permitted in any vehicles belonging to the setting.
• Staff are made aware that failure to adhere to this policy and procedures may result in disciplinary action.
• It is a criminal offence for employees to smoke in smoke-free areas, with a fixed penalty of £50 or prosecution and a fine of up to £200.

Legal framework

• The Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations (2006)
• The Smoke-free (Signs) Regulations (2012)

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8.7 Staff personal safety including home visits

Policy statement

This setting believes that the health and safety of all staff is of paramount importance and that all staff have the right to work in a safe environment. We support safe working both on and off the premises, acknowledging the needs and diversity of children and their family. 

Procedures

General

• All staff in the building early in the morning, or late in the evening, ensure doors and windows are locked. 
• Where possible, at least the first two members of staff to arrive in the building arrive together, and the last two members of staff in the building leave together.
• Visitors are generally only allowed access with prior appointments and only admitted once their identity has been verified.
• Minimal petty cash is kept on the premises.
• Members of staff make a note in the diary of meetings they are attending, who they are meeting and when they are expected back.
• Managers have good liaison with local police and ask for advice on safe practice where there are issues or concerns.

Dealing with agitated parents in the setting

• If a parent appears to be angry, mentally agitated or possibly hostile, two members of staff will lead the parent away from the children to a less open area, but will not shut the door behind them.
• If the person is standing, staff will remain standing.
• Members of staff will try to empathise and ensure that the language they use can be easily understood.
• Staff will speak in low, even tones, below the voice level of the parent.
• Members of staff will make it clear that they want to listen and seek solutions.
• If the person makes threats and continues to be angry, members of staff make it clear that they will be unable to discuss the issue until the person stops shouting or being abusive, while avoiding potentially inflammatory expressions such as ‘calm down’ or ‘be reasonable’
• If threats or abuse continues, members of staff will explain that the police will be called and emphasise the inappropriateness of such behaviour in front of children.
• After the event, details are recorded in the child’s personal file together with any decisions made with the parents to rectify the situation and any correspondence regarding the incident.

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9.1 Valuing diversity and promoting inclusion and equality

Policy statement

We are committed to ensuring that our service is fully inclusive in meeting the needs of all children. 

We recognise that children and their families come from a wide range of backgrounds with individual needs, beliefs and values.  They may grow up in family structures that include one or two parents of the same or different sex.  Children may have close links or live with extended families of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins; while other children may be more removed from close kin, or may live with other relatives or foster carers. Some children come from families who experience social exclusion, severe hardship; discrimination and prejudice because of their ethnicity, disability and/or ability, the languages they speak, their religious or personal beliefs, their sexual orientation and marital status. Some individuals face discrimination linked to their gender and some women are discriminated against because of their pregnancy and maternity status. We understand that all these factors can affect the well-being of children within these families and may adversely impact on children’s learning, attainment and life outcomes. 

We are are committed to anti-discriminatory practice to promote equality of opportunity and valuing diversity for all children and families using our setting. We aim to:

• promote equality and value diversity within our service and foster good relations with the local community;
• actively include all families and value the positive contribution they make to our service;
• promote a positive non-stereotyping environment that promotes dignity, respect and understanding of difference in all forms;
• provide a secure and accessible environment in which every child feels safe and equally included;
• improve our knowledge and understanding of issues relating to anti-discriminatory practice,
• challenge and eliminate discriminatory actions on the basis of a protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act (2010) namely:
  •  age;
  • gender;
  • gender reassignment;
  • marital status;
  • pregnancy and maternity;
  • race;
  • disability;
  • sexual orientation; and
  • religion or belief.
• where possible, take positive action to benefit groups or individuals with protected characteristics who are disadvantaged, have a disproportional representation within the service or need different things from the service.

Procedures

Admissions

Our setting is open and accessible to all members of the community.

• We base our Admissions Policy on a fair system.
• We do not discriminate against a child or their family in our service provision, including preventing their entry to our setting based on a protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act (2010). 
• We advertise our service widely. 
• We provide information in clear, concise language, whether in spoken or written form and provide information in other languages (where ever possible).
• We reflect the diversity of our community and wider society in our publicity and promotional materials.
• We provide information on our offer of provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
• We ensure that all parents are made aware of our Valuing Diversity and Promoting Inclusion and Equality Policy.
• We make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled children can participate successfully in the services and in the curriculum offered by the setting. 
• We ensure, wherever possible, that we have a balanced intake of boys and girls in the setting. 
• We take action against any discriminatory, prejudice, harassing or victimising behaviour by our staff, volunteers or parents whether by:
• direct discrimination – someone is treated less favourably because of a protected characteristic e.g. preventing families of a specific ethnic group from using the service;
• indirect discrimination – someone is affected unfavourably by a general policy e.g. children must only speak English in the setting;
• discrimination arising from a disability – someone is treated less favourably because of something connected with their disability e.g. a child with a visual impairment is excluded from an activity;
• association – discriminating against someone who is associated with a person with a protected characteristic e.g. behaving unfavourably to someone who is married to a person from a different cultural background; or
• perception – discrimination on the basis that it is thought someone has a protected characteristic e.g. making assumptions about someone's sexual orientation.
• We will not tolerate behaviour from an adult who demonstrates dislike or prejudice towards individuals who are perceived to be from another country (xenophobia).
• Displaying of openly discriminatory xenophobic and possibly offensive or threatening materials, name calling, or threatening behaviour are unacceptable on, or around, our premises and will be dealt with immediately and discreetly by asking the adult to stop using the unacceptable behaviour and inviting them to read and to act in accordance with the relevant policy statement and procedure. Failure to comply may lead to the adult being excluded from the premises. 

Employment

• We advertise posts and all applicants are judged against explicit and fair criteria.
• Applicants are welcome from all backgrounds and posts are open to all.
• We may use the exemption clauses in relevant legislation to enable the service to best meet the needs of the community.
• The applicant who best meets the criteria is offered the post, subject to references and suitability checks. This ensures fairness in the selection process.
• All our job descriptions include a commitment to promoting equality, and recognising and respecting diversity as part of their specifications.
• We monitor our application process to ensure that it is fair and accessible.

Training

• We seek out training opportunities for our staff and volunteers to enable them to develop anti-discriminatory and inclusive practices.
• We ensure that our staff are confident and fully trained in administering relevant medicines and performing invasive care procedures on children when these are required.
• We review our practices to ensure that we are fully implementing our policy for Valuing Diversity and Promoting Equality.

Curriculum

The curriculum offered in our setting encourages children to develop positive attitudes about themselves as well as about people who are different from themselves. It encourages development of confidence and self esteem, empathy, critical thinking and reflection.

We ensure that our practice is fully inclusive by:

• creating an environment of mutual respect and tolerance;
• modelling desirable behaviour to children and helping children to understand that discriminatory behaviour and remarks are hurtful and unacceptable;
• positively reflecting the widest possible range of communities within resources;
• avoiding use of stereotypes or derogatory images within our books or any other visual materials;
• celebrating locally observed festivals and holy days;
• ensuring that children learning English as an additional language have full access to the curriculum and are supported in their learning; 
• ensuring that disabled children with and without special educational needs are fully supported;
• ensuring that children speaking languages other than English are supported in the maintenance and development of their home languages

We will ensure that our environment is as accessible as possible for all visitors and service users. We do this by:

• undertaking an access audit to establish if the setting is accessible to all disabled children and adults. If access to the setting is found to treat disabled children or adults less favourably, then we make reasonable adjustments to accommodate the needs of disabled children and adults.
• fully differentiating the environment, resources and curriculum to accommodate a wide range of learning, physical and sensory needs.

Valuing diversity in families

• We welcome the diversity of family lifestyles and work with all families.
• We encourage children to contribute stories of their everyday life to the setting.
• We encourage mothers, fathers and other carers to take part in the life of the setting and to contribute fully.
• For families who speak languages in addition to English, we will develop means to encourage their full inclusion.
• We take positive action to encourage disadvantaged and under-represented groups to use the setting.

Food

• We work in partnership with parents to ensure that dietary requirements of children that arise from their medical, religious or cultural needs are met where ever possible.
• We help children to learn about a range of food, and of cultural approaches to mealtimes and eating, and to respect the differences among them.

Meetings

• We positively encourage fathers to be involved in the setting, especially those fathers who do not live with the child.
• Information about meetings is communicated in a variety of ways - written, verbal and where resources allow in translation – to ensure that all mothers and fathers have information about, and access to, the meetings.

Monitoring and reviewing

• So that our policies and procedures remain effective, we monitor and review them annually to ensure our strategies meet our overall aims to promote equality, inclusion and to value diversity.
• We provide a complaints procedure and a complaints summary record for parents to see.

Public Sector Equality Duty

• We have regard to the Duty to eliminate discrimination, promote equality of opportunity, foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

Legal framework

The Equality Act (2010)

Children Act (1989) & (2004)

Children and Families Act (2014)

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice (2014) 

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9.2 Supporting children with special educational needs

Policy statement

We provide an environment in which all children with special educational needs (SEN) are supported to reach their full potential.                                                                 

• We have regard for the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice (2014).
• We have in place a clear approach for identifying, responding to, and meeting children’s SEN[1].
• We support and involve parents (and where relevant children), actively listening to, and acting on their wishes and concerns.
• We work in partnership with the local authority and other external agencies to ensure the best outcomes for children with SEN and their families.
• We regularly monitor and review [our/my] policy, practice and provision and, if necessary, make adjustments.

Procedures

§  We designate a member of staff to be the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) and give his/her name to parents. Our SENCO is: 

Lucia Federici

• The SENCO works closely with our manager and other colleagues and has responsibility for the day-to-day operation of our Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs Policy and for co-ordinating provision for children with SEN.
• We ensure that the provision for children with SEN is the responsibility of all members of the setting.
• We ensure that our inclusive admissions practice ensures equality of access and opportunity.
• We provide a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum for all children.
• We apply SEN support to ensure early identification of children with SEN.
• We use the graduated approach system (assess, plan, do and review) applied in increasing detail and frequency to ensure that children progress. 
• We ensure that parents are involved at all stages of the assessment, planning, provision and review of their children's special education including all decision making processes 
• We where appropriate, take into account children’s views and wishes in decisions being made about them, relevant to their level understanding. 
• We provide parents with information on local sources of support and advice e.g. Local Offer, Information, Advice and Support Service.
• We liaise and work with other external agencies to help improve outcomes for children with SEN. 
• We have systems in place for referring children for further assessment e.g. Common Assessment Framework/Early Help Assessment and Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessment.
• We provide resources (human and financial) to implement our Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs Policy.
• We ensure that all our staff are aware of our Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs Policy and the procedures for identifying, assessing and making provision for children with SEN. We provide in-service training for parents, practitioners and volunteers.
• We ensure the effectiveness of our special educational needs provision by collecting information from a range of sources e.g. action plan reviews, staff and management meetings, parental and external agency's views, inspections and complaints. This information is collated, evaluated and reviewed annually.
• We provide a complaints procedure.
• We monitor and review our policy annually.

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9.3 British values

Policy statement

We actively promote inclusion, equality of opportunity, the valuing of diversity and British values. 

Under the Equality Act 2010, which underpins standards of behaviour and incorporates both British and universal values, we have a legal obligation not to directly or indirectly discriminate against, harass or victimise those with protected characteristics. We make reasonable adjustments to procedures, criteria and practices to ensure that those with protected characteristics are not at a substantial disadvantage. As we are in receipt of public funding we also have a public sector equality duty to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, foster good relations and publish information to show compliance with the duty.

Social and emotional development is shaped by early experiences and relationships and incorporates elements of equality and British and universal values. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) supports children’s earliest skills so that they can become social citizens in an age-appropriate way, that is, so that they are able to listen and attend to instructions; know the difference between right and wrong; recognise similarities and differences between themselves and others; make and maintain friendships; develop empathy and consideration of other people; take turns in play and conversation; avoid risk and take notice of rules and boundaries; learn not to hurt/upset other people with words and actions; understand the consequences of hurtful/discriminatory behaviour.

Procedures

British Values

The fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs are already implicitly embedded in the 2014 EYFS and are further clarified below, based on the Fundamental British Values in the Early Years guidance (Foundation Years 2015):

• Democracy, or making decisions together (through the prime area of Personal, Social and Emotional Development)
• As part of the focus on self-confidence and self-awareness, practitioners encourage children to see their role in the bigger picture, encouraging them to know that their views count, to value each other’s views and values, and talk about their feelings, for example, recognising when they do or do not need help.
• Practitioners support the decisions that children make and provide activities that involve turn-taking, sharing and collaboration. Children are given opportunities to develop enquiring minds in an atmosphere where questions are valued.
• Rule of law, or understanding that rules matter (through the prime area of Personal, Social and Emotional Development)
• Practitioners ensure that children understand their own and others’ behaviour and its consequence.
• Practitioners collaborate with children to create rules and the codes of behaviour, for example, the rules about tidying up, and ensure that all children understand rules apply to everyone.
• Individual liberty, or freedom for all (through the prime areas of Personal, Social and Emotional Development, and Understanding the World)
• Children should develop a positive sense of themselves. Staff provide opportunities for children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and increase their confidence in their own abilities, for example through allowing children to take risks on an obstacle course, mixing colours, talking about their experiences and learning.
• Practitioners encourage a range of experiences that allow children to explore the language of feelings and responsibility, reflect on their differences and understand we are free to have different opinions, for example discussing in a small group what they feel about transferring into Reception Class.
• Mutual respect and tolerance, or treating others as you want to be treated (through the prime areas of Personal, Social and Emotional Development, and Understanding the World)
• Practitioners create an ethos of inclusivity and tolerance where views, faiths, cultures and races are valued and children are engaged with the wider community.
• Children should acquire tolerance, appreciation and respect for their own and other cultures; know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, faiths, communities, cultures and traditions.
• Practitioners encourage and explain the importance of tolerant behaviours, such as sharing and respecting other’s opinions.
• Practitioners promote diverse attitudes and challenge stereotypes, for example, sharing stories that reflect and value the diversity of children’s experiences and providing resources and activities that challenge gender, cultural or racial stereotyping.
• In our setting it is not acceptable to:
• actively promote intolerance of other faiths, cultures and races
• fail to challenge gender stereotypes and routinely segregate girls and boys
• isolate children from their wider community
• fail to challenge behaviours (whether of staff, children or parents) that are not in line with the fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs

Prevent Strategy

Under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 We also have a duty “to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”

Legal framework

Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015

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10.1 Admissions

Policy statement

It is our intention to make our setting accessible to children and families from all sections of the local community. We aim to ensure that all sections of our community have access to the setting through open, fair and clearly communicated procedures.

Procedures

• We ensure that the existence of our setting is widely advertised in places accessible to all sections of the community.
• We ensure that information about our setting is accessible, using simple plain English, in written and spoken form and, where appropriate, provided in different community languages and in other formats on request.
• We arrange our waiting list in chronological order from the date the application is received. In addition, our policy may take into account:
• the age of the child;
• the length of time on the waiting list;
• whether any siblings already attend the setting; and 
• the capacity of the setting to meet the individual needs of the child.
• Our  setting and its practices are welcoming and make it clear that fathers, mothers, other relations and carers are all welcome.
• Our setting and its practices operate in a way that encourages positive regard for and understanding of difference and ability -  whether gender, family structure, class, background, religion, ethnicity or competence in spoken English.
• We support children and/or parents with disabilities to take full part in all activities within our setting.
• We monitor the needs and background of children joining our setting on the Registration Form, to ensure that no accidental or unintentional discrimination is taking place.
• We share and widely promote our Valuing Diversity and Promoting Equality Policy.
• We are flexible about attendance patterns to accommodate the needs of individual children and families, providing these do not disrupt the pattern of continuity in the setting that provides stability for all the children.
• Failure to comply with the terms and conditions may ultimately result in the provision of a place being withdrawn.

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10.2 Parental involvement

Policy statement

We believe that children benefit most from early years education and care when parents and settings work together in partnership.

Our aim is to support parents as their children's first and most important educators by involving them in their children's education and in the full life of our setting. We also aim to support parents in their own continuing education and personal development.

Some parents are less well represented in early years settings; these include fathers, parents who live apart from their children, but who still play a part in their lives, as well as working parents. In carrying out the following procedures, we will ensure that all parents are included.

When we refer to ‘parents’, we mean both mothers and fathers; these include both natural or birth parents, as well as step-parents and parents who do not live with their children, but have contact with them and play a part in their lives. ‘Parents’ also includes same sex parents, as well as foster parents.

The Children Act (1989) defines parental responsibility as 'all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property’.

Procedures

• Parents are made to feel welcome in our setting and they are greeted appropriately 
• We have a means to ensure all parents are included - that may mean that we have different strategies for involving fathers, or parents who work or live apart from their children.
• We make every effort to accommodate parents who have a disability or impairment.
• We ensure on-going dialogue with parents to improve our knowledge of the needs of their children and to support their families.
• We inform all parents about how the setting is run and its policies, through access to written information, including our Safeguarding Children and Child Protection policy and our responsibilities under the Prevent Duty, and through regular informal communication. We check to ensure parents understand the information that is given to them.
• Information about a child and his or her family is kept confidential within our setting. We provide you with a privacy notice that details how and why we process your personal information. The exception to this is where there is cause to believe that a child may be suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, or where there are concerns regarding child’s development that need to be shared with another agency. We will seek parental permission unless there are reasons not to in order to protect the safety of the child. Reference is made to our Information Sharing Policy on seeking consent for disclosure.
• We seek specific parental consent to administer medication, take a child for emergency treatment, take a child on an outing and take photographs for the purposes of record keeping.
• The expectations that we make on parents are made clear at the point of registration.
• We make clear our expectation that parents will participate in settling their child at the commencement of a place according to an agreed plan.
• We seek parents’ views regarding changes in the delivery of our service.
• We encourage parents to become involved in the social and cultural life of the setting and actively contribute to it.
• As far as possible our service is provided in a flexible way to meet the needs of parents without compromising the needs of children.
• We provide sufficient opportunity for parents to share necessary information with staff and this is recorded and stored to protect confidentiality.
• Our group leaders meet regularly with parents to discuss their child’s progress and to share concerns if they arise.
• Where applicable, our group leaders work with parents to carry out an agreed plan to support special educational needs.
• Where applicable, our group leaders work with parents to carry out any agreed tasks where a Protection Plan is in place for a child.
• We involve parents in the shared record keeping about their children - either formally or informally – and ensure parents have access to their children's written developmental records.
• We provide opportunities for parents to contribute their own skills, knowledge and interests to the activities of the setting.
• We support families to be involved in activities that promote their own learning and well-being; informing parents about relevant conferences, workshops and training.
• We consult with parents about the times of meetings to avoid excluding anyone.
• We provide information about opportunities to be involved in the setting in ways that are accessible to parents with basic skills needs, or those for whom English is an additional language; making every effort to provide an interpreter for parents who speak a language other than English and to provide translated written materials.
• We welcome the contributions of parents, in whatever form these may take.
• We inform all parents of the systems for registering queries, complaints or suggestions and we check to ensure these are understood. All parents have access to our written complaints procedure.
• We provide opportunities for parents to learn about the curriculum offered in the setting and about young children's learning, in the setting and at home. There are opportunities for parents to take active roles in supporting their child’s learning in the setting: informally through helping out or taking part in activities with their child, or through structured projects engaging parents and staff in learning about children’s learning.

In compliance with the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements, the following documentation is also in place at our setting:

• Admissions Policy.
• Complaints procedure.
• Record of complaints.
• Developmental records of children.

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10.3 Children’s records

Policy statement

We have record keeping systems in place that meet legal requirements; the means we use to store and share that information takes place within the framework of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) (2018) and the Human Rights Act (1998).

This policy and procedure should be read alongside our Privacy Notice, Confidentiality and Client Access to Records Policy and our Information Sharing Policy.

Procedures

If a child attends another setting, we establish a regular two-way flow of appropriate information with parents and other providers. Where appropriate, we will incorporate comments from other providers, as well as parents and/or carers into the child’s records.

We keep two kinds of records on children attending our setting:

Developmental records

• These include observations of children in the setting, photographs, video clips and samples of their work and summary developmental reports.
• These are usually kept on their online learning journal and can be accessed, and contributed to, by our staff, the child and the child’s parents.

Personal records

These may include the following (as applicable):

• Personal details – including the child’s registration form and any consent forms. 
• Contractual matters – including a copy of the signed parent contract, the child’s days and times of attendance, a record of the child’s fees, any fee reminders or records of disputes about fees.
• Child’s development, health and well-being – including a summary only of the child’s EYFS profile report, a record of discussions about every day matters about the child’s development health and well-bring with the parent.
• Early Support – including any additional focussed intervention provided by our setting (e.g. support for behaviour, language or development that needs an SEN action plan) and records of any meetings held. 
• Welfare and child protection concerns – including records of all welfare and protection concerns, and our resulting action, meetings and telephone conversations about the child, an Education, Health and Care Plan and any information regarding a Looked After Child.
• Correspondence and Reports – including a copy of the child’s 2 Year Old Progress Check (as applicable), all letters and emails to and from other agencies and any confidential reports from other agencies.
• These confidential records are stored in the office, which is always locked when not in use.
• We read any correspondence in relation to a child, note any actions and file it immediately
• We ensure that access to children’s files is restricted to those authorised to see them and make entries in them, this being our manager, deputy or designated person for child protection, the child’s key person, or other staff as authorised by our manager.
• We may be required to hand children’s personal files to Ofsted as part of an inspection or investigation process; or to local authority staff conducting a S11 audit, as long as authorisation is seen. We ensure that children’s personal files are not handed over to anyone else to look at. 
• Parents have access, in accordance with our Privacy Notice, Confidentiality and Client Access to Records Policy, to the files and records of their own children, but do not have access to information about any other child.
• Our staff will not discuss personal information given by parents with other members of staff, except where it affects planning for the child's needs. Our staff induction programme includes an awareness of the importance of confidentiality in the role of the key person.
• We retain children’s records for six months after they have left the setting; except records that relate to an accident or child protection matter, which are kept until a child reaches the age of 21 years or 24 years respectively. These are kept in a secure place.

Archiving children’s files

• When a child leaves our setting, we remove all paper documents from the child’s personal file and place them in a robust envelope, with the child’s name and date of birth on the front and the date they left. 
• We seal this and place it in an archive box, stored in a safe place (i.e. a locked cabinet) for six months. After six months it is destroyed.
• If data is kept electronically it is encrypted and stored as above.
• Where there were s.47 child protection investigations, we mark the envelope with a star and archive it for 25 years. 
• We store financial information according to our finance procedures.

Other records

• We keep a daily record of the names of the children we are caring for, their hours of attendance and the names of their key person.
• Students on recognised qualifications and training, when they are observing in the setting, are advised of our Confidentiality and Client Access to Records Policy and are required to respect it.

Legal framework

• General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) (2018)
• Human Rights Act (1998)

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10.4 Provider records

Policy statement

We keep records and documentation for the purpose of maintaining our business. These include:

• Records pertaining to our registration.
• Landlord/lease documents and other contractual documentation pertaining to amenities, services and goods.
• Financial records pertaining to income and expenditure.
• Risk assessments.
• Employment records of our staff including their name, home address and telephone number.
• Names, addresses and telephone numbers of anyone else who is regularly in unsupervised contact with the children.

We consider our records as confidential based on the sensitivity of information, such as with employment records. These confidential records are maintained with regard to the framework of the General Data Protection Regulations (2018), further details are given in our Privacy Notice and the Human Rights Act (1998).

This policy and procedure should be read alongside our Privacy Notice, Confidentiality and Client Access to Records Policy and Information Sharing Policy.

Procedures

• All records are the responsibility of our management team who ensure they are kept securely.
• All our records are kept in an orderly way in files and filing is kept up-to-date.
• Our financial records are kept up-to-date for audit purposes.
• We maintain health and safety records; these include risk assessments, details of checks or inspections and guidance etc.
• Our Ofsted registration certificate is displayed.
• Our Public Liability insurance certificate is displayed.
• All our employment and staff records are kept securely and confidentially.

We notify Ofsted of any:

• change in the address of our premises;
• change to our premises which may affect the space available to us or the quality of childcare we provide;
• change to the name and address of our registered provider, or the provider’s contact information;
• change to the person managing our provision.
• significant event which is likely to affect our suitability to look after children; or
• other event as detailed in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (DfE 2017).

Legal framework

• Genera Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) (2018)
• Human Rights Act 1998

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10.5 Transfer of records to school

Policy statement

We recognise that children sometimes move to another early years setting before they go on to school, although many will leave our setting to enter a nursery or reception class.

We prepare children for these transitions and involve parents and the receiving setting or school in this process. We prepare records about a child’s development and learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage in our setting; in order to enable smooth transitions, we share appropriate information with the receiving setting or school at transfer.

Confidential records are shared where there have been child protection concerns according to the process required by our Local Safeguarding Children Board.

The procedure guides this process and determines what information we can and cannot share with a receiving school or setting. Prior to transferring information, we will establish the lawful basis for doing so (see our Privacy Notice). 

Procedures

Transfer of development records for a child moving to another early years setting or school

• Using the Early Years Outcomes (DfE 2013) guidance and our assessment of children's development and learning, we will prepare an electronic PDF of the child’s learning journal.
• The document may be accompanied by other evidence, such as photos or drawings that the child has made.
• When a child transfers to a school, some schools provide an assessment summary format or a transition record, which we will follow as applicable.

Transfer of confidential information

• The receiving school or setting will need to have a record of any safeguarding or child protection concerns that were raised in our setting and what was done about them.
• We will make a summary of the concerns to send to the receiving setting or school, along with the date of the last professional meeting or case conference. Some Local Safeguarding Children Boards will stipulate the forms to be used and provide these for us to use.
• Where a CAF has been raised in respect of any welfare concerns, we will pass the name and contact details of the lead professional on to the receiving setting or school.
• Where there has been a s47 investigation regarding a child protection concern, we will pass the name and contact details of the child’s social worker on to the receiving setting or school – regardless of the outcome of the investigation.
• We post or take the information to the school or setting, ensuring it is addressed to the setting or school’s designated person for child protection and marked as 'confidential’.
• We do not pass any other documentation from the child's personal file to the receiving setting or school.

Legal framework

• General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) (2018)
• Freedom of Information Act (2000)
• Human Rights Act (1998)
• Children Act (1989)

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10.6 Confidentiality and client access to records

Policy Statement

‘Share with informed consent where appropriate and, where possible, respect the wishes of those who do not consent to share confidential information. You may still share information without consent if, in your judgement, there is good reason to do so, such as where safety may be at risk. You will need to base your judgement on the facts of the case.’

Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers (HMG 2015)

In our setting, staff and managers can be said to have a ‘confidential relationship’ with families. It is our intention to respect the privacy of children and their parents and carers, while ensuring that they access high quality early years care and education in our setting. We aim to ensure that all parents and carers can share their information in the confidence that it will only be used to enhance the welfare of their children. We have record keeping systems in place that meet legal requirements; the means that we use to store and share that information takes place within the framework of the General Data Protection Regulations (2018) and the Human Rights Act (1998).

Confidentiality procedures

• Most things that happen between the family, the child and the setting are confidential to our setting. In exceptional circumstances information is shared, for example with other professionals or possibly social care or the police.
• Information shared with other agencies is done in line with our Information Sharing Policy. 
• We always check whether parents regard the information they share with us to be confidential or not.
• Some parents may share information about themselves with other parents as well as with our staff; we cannot be held responsible if information is shared by those parents whom the person has ‘confided’ in. 
• Information shared between parents in a discussion or training group is usually bound by a shared agreement that the information is confidential to the group and not discussed outside of it. We are not responsible should that confidentiality be breached by participants.
• We inform parents when we need to record confidential information beyond the general personal information we keep (see our Children's Records Policy and Privacy Notice)) - for example with regard to any injuries, concerns or changes in relation to the child or the family, any discussions with parents on sensitive matters, any records we are obliged to keep regarding action taken in respect of child protection and any contact and correspondence with external agencies in relation to their child.
• We keep all records securely (see our Children's Records Policy and Privacy Notice)).
• Most information is kept in a manual file or electronically.  Our staff may also use a computer to type reports, or letters. Where this is the case, the typed document is deleted from the PC and only the hard copy kept. We do not keep electronic records on children, other than the register and financial data.
• Our staff discuss children’s general progress and well being together in meetings, but more sensitive information is restricted to our manager and the child’s key person, and is shared with other staff on a need to know basis.
• We do not discuss children with staff who are not involved in the child’s care, nor with other parents or anyone else outside of the setting.
• Our discussions with other professionals take place within a professional framework and not on an informal or ad-hoc basis.
• Where third parties share information about an individual us; our practitioners and managers check if it is confidential, both in terms of the party sharing the information and of the person whom the information concerns.

Client access to records procedures

Parents may request access to any confidential records we hold on their child and family following the procedure below:

• The parent is the ‘subject’ of the file in the case where a child is too young to give ‘informed consent’ and has a right to see information that our setting has compiled on them.
• Any request to see the child’s personal file by a parent or person with parental responsibility must be made in writing to the setting leader or manager.
• We acknowledge the request in writing, informing the parent that an arrangement will be made for him/her to see the file contents, subject to third party consent. 
• Our written acknowledgement allows one month for the file to be made ready and available. [We/I]will be able to extend this by a further two months where requests are complex or numerous. If this is the case, We will inform you within one month of the receipt of the request and explain why the extension is necessary
• A fee may be charged for repeated requests, or where a request requires excessive administration to fulfil.
• Legal advice may be sought before sharing a file
• Our manager goes through the file and ensures that all documents have been filed correctly, that entries are in date order and that there are no missing pages. They note any information, entry or correspondence or other document which mentions a third party. 
• We write to each of those individuals explaining that the subject has requested sight of the file, which contains a reference to them, stating what this is. 
• They are asked to reply in writing to our manager giving or refusing consent for disclosure of that material.
• We keep copies of these letters and their replies on the child’s file.
• ‘Third parties’ include each family member noted on the file; so where there are separate entries pertaining to each parent, step parent, grandparent etc, we write to each of them to request third party consent.
• Third parties also include workers from any other agency, including children's social care and the health authority for example. Agencies will normally refuse consent to share information, preferring instead for the parent to be redirected to those agencies for a request to see their file held by that agency.
• Members of our staff should also be written to, but we reserve the right under the legislation to override a refusal for consent or to just delete the name of the staff member and not the information. We may grant refusal if the member of staff has provided information that could be considered ‘sensitive’ and the staff member may be in danger if that information is disclosed; or if that information is the basis of a police investigation. However, if the information is not sensitive, then it is not in our interest to withhold that information from a parent. In each case this should be discussed with members of staff and decisions recorded.
• When we have received all the consents/refusals our manager takes a photocopy of the complete file. On the copy of the file, our manager removes any information that a third party has refused consent for us to disclose and blank out any references to the third party, and any information they have added to the file, using a thick marker pen.
• The copy file is then checked by the manager and legal advisors to verify that the file has been prepared appropriately.
• What remains is the information recorded by the setting, detailing the work initiated and followed by them in relation to confidential matters. This is called the ‘clean copy’.
• We photocopy the ‘clean copy’ again and collate it for the parent to see.
• Our manager informs the parent that the file is now ready and invite[s] him/ her to make an appointment to view it.
• Our manager meet with the parent to go through the file, explaining the process as well as what the content of the file records about the child and the work that has been done. Only the person(s) with parental responsibility can attend that meeting, or the parent’s legal representative or interpreter.
• The parent may take a copy of the prepared file away; but, to ensure it is properly explained to and understood by the parent, we never hand it over without discussion.
• It is an offence to remove material that is controversial or to rewrite records to make them more acceptable. Our recording procedures and guidelines ensure that the material reflects an accurate and non-judgemental account of the work we have done with the family.
• If a parent feels aggrieved about any entry in the file, or the resulting outcome, then we refer the parent to our complaints procedure. 
• The law requires that the information we hold must be held for a legitimate reason and must be accurate. If a parent says that the information we hold is inaccurate, then the parent has a right to request for it to be changed. However, this only pertains to factual inaccuracies. Where the disputed entry is a matter of opinion, professional judgement, or represents a different view of the matter than that held by the parent, we retain the right not to change that entry, but we can record the parent’s view of the matter. In most cases, we would have given a parent the opportunity at the time to state their side of the matter, and it would have been recorded there and then.
• If there are any controversial aspects of the content of a child’s file, we must seek legal advice. This might be where there is a court case between parents, where social care or the police may be considering legal action, or where a case has already completed and an appeal process is underway.
• We never ‘under-record’ for fear of the parent seeing, nor do we make ‘personal notes’ elsewhere.

Telephone advice regarding general queries may be made to The Information Commissioner’s Office Helpline 0303 123 1113.

All the undertakings above are subject to the paramount commitment of our setting, which is to the safety and well-being of the child. Please see also our policy on Safeguarding Children and Child Protection.

Legal framework

• General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) (2018)
• Human Rights Act (1998)

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10.7 Information sharing

Policy statement

We recognise that parents have a right to know that the information they share with us will be regarded as confidential, as well as to be informed about the circumstances when, and the reasons why, we are obliged to share information.

We record and share information about children and their families (data subjects) in line with the six principles of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) (2018) which are further explained in my Privacy Notice that is given to parents at the point of registration The six principles state that personal data must be:

1. Processed fairly, lawfully and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject.
2. Collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed for other purposes incompatible with those purposes.
3. Adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which data is processed.
4. Accurate and where necessary, kept up to date.
5. Kept in a form that permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the data is processed.
6. Processed in a way that ensures appropriate security of the persona data including protection against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriate technical or organisational measures

We are obliged to share confidential information without authorisation from the person who provided it, or to whom it relates, if it is in the public interest. That is when:

• it is to prevent a crime from being committed or to intervene where one may have been, or to prevent harm to a child or adult; or
• not sharing it could be worse than the outcome of having shared it.

The responsibility for decision-making should not rely solely on an individual, but should have the back-up of the management team. The management team provide clear guidance, policy and procedures to ensure all staff and volunteers understand their information sharing responsibilities and are able to respond in a timely, appropriate way to any safeguarding concerns.

The three critical criteria are:

• Where there is evidence that the child is suffering, or is at risk of suffering, significant harm
• Where there is reasonable cause to believe that a child may be suffering, or is at risk of suffering, significant harm.
• To prevent significant harm arising to children and young people or adults, including the prevention, detection and prosecution of serious crime.

Procedures

Our procedure is based on the GDPR principles as listed above and the seven golden rules for sharing information in the  Information sharing Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers.. We also follow the guidance on information sharing from the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

1. Remember that General Data Protection Regulations 2018 and human rights law are not barriers to justified information sharing as per the Children Act 1989 but provide a framework to ensure that personal information about living individuals is shared appropriately.

• Our policy and procedures on Information Sharing provide guidance to appropriate sharing of information both within the setting, as well as with external agencies.

2. Be open and honest with the individual (and/or their family where appropriate) from the outset about why, what, how and with whom information will, or could be shared, and seek their consent, unless it is unsafe or if I have a legal obligation to do so. A Privacy Notice is given to parents at the point of registration to explain this further.

In our setting we ensure parents:

• receive a copy of [our/my] Privacy Notice and informationabout our Information Sharing Policy when starting their child in the setting and that they sign our Registration Form to say that they understand the circumstances in which information may be shared without their consent. This will only be when it is a matter of safeguarding a child or vulnerable adult;
• have information about our Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy; and
• have information about the other circumstances when information will be shared with external agencies, for example, with regard to any special needs the child may have or transition to school.

3. Seek advice from other practitioners if you are in any doubt about sharing the information concerned, without disclosing the identity of the individual where possible.

• Our staff discuss concerns about a child routinely in supervision and any actions are recorded in the child’s file.
• Our manager routinely seeks advice and support from their line manager about possible significant harm.
• Our Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy sets out the duty of all members of our staff to refer concerns to our manager or deputy, as designated person, who will contact children’s social care for advice where they have doubts or are unsure.
• Our managers seek advice if they need to share information without consent to disclose.

4. Share with informed consent where appropriate and, where possible, respect the wishes of those who do not consent to share confidential information. You may still share information without consent if, in your judgement, there is good reason to do so, such as where safety may be at risk. You will need to base your judgement on the facts of the case. When you are sharing or requesting personal information from someone, be certain of the basis upon which you are doing so. Where you have consent, be mindful that an individual might not expect information to be shared. 

• We base decisions to share information without consent on judgements about the facts of the case and whether there is a legal obligation.
• Our guidelines for consent are part of this procedure.
• Our manager is conversant with this and he is/she is able to advise staff accordingly.

5. Consider safety and well-being: Base your information sharing decisions on considerations of the safety and well-being of the individual and others who may be affected by their actions.

In our setting we:

• record concerns and discuss these with our designated person and/or designated officer from the management team for child protection matters; 
• record decisions made and the reasons why information will be shared and to whom; and
• follow the procedures for reporting concerns and record keeping as set out in our Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy.

6. Necessary, proportionate, relevant, adequate, accurate, timely and secure: Ensure that the information you share is necessary for the purpose for which you are sharing it, is shared only with those individuals who need to have it, is accurate and up-to-date, is shared in a timely fashion, and is shared securely.

Our Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy and Children's Records Policy set out how and where information should be recorded and what information should be shared with another agency when making a referral.

7. Keep a record of your decision and the reasons for it – whether it is to share information or not. If you decide to share, then record what you have shared, with whom and for what purpose.

• Where information is shared, we record the reasons for doing so in the child's file; where it is decided that information is not to be shared that is recorded too.

Consent

When parents choose our setting for their child, they will share information about themselves and their families. This information is regarded as confidential. Parents have a right to be informed that we will seek their consent to share information in most cases, as well as the kinds of circumstances when we may not seek their consent, or may override their refusal to give consent. We inform them as follows:

• Our policies and procedures set out our responsibility regarding gaining consent to share information and when it may not be sought or overridden.
• We may cover this verbally when the child starts or include this in our prospectus.
• Parents sign our Registration Form at registration to confirm that they understand this.
• We ask parents to give written consent to share information about any additional needs their child may have, or to pass on child development summaries to the next provider/school.
• We consider the following questions when we assess the need to share:
• Is there a legitimate purpose to us sharing the information?
• Does the information enable the person to be identified?
• Is the information confidential?
• If the information is confidential, do we have consent to share?
• Is there a statutory duty or court order requiring us to share the information?
• If consent is refused, or there are good reasons for us not to seek consent, is there sufficient public interest for us to share information?
• If the decision is to share, are we sharing the right information in the right way?
• Have we properly recorded our decision?
• Consent must be freely given and informed - that is the person giving consent needs to understand why information will be shared, what will be shared, who will see information, the purpose of sharing it and the implications for them of sharing that information as detailed in the Privacy Notice.
• Consent may be explicit, verbally but preferably in writing, or implicit, implied if the context is such that sharing information is an intrinsic part of our service or it has been explained and agreed at the outset.
• Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
• We explain our Information Sharing Policy to parents.

Separated parents

• Consent to share need only be sought from one parent. Where parents are separated, this would normally be the parent with whom the child resides. Where there is a dispute, we will consider this carefully. 
• Where the child is looked after, we may also need to consult the Local Authority, as ‘corporate parent’ before information is shared.

All the undertakings above are subject to our paramount commitment, which is to the safety and well-being of the child. Please also see our Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy.

Legal framework

• General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) (2018)
• Human Rights Act (1998)

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10.8 Working in partnership with other agencies

Policy statement

We work in partnership with local and national agencies to promote the well-being of all children. We will never share your data with any organisation to use for their own purposes.

Procedures

• We work in partnership, or in tandem, with local and national agencies to promote the well-being of children.
• We have procedures are in place for the sharing of information about children and families with other agencies. These are set out in our Privacy Notice, Information Sharing Policy, Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy and the Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs Policy.
• Information shared by other agencies with us is regarded as third party information. This is also kept in confidence and not shared without consent from that agency.
• When working in partnership with staff from other agencies, we make those individuals welcome in our setting and respect their professional roles.
• We follow the protocols for working with agencies, for example on child protection.
• We ensure that staff from other agencies do not have unsupervised access to the child they are visiting in the setting and do not have access to any other child(ren) during their visit.
• Our staff do not casually share information or seek informal advice about any named child/family.
• When necessary, we consult with and signpost to local and national agencies who offer a wealth of advice and information that help us to develop our understanding of the issues facing us and who can provide support and information for parents. For example, ethnic/cultural organisations, drug/alcohol agencies, welfare rights advisors or organisations promoting childcare and education, or adult education.

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10.9 Making a complaint

Policy statement

We believe that children and parents are entitled to expect courtesy and prompt, careful attention to their needs and wishes. We welcome suggestions on how to improve our setting and will give prompt and serious attention to any concerns about the running of the setting. We anticipate that most concerns will be resolved quickly, by an informal approach with the appropriate member of staff. If this does not achieve the desired result, we have a set of procedures for dealing with concerns. We aim to bring all concerns about the running of our setting to a satisfactory conclusion for all of the parties involved.

Procedures

All settings are required to keep a written record of any complaints that reach stage two and above, and their outcome. This is to be made available to parents, as well as to Ofsted inspectors on request. 

Making a complaint

Stage 1

• Any parent who has a concern about an aspect of our setting's provision talks over his/her concerns with our manager first of all.
• Most complaints should be resolved amicably and informally at this stage.
• We record the issue, and how it was resolved, in the child’s file.

Stage 2

• If this does not have a satisfactory outcome, or if the problem recurs, the parent moves to this stage of the procedure by putting the concerns or complaint in writing.
• Our setting stores all information relating to written complaints from parents in the child's personal file. However, if the complaint involves a detailed investigation, our manager may wish to store all information relating to the investigation in a separate file designated for this complaint.
• When the investigation into the complaint is completed, our manager meets with the parent to discuss the outcome.
• We inform parents of the outcome of the investigation within 28 days of him/her making the complaint.
• When the complaint is resolved at this stage, we log the summative points in our Complaint Investigation Record, which is made available to Ofsted on request.

Stage 3

• If the parent is not satisfied with the outcome of the investigation, he or she requests a meeting with our manager and the chair, director or owner. The parent may have a friend or partner present if they prefer and our manager should have the support of the management team.
• An agreed written record of the discussion is made, as well as any decision or action to take as a result. All of the parties present at the meeting sign the record and receive a copy of it.
• This signed record signifies that the procedure has concluded. When the complaint is resolved at this stage, we log the summative points in our Complaint Investigation Record.

Stage 4

• If at the stage three meeting the parent cannot reach agreement with us, we invite an external mediator to help to settle the complaint. This person should be acceptable to both parties, listen to both sides and offer advice. A mediator has no legal powers, but can help us to define the problem, review the action so far and suggest further ways in which it might be resolved.
• Staff or volunteers within the Pre-school Learning Alliance are appropriate persons to be invited to act as mediators.
• The mediator keeps all discussions confidential. S/he can hold separate meetings with our staff and the parent, if this is decided to be helpful. The mediator keeps an agreed written record of any meetings that are held and of any advice s/he gives.

Stage 5 

• When the mediator has concluded her/his investigations, a final meeting between the parent and our manager and chair, director or owner is held. The purpose of this meeting is to reach a decision on the action to be taken to deal with the complaint. The mediator's advice is used to reach this conclusion. The mediator is present at the meeting if all parties think this will help a decision to be reached.
• A record of this meeting, including the decision on the action to be taken, is made. Everyone present at the meeting signs the record and receives a copy of it. This signed record signifies that the procedure has concluded.

The role of the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) and the Local

Safeguarding Children Board and the Information Commissioner’s Office

• Parents may approach Ofsted directly at any stage of this complaints procedure. In addition, where there seems to be a possible breach of the setting's registration requirements, it is essential to involve Ofsted as the registering and inspection body with a duty to ensure the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage are adhered to.
• Parents can complain to Ofsted by telephone on in writing at:

Ofsted National Business Unit, Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester M1 2WD

Tel: 0300 123 1231

• These details are displayed on our setting's notice board.
• If a child appears to be at risk, we follow the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.
• In these cases, both the parent and our setting are informed and our manager work with Ofsted or the Local Safeguarding Children Board to ensure a proper investigation of the complaint, followed by appropriate action.
• The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) can be contacted if you have made a complaint about the way your data is being handled and remain dissatisfied after raising your concern with us. For further information about how we handle your data, please refer to the Privacy Notice given to you when you registered your child at [our/my] setting. The ICO can be contacted at Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF or ico.org.uk

Records

• A record of complaints in relation to our setting, or the children or the adults working in our setting, is kept for at least three years; including the date, the circumstances of the complaint and how the complaint was managed.
• The outcome of all complaints is recorded in our Complaint Investigation Record, which is available for parents and Ofsted inspectors to view on request.

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11.1 Terms and Conditions

The document and the terms and conditions within it govern the basis on which Mount Carmel Kindergarten (referred to here as ‘we’ / ‘our’ / ‘us’]) agree to provide childcare services to parent(s)/guardian(s) (referred to as ‘you’). 

1. Our obligation to you
2. Once you have confirmed the acceptance of your child’s place and paid the deposit, we will hold the place for your child until the agreed start date. The deposit will be deducted from your final invoice.
3. We will provide the agreed childcare facilities for your child at the agreed times (subject to any days when we are closed). If we change the opening hours, we will give you as much notice of our decision as possible and, if necessary, will work with you to agree a change to your child’s hours of attendance.
4. You are only guaranteed the sessions confirmed in our letter of acceptance although we will try to accommodate additional sessions subject to availability.
5. We will try to accommodate any requests you may make for additional sessions and/or extended hours of childcare, but future sessions are subject to availability.
6. We will notify you as soon as possible of any days we will be closed.
7. We will provide you with regular verbal updates as to your child’s progress and we will agree times to discuss with you the progress of your child or any other aspects of our childcare services as and when required.
8. We will provide you with access to your child’s online Learning Journal.
9. We will comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and our Ofsted registration in regard to the childcare services we provide for your child.
10. We will provide you with details of our policies and procedures, which outline how we satisfy the requirements of the EYFS in our everyday practice; and we will notify you as and when any changes are made to our policies and procedures. We will be available to discuss or explain our policies and procedures, and/or any relevant changes, at a mutually agreed time.
11. We will maintain appropriate insurance to cover our childcare activities
12. 
    
13. Your obligation to us
14. You will need to complete and return our Form of Acceptance with deposit to us before your child can start.
15. You must notify us immediately of any changes to the information you have provided to us and keep us informed of any other necessary information that may affect the childcare that we provide for your child.
16. Medicine consent and emergency treatment authorizations will need to be completed prior to your child attending. This will be done at your child’s induction day.
17. You will read and abide by our policies and procedures which are available on our website and at the nursery.
18. You must immediately inform us if your child is suffering from any contagious disease, or if your child has been diagnosed by a medical practitioner with a notifiable disease. For the benefit of other children attending you must not allow your child to attend whilst they are contagious and pose a risk to other children during normal daily activities.
19. You must keep us informed of the identity of the persons who will be collecting your child. If the person who is due to collect your child is not usually responsible for collecting them, we will require prior notice. If we are not reasonably satisfied that the person collecting your child is who we were expecting, we will not release your child into their care until we have checked with you.
20. You must inform us immediately if you are not able to collect your child by the official collection time. You must make arrangements for another authorized person to collect your child as soon as possible. 
21. You must make every reasonable effort to regularly collect your child on time. Failure to do so may result in termination of this agreement.
22. You will provide us with at least half a term’s’ notice if you wish to make any changes to your child’s attendance plan including reducing days, breakfast club and/or extended sessions.
23. You will provide us with at least three months notice of your intention to withdraw your child (and end this Agreement).
24.  Notice must be given up to the end of term  unless agreed by the management.
25. If insufficient notice is given you will be responsible for the full fees for your child’s place for the notice period. 
26. You must inform us if your child is the subject of a court order and provide us with a copy of such order on request.
27. 
    
28. Payment of fees
29. Our fees are as shown on our table of fees enclosed with the offer of a place letter and on the Mount Carmel website: www.mountcarmelkindergarten.co.uk
     Nursery fees are invoiced on a monthly basis and are payable in advance on the 25th of each month.  Fees are calculated on the number of sessions per week multiplied by 38 weeks and divided by 11 months. September to July.  Holiday Club sessions are not included - they are to be booked and paid for separately and are subject to availability. All payments must be made by bank transfer, Direct Debit, cheque, cash or childcare vouchers by the invoice date.
30. Late payment charges of £10 for each day overdue up to one week £25 per day for a second week overdue.
31. If the monthly payment of fees is outstanding for more than two weeks, your child’s attendance will be suspended until outstanding fees are received. However, you will still be liable to pay for your child’s place until the agreed notice period is given. (Six term time weeks) 
32. No refund will be given for sessions when the child is absent due to illness or holidays or appointments that occur during the term time week. An additional day’s attendance is offered in lieu of the May Day Bank Holiday that falls in the beginning of May. This is to be taken during the term time or in the holiday clubs.
33. 
    
34. Suspension of a child
35. We may suspend the provision of childcare to your child at any time if you have failed to pay any fees due.
36. If the period of suspension for non-payment of fees exceeds one month, either of us may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice, which will take effect on receipt of the notice.
37. We do not support the exclusion of any child on the grounds of behaviour. However, if your child’s behaviour is deemed by us to endanger the safety and well-being of your child and/or other children and adults, it may be necessary to the provision of childcare whilst we try to address these issues with you and external agencies as appropriate. 
38. During any period of suspension for behaviour-related issues we will work with the local authority and where appropriate other welfare agencies to identify appropriate provision or services for your child.
39. If your child is suspended part way through the month, under the conditions stated in clause 4.3 we shall give you a credit for any fees you have already paid for the remaining part of that month, calculated on a pro rata basis. This sum may be offset against any sums payable by you to us.
40. 
    
41. Postponement or failure to take up a place
42. In the event that you decide to postpone the agreed start date of your child’s place we will withdraw the current offer of a place; your child’s name will be reentered on our waiting list and your deposit will be forfeited. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to offer your child a place to start the following term and future places are subject to availability.
43. If you fail to take up the place at the agreed start date, we may withdraw the offer of a place and you will forfeit the deposit.
44. 
    
45. Termination of the Agreement
46. This Agreement may be terminated providing a minimum of three months notice in writing.
47. this Agreement may be terminated upon:
    1. failure to pay fees;
    2. breach any of obligations under this Agreement and failure to put right that breach within a reasonable period after having been drawn it to attention;
    3. unacceptable behavior such as, physical or verbal abuse or threats towards staff or other parents.
    4. We take the decision to close. We will give you as much notice as possible in the event of such a decision.
48. It may become apparent that the support we are able to offer your child is not sufficient to meet his/her needs. In these circumstances we will work with you, the local authority and other welfare agencies as per our procedures to identify appropriate support, at which point we may end this Agreement.
49. You may end this Agreement if we have breached any of our obligations under this Agreement and we have not or cannot put right that breach within a reasonable period after you have drawn it to our attention.
50. 
    
51. General

• If we are forced to close due to events or circumstances beyond our control (e.g. extreme weather conditions or forced closure due to lockdown) the fees will continue to be payable in full for a period of up to two weeks. If the period of closure exceeds two weeks fees will not be charged.   However, once the nursery re-opens parents are liable to pay fees for their child’s place even if they decide to keep them at home unless they have provided the standard notice of leaving.

1. If you have any concerns regarding the services we provide, please discuss them with your child’s key person. If these concerns are not resolved to your satisfaction, please contact the manager. Customer satisfaction is paramount, and any concerns/complaints will be dealt with in line with our Making a Complaint Policy.
2. From time to time we will take photographs and video recordings of the children who attend. These photographs are used for on-going recording of our curriculum and for children’s individual development records. They are stored on our computer and ipads whilst your child is with us.  The photographs are used for display and for your child’s Famly online learning records. If we wished to use any image of your child for training, publicity or marketing purposes, we would always seek your written consent for each image we intend to use, as indicated on our Information and Agreements Form.
3. Photographs that you receive through the Famly App must not be put up on any form of social media (including Whatsapp).
4. Photographs taken by you at nursery events (such as the Nativity Play or Sports day) which include other children must not be put on any form of social media (including Whatsapp).
5. We reserve the right to refuse to admit your child if they have a temperature, sickness and diarrhoea or a contagious infection or disease on arrival at our setting, or to ask you to collect your child if they become unwell whilst in our care, in line with our Managing Children who are Sick, Infectious or with Allergies Policy.
6. Whilst food and drink is provided on the premises, we are not a commercial kitchen and may not be able to cater for the individual needs of every child. As cross contamination cannot be ruled out, a risk assessment is conducted for children with any known allergies. Every effort is made to follow recommended food preparation guidance and to ensure that all staff involved in the preparation and serving of food are suitably trained. 
7. Any personal information you supply to us will be collected, stored and used in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act and our Confidentiality and Client Access to Records Policy. We will always seek your consent where we need to share information about your child with any other professional or agency. We are required by law to override your refusal to give consent only in specific circumstances where the child or someone in the family may be in danger if we do not share that information.
8. 
   
9. This Agreement
10. We reserve the right to vary the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement
11. This Agreement contains the full and complete understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior arrangements and understanding whether written or oral relating to the subject of this Agreement except to the extent that we vary terms from time to time.
12. Acceptance of a place will be deemed as acceptance by you of these terms and conditions.

Updated: August 2022

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