WE MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SECURITY OF OUR PREMISES TO ENSURE THAT EACH CHILD IS SAFELY CARED FOR DURING THEIR TIME WITH US.
We ensure all employed staff have been checked for criminal records by an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau.
All children are supervised by adults at all times.
Whenever children are on the premises at least two adults are present, and adults do not normally supervise children on their own.
We carry out risk assessment daily to ensure children are not made vulnerable within any part of our premises, nor by any activity.
Systems are in place for the safe arrival and departure of children. (See arrivals and Departures Policy)
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.
AT THE START OF THE SESSION
All children are escorted into the building by their parents.
Two members of staff supervise the door.
The entrance door is locked at 9.15 am and can only be unlocked by a staff member.
Information about the departure of the child is recorded in the staff handover book.
AT THE END OF THE SESSION
The main entrance is opened by the staff at the end of the session.
Children are dismissed one at a time upon arrival of their parent/carer or other authorised person. (The authorised person's contact details should have been provided to the pre-school on the child's Registration Form).
If pre-arranged with the child's parent/carer, an adult unknown to the staff and not authorised to pick up the child may collect the child by using a pre-agreed password.
IF YOUR CHILD IS UNCOLLECTED
In the event that a child is not collected by an authorised adult at the end of a session/day, we put into practice agreed procedures. These procedures are included in the Policy Handbook and on the website, and aim to ensure the child is cared for safely by an experienced and qualified practitioner who is known to the child. We ensure that the child receives a high standard of care in order to cause as little distress as possible.
The Registration Form records contact information about parents/carers and other people authorised to collect your child from pre-school. It is essential that this information is kept up to date as we use it to contact parents, and particularly if a child is not collected. Parents/carers must inform the pre-school in advance if there are any changes to the usual arrangements for collecting their child. In the event that you are unavoidably delayed or unable to collect your child as planned, please contact the pre-school as soon as possible. Our child protection procedures will be applied and social services will be contacted if a child is not collected by an authorised adult within one hour after the pre-school has closed and when staff can no longer supervise the child on the premises.
WHEN YOUR CHILD IS ILL
We do not accept children when they are ill with anything more serious than a mild cold. We consider all children on prescribed antibiotics too sick to be admitted into the Preschool. In all cases we will assess the situation and will be able to admit children considered well enough and who are no risk to other children. We may ask for a doctor's letter to confirm this. These policies are in place to help minimise the risk of children passing infections to each other. It is also unfair to expect a child who feels unwell to stay in the Preschool.
If children appear unwell during the day - have a temperature, sickness, diarrhoea or pains, particularly in the head or stomach - the supervisor calls the parent/carer and asks them to collect the child, or send a known adult to collect on their behalf.
If a child has a temperature, they are kept cool, by removing top clothing, sponging their heads with cool water, but kept away from draughts.
If necessary staff may administer Calpol. Parental permission for Calpol is recorded on the child's registration form.
Temperature is taken using a 'fever scan' kept near to the first aid box.
In extreme cases of emergency the child should be taken to the nearest hospital and the parents informed.
Parents are asked to take their child to the doctor before returning them to nursery; the nursery can refuse admittance to children who have a temperature, sickness and diarrhoea or a contagious infection or disease.
Where children have been prescribed antibiotics, parents are asked to keep them at home for 48 hours before returning to the setting.
After vomiting, parents are asked to keep children at home for 48 hours.
After diarrhoea, parents are asked to keep children home for 48 hours or until a formed stool is passed.
We will do all we can to support the health and development of all children who attend the setting. Medical conditions are kept private and will not be discussed with anyone other than the parent.
IF YOUR CHILD NEEDS MEDICATION
Staff cannot administer medications to children; the only exceptions are in circumstances where medications need to be taken to control conditions such as asthma, epilepsy etc.
You must let us know of any food allergies/dietary restrictions your child has. The pre-school has procedures for the administration of these medicines. Please ask the supervisor or refer to the Health and Safety Policies on 'Promoting health and hygiene: Managing children with allergies, or who are sick or infectious', and 'Promoting health and hygiene: Administering medicines', which are both available in the Policy Handbook.
IF YOUR CHILD HAS AN ACCIDENT
We keep a written record of all accidents and injuries that occur in the preschool and you will be asked to sign the record if your child has an accident/incident. If your child has a temperature, headache or head injury, or serious cuts, we will contact you immediately. For more detail please refer to the Premises and Security Health and Safety Policy: Recording and reporting of accidents and incidents, which you will find in the Policy Handbook and on the website.