Policies and Procedures.
All early years settings have to have written policies that reflect the Welfare Requirements for the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
A key document which sets out the legal requirements for the Early Years Foundation Stage. These Welfare Requirements are universal and have to be met by us as an Ofsted-registered setting.
Yaxley & Mellis Pre-School has a range of policies, covering everything from safeguarding children, equality opportunity, admissions, behaviour, health and safety and medicines through to data protection and confidentiality.
The following list is a brief over view of our policies held within the pre-school, should you wish to see a copy of the full policy please click on the policy title.
All Policies and Procedures fall under the Early Years Foundation Stage (2008) general welfare requirement of ‘Documentation’, but also under one or more of the other general welfare requirements.
Our Aims and Commitments
The following Policies and Procedures are grouped under the general welfare requirement of: ‘Safeguarding and Promoting Children’s Welfare’ (EYFS:2008)
The pre-school must take necessary steps to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.
Policies & Procedures relating to Safeguarding Children’s Welfare
1. Children’s Rights and Entitlements - We promote children's right to be strong, resilient and listened to. We take into account the child’s background, working with the parents. We help the child to forge healthy relationships.
2. Safeguarding Children and Child Protection – We ensure the child is safe in our care and that we have the procedures in place to deal with child protection issues. All our staff are trained and are aware of the procedures. All staff has Safeguarding training. Two members of staff have Common Assessment Framework training (CAF)
2a. Mobile Phone and Camera Image Policy
3. Information Sharing and Safeguarding – Occasionally a child’s information may, in the event of serious child protection matters, be shared with 3rd party agencies. i.e. social services, Ofsted. This will only ever happen if the child is seen to be at ‘significant risk’.
4. Uncollected Child – Details the procedure that we have in place if you fail to collect your child at the end of the session.
5. Missing Child – Should a child go missing whilst in our care we have a procedure in place to allow staff to deal with the incident as calmly as possible without causing unnecessary panic.
6. Supervision of Children on Outings and Visits - Explains how we see the benefit of taking children on visits and how we organise the safety and security of children in our care.
7. Maintaining Children's Safety and Security on Premises – Explains how we Police check (CRB) all our staff and regular volunteers. We have information on who is to drop off and collect the children and we have measures in place to verify them.
8. Making a Complaint – Parents who are unhappy with any aspect of the
pre-school are encouraged to speak with the staff or committee to rectify the problem. We also welcome suggestions and ideas for the improvement of the
pre-school. If you do not initially find resolution to your problem the full policy details the procedure we would follow to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
Policies & Procedures relating to Promoting Children’s Welfare
9. Valuing Diversity and Promoting Equality – pre-school is fully inclusive in meeting the needs of all children, particularly those that arise from their ethnic heritage, social and economic background, gender, ability or disability. Our
pre-school is committed to anti-discriminatory practice to promote
equality of opportunity and valuing diversity for all children and families.
10. Supporting Children with SEN - We provide an environment in which all children, including those with special educational needs, are supported to reach their full potential. We work with parents and external agencies, in line with Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (2001).We have two SEN trained members of staff. Staff have Makaton Training.
11.Looked After Children -In our setting, we place emphasis on promoting children’s right to be strong, resilient and listened to. Our policy and practice guidelines for looked after children are based on these two important concepts, attachment and resilience.
12. Achieving Positive Behaviour - We believe that children flourish best when their personal, social and emotional needs are met and where there are clear and developmentally appropriate expectations for their behaviour. Children need to learn to consider the views and feelings, needs and rights, of others and the impact that their behaviour has on people, places and objects. We promote good
behaviour and consideration of each other. Three members of staff have A positive approach to Behaviour training.
Policies & Procedures relating to Promoting Health and Hygiene
13. Animals in the Setting – Children learn about the natural world, its animals and other living creatures, in pre-school. This may include contact with animals, or other living creatures, either in the setting or on visits. We aim to ensure that this is in accordance with sensible hygiene and safety controls.
14. Administering Medicines – Children who are unwell should not come to
pre-school however some children need medication on a long term or emergency basis. We welcome these children and can administer the medication in line with the full policy.
15. Managing Children with Allergies or Who Are Sick or Infectious – We welcome children with allergies and their requirements are catered for in all aspects of pre-school. Parents are asked for full details on admission to
pre-school. Staff have Epi-Pen Training.
16. Nappy Changing - No child is excluded from pre-school who may, for any reason, not yet be toilet trained and who may still be wearing nappies or equivalent. We are sensitive to the child and work closely with the parents when potty training.
17. No smoking – Smoking is not permitted on site.
18. Promoting Food and Drink – Snack and meal times are an important part of the time at pre-school. We promote healthy eating and independence. We ensure the premises are clean and food is prepared and stored hygienically. All staff have food & hygiene training.
19. First Aid – We have the required paediatric first aiders and a well stocked, up to date first aid kit. Staffs also have Epi-Pen training.
The following Policies and Procedures are grouped under the general welfare requirement of: ‘Suitable People’ (EYFS:2008)
The pre-school must ensure that adults looking after children, or having unsupervised access to them, are suitable to do so.
20. Employment and Staffing – We ensure we have sufficient well qualified staff to cover the required staff to child ratios. To meet this aim we use the following ratios of adult to children:
- children aged two years of age: 1 adult : 4 children; and
- children aged three to four half years of age: 1 adult : 8 children.
A minimum of three staff/adults are on duty at any one time.
We ensure that we have sufficient cover for sickness.
21. Induction of Staff Volunteers and Managers – We carry out induction for new staff and committee so that they become familiar with the policies and way that we work at pre-school.
22. Employment Student/Volunteer Placements – We welcome students and recognise their need to train.
The following Policies and Procedures are grouped under the general welfare requirement of ‘Suitable premises, environment and equipment’ (EYFS:2008)
Outdoor and indoor spaces, furniture and toys must be safe and suitable for their purpose.
23. Risk Assessment – We make our pre-school 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.
24. Health and Safety General Standards – We ensure we comply to the correct standards and hold the appropriate insurance
25. Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation – We ensure the building satisfies the necessary regulations and we make sure the staff and children know what to do in an emergency through carrying out regular drills.
26. Recording and reporting of Accidents and Incidents – At pre-school we record accidents and incidents as they happen and report these to parents. We regularly review the records to make the necessary preventative measures.
27. Food & Drink hygiene – We ensure that food hygiene standards are met when preparing snacks. All staff have food & hygiene training.
The following Policies and Procedures are grouped under the general welfare requirement of ‘Organisation’ (EYFS:2008)
The pre-school must plan and organise their systems to ensure that every child receives an enjoyable and challenging learning and development experience that is tailored to meet their individual needs.
28. Admission – Our aim is to make the pre-school as accessible as possible, through advertising, county council databases and the website.
29. The Role of the Key Person in the Setting and Settling In – We operate a key person system where each child is assigned a key person who is responsible for that child in the pre-school.
30. Parental Involvement – As a committee run pre-school we rely on the involvement of parents either as committee members or in our fundraising events. We also work very closely with parents in their child’s development. Two members of staff have an NVQ level 3 in Working with Parents.
31. Working in Partnership With Other Agencies – Occasionally we work with third parties from external agencies. We do so without detriment to the standard of care given to the children.
The following Policies and Procedures are grouped under the general welfare requirement of ‘Documentation’(EYFS:2008)
‘The pre-school must maintain records, policies and procedures required for safe and efficient management of the settings and to meet the needs of children’
32.Confidentiality and Client Access to Records – All information about your child is treated confidentially, and the privacy of the child is respected. All documents are stored securely - Data protection.
33. Children's Records – the children are constantly observed and records are kept of their development
34. Provider Records - we also keep financial records, employment records and risk assessments.
35. Late Payment Policies - fees should be paid immediately
36. Whistle blowing – the early years setting recognises that effective and honest communication is essential if malpractice is to be effectively dealt with and the organisations success ensured.