Care and Welfare Policy
Staff involvement
This policy was drawn up in consultation with the Head Teacher of Taynuilt Primary School and staff members of Taynuilt Pre 5 Unit.
Aims
It is the policy of this establishment to take reasonable practicable steps to ensure the welfare of all its staff and pupils. In promoting the welfare of children we would hope to involve staff, parents and the children themselves.
This policy is holistic and embraces, emotional, personal and social development, promotion of positive behaviour, health and safety, child protection, children at risk, equal opportunities, support for learning and general observation of statutory obligations.
Parental involvement
Parents know their children better than anyone and are aware of the experiences their children have at home. Parents are therefore encouraged to share with the pre 5 staff any concerns they may have, or any information they may fee would be useful in the day-to-day care of their children.
Attendance
Parents are asked to notify the pre 5 unit in the event any illnesses and absences by telephoning the pre 5 unit number on 01852 500 728.
Taynuilt Primary School number is 01852 500 652.
Pre 5 staff will record any absences in the register.
Arrival and departure
Parents are asked to ensure their child arrives at the pre 5 unit under the care of a responsible adult 16 or over and must inform staff if there is to be a change of adult either leaving or collecting their child.
The session times are as follows: Monday-Friday 9.00-12.10am.
In the interests of safety, parents are asked to ensure their child is collected at the correct time. If there is an occasion where the parents or responsible adult is running late then they must let staff members aware of this.
In the event whereby the child’s parent does show shop up to collect their child, staff members should try contacting the parents first and failing that, contact their emergency contact.
Children are not allowed to leave the premises until they are collected by their parents or responsible adult, and this will be supervised by both members of staff.
Security
Here at Taynuilt Pre 5 Unit we recognise the importance of security and keeping our children, staff, parents and visitors safe.
Procedures are in place for ensuring security are these include:
- Two locks on the front door, one under the door handle and one at the top of the door which is not accessible to the children and this means the door cannot be opened from the outside.
- Children are aware that only an adult can open the doors
- A daily risk assessment of the pre 5 unit is completed
- Harmful substances or objects are kept out of the children’s reach and stored in a safe, secure place.
- Regular practice fire drills in the pre 5 unit and the hall upstairs
- Fire appliances are checked and easy to access. Fire exits are clearly highlighted and are clear from any obstructions
- Careful supervision near the car park
Child Protection
Staff are aware of the child protection procedures laid out in a separate policy with the standard Circular 3.23. Staff members also have child protection training.
Health and safety
This establishment has a separate health and safety policy and we are committed to ensuring the health and safety of the children, staff, parents and visitors. We aim to minimise the risks and to encourage safety at home, on the roads and within the pre 5 setting. Staff are aware of the procedures regarding fire safety, risk assessments, health and safety checks, first aid, security and reporting any possible hazards and reporting faulty equipment.
Minor Accidents and upsets
These will be reported to the parents/responsible adult when they collect their child. If staff feel that a child needs medical attention, they will telephone the child’s parents or the emergency contact person. The child’s doctors contacts are also available.
A qualified first aider will always be present with the children.
The accident book must be available at all times. If an accident is recorded in then the parent is asked to look over and sign it.
Illness
- Parents are encouraged to keep their child who is obviously unwell or have any infection at home, where they will be more comfortable and this will reduce the chance of infection towards other children or members of staff
- Parents should inform staff members as to the nature of the infection so staff can make careful observations of any child who seems unwell.
- Parents are asked not to bring their child into the pre 5 setting who has been vomiting or diarrhoea, until 48 hours after their blast episode.
- Chicken pox – Is a mild and common illness that most children catch at some stage. Some children have only a few spots, but other children can have sports that cover their entire body. These are mostly likely to appear on the face, ears, scalp, arms and legs and the chest and belly.
To prevent spreading the infection, parents are asked to keep their child at home until all their spots have crusted over. If a member of staff should inform the child’s parents if they feel their child may have signs of chickenpox. - If the children become ill in the care of the pre 5 staff, they will telephone parents or contact the person designated as an emergency contact. While a child is waiting to be collected he/she will be looked after by a member of staff.
Medication
If a child is in need of medication during their time at this establishment, parents should discuss the relevant requirements with the Childcare and Education worker, who will then inform the Head Teacher of these requirements. Prescribed drugs will be given by the Childcare and Education Worker (First Aider) with the permission of the child’s parents/carers who will also provide staff with clear written instructions from the child’s doctor.
If a child suffers from asthma, parents must tell the pre 5 staff if there are any activities or specific circumstances which are likely to bring on an attack and when it is necessary to use an inhaler.
If a child suffers from any form of attacks e.g. epileptic attacks, parents/carers are asked to inform the Childcare and Education Worker of any relevant emergency treatments to give.
If necessary children have a medical protocol or a care plan in place to support their individual needs and all staff members are aware of this. Medicine is only administered if the appropriate form has been completed by the parent/career.
Smoking
In this establishment has a strictly non smoking policy and smoking is not permissted on the premises.
Emergency Contacts
Parents/carers are asked to provide the pre 5 unit with names, address and telephone numbers of contact persons for use in the case of an emergency and must also keep the staff informed of any changes to the above information.
What to bring
Parents/carers are asked the following:
- To bring a pair of indoor shoes for their child to change into when arriving to the pre 5 unit
- To dress their child in play clothes so that it will not matter if he/she should get dirty during ‘messy’ play or painting
- A change of clothes
- Appropriate clothing according to the weather e.g a sun hat in the summer months. Hats, gloves and warm jumpers in the colder months. Welly boots and waterproof clothing as the children have outside play on a daily basis. (The pre 5 unit have spare clothing in the case a child needs changing and waterproofs are also available)
- For P.E children should have soft shoes
The children will be encouraged to change independently but will be assisted when needed.
Outings
There will be occasions where the children are taken on local outings and visits. Parents will be asked to sign a permission form to verify that their child is allowed to participate. Parents may also be asked to come along as helpers.
We will provide parents with all the relevant information regarding the outing as soon as the venue has been decided. This will include information about the location, details of the trip, date, time, travel, appropriate clothing to be worn and possible activities.
Prior to any outing the Childcare and Education worker will undertake a thorough risk assessment to ensure the safety of all participants and will show this to the Head Teacher. We have drawn up a risk assessment form for trips.
Staff will provide parent helpers with clear instructions of their role on that day.
The weather is also taken into account and on the day of the outing a record of the number of children attending will be taken and regular head counts will be taken before leaving the building, throughout the trip and returning. Staff will also make sure all correct belongs are not left.
On every trip and outing staff will ensure they take the following at all times:
- First Aid Kit ( There will be a first aider present)
- Disposable gloves, aprons, bags and wipes
- Accident book
- Completed consent forms containing relevant medical details and contact numbers
- Mobile phone
- Copy of risk assessment (all adults will read over this before the trip)
- Sickness bags
On return for an outing children will only be handed over to their parents/responsible adult from inside the pre 5 building.
Snack and promotion of Healthy eating
Parents/carers are asked to contribute 30p daily towards the cosy of a daily snack.
Children are involved in making snacks and preparing the table as part of their programme of self help skills and are provided with a variety of healthy snacks including fruit, vegetables, cereal, toast, oatcakes and breadsticks. Milk and water is always available.
We avoid sweets and foods containing lots of sugar, as well as foods containing artificial colours, flavourings and preservatives.
Children are encouraged to try new foods but are not forced to eat any food they wish not to.
Any food allergies and dietary requirements are always taken into account and the appropriate precautions will be taken.
A list of the snacks available is clearly displayed for the parents to view.
Staff have food hygiene training and are aware of the snack making procedures including thoroughly washing hands with antibacterial hand soap and hot water, spraying work surfaces with antibacterial spray, washing fruit or vegetables before preparing them, using the correct chopping boards and knifes.
The fridge is also at the appropriate temperate and a thermometer is kept in the fridge.
Children are asked to wash their hands before eating snack which adults supervise. The children are made aware of the importance of hand washing and why we do this.
Any cutlery, plates, bowels, and cups are age appropriate for the children and staff always supervise the children when they are helping to prepare their snack. Children do not use or have access to sharp knives or utensils.
There is a display at the snack area which promotes and displays how we pursue a healthy and active lifestyle.
Monitoring and Review
It is the responsibility of the Head Teacher along with the Pre 5 staff to monitor, evaluate and review the above arrangements and effectiveness of this policy and adjust them according to need.
