Health and Safety

It is our policy to provide a healthy and safe environment for staff, children and visitors to our nursery. Health and safety training will take place on a regular basis by the health and safety officer.

At all times the nursery staff will co-operate fully in implementing health and safety initiatives. They will do everything possible to make sure that no injuries occur to the children, themselves or others. Regular fire drill will be carried out.

Various Health and Safety signs are posted around the building. Risk assessments will be carried out and recommendations adhered to. At all times there will be a qualified first aider on the premises.

Behavioural Management

We will encourage the children to be polite, caring, helpful and respectful towards others. Staff will be fully trained to spot all forms of negative behaviour i.e. aggression, verbal/physical abuse or racism. It is the duty of the behaviour manager to see that these are implement at all times. Staff will always ensure that they set positive examples for the children.

Equal Opportunities

We at Toucan aim to ensure that individuals are recruited, selected, trained and promoted on the basis of occupational skills. In this respect, the Nursery will ensure that no job applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, cultural or national origin or sexuality, which cannot be justified as being necessary for the safe and effective performance of the work or training for the work. This policy is brought to the attention of every employee, applicant and user. We will have the same E.O.P right for parents, carers and children. Our nursery is open to all families including males, females, teenagers, single parents, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. Families of any background, culture, marital status, age, sex, religion, disabilities, etc will always be welcomed.

Children’s EOP

A range of various activities are provided, for children with special needs, ensuring that they are appropriate for the children’s needs.

• Indoors

• Outdoors

Illness

Parent/carers will be required to provide a written statement if their child(ren), have seen their GP/Health Visitor or been to the hospital for emergency treatment. Parents must inform the nursery if their child has an infectious illness. We will not be able to take children in who are ill, this is to protect the rest of children from the spread of disease or infectious illnesses. The list of childhood infectious illnesses can be obtained from the nursery, a copy is also displayed on the parents’ notice board. This policy states when it is safe for your child to return to the nursery.

Medication

Antibiotics, prescribed medication should be given to the child at home for the first 24 hours. This is due to, any allergic reactions which may occur. Our staff are qualified first aid certified holders and have specific training for the administering of medicine, cream and ointments. Staff will be informed of illnesses, such as diabetes, asthma, eczema and sickle cell. The staff will also be given outside updates and on going training. Forms will be given to all parents/carers whose child(ren) are on any medication prescribed only by their GP/doctor or hospital. This is to be signed before any medicine can be given.

Child Protection

At Toucan we aim to provide a secure, safe and comfortable environment for all of the children in our nursery. With regular reviews, and updates of our policy and procedures on child protection. Confidentiality will be maintained at all times. All of our staff are highly trained and will receive ongoing training, to ensure that they are always aware of changes in C.P. that affects the Early Years sector. Toucan will not put any child at risk in our care at any time. Our Child Protection Policy and procedure will always be followed in all cases of suspected C.P. issues. All of our staff are police checked by the OFSTED through the CRB Bureau before they take up permanent employment with us. All of the procedures that are set out in the Hackney area Child Protection Committee guide will be followed. If we suspect any forms of abuse of any child in our care it will be reported to the local authorities following the ACPC procedure. If any nursery staff member is suspected of any form of Child abuse they will be suspended immediately following the same procedure.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a priority and will be maintained at all times including personal information on families, children and staff. We will only show basis records to authorised officers e.g. OFSTED and other authorised local authority e.g. The Learning Trust-Early years, who from time to time may need to inspect a particular record. Our aim is to ensure that we support the welfare of the child, parent/carer and staff.

Resources

At Toucan we provide a wide range of resources to enhance the nursery provision. We will look at further resources to influence the nursery, such as language teacher, dance teacher, dentist, etc.

Dietary Requirements

All parents/carers should notify the nursery management of any specific dietary requirements, their child may have, including all allergies. A written record will be displayed in the children’s room, the office and kitchen. Staff will be fully aware of these special requirements.   For Health and safety purposes, we will be checking all food labels and other liquids, before giving these foods to the children. Checking for nut traces, gluten free, etc, to ensure that children are not given foods that may cause allergic reactions.  

Nutrition

Breakfast, lunch, tea, snack/fruit, milk, water and fruit juices, are provided on a daily basis. We have onsite, a qualified cook, who prepares fresh meals daily. Our meals cater for different religions, culture, dietary requirements, ethnic origin and health requirements. We also display a menu in advance, so you will be able to see what we offer and we will be pleased to accept advice on the meals we offer the children.

Daily Requirements

Each child needs a changing bag with a clean set of clothes including vest, socks, underwear, adequate supplies of nappies if required - baby wipes, cotton wool, baby lotion and other creams the child may need during the course of the day i.e. cream for dry skin conditions, etc. We will provide bibs, wipes, training cups, bottles. Parents are advised to provide their own baby mixed food, for babies who are weaning onto solids.

Settling Children into the Nursery

It is our paramount importance at Toucan Day Nursery that all children are treated with great care, comfort and consideration. As we want your child to feel this way and quickly adopt the nursery life, during the first two sessions of your child starting the nursery, you as the parent/carer have been given the option of staying with your child if you wish to. You can ask for our procedure for settling children into our nursery if you need further advice.

Clothing and Jewellery

Parents/carers asked to take suitable spare clothing to the nursery, including suitable soft footwear. These items will be kept at the nursery, so they must be labelled with child’s name. Children are not permitted to wear jewellery at the nursery. The nursery accepts no responsibility for any jewellery worn that maybe lost or damaged. Jewellery worn can also be a health and safety risk as they may get caught on equipment while children are taking part in activities.

Outings and Missing Child

We will always have a senior member of staff who will carry out the risk assessment, do regular head counts of the children and take the register. All the children will wear a badge incorporating a copy of our nursery logo as part of our identification also including our address and phone number. Parents who accompany us with their own children are solely responsible for their own safety. A senior staff will be given a mobile phone that will be kept switched on at all times for emergency contact. We will follow the procedures on our outing and missing child policy. We will carry food and drinks items, but families are required to take their own pack lunches. Theme Park entrance fees will be discounted some may also be free for the nursery children only. We will only use transport that is insured and meets all Health and Safety standards

Managing SEN

We at Toucan aim to work in partnership with families whose children suffer from physical disability or learning difficulty. Jointly we will develop a monitoring plan seeking professional advice where appropriate, including preferential activities for the child concerned. This will always be done in consultation with the parents. Toucan is committed to the integration of children with special needs. We are aware that some children have significantly greater difficulty in learning than others of the same age. We aim to ensure that such children are identified at the earliest possible time and steps will be taken to promote their welfare in partnership with the parents and other relevant parties. If you need more information please ask at the nursery.

Staff Training

All of our staff are qualified, in early years care and education. It is very important that we have a ongoing in service training program, so that our staff members are always up to date on all the changes and improvements in the early years profession. Some of our staff are qualified in L3 child care, the others who are on a L2 are working towards their L3. These staff are employed for their attributes, qualification, trust, follow with a clear pass criminal record, for them to work with children. Among our qualified staff we will have a student training towards their childcare qualifications and volunteer staff to cover any absences.

Smoking

No smoking is permitted in any part of the nursery including outside in the car park. No staff will be allowed to smoke around the children whenever they accompany the children or when visiting the resources places. This will also be applied to all parents/carers when we take other family and children on visits to resource places and they are accompanied by other children.

Parents as Partners/Involvement

Parents/carers have the opportunity to work with their children alongside key staff in the nursery. Parents/carers are informed about the policies, procedures and guidelines of the nursery. Parents/carers are offered the opportunity to participate in different activities and events in the nursery.