Health and Safety Policy

Health and Safety Policy

Just Kids Daycare is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for children, parents/carers and staff. We make children, staff and parents/carers aware of health and safety issues; and have procedures for identifying hazards and reporting or dealing with accidents and incidents.

Our policy is developed in accordance and compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

We have designated members of staff responsible for health and safety at the nursery. The responsible person will:

• Carry out regular risk assessments and review them periodically.
• Provide full health and safety induction to new members of staff.
• Ensure all staff members are trained on relevant health and safety matters e.g. paediatric first aid, fire safety and evacuation, risk assessment etc.
• Ensure all equipment and appliances are tested and serviced at least annually i.e. PAT tests etc and records of these services are kept for a period of three years.
• Ensure all equipment and appliances are adequately guarded so children cannot access them.
• Meeting Covid-19 regulations and proving hand sanitisers around the setting.

Equipment and Appliances

• Check that the nursery’s play equipment and resources conform to the BS EN safety standards or Toys (Safety) Regulation (2011)
• Keep equipment and resources materials clean, in good condition and safe for the children to use.
• Provide furniture that is suitable for both children and adults.
• Store and display resources and equipment where children can independently choose and select them.
• Regularly check all resources and equipment as they are set out at the beginning and put away at the end of each session. Repair and clean or replace any unsafe, worn out, dirty or damaged equipment.
• Keep an inventory of resources and equipment. This record will contain the date on which each item was purchased, and the price paid for it.
• Provide adequate insurance cover for the setting’s resources, equipment and materials.
• Provide adequate ‘public liability’ insurance for people in and out of our setting.

Safe Environment

• Opening and closing checks are carried out daily on both the indoor and outdoor areas and in-depth risk assessments carried out every month.
• The Nursery is maintained clean and well ventilated.
• All gates and fire doors are kept securely shut at all times.
• When not in use the sandpits/sand trays are covered, they are spot cleaned daily and deep cleaned regularly.
• Children are appropriately dressed and protected from the weather conditions (i.e. sun cream in hot weather, waterproofs in rainy weather or warm clothing in winter). At times of extreme weather conditions the length of time spent outside will be limited.
• The furniture and equipment are well maintained and suitable for the children’s use. There is a regular cleaning routine in place for toys and equipment.
• A non-smoking policy is strictly enforced throughout the nursery premises and grounds, this also includes vaping.

Toilets

• The toilets are cleaned daily and kept in good hygienic condition.
• There is adequate supply of toilet rolls, paper hand towels and hand wash solutions.
• There are child friendly instructions on how to use the hand washing facilities.
• There is a bin with a lid. Recycling bins and waste disposal/medical bins are provided for children to have access and learn to recycle materials.
• The water temperature is maintained through a mixer to ensure water temperature is safe for childrens use.

Food Safety

• Staff will have appropriate and current Food Safety training.
• We will provide food on the premises. Breakfast, Morning snack, Lunch, Afternoon snack and Tea will be provided, depending on if the child is half day or full day.
• The meals and snacks provided by Just Kids Daycare will be best quality and when possible, organic, mostly consisting of fruits and natural ingredients. We will use reliable and reputable suppliers.
• We will collect allergy information about all children at the time of first registration and use this information on a daily basis to ensure children are not served with any item they may be allergic to.
• We will continually monitor childrens eating behaviour and provide them with healthy eating choices.

What to do if a child is choking?

All staff will have First Aid training and will be qualified. A baby who is choking will be unable to cry, cough, make any noise or breath.

Follow the following steps:

Back blows for babies under 1 year

• Sit down and lay your baby face down along your thigh or forearm, supporting their back and head with your hand.
• Give up to 5 sharp back blows with the heel of 1 hand in the middle of the back between the shoulder blades.

Back blows for children over 1 year

• Lay a small child face down on your lap as you would a baby.

• If this isn’t possible, support your child in a forward-leaning position and give 5 back blows from behind.

If back blows don’t relieve the choking and your baby or child is still conscious, give chest thrusts to infants under 1 year or abdominal thrusts to children over 1 year.

This will create an artificial cough, increasing pressure in the chest and helping to dislodge the object.

Chest thrusts for children under 1 year

• Lay your baby face up along the length of your thighs.
• Find the breastbone and place 2 fingers in the middle.
• Give 5 sharp chest thrusts (pushes), compressing the chest by about a third.

Abdominal thrusts for children over 1 year

• Stand or kneel behind your child. Place your arms under the child’s arms and around their upper abdomen.
• Clench your fist and place it between the navel and ribs.
• Grasp this hand with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards.
• Repeat up to 5 times.
• Make sure you don’t apply pressure to the lower ribcage, as this may cause damage.

Following chest or abdominal thrusts, reassess your child as follows

• If the object still isn’t dislodged and your child’s still conscious, continue the sequence of back blows and either chest or abdominal thrusts.
• Call out or send for help, if you’re still on your own.
• Don’t leave the child.

Call 999 if the blockage doesn’t come out after trying back blows and either chest or abdominal thrusts. Keep trying this cycle until help arrives.

Even if the object has come out, get medical help. Part of the object might have been left behind, or your child might have been hurt by the procedure.

Unconscious child with choking

• If a choking child is, or becomes, unconscious, put them on a firm, flat surface and shout for help.
• Call 999, putting the phone on speakerphone so your hands are free.
• Don’t leave the child at any stage.

Open the child’s mouth. If the object’s clearly visible and you can grasp it easily, remove it.

Fire Safety

We at Just Kids Daycare make sure that we are prepared in any event of a fire including:

• Having all relevant fire safety equipment on site which is recommended by the Department of the Environment’s Fire Safety, these include fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and fire blankets.
• Making sure Staff, parents and the children are aware of the evacuation procedures in the event of a fire.
• Weekly checks to be carried out to ensure that fire equipment is in working order. This is done on a check list. All faulty equipment must be replaced or repaired immediately.
• Students/volunteers and newly appointed staff are to be informed about what procedures to follow in the event of fire or another emergency.
• The fire safety equipment is checked regularly, and a record maintained of dates.
• The assembly point is clearly marked.
• A fire drill is carried out with the staff and children every month.
• A record is kept of all fire drills carried out and signed by the staff.

Fire Drill/Evacuation

When the fire alarm sounds the children are asked in a calm manner to form a line without any delay. No coats, bags or belongings are taken. All windows and doors should be closed to minimise the danger of the fire spreading. (The nursery has fire doors which can be closed easily)

Designated staff have fire sweep cards to follow.

Pre-School – Butterfly Room  (Mobile Children)

Procedure

• Lead by one of the staff, children are lead from the Butterfly Room down the stairs and straight out to the assembly point (front garden of the building, to the far-left side of the building).

• Adults given responsibility for the day registers should ensure they have them with them at the assembly point.

• Once outside encourage children to hold hands and wait, it may be necessary to take some children by the hand and hold on to them outside. Make it an experience as some children may be a little frightened and need support and guidance.

Toddler Room – Cocoon Room

• Lead by one of the staff, children are lead from Cocoon Room straight to the exit side door which leads to the alley way, this will bring them to the front of the building to the assembly point (front garden of the building, to the far-left side).

• Adults given responsibility for the day registers should ensure they have them with them at the assembly point.

• Once outside encourage children to hold hands and wait, it may be necessary to take some children by the hand and hold on to them outside. Some children may need to be carried depending on the circumstances. Support children and make sure they are calm.

Baby Room – Caterpillar Room (Immobile Children)

• Designated person ensure that doors are open for evacuation.

• All available staff to proceed to baby room (Caterpillar Room) and help with carrying immobile children, in an orderly fashion, from this area to the fire assembly point (front garden of the building, to the far-left side of the building).

• Adults given responsibility for the day registers should ensure they have them with them at the assembly point.

All staff from all rooms needs to be aware of how many children they have in their room. When at the assembly point, check and re-check to ensure all children are accounted for.

Garden – All children that are using the garden area at the time of a fire/fire drill will be taken calmly out of the garden area, using the side alley way which leads out to the front of the building onto the fire assembly point on the far-left side at the front of the building.

A designated person will check the entire nursery

I. The fire officer checks the premises, toilet, changing room and garden

II. Once outside, do not return back into the building until clear

III. An appointed member of staff can ring 999/112

Procedure at assembly point (The Fire assembly point is the front garden in the car park)

If Children & staff are unable to enter the building Just Kids Daycare have a ‘Safe Place’ which they can all attend to.

Redbridge Islamic Centre

Eastern Avenue, Ilford, IG4 5AW
07956 449 111 (7am till late)

Direction- Turn left and less than 2 minutes’ walk. Gates are always open, and the two white double doors will be open from 7am till late.

• A role call should be carried out by a designated member of staff for each room, to ensure that everyone is accounted for. (Registers)

• The fire officer shall inform the manager of the result of the roll call including last known locations of people unaccounted for.

• When the Fire Brigade arrives on site, the fire safety officer/manager must give a situation report to the Fire Brigade Officer.

• In the event of a false alarm or evacuation drill, no one will return to the building until the “all clear” has been given by the Fire Safety Officer/Manager

• It is vital that everyone knows the location of the Assembly Point and that nobody wanders away from this location.

• In the case of a fire, the fire officer will contact parents to inform them of the situation and arrangements for the collection of their children.

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

• Clear notices will be displayed in each area of the nursery as to the
  procedure to be followed in the event of a fire or the need to evacuate the building in an emergency.
• All staff and students receive full instructions on these procedures during their induction.
• Staff, students and children are aware of what to do in the event of a fire or any other emergency when the premises must be evacuated, and regularly practice these procedures during fire drills.
• All staff and students are made aware that the main priority during these procedures is to ensure that all children and adults are safely out of the building and accounted for.
• Fire alarms and equipment are regularly tested.

Accident procedures

• All staff members have paediatric first aid training and can call on each others experience for advice and support on any actions to be taken.
• Staff members record all accidents, however slight, on an Accident report form. This includes any accidents occurring at home (which the parent/carer informs them about).
• Parent/carers will be told about the accident as soon as possible and asked to sign the Accident report form to confirm that they have been informed.
• Any child who has had an accident in Just Kids Daycare will be monitored carefully.
• Accident report forms will be checked frequently by the nursery Manager/Deputy to assess whether there are any on-going problems that need to be addressed.
• If the child requires hospital treatment the parents will be called immediately and informed of the situation. A member of staff will accompany the child to the hospital if the parent cannot get to the nursery in time.
• If appropriate a RIDDOR (2013) report form will be completed and sent to the Health and Safety Executive and OFSTED will be notified.

RIDDOR – Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. Report can be made online.

Insurance

• The nursery has public liability and employers liability insurance which is relevant and particular to risks to childcare provider i.e. use of epipens, outings, travelling, use of bouncy castles etc.

· The insurance Certificates are always displayed at the entrance.

Adult:Child Ratio

• Adequate numbers of adults, meeting the minimum adult to child ratio requirement set out in the EYFS, will supervise the children at all times and in all areas and activities.
• All staff members, students and volunteers undergo a range of checks to ensure that they are suitable to work with young children and go through a strict recruitment process including DBS checks.
• Any person who has not been cleared as suitable, is not allowed unsupervised access to children.

Outdoor Play

• Ensure a daily safety check of the outdoor area is carried out each time it is used. For example, boundaries, gates secure and in good repair, state of repair of resources/equipment.
• Ensure water/wet play areas are made secure.
• Ensure there are no hazardous plants indoors or outdoors. If there are hazardous plants present and we cannot remove them, we will ensure children cannot access them until an appropriate person is able to remove them on behalf of the nursery.
• Ensure sand trays are kept free from contaminants through regular cleaning and replenishing.
• Ensure sun safety information/practice are shared with all parents/carers. We will also ensure all children have sun cream applied before the outdoor sessions and sun cream is reapplied to children after any wet play activity.
• We will encourage children who can, to apply their own sun cream.
• Ensure all children arrive at the beginning of their session with protective clothing for example, hats, tops that cover shoulders. We will keep a stock of spare protective clothing stored on-site.
• All staff/volunteers and students will act as positive role models by wearing hats, sun cream etc.
• Ensure the nursery’s outdoor environment provides shaded areas, making sure that outdoor play is not limited during warm weather.

Offsite Visits and Trips

• Parents will be asked to sign a general consent form, at the time of registration, for local outings.
• For outings further afield parents will be asked to sign a separate consent form for every such outing, and given appropriate information.
• If a completed parent consent form is not received the child will not be able to attend the trip.
• Staff will complete an outing information form and a risk assessment checklist prior to the outing.
• A full list of adults and children attending will be left in the building, together with information about the trip and the approximate return time.
• A nursery mobile telephone will be taken on all trips.
• Appropriate first aid equipment will be taken (including any medical equipment for children with medical or additional needs).
• At least two adults will accompany the children on off-site trips and at least one must be qualified and at least one member of staff must hold a current 2-day paediatric first aid certificate. (The ratio will be doubled on outings)
• If staff members experience any problems on the trip they will immediately telephone the nursery and back up help will be sent, if appropriate.
• Staffing ratios will be appropriate to the age of the children and the relevant legal requirements.
• Staff cars will not to be used for any journeys involving children.
• For trips that are further afield a separate permission slip will be required from parents and a full risk assessment will take place.
• If public transport is going to be used a separate permission slip will be required from parents and a full risk assessment will take place.

Adverse Weather Conditions

• Parents are asked to provide appropriate clothing such as sun hats for hot weather, waterproof clothing for wet weather, warm coats, gloves, hats for cold weather etc.
• Sun cream is applied to children, as appropriate, in hot weather with the permission of the parents. Sun cream is re-applied after wet play.
• Time outside is restricted or stopped during adverse weather conditions and if necessary, an individual risk assessment will be completed.
• Children will not be allowed outside if they do not have appropriate clothing for the weather conditions.

Daily Registration

• On arrival parents must ensure that they hand their child over to a staff member who will immediately mark the child’s arrival time in the register.
• To ensure the safe collection of children parents are required to give written permission as to any person who is authorised to collect their child.
• Staff will not allow children to go with any person who is not authorised to collect them. Staff keeps a photo on file of all the people that have permission to collect the child.
• Staff will not allow children to be collected by anyone who is under the age of 16.
• Staff will not allow children to go with anyone who appears incapacitated by alcohol or drugs.
• In the event of an emergency and an authorised person not being available to collect the child, parents must telephone the Daycare and inform staff and a password system may be used as well as parents being asked to send a photo of the adult, they may also be asked for identification before the child is released.
• An identification procedure and a code word will be agreed between the staff member and parent.
• In the unlikely event of a child not being collected from nursery the late collection policy and procedures will apply.
  
  
• On collection parents must ensure that they inform a member of staff that they are taking their child and the member of staff will immediately mark the child’s departure time in the register.
  
  
• Access points to the Nursery will be kept to a minimum.
  
  

Controlling the Spread of Infection

• In order to prevent the spread of infection all staff members follow a high standard of hygiene procedures, these include regular hand washing and the use of disposal gloves and disposable aprons for nappy changing (if applicable) and the use of aprons for the serving of food and whilst feeding very young children who are more vulnerable. Children are encouraged to wash their hands regularly as part of their daily routine.
  
  
• In line with this guidance, and in order to prevent the spread of infection, children and staff with diarrhoea and/or vomiting must not return to nursery until they have been symptom free for a minimum of forty-eight hours.
  
  
• Additional precautions are taken when there is a known infection in the nursery. Parents are informed about any infectious illness in the nursery and given as much information as possible about signs and symptoms etc. Additional hygiene procedures are put in place and additional cleaning is undertaken.

Illness procedures

• The nursery follows the Health Protection Agency guidelines on infection control in schools and other childcare settings, and seek advice from them if necessary.
  
  
• The nursery reports any notifiable illness to the Health Protection Agency and Ofsted within 14 days.
  
  
• When a child is unwell and unable to cope with the day, the parents will be contacted and asked to collect the child as soon as possible.
  
  
• If staff are concerned the child may be infectious, the child will be cared for in a separate area away from the other children until the parents arrive.
  
  
• If a child has a slight temperature 37.5 degress or over but is otherwise well, a staff member will try to reduce the temperature by removing the top layer of clothing and sponging the child with tepid water. If the temperature persists but the child is still otherwise unwell, the staff member will inform a nursery Manager/Deputy of the situation and will then ring the parent or emergency contact person. They will inform the parent of the child’s condition, signs and symptoms and ask for them to be collected.
  
  
• If the parent or emergency contact person cannot be contacted the staff member will continue to try to reduce the child’s temperature using methods such as removing some of the child’s clothing, sponging the child with tepid water or with the use of a fan.
  
  
• If the temperature does not go down the nursery Manager/Deputy will make an assessment of the situation and seek medical advice if necessary.
  
  
• Administering medication to the child should be considered as a last resort.
  
  

Procedures for Administration of Medication:

• If a child requires medication during the day parents must complete the medication form and sign their consent before the medication can be given. The medication must be clearly labelled.
  
  
• It is the parent’s responsibility to notify the nursery if there are any changes to the requirements during the course of medication.
  
  
• The staff member receiving the medication will ensure that all other staff members in the room are aware of the location of this medication and which child it relates to.
  
  
• Only the nursery Manager or Deputy will be authorised to administer medication to a child.
  
  
• The person responsible for giving the medication will check the child’s medication record before giving the medication and ensure that the child receives the correct dose at the correct time. All staff administering medication will ensure that they have another staff member present when doing so.
  
  
• The person responsible for giving the medication will ensure that the medication form is completed immediately.
  
  
• Parents will be asked to sign the medication record sheet on the same day when collecting their children.

Supporting Children with medical needs

• The nursery aims to support individual children with long and short-term medical needs to enable them to fully access the service that we offer. In order to do this, we request information from parents about their child’s individual medical needs.

• Children with medical needs will have a Health Care Plan.
  
  
• Based on the information, we will complete an individual risk assessment, if appropriate.
  
  
• We will ensure that any ongoing or long-term medication for a child is discussed between the nursery Manager/Deputy coordinator and the parent/carer.
  
  
• We will facilitate specific training for staff from a qualified health professional, when technical or medical knowledge is required, to meet the needs of individual children.
  
  
• Ensure that the medication is stored and given in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
  
  
• Draw up individual care plans, if appropriate, and agree them with the parents.
  
  
• Implement an effective procedure on the administration of medicines as outlined below.

Staff Training

• Staff members are given full health and safety induction.
  
  
• Staff training is provided on all relevant health and safety matters including emergency evacuation, how to complete risk assessments, paediatric first aid etc.
  
  
• Risk assessments are made available to staff in staff meetings, and staff are briefed on how to deal with or minimise the affects of risk identified in relevant risk assessments.

Procedure for Animals on Site

• Staff will ensure that any animals on the premises are safe to be in the proximity of children and do not pose a health risk.
  
  
• After handling or being in contact with any animal, children and staff will wash their hands.
  
  
• Animals, which are kept on the nursery premises, will have their habitats regularly cleaned to prevent the spread of infection.
  
  
• A risk assessment will be carried out on any occasion when animals visit the nursery.

For more information regarding Health and safety procedures, please speak to management.

COSHH

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

 (COSHH) Regulations 2002

COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. The regulations require employers to:

• Assess the risks to health and safety.
  
  
• Decide what precautions are needed to prevent ill health.

• Prevent or control exposure.

• Make sure the control measures are used and maintained.

• Ensure that all employees are properly informed, trained and supervised.

Chemicals used in the setting for cleaning, washing, or as part of your practice may be hazardous or cause illness if not used correctly.

To comply with these regulations the setting will keep a list of all hazardous or potentially hazardous substances that are used in the provision. This could include washing powder, dishwasher tablets, bleach, disinfectant and other cleaning materials and even materials used for messy play including foam and paint.

All substances are stored in a locked away cupboard out of children’s reach and also in the kitchen cupboard where the children have no access to. Disinfectant is placed in a high cupboard out of children reach.

In addition to chemicals, all body fluids are to be treated as substances hazardous to health and should be carefully dealt with using protective gloves and materials that can be safely disposed of. All practitioners using chemicals or products should be given advice on their correct use where necessary.

The following should be observed carefully, and correct storage should be used:

• All substances that are hazardous to health should be stored safely and out of children’s reach.

• Avoid inhalation, ingestion and skin contact of all chemical substances as they may cause irritation and use according to manufacturer’s instructions.

• Always wear the protective clothing that are provided, eg, gloves, aprons, masks etc.

• Products must never be mixed as this could give rise to hazardous by-products.

• Those using the substance must be familiar with the First Aid procedures to be used in the event of an accident.

There will be a yellow medical bin provided in the setting where materials can be disposed of for example plasters, bodily fluids, masks, gloves etc.

Risk Assessments

Just Kids Daycare 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. This is reviewed annually.

What is a Risk Assessment?

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 as 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 managers 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.
  
  
•  Developing an action plan that specifies the action required, the time-scale 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 monthly 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.

Our manager ensures that staff members carry out risk assessments for work practice including:

• Changing children.
• Preparation and serving of food/drink for children.
• Children with allergies; – cooking activities with children.
• Supervising outdoor play and indoor/outdoor climbing equipment.
• Putting babies or young children to sleep.
• Assessment use and storage of equipment for disabled children.
• The use and storage of substances which may be hazardous to health, such as cleaning chemicals.
• Visitors to the setting who bring equipment or animals as part of children’s learning experiences.
•  Following any incidents involving threats against staff or volunteers.

Our manager ensures that staff members carry out risk assessments for off-site activities if required, including:

• Children’s outings.
• Home visits.
• Other off-site duties such as attending meetings, banking etc.

Legal framework

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

Nursery Security

No show rounds take place when the children are on site. Only Manger and Deputy open the door to visitors, children, and parents. Parents do not come in unless it is their child’s settling in period. The premises has two strong heavy-duty doors which has a high lock, this is always locked.

Visitors are asked to make an appointment before turning up. On arrival before entering the premises the visitors will show their I.D badge and then sign in.

All rooms have a baby gate which is always locked, as well as a gate at the bottom of the stairs and a half door with a lock at the top of the stairs.

The nursery also has CCTV around the whole premises.