NURSERY POLICIES

PARENT PARTICIPATION POLICY

Parents are very welcome and encouraged to spend time in the nursery.  We suggest two mornings a term if possible.

Discussions and Progress Reporting

We implement an excellent record keeping system in which observations of the children are used as a basis for drawing up a curriculum for each child. Progress and development statements are passed on to those schools, to which the child proceed.

Children in our Nursery have, along with siblings, priority on the Quainton Hall Registration Lists. As with siblings, the Nursery children are assessed and a report is requested from the Head of Nursery.

Complaints Procedure

OFSTED INSPECTION REPORT

Furthermore, all Nursery OFSTED Inspection reports, which are open documents, can be seen on the internet at www.ofsted.gov.uk The Nursery Reference Number is: EY313037.

You can also view the report by Clicking on this Link.

STAFFING POLICY

50% of staff to have a current First Aid Certificate.

The Pre-School budget includes an allocation towards on-going training costs and staff are encouraged to continue with regular training. We support the work of our staff by means of regular monitoring.

Regular staff meetings provide opportunities for staff to discuss the children’s progress and any difficulties.

All children in our group are treated as individuals and given positive regard and concern, irrespective of their race, religion or colour.

Care is taken to ensure that our children’s religious and dietary needs are met.

Materials are selected to help children to develop their self-respect and to respect other people by avoiding stereotyping and derogatory pictures or messages about any group of people.

Toys, puzzles, dolls and books are provided to help promote and develop acceptance and self-worth for all the children. Resources are chosen to give children a balanced view of the world and an appreciation of the rich diversity of our multi-social society.

Care is taken in the wording of songs and rhymes, to engender self-worth for both sexes and to avoid any kind of stereotyping with regard to sex or race.

As far as possible children are admitted into the Pre-School in the order that their names are placed on the waiting list for the appropriate term. However, regulations regarding the number of under threes in the setting at any one time have to be taken into account when places are offered.

It is our aim to create a warm friendly atmosphere, where children and their families feel secure, respected and valued, whatever their gender, class, race, culture or ability.

Discriminatory behaviour or remarks are unacceptable in the Pre-School. The response will aim to be sensitive to the feelings of the victim and to help those responsible to understand and overcome prejudice.

• Rules governing the conduct of the group and the behaviour of the children will be discussed and agreed with the Pre-School and explained to all newcomers, both children and adults.
• All adults in the Pre-School will ensure that the rules are applied consistently, so that children have the security of knowing what to expect and can build up useful habits of behaviour.
• All adults will try to provide a positive model for the children with regard to friendliness, care and courtesy.
• Adults in the Pre-School will praise and endorse desirable behaviour such as kindness and willingness to share.

When children behave in unacceptable ways:

• Physical punishment, such as smacking or shaking, will be neither used nor threatened.
• Children will never be sent out of the room by themselves.
• Techniques intended to single out and humiliate individual children such as the “naughty chair” will not be used.
• Children who misbehave will be given one-to-one adult support in seeing what was wrong and working towards a better pattern.
• Where appropriate this might be achieved by a period of “time out” with an adult.
• In cases of serious misbehaviour, such as racial or other abuse, the unacceptability of the behaviour and attitudes will be made clear immediately, but by means of explanations rather than personal blame.
• In any case of misbehaviour, it will always be made clear to the child or children in question that it is the behaviour and not the child that is unwelcome.
• Adults will not shout, or raise their voices in a threatening way.
• Adults in the pre-school will make themselves aware of, and respect, a range of cultural expectations regarding interactions between people.
• Any behaviour problems will be handled in a developmentally appropriate fashion, respecting individual children’s level of understanding and maturity.
• Recurring problems will be tackled by the whole pre-school, in partnership with the child’s parents, using objective observation records to establish an understanding of the cause.
• Adults will be aware that some kinds of behaviour may arise from a child’s special needs.

TEACHERS’GUIDELINES

1. Never smack, slap or shake a child.
2. Never shouting at children.
3. Comfort the hurt child as well as the ‘culprit’ if necessary.
4. If necessary give the child 2 - 4 minutes to calm down on a chair with an adult present.
5. Give a clear explanation, while encouraging eye contact (positive guidance).
6. Help the child see and take responsibility for his/her actions.
7. Reflect the child’s feelings and give approval whenever possible. Concentrate on the positive.
8. Be consistent.

BULLYING POLICY

• Immediate action is taken in the event of any bullying behaviour.
• Children are taught and encouraged to be assertive and to say in a loud voice “I don’t like it.” This alerts staff to support both children and to explain that the bullying child’s behaviour is unacceptable and why. The child is reminded that when someone says “I don’t like it” they MUST STOP.
• Staff are to use the opportunity to talk about associated feelings for both parties involved.
• To manage the situation further, when necessary, staff refer to our behaviour policy.

In the event of an ongoing problem, a meeting would be arranged with the child’s parents in order to establish whether there are any current problems at home; to discuss appropriate strategies to remedy the bullying and to offer appropriate support to the parents.

HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

1. First Aid box in kitchen and hall.
2. All medicines, cleaning agents etc kept on high shelf, out of the reach of children.
3. Adults to use gloves when dealing with blood, vomit etc and dispose of in the outside bin.
4. No toys to lie about in and around the climbing frame.
5. Children should wear soft rubber soles on all equipment.
6. No smoking in the nursery at any time.
7. Plimsoles or trainers, without laces if possible to be worn by the children.
8. No earrings or jewellery to be worn by the children.
9. Take Doctor’s advice on contagious and infectious diseases for exclusion periods.
10. Adults
    •  Adult ratio is 1 adult to 5 children and meets the statutory requirement (1 to 8). 
    •  Children are the responsibility of all adults and in range of an adult’s attention.
11. Premises
    •  Doors leading out of the premises are kept shut, except the back door, leading to the garden.  This door is kept unlocked on the     recommendation of the Fire Officer.
    • No child can leave the premises without adult supervision.  The garden gate to the road is kept bolted.  Low windows/door are      protected by safety glass.
    •  Electric sockets are covered.
    •  Premises are kept clean.
12. Room layout and equipment are positioned with safety in mind.
13. First Aid
    •  First Aid kit is on premises at every session.  A member of staff with a basic First Aid Certificate is present at each session.
14. Equipment Activities
    •  We check all equipment regularly for safety.
    •  Broken toys/equipment are removed.
    •  Children are supervised when using sewing needles, scissors, cooking utensils etc.
    •  Toys and equipment are kept clean.
    •  Care is taken when providing junk model making or collage eg we check small boxes/bottles for pills and never use match boxes or    cigarette packs.
    •  Sand is kept clean and covered.
    •  Non-toxic harmless substances only can be added to water, dough, clay etc.
    •  We do not allow children to play with pieces of polystyrene or plastic bags.
15. Hygiene
    •  We observe the basic rule of hygiene - wash hands after using the lavatory and before handling food/drink.
    •  Each child uses his/her own cloth to dry hands. 
    •  The lavatory area is kept clean.
16. Fire
    •  All staff are aware of the fire procedure.
    •  A Fire Drill takes place regularly (usually twice a term).
    •  One adult is responsible for the register when fire drill/alarm occurs and a second adult checks that premises are evacuated.
    •  Smoke alarms are in place and batteries changed when needed.  Fire extinguishers are serviced annually.
17. Outside Garden
    •  The garden area is adequately fenced.
    •  Gate to road is kept bolted.
    •  Garden is checked for safety.
    •  Sandpit is covered when not in use.
    •  Equipment is checked for safety.
    •  Parents are responsible for applying sunscreen (minimum factor 15) to their child before each session during the summer months     and are responsible for providing a sun hat when appropriate.
18. Arriving and Leaving
    •  An adult always checks children in.
    •  On arrival and departure we mark the register.
    •  An adult always checks children out until the last child has left with his/her parent or carer.
    •  All adult staff know which child belongs to which parent or carer and who will be collecting the child at each session.
    •  We never release a child to an unknown person unless pre-arranged.
    •  If uncertain, we would call the police.
    •  No child is ever allowed to leave on their own.
19. Accidents
    •  All accidents, no matter how minor, are recorded in an accident book, signed by a staff member and then signed by the parent or     carer.
    •  The time and treatment of the accident are recorded, and where possible, how the accident/injury occurred.
20. Notices and Information
    •  All staff are aware of the safety procedures.
    •  All visitors for the morning are requested to read the safety procedures.
    •  Insurance certificate is displayed on the indoor notice board in the front large playroom.
    •  Fire drill procedure is displayed in the hall.

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Tel: 020 8427 1304
admin@quaintonhall.org.uk