Policies

Ofsted’s Early Years Directorate is responsible for the registration and inspection of all childminders.  By being a registered childminder I have been inspected by OFSTED and have been passed on the National 14 Standards:

Standard 1
Suitable person: Adults providing day care, looking after children or having unsupervised access to them are suitable to do so.

Standard 2
Organisation: The registered person meets required adult: child ratios, ensures the training and qualification requirements are met and organises space and resources to meet the children’s needs effectively.

Standard 3
Care, learning and play: The registered person meets children’s individual needs and promotes their welfare. They plan and provide activities and play opportunities to develop children emotional, physical, social and intellectual capabilities.

Standard 4
Physical environment, The premises are safe, secure and suitable for their purpose. They provide adequate space in an appropriate location, are welcoming to children and offer access to the necessary facilities for a range of activities which promote their development.

Standard 5
Equipment: Furniture, equipment and toys are provided which are appropriate for their purpose and help to create an accessible and stimulating environment. They are suitable design and condition, well maintained and conform to safety standards.

Standard 6
Safety: The registered person takes steps to promote safety within the setting and on outings and ensure proper precautions are taken to prevent accidents.

Standard 7
Health: The registered person promotes the good health of the children and takes positive steps to prevent the spread of infection and appropriate measures when they are ill.

Standard 8
Food and Drink: children are provided with regular drinks and food in adequate quantities for their needs. Food and drink is properly prepared, nutritious and complies with dietary and religious requirements.

Standard 9
Equal Opportunities: The registered person and staff actively promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children.

Standard 10
Special needs (including special educational needs and disabilities): The registered person is aware that some children may have special needs and is proactive in ensuring that appropriate action can be taken when such a child is identified or admitted to the provision. Steps are taken to promote the welfare and development of the child within the setting in partnership with the parents and other relevant parties.

Standard 11
Behaviour; Adults caring for children in the provision are able to manage a wide range of children’s behaviour in a way which promotes their welfare and development.

Standard 12
Working in partnership with parents and careers: The registered person and staff work in partnership with parents to meet the needs of the children, both individually and as a group, information is shared.

Standard 13
Child protection: The registered person complies with local child protection procedures approved by the Area Child Protection Committee and ensures that all adults working and looking after children in the provision are able to put the procedures into practice.

Standard 14
Documentation: record, policies and procedures which are required for the efficient and safe management of the provision, and to promote the welfare, care and learning of children are maintained. records about individual children are shared with the children parents.

In addition Kiddy Park has its own comprehensive set of policies and procedures, drawn up using the guidelines of the National Childminding Association, which serve to explain all aspects of our childcare practice.

These include policies covering equal opportunities, special needs, health and safety, settling-in, complaints, behaviour, mealtime, child protection, what to bring, holidays, fees, sick and infectious children, confidentiality and working in partnership with parents/carers.

Parents/ Families Partnership
The role of professional registered childminder involves sharing the responsibilities for the upbringing of a child with parents & their families. My care of their child will be in harmony with the values, practices and wishes of the parents. All observations and assessments of the child’s development and progress will be shared with the parents to ensure continuity of care between the families and the childminding setting.

Settling in Period
The first two weeks of a child’s care at Kiddy Park is considered to be a trial period during which both parties can decide whether the environment is appropriate for the child. During this period the parent or myself may terminate the agreement without notice, if during that time either party feels that the arrangement is not fulfilling their needs. After the trial period is complete, two weeks’ written notice is required by either party to terminate the agreement.

Equal Opportunity
Each child in my care is treated as an individual and are given an equal chance to learn and develop, regardless of age, stage of development or need, sex or race, religion or disability. This is done with consideration of their needs and the full cooperation of the parents.

Behaviour Management
As a professional childminder, I practice behaviour management without the use of physical punishment (as per the NCMA guidelines). I do not slap, smack, shake, bite, frighten or humiliate any child, whether permission is granted or not. I give clear and consistent boundaries for all the children, giving praise and encouragement for good behaviour, and distracting them or explaining the reasons why something is not allowed (depending on age and understanding). If they persist then they are given “time out” with an activity in close proximity to myself. Negative (swearing, and discriminatory remarks) language in my home or outside is not acceptable.

Accidents and Emergencies
In the event of an emergency involving a minded child, I will contact the parents/guardians to alert them of the situation. In the event of the parents not being contactable and the child needed to be taken to hospital/doctor, I will take the child myself as well as any other children that are in my care at the time. I would ring all the parents/guardians of all the children in my care ASAP to let them know what is happening and give them the option of collecting their children if they wished. This policy also can be used for any unforeseen illness or accident occurring to myself. In a very serious emergency, the emergency services will always be contacted first and the parents/guardians will be contacted as soon as possible after that.

Fire Safety
In the case of Fire in the home, everyone in the house will be evacuated, via the nearest available exit to a safe location at the front of the property. NO ONE will return to the property at anytime for any reason. Fire drills will be practiced once a month so the children become familiar with the procedure. I also include from time to time a fire safety activity session, which heightens the children’s awareness of safety. Kiddy Park complies with all fire prevention equipment requirements.

Child Protection & Confidentiality
Information about children and their families will not be shared without the permission of the family. Exception to this would be in the case of suspected child abuse. In these circumstances the correct procedure will be followed, and the relevant information passed only to the appropriate professional personnel and their agencies. As a member of the NCMA, and in accordance with the guidelines in the Children Act (1989) I have a duty to report any incidents which give cause for concern to the relevant authorities, as the welfare of the child is paramount.

Non-collection of child
If a child is not collected within a reasonable amount of time after the arranged pick-up time and I have not received contact from the parent/guardian informing me of a revised pick-up time, I shall use the following procedure: firstly, I shall contact the named person/people on the child’s emergency contact list to try to arrange collection. If I cannot arrange for the child to be collected, I will contact social services and inform them of the situation. I will remain with and care for the child until the situation is resolved.

Sickness Policy
It isn’t possible to take care of a child who is ill since it may affect the other children in my care. This doesn’t include light colds and coughs as long as the child is happy to be in my care. If your child becomes ill while in my care I will expect you to collect your child as soon as you possibly can. Please do not bring your child if they are suffering from the following symptoms/illnesses:

• High temperature/fever
• Sickness and/or Diarrhoea. Please leave at least 24 hours from the last bout of sickness/diarrhoea before bringing your child to me.
• Very heavy cold or continuous chesty cough
• Conjunctivitis
• Tonsillitis
• Ear infection (causing pain and upset)
• Head lice

Administration of Medicines
If medication needs to be administered to a child in my care, I am required by the National Standards to have written consent to do so. The dosage and frequency must be included in this. I have a separate medication book with a page for each child which will be filled in and signed by myself and witnessed by the parent.

Please note, I do not take children for immunisations. Children can be collected. However follwing immunisation, the child should only return the next day, as they need to be monitored for side effects.

Kiddy Park also has to comply with all Health and Safety and Fire Prevention requirements. Our premises have been fully risk-assessed and these assessments are continually reviewed to ensure that measures taken to reduce risks are as good as possible.