Policies Overview

A full set of our policies and procedures is available in the nursery entrance for parent perusal at any time, here is just a small selection of some of those.

Springwood Nursery Child Protection & Safeguarding Statement

We are committed to providing an environment where every child can enjoy the right to live his /her life free from harm or abuse or potential harm.

The responsibility for promoting, developing and monitoring child protection within Nursery rests with the child protection officer and the management team. But the responsibility to respond to signs of abuse or an allegation rests with everyone. At all times staff will be reminded that child protection is a matter that needs to be dealt with sensitively and in confidence.

As part of the condition of employment, all staff who work at the nursery will be checked by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) while students, visitors and volunteers will not be left alone with the children. To safeguard staff from potential allegations of abuse whenever possible they will not be left alone with the children, although there may be times when this will be unavoidable.

We use the Local Safeguarding Children's Board Policy, Procedures and Guidance to further support us in the operation of our child protection policy.

Complaints Policy

We believe children and parents are entitled to courtesy,  prompt and careful attention to their needs and wishes. Our intention is to work in partnership with parents and the community as a whole and we welcome suggestions on how to improve the nursery at all time.

Our Nursery is committed to providing a safe, stimulating, consistent and accessible service to children and their parents/ carers. We always aim to provide high quality services for everyone, but accept that sometimes things do not always go to plan. In such circumstances, we want to know so that we can put them right and learn from our mistakes.

This policy supports the Nursery’s formal Complaints Procedure, which is displayed on the parents' notice board at all times. Under normal circumstances, the Manager is responsible for managing complaints, however, if a complaint is made against the Manager, then the proprietor will conduct the investigation. All complaints made to staff will be recorded in detail in the Incident Record file.


Behaviour Management Policy

Nursery practitioners use the principles of circle time and praise to assist in promoting children’s emotional well being and social development. Nursery practitioners employ strategies that are effective in supporting children’s behaviour and understand the importance of adopting different strategies to support children’s individual needs and culture.

Children will be treated with respect at all times and staff will promote positive behaviour through recognition and praise where it is deserved. Behaviour such as sharing, caring for others and kindness will be praised and highlighted as the correct way to behave at the nursery. We hope this positive approach to behaviour management support children in developing self-esteem, confidence and feelings of competence.  

All staff will ensure that the rules of the nursery are applied consistently so that the children have the security of knowing what acceptable behaviour is and what is not. Staff implement the policy of enhancing individual self-esteem by encouraging children to respect themselves and others, and to be aware that they have rights and so do others. Within this they are encouraged to work co-operatively; to listen to others; to explain their needs and to talk about the needs of others; to share time, space and resources; to evaluate their own work and to praise the work of others.  

Staff recognise that children have different home experiences which they bring into the nursery; that children will be at different developmental levels; that a child may feel confused and react negatively in some situations; that all children need to feel valued; that for a child to become autonomous it takes time for values to be learnt and internalised.  We feel this develops a sense of belonging and helps children feel valued and welcome.

Staff will ensure that there is enough popular toys and resources and sufficient activities available so that children are meaningfully occupied without the need for unnecessary conflict over sharing and waiting for turns.

Missing child Procedure

Here at Springwood, the children’s safety and well-being is our number one priority. We have a state-of-the art CCTV system in place which cover most of the building and grounds, plus automatic locks on the front door, and the Toddler Room door, which is the main point of entry into the nursery. Back doors are kept locked when not in use. When opened they are not left unsupervised. In the unlikely event of a child going missing from the nursery then the following steps will be taken:

- The Manager/ Deputy will carry out a thorough search of the building and garden.
- The register is checked to make sure no other child is missing.
- Doors and gates are checked to see if there has been a breach of security whereby child could have wandered out.
- The Manager/ Deputy will talk to staff to establish what happened
- If the child is not found the parent is contacted and the missing child is reported to the
police.

This incident will then be thoroughly investigated by the Health & Safety Officer & the Nursery Manager to find out how this could possibly have happened, and how to prevent such from happening again.  

Visitors to Nursery

All parents, carers, children and visitors can only gain entry to the building via the front/ main entrance of the nursery, the front door is always kept locked and parents must ring the buzzer to gain entry. There is a door-release system in both the office and the toddler room, where the second locked door is situated. These door entry systems are linked to a speaker at the front door, the main door is opened automatically using the door release button, but only when the member of staff is happy that they recognise the person. We ask that parents do not bring friends or colleagues into the nursery without prior permission from the Nursery Manager or Deputy Manager.

Toddler room staff and the manager/ deputy are the only people who can let people through to the main entrance using the electronic door entry system.  If a member of staff does not recognise the person ringing the nursery ‘buzzer’, then the door has to be answered personally by the manager or deputy or a member of toddler staff. This is to ensure the welfare and safety of the children in our care at all times and restrict admission into the nursery only to people that are known. Parents are asked not to let anyone in on their way out of nursery, but to ask them to ‘buzz the door again.

All visitors must sign the visitors sheet, which records the time they arrived and departed the building, a reason for their visit, a date and their name. Both the visitors and staff signing in sheet are a strict requirement and this is explained to staff at their induction, at meetings and through regular memo’s/ reminders. This is so we have a record of everyone in the building in case of fire or emergency evacuation.  Visitors are also asked to display their name badges/ identification at all times and staff will ask to see these before they are allowed entry.


ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY INCLUDING ADMINISTERING FIRST AID

At Springwood, we do our best to keep each child and member of staff safe and away from harm. However accidents do happen, because of this fact, the majority of our staff at the nursery are qualified first-aiders and those whose certificates have expired attend a refresher course as soon as one becomes available.

In the event of a minor accident, first aid would be administered accordingly by a trained first aider. The accident form would be completed by a member of staff and a parent/ guardian would be informed and then asked to sign the form. The form has to be countersigned by head of room, deputy or nursery manager. This form has a brief description of the accident as well as the location, any treatment given and the time and date. The form is also signed by a witness.
If the accident is slightly serious, such as a cut or bump to the head, we will call parents, who have the opportunity to decide whether to collect their child from nursery.

In an emergency, a member of staff, trained in first aid would administer first aid, whilst another telephones the emergency services and inform the Manager /deputy of the accident, who then contact the parent or guardian. The accident form will be completed at all times.

In the event of us not being able to contact a parent / guardian in an emergency then one member of staff would accompany the child to hospital, taking a copy of the medical declaration signed by the parent / guardian on the child’s admission into nursery, another member of staff would continue trying the emergency contact numbers until they manage to reach the child's parent / guardian.

Valuing diversity and promoting equality

Here at Springwood, we aim to meet all children’s needs, particularly those from all ethnic backgrounds, social, emotional and economic environment, gender, ability or disability. We are committed to promoting anti-discriminatory practice, equal opportunity and valuing diversity for all children and families.

We also aim to:

- provide a secure and accessible environment, where all of our children can thrive and in which all contributions are considered and valued

- include and value the contributions of all families to our understanding of equality and diversity

- provide positive, non-stereotype information about gender roles, disabilities, ethnic and cultural groups

- improve our knowledge and understanding of issues regarding anti-discriminatory practice, promoting equality and valuing diversity

- incorporate inclusion through all of our activities, by making sure that all the children’s needs are met.