Policies and Procedures

1. Mission Statement2. Admission and Fees3. Settling in Policy4. Arrivals and Departures5. Play Policy6. Play areas and equipment7. Early Years Foundation Stage8. Health and Safety9. Fire Safety10. Risk Assessment11. Emergency evacuation / Closure12. Safeguarding Children13. Mobile Phone / E-Safety Policy14. Whistle Blowing15. Intimate Care16. Safe Recruitment of Staff17. Staff Induction and Development18. Missing Child19. Uncollected Child20. Behaviour Management21. Anti-Bully22. Suspension and Exclusions Policy23. E Safety24. Illness and Accidents25. Administering Medication26. Equal Opportunities27. Special Educational Needs28. Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs29. Healthy Eating30. Environmental Policy31. Confidentiality32. Complaints Procedure

Mission Statement

‘Astbury Merekats aim to provide a safe, fun, friendly play centredenvironment for the children in our care. We endeavour to provide an atmosphere and activities similar to those found in the home.’

Aims and objectivesAstbury Merekats aims to

Offer an inclusive service, accessible to all children in the community Ensure each child feels happy, safe and secure, allowing them to learn and

develop freely in a play centred environment Encourage children to take responsibility for themselves and their

actions Encourage children to develop positive attitudes and respect for

themselves and others, in an environment free from bullying anddiscrimination

Provide a wide range of resources and equipment which can be used undersafe and supervised conditions

Offer a programme of activities which meets the needs of each child,promoting their physical, intellectual, emotional and social development,enabling them to become confident, independent and co-operativeindividuals

Work in partnership with parents to provide high quality play and care Review and evaluate our services to ensure that we continue to meet the

needs of children in our care and those of their parents or carers Keep parents and carers informed about changes in the administration of

the Club and to listen and respond to their views and concerns Communicate effectively with parents and carers, and to discuss

experiences, progress and any difficulties that may arise Employ experienced, well trained staff and offer them appropriate

support Comply with the Children’s Act 1989, the Childcare Act 2006, and all

other relevant legislation

Admission and Fees

Astbury Merekats cares for children, between the ages of 4 and 11 years,primarily serving the children of Astbury St Mary’s Church of England PrimarySchool.Places are offered on a first-come first-served basis. When all places have beenfilled a waiting list will be established, with the following order of priority:

1. Children of Astbury St Mary’s Church of England Primary School2. Siblings of children already attending the club3. Those requiring the greatest number of sessions/hours per week4. Children living in the area attending other schools

RegistrationWhen an enquiry regarding places is made, parents or carers will be given all therelevant Club information, including:

Welcome packRegistration form and booking form.Policies and Procedure

If a place is available, the parents and child will be invited to visit the club foran induction if required. The child will be able to attend the Club as soon as thecompleted forms are received.

If no places are available the parent will be informed and the child’s name addedto the waiting list. As soon as suitable places become available parents will beinformed through an offer letter.

Booking procedure

Parents must complete the necessary paperwork, e.g. registration and bookingform before their children can attend the club.

Permanent place:Once a place has been booked, if a child does not attend for any reason youwill still be charged for this place, (including but not limited to illness,holiday or temporary exclusion for whatever reason). If you wish to cancelthe place, four weeks written notice is required.Temporary booking:We will accept adhoc bookings as long as there are places available. Adhocsessions are payable prior to the child attending the club. If a child doesnot attend for any reason, you will still be charged for this place. If you wishto cancel the place, one month’s notice in writing is required.

Fee structure

The current fee for children attending Astbury School is:

Breakfast Club (7.30am –8.55am) @ £4.00 per child (Breakfast Included)

After School Club (3.20pm – 6.00pm) @ £8.00 per child (Snack included)

After School Club (3.20pm – 4.30pm) @ £4.00 per child (limited placesavailable)

The current fee for children attending all other local school is:

Breakfast Club (7.30am-8.55am) @ £5.50 per child (Breakfast Included)

After School Club (3.10pm- 6.00pm) @ £8.50 per child (Snack Included)

Full Day Holiday Club (8.00am – 6.00pm) @ £23.50 per child

-Please bring a packed lunch

-Morning / Afternoon Snack Included

Half Day Holiday Club (8.00am – 1.00pm) or (1.00pm – 6.00pm) @ £13.50

-Please bring a packed lunch

-Morning / Afternoon snack Included

Additional Care from 7.30am -8.00am during school holidays @ £2.00(Breakfast Included)

Additional Information

We offer a 10% second child discount. Fees are payable monthly in advance bycash, cheque, BACS, childcare vouchers or credit card.

Cheques should be made payable to ‘NRG Associates (UK) Ltd’

The price per session, per child applies to all children. This is payable for allsessions, including when your child is sick, or on holiday unless one month’swritten notice is given. Bookings are non-refundable or exchangeable.

There is a charge of £5 per fifteen minutes for late collection or part thereof,this will be added to the following months invoice

Bank holidays will not be charged for.

Non-payment for more than one month will result in your place being terminated.

Astbury Merekats Out Of School Club aims to keep fees to a minimum, whilststill raising enough income to cover our running costs. Please ensure fees arepaid promptly.

Changes to days and cancelling your place

One month’s written notice of termination, or of changes in attendance must begiven. Requests for changes to days should be made to the manager and will beaccommodated where possible.

Temporary changes

Please remember that we need to know if your child (or children) will not beattending Astbury Merekats for any reason. Even if you have informed yourchild's school, we still need to know.

If you know in advance of any days when your child/children will not beattending, please let a member of staff know as soon as possible. In cases ofillness or emergency when notice cannot be given, please call as soon as you can,our contact details can be found at the end of this handbook.

The Club recognises that childcare can be costly, so we encourage eligibleparents or carers to claim the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit. Weare also registered to accept childcare vouchers.

Payment of fees

Fees are reviewed annually by the registered person. The Club will considerrequests for variation to payment terms on an individual basis. Anyone makingthese requests should contact the manager at the earliest opportunity. Anyqueries regarding fees should be directed to the manager.

If fees are not paid, the Club will write to the parent or carer, requestingpayment. If the parents or carers are having difficulty making the payment ontime we recommend that they arrange a meeting with the manager as soon aspossible.

Where there is no explanation for repeated late payment, the manager willcontact the parents or carers to discuss payment options. The manager mayissue a formal warning to the parent or carer informing them that continuedlate payment may result in their child’s place at the Club being withdrawn.

If the fees remain unpaid after all the above options have been explored, theClub will send a final formal warning stating that if payment it not receivedwithin seven days of this letter, the child’s place will be cancelled and we willbegin proceedings in the small claims court. The cost of this process willadditionally be added to the outstanding debt.

Settling In Policy

When children first join Astbury Merekats they will be allowed to settle in attheir own pace.

We encourage parents or carers to visit the premises with their childrenshortly before they are due to start, especially children who are not familiarwith the school. This gives the children the opportunity to look around the Cluband ask any questions. It also gives parents the opportunity to complete thenecessary paperwork for registration with the Club if this has not yet beendone.

Induction for new children

The new child will be introduced to all members of staff and informed aboutany other regular visitors to the club.

The new child and their parents will be introduced to their key worker.The Club’s activities, rules and routines, such as signing in and signing out,will be explained.

The child will be shown around the Club and told where they can and cannotgo.

The fire evacuation procedure and the locations of all fire exits will beexplained.

Staff will keep a close eye on the new child and will ensure that they arehappy and involved.

If a child seems to be taking an unusually long time to settle in, this will bediscussed with their parents or carers to see what can be done to make thetransition easier.

Arrivals and Departures

Astbury Merekats recognises that the safe arrival and departure of thechildren in our care is paramount.

The Club Supervisor will ensure that an accurate record is kept of all children inthe Club, and that any arrivals or departures are recorded in the register. Theregister will be kept in an accessible location on the premises at all times. Thisprocess will be supplemented by regular headcounts during the session.

Transfer of Responsibility between School and the Club

The Club and school have a clear agreement concerning the transfer ofresponsibility for children’s safety.

Each class teacher is given an updated list of children who will be attendingAstbury Merekats every day.

Children will be collected from outside their classes by a member ofMerekats staff.

If a child is booked into the Club but is not at the collection point, staff willcheck to see if the child was present at school that day. If the whereaboutsof the child is not known, staff will immediately inform the designatedcontact at the school and the child’s parents or carers, and follow theprocedures laid out in the Missing Child policy.

Arrivals

Our staff will greet each child warmly on their arrival at the Club and willrecord the child’s attendance in the daily register straightaway, including thetime of arrival.

Departures

Staff will ensure that parents or carers sign children out before they leave,including the time of collection.

Children can only be collected by an adult who has been authorised to collectthem on their registration form.

The child’s parents or carers must inform the Club in advance, if someonewho is not listed on the registration form is to collect the child. The managerwill contact the main parent or carer for confirmation if they have anyconcerns regarding departures.

Absences

If a child is going to be absent from a session, parents must notify the Clubin advance.

If a child is absent without explanation, staff will contact the parents orcarers and the school to check where the child should be. If there is noexplanation for the absence the Club will activate the Missing Childprocedure.

The Club will try to discover the causes of prolonged and unexplainedabsences. Regular absences could indicate that a child or family is havingsome difficulties and might need additional support.

Play Policy

All children are entitled to play; it is intrinsic to their quality of life and animportant part of how they learn and enjoy themselves. It is also a keycomponent of a healthy lifestyle, enabling good physical, emotional, mental andsocial development. At its most successful it offers children and young peopleas much choice, control and freedom as possible.

At Astbury Merekats we recognise the importance of play to a child’sdevelopment. As play workers we support and facilitate play, and do not seek tocontrol or direct it. We will never force children to participate in play, but allowchildren to initiate and direct the experience for themselves.

Facilitating play

We support and facilitate play by:

Providing an environment which is safe and suitable for playing in.Setting up the Club so that activities are ready for children to choose asthey arrive.

Providing a range of equipment, resources and activities on a daily basis, andkeeping a record of these to ensure that varied play opportunities areoffered.

Encouraging children to access additional or alternative equipment as theychoose, and if a request has to be refused, explaining why.

Not expecting children to be occupied at all times.Making outdoor play available every day, except in unforeseen circumstances.Involving children in planning activities, to reflect their own interests andideas.

Planning activities that enable children to develop their natural curiosity andimagination.

Allowing children freedom of creative expression, particularly in artistic orcreative play.

Intervening in play only when necessary: to reduce risks of accident orinjury, or to encourage appropriate social skills.

Warning children in advance when an activity or game is due to end.

Play areas and equipment

All indoor and outdoor play areas are checked and risk assessed daily beforethe children arrive in accordance with our Risk Assessment policy.

The Club keeps an inventory of resources and equipment, which is updatedregularly and reviewed to identify where any additional resources arerequired.

Children are involved in selecting additional equipment and resources for useat the Club.

The resources used at the Club promote positive images of different ethnicbackgrounds, religions, and abilities, in line with our Equal Opportunitiespolicy.

The Club has a selection of fiction and non-fiction books, suitable for all ageranges.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Astbury Merekats is committed to delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage(EYFS) which was revised in 2012 for all early years childcare providers. EYFScovers children from birth to the end of their reception year.

The EYFS is based on 4 themes:

A Unique Child We recognise that every child is a competent learner who canbe resilient, capable, confident and self assured. Children develop in individualways, at varying rates. Children’s attitudes and dispositions to learning areinfluenced by feedback from others; we use praise and encouragement tomotivate children.

Positive Relationships We recognise that children learn to be strong andindependent from secure relationships. We aim to develop caring, respectful,professional relationships with the children and their families.

Enabling Environments We recognise that the environment plays a key role insupporting and extending the children’s development. We observe the childrenand assess their interests and development, before planning challenging butachievable activities and experiences to extend their learning.

Areas of Learning and Development We recognise that children learn anddevelop in different ways and at different rates. We value all areas of learningand development equally and understand that they are inter- connected. TheEYFS areas of learning and development now consist of three prime areas whichare ‘Physical Development, Personal and Social Development and Communicationand Language’ and four specific areas which are ‘Literacy, Mathematics,Expressive Art and Design and Understanding the World’ . The prime areascover the knowledge and skills which are the base for children’s schoolreadiness and future progress, and which are applied and reinforced by thespecific areas.

The designated EYFS coordinator at the Club is Louise Jones and the deputyCo-ordinator is Libby Dakin. We aim to meet the needs of all children through

Identifying EYFS children upon joining the Club and informing the otherstaff

Determining the principal EYFS provider for each childAssign a key worker for each EYFS childEnsuring that staff receive relevant EYFS trainingGaining parental consent for information sharing, where necessaryAgreeing information sharing policies with the principal EYFS providerMeeting regularly with the principal EYFS provider to agree next steps fordevelopment

All staff will: Undertake observations and monitor children’s progress and take action to

provide support as necessary, in order to plan for each child’s individual needs.

Plan opportunities that build upon and extend children’s knowledge, experience and interests and develop their self –esteem and confidence.

The Club will provide a balance of adult led and child initiated activities. We recognise that children learn and develop in different ways and at different rates. We value all areas of learningand development equally and understand that they are interconnected.

We believe the features of effective teaching and learning are:-

The partnership between play workers and staff, so that children feel secure at the club and develop a sense of belonging and well being.

Carefully planned activities and experiences that help children work towards achieving the early learning goals throughout the EYFS.

Providing for children to take part in activities that build on and extend their interests and develop their intellectual, physical and social emotional abilities.

To support learning with appropriate and accessible indoor and outdoor space, facilities and equipment.

The identification of the progress and future learning needs of children through observations.

Health and Safety Policy

Astbury Merekats considers health and safety to be of upmost importance. Wecomply with The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Workplace(Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 at all times.

The Club has appropriate insurance cover, including public liability insurance.

Each member of staff follows the Club’s Health and Safety policy and isresponsible for:

Maintaining a safe environmentTaking reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and othersattending the ClubReporting all accidents and incidents which have caused injury or damage ormay do so in the futureUndertaking relevant health and safety training when required to do so bythe manager

Any member of staff who disregards safety instructions or recognised safepractices will be subject to disciplinary procedures.

Responsibilities of the registered person

The registered person for the setting holds ultimate responsibility and liabilityfor the safe operation of the Club. The registered person will ensure that:

The Club has a designated health and safety officer. All staff receive information on health and safety matters, and receivetraining where necessary

The Health and Safety policy and procedures are reviewed regularlyStaff understand and follow health and safety proceduresResources are provided to meet the Club’s health and safety responsibilitiesAll accidents, incidents and dangerous occurrences are properly reportedand recorded. This includes informing Ofsted, child protection agencies andthe Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries,Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) where appropriate.

All reported accidents, incidents and dangerous occurrences are reviewed, sothat preventative measures can be taken.

Responsibilities of the manager

The Club’s manager is responsible for ensuring that at each session:

Premises are clean, well lit, adequately ventilated and maintained at anappropriate temperature

All the Club’s equipment is safely and securely stored

Children are only allowed in the kitchen if properly supervised (e.g for acooking activity)

A working telephone is available on the premises at all timesChemicals and cleaning materials are stored appropriately, and in accordancewith CoSSH data sheets.

External pathways are cleared in severe weatherDaily environment checks are carried out in accordance with our RiskAssessment policy.

Security

Children are not allowed to leave the Club premises during the session unlessprior permission has been given by the parents (for example, to attend otherextra-curricular activities).

During Club sessions all external doors are kept locked, with the exception offire doors. Staff monitor the entrances and exits to the premises throughoutthe session.

All visitors to the Club must sign the visitor’s book and give the reason for theirvisit. Visitors will never be left alone with the children. If a visitor has noreason to be on the Club’s premises we will escort them from the premises. Ifthe visitor refuses to leave, we will call the police. In such an event an IncidentRecord will be completed and the manager will be immediately notified.

Security procedures will be regularly reviewed by the manager, in consultationwith staff and parents.

Toys and equipment

All furniture, toys and equipment are kept clean, well maintained and in goodrepair. We select toys, equipment and resources with care, and we carry outrisk assessments before the children are allowed to use them. Broken toys andequipment are disposed of promptly.

We ensure that any flammable equipment is stored safely.

Food and personal hygiene

Staff at Astbury Merekats maintain high standards of personal hygiene, andtake all practicable steps to prevent and control the spread of infection.

A generally clean environment is maintained at all times.Toilets are cleaned daily and soap and hand drying facilities are alwaysavailable.

Staffs are trained in food hygiene and follow appropriate guidelines.Waste is disposed of safely and all bins are kept covered.Staff ensure that children wash their hands before handling food or drinkand after using the toilet.

Cuts and abrasions (whether on children or staff) are kept covered.

Dealing with body fluids

Spillages of blood, vomit, urine and faeces will be cleaned up immediately inaccordance with our Intimate Care policy.

Staffing levels

Staff ratios and levels of supervision are always appropriate to the number,ages and abilities of the children present, and to the risks associated with theactivities being undertaken. A minimum of two members of staff are on duty atany time.

Fire Safety

Astbury Merekats understands the importance of vigilance to fire safetyhazards.

Staff are aware of the location of all fire exits, the fire assembly point andwhere fire safety equipment is stored.

Children will be introduced to the fire safety procedures during theirsettling in period and through regular fire drills.

Fire drills will be conducted at least once a month or whenever new staff orchildren join the club.

All children will be made aware of the location of fire exits and the fireassembly point.

Fire doors and fire exits are clearly marked, are not obstructed at any timeand are easily opened from the inside.

Fire doors are kept closed at all times but never locked.Fire extinguishers and alarms are regularly tested in accordance withmanufacturer’s guidance.

All fire drills are recorded in the Fire Drill Log.The Club has notices explaining the fire procedures which are positionednext to every fire exit.

Fire prevention

The Club will take all steps possible to prevent fires occurring by:

Ensuring that power points are not overloaded with adaptors.Ensuring that the Club’s No Smoking policy is always observed.Checking for frayed or trailing wires.Checking that fuses are replaced safely.Unplugging all equipment before leaving the premises.Storing any potentially flammable materials safely.

In the event of a fire

A member of staff will raise the alarm and call the emergency services.The children will immediately be escorted out of the building to the assemblypoint using the nearest marked exit.

No attempt will be made to collect personal belongings, or to re-enter thebuilding after evacuation.

The premises will be checked by the Fire Safety Officer and the registerwill be collected, providing that it is safe to do so.

The Fire safety Officer will close all doors and windows to prevent thespread of fire when they leave the building

The register will be taken and all children and staff accounted for.If anyone is missing from the register, the emergency services will beinformed.

If the register is not available the manager will use the emergency contactslist (which is kept off the premises) to contact parents or carers.

If the Fire Safety Officer is not present at the time of the incident, themanager will assume responsibility or nominate a replacement member ofstaff.

Responsibilities of the Fire Safety Officer

The Club’s Designated Fire Safety Officer is Neil Kippen and the deputyofficer is Libby Dakin. The Fire Safety Officer is responsible for carryingout the fire safety risk assessment and for ensuring that all staff are madeaware of fire safety procedures during their Induction period.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that a fire safetyrisk assessment is undertaken for the workplace based on The Department ofCommunities and Local Government’s 5 step guide:www.communities.gov.uk/documents/fire/pdf/151102.pdf. The risk assessmentshould cover:

Identifying potential fire risksIdentifying people at riskEvaluating the risks arising from the hazards identified and the means ofminimising those risks

Reviewing the fire safety risk assessment on a regular basis.

The Fire Safety Officer should liaise with the local Fire and Rescue Service forfurther advice and should ensure that Emergency Contact details are recordedat the front of the register and a copy stored off premises.

Risk Assessment Policy

Astbury Merekats uses its risk assessment systems to ensure that the Club is asafe and secure place for children and staff. All staff are expected toundertake risk assessments as part of their routine tasks.

In line with current health and safety legislation and the EYFS WelfareRequirements, the Club will carry out regular risk assessments and takeappropriate action to deal with any hazards or risks identified. It is theresponsibility of the manager to ensure that risk assessments are completed,logged and monitored.

Risk assessments will be carried out: whenever there is any change to equipment or resources when there is any change to the Club’s premises when the particular needs of a child necessitates this.

If changes are required to the Club’s policies or procedures as a result of therisk assessment, the manager will ensure that the relevant documents areupdated and that all staff are informed.

Daily checks

We will carry out a visual inspection of the equipment and the whole premises(indoors and out) daily, before any children arrive. During the course of thesession, staff will remain alert to any potential risks to health and safety.

If a member of staff discovers a hazard during the course of a session, theywill make the area safe (e.g by cordoning it off) and then notify the manager.The manager will ensure that any actions needed to mitigate the immediatehazard have been taken and will implement measures to prevent the incidentfrom recurring.

Recording dangerous eventsThe manager will record all accidents and dangerous events on the Incident orAccident Record sheets as soon as possible after the incident. If the incidentaffected a child the record will be kept on the child’s file. The Club will monitorIncident and Accident Records to see whether any pattern to the occurrencescan be identified.

Emergency Evacuation / Closure Procedures

Astbury Merekats will make every effort to keep the Club open, but inexceptional circumstances, we may need to close at short notice.

The following are possible reasons for emergency closure:

Serious weather conditionsHeating system failureBurst water pipesSerious accident or illnessFire

In the event of an emergency our primary concern will be to ensure that bothchildren and staff are kept safe. If it is necessary to evacuate the Club, thefollowing steps will be taken:

If appropriate the manager or session supervisor will contact the emergencyservices.

All children will be escorted from the building to the assembly point usingthe nearest safe exit.

No attempt will be made to collect personal belongings, or to re-enter thebuilding after evacuation.

A nominated member of staff will check the premises and will collect theregister (including emergency contact details) providing that this does notput anyone at risk.

Before leaving the building the designated person will close all accessibledoors and windows.

The register will be taken and all children and staff accounted for.If any person is missing from the register, the emergency services will beinformed immediately.

The manager will contact parents to collect their children. If the register isnot available, the manager will use the emergency contacts list (which is keptoff site).

All children will be supervised until they are safely collected.If after every attempt, a child’s parent or carers cannot be contacted, theClub will follow its Uncollected Child procedure.

If the Club has to close, even temporarily, or operate from alternativepremises, as a result of the emergency, we will notify Ofsted.

Safeguarding PolicyEndorsed by Cheshire East LSCB

PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICY: NATASHA HAMILTON

APPROVED: 5.2.16

SIGNED: N.J.HAMILTON

TO BE REVIEWED: 4.2.17

At Astbury Merekats the named personnel with designated responsibility for safeguarding are:

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Safeguarding Owner / Committee Chair

Louise Jones Libby Dakin Natasha Hamilton

The named personnel with Designated Responsibility regarding allegations against staff are:

Senior Manager Deputy Manager Owner/ Committee(in the event of an

allegation against the manager)

Natasha Hamilton Neil Kippen Louise Jones

CONTENTS

Page Number

:Introduction Safeguarding definition Rationale Purpose Terminology Documentation used to support the policy

Section 1: Prevention and early identification: Through creating a positive culture and ethos where safeguarding is an important part of everyday life in the setting, backed up by training at every level. This includes the setting’s responsibility to promote fundamental British values. Prevention Early identification: recognising & responding to safeguarding needs Extremism and radicalisation Supporting children at risk Supporting a child who discloses abuse Roles and responsibilities of staff members

44555

678888

Section 2: The role of the designated safeguarding lead – identifying and reporting cases of suspected cases of abuse. The role of the designated safeguarding lead Record keeping 10

10

Section 3 Preventing unsuitable people working with children – including safer recruitment and creating a code of conduct around suitable professional boundaries. Dealing with allegations against adults working with children and young people.

Safer recruitment and professional boundaries Procedures for allegations against an adult working with children or

young people

1213

Section 4 Additional safeguarding policies and procedures – including the use of mobile phones, cameras, photography, images, mobile recording devices.

Dedicated setting mobile phone Personal mobiles and electronic devices Mobiles belonging to visitors Mobiles belonging to older children Cameras, photography and images Other related policies / procedures

141414141415

INTRODUCTION:

SAFEGUARDING DEFINITION:

“Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this policy as:

• Protecting children from maltreatment;• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development;• Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and

effective care; and• Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes”

“Working Together to Safeguard Children” DfE 2015

Child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. It refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.

RATIONALE:

This policy demonstrates Astbury Merekats commitment and compliance with safeguarding legislation.

Early years and childcare providers have a duty under section 39(1)(b) of the Childcare Act 2006 to comply with the welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (September 2014). Early years and childcare providers should ensure that:

staff complete safeguarding training that enables them to recognise signs of potential abuse and neglect; and

they have a practitioner who is designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children within each early years setting and who should liaise with local statutory children’s services agencies as appropriate. This lead should also complete child protection training.

“Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2014”

Through their day-to-day contact with children and direct work with families, staff at our setting have a crucial role to play in noticing indicators of possible abuse or neglect and referring them to Children’s Services (in Cheshire East or neighbouring authorities dependent upon the child’s area of residence). This also involves understanding serious case reviews and how to improve practice to prevent children from falling through the gaps.

The setting works in accordance with ‘Working together to Safeguard Children” 2015 and supports the Cheshire East Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) Continuum of Need to ensure children receive the most appropriate referral and access provision; actively supporting multi agency planning for those children and, in doing so, providing information about the ‘voice of the child’ and the child’s lived experience as evidenced by observations or information provided.

The management of the setting ensures the return of the LSCB Safeguarding Audit on a yearly basis.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the policy is to ensure that:

• the welfare of the child is paramount.• all children regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual

identity have equal rights to protection• all staff have an equal responsibility to act on a suspicion or disclosure that may suggest

a child is at risk of harm.• children and staff involved in Safeguarding issues receive appropriate support.• staff adhere to a Code of Conduct and understand what to do if a child discloses any

allegations against colleagues, the Manager, Owner or member of the Committee.

The procedures contained in this policy apply to all staff, volunteers, sessional workers, students, agency staff or anyone working on behalf of Astbury Merekats. All staff are trained to understand the safeguarding policy and procedures and we ensure that their knowledge on safeguarding issues are kept up to date.

Our procedures are consistent with Cheshire East Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) child protection procedures.

TERMINOLOGY:

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children: refers to the process of protecting children from maltreatment, preventing the impairment of children’s health or development, ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care and taking action to enable all children to have the best life chances.

Setting: refers to all early years providers including, day nursery, pre-school, playgroup, childminders and out of school provision.

Child Protection: refers to the activity undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.

Staff: refers to employees, students and volunteers; it includes child-minding assistants or co-childminders working together in a child-minding setting

Parent: refers to birth parents and other adults who are in a parenting role: carers, step-parents, foster parents, and adoptive parents.

ChECS: refers to Cheshire East Consultation Service 0300 123 5012 (option 2)

LSCB: refers to Cheshire East Local Safeguarding Children Board

DOCUMENTATION USED TO SUPPORT THE POLICY:

“Working together to safeguard children” 2015“Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage” 2014“What to do if you are worried a child is being abused” 2015

“Prevent Duty Guidance” 2015

Further information on ‘Disqualification by Association’ can be found in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage paragraphs 3.14 – 3.18.SECTION 1: PREVENTION AND EARLY IDENTIFICATION: Including recognising and responding to safeguarding needs:

Children’s understanding of how to keep themselves safe is promoted. They are supported in recognising and managing risks in different situations, including when using the internet and social media, being able to judge what kind of physical contact is acceptable and unacceptable, recognising when pressure from others, including people they know, threatens their personal safety and well-being and supporting them in developing effective ways of resisting pressure.

Prevention:

The setting has established an ethos where:

1.1 children feel secure in a safe environment in which they can learn and develop.

1.2 children are encouraged to talk and are actively listened to. Staff consult, listen and respond appropriately to all children.

1.3 clear risk assessments are in place and staff respond consistently to protect young babies and children whilst enabling them to take age-appropriate and reasonable risks as part of their growth and development.

1.4 children know that there are adults in the setting whom they can approach if worried or in difficulty.

1.5 consistent approaches are in place to promote positive behaviour that is appropriate for individual children’s stages of development.

1.6 all adults recognise that safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility and are aware of the signs that children or young people may be at risk of harm either within the setting or in the family or wider community outside the setting.

1.7 parents are partners in the setting and are encouraged to have an understanding of their obligations regarding Child Protection by intervention as and when appropriate

1.8 adequate signposting to external sources of support and advice is in place for staff, parents and children (see parent notice board)

1.9 there is always a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Deputy DSL in the setting who has the seniority and skills, undertakes appropriate Safeguarding training, and is given the time to carry out this important role.

1.10 there is a culture where staff are confident to challenge senior leaders over safeguarding concerns.

1.11 staff are aware of the DfE guidance contained in ‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused’ – guidance for practitioners March 2015.

1.12 there is a commitment to the continuous development of staff with regard to safeguarding training.

1.13 the setting has procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against any member of staff or adult on site, including an allegation of abuse against the DSL/Manager

the setting carries out an annual review of the Safeguarding policy and procedures, and an annual Safeguarding Audit – sharing this with the LSCB on request

Early identification: recognising and responding to safeguarding needs:

The setting knows how to identify:

neglect drug/substance/alcohol misuse by parents/carers child sexual exploitation / trafficked children domestic abuse obesity/malnutrition on line grooming inappropriate behaviour displayed by staff, or any other person working

with children. For example; inappropriate sexual comments; excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities; or inappropriate sharing of images.

bullying: including homophobic, racist, gender and disability. self-harm Female Genital Mutilation Forced Marriage unaccompanied asylum seeking children

The setting will:

1.15 respond to concerns by developing effective links with relevant agencies and/or by consulting with Cheshire East Consultation Service (ChECS)

1.16 undertake appropriate discussion with parents prior to involvement with other agencies unless the circumstances prevent this

1.17 in particular, be alert to the potential need for early held for a child who is disabled and has specific additional needs and/or special educational needs

1.18 ensure that, where there are unmet needs, a CAF is initiated

1.19 send representatives to case conferences, core groups and Child Protection review meetings as requested

1.20 understand the need to be aware of child attendance at the setting and alert to patterns of absence that may indicate wider safeguarding concerns

1.21 notify any allocated Social Worker if there is an unexplained absence of a child on a Child Protection Plan or Child in Need Plan (this should be done on the first day of absence)

1.22 have a procedure in place in the event of a child going missing whilst in your care (Missing Child policy)

1.23 acknowledge serious case review findings and share lessons learned with all staff

1.24 inform Cheshire East Consultation Service (ChECS) if we become aware of a Private Fostering arrangement

Extremism and radicalisation:

1.25 Astbury Merekats adheres to the Prevent Duty Guidance, July 2015 following National Guidance ‘Fundamental British Values in the Early Years’ and actively promotes British Values within the setting.

Supporting children at risk:

The setting’s ethos promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment, giving children a sense of being valued and listened to.

We will:

1.26 liaise with other appropriate agencies which support the child

1.27 recognise that children living in difficult home environments are vulnerable and are in need of support and protection

1.28 monitor child welfare, keeping accurate records and notifying appropriate agencies when necessary

1.29 ensure information is transferred safely and securely when a child with a Safeguarding File transfers to another setting/school. Notifying key partners or social workers where a child leaves the setting (as appropriate).

Supporting a child who discloses abuse:

When a child discloses abuse we will:

listen rather than directly question, remain calm never stop a child who is recalling significant events make a record of discussion to include time, place, persons present and what

was said (child language – do not substitute words) advise you will have to pass the information on avoid coaching/prompting never take photographs of any injury allow time and provide a safe haven / quiet area for future support meetings at no time promise confidentiality to a child or adult

Roles and responsibilities of all staff members:

“Providers must train all staff to understand their safeguarding policy and procedures, and ensure that all staff have up to date knowledge of safeguarding issues. Training made available by the provider must enable staff to identify signs of possible abuse and neglect at the earliest opportunity, and to respond in a timely and appropriate way”.

Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage

All staff will be alert to: significant changes in children’s behaviour deterioration in children’s general well-being unexplained bruising, marks or signs of abuse or neglect children’s comments which give cause for concern any reasons to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting for example in

the child’s home inappropriate behaviour displayed by other members of staff, or any other

person working with the children. For example: inappropriate sexual comments; excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their usual role and responsibilities; or inappropriate sharing of images.

The setting will ensure that every member of staff and person working on behalf of the setting:

1.30 has an individual responsibility to refer Safeguarding (Child Protection) concerns to the DSL; and will be vigilant in identifying cases of abuse at the earliest opportunity.

1.31 knows how to support and respond to a child who discloses significant harm

1.32 is clear on the procedure to follow to report concerns of misconduct of any member of staff including the DSL or Manager.

1.33 is confident to challenge senior leaders over safeguarding concerns.

1.34 knows the name of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and deputy DSL (in the absence of the DSL) and their role and responsibility.

1.35 will receive training at the point of induction and on an ongoing basis so that they know and understand the settings Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and know where they can be found. It is all staff’s responsibility to read and ensure they understand the policy.

SECTION 2: THE ROLE OF THE DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD

The role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy Safeguarding Lead

The DSL/deputy DSL will:

2.1 ensure that all staff, including new staff in the setting, know who their DSL/Deputy DSL is at all times.

2.2 ensure that all staff including new staff and volunteers receive induction and ongoing training in the setting’s safeguarding policy and procedures.

2.3 raise awareness of the settings safeguarding policies, procedures and systems with parents and carers.

2.4 ensure policies and procedures are reviewed at least annually and are kept updated to reflect national policy, serious case reviews etc as required.

2.5 keep up to date with current safeguarding and child protection legislation

2.6 liaise with local statutory children's services agencies and with the LSCB

2.7 share child protection information with the DSL of any receiving setting or school when children leave the setting and ensure safeguarding records are transferred securely.

2.8 develop effective links with relevant agencies and other professionals and cooperate as required with their enquiries regarding safeguarding matters including cooperation with serious case reviews, attendance at strategy meetings, initial and review child protection conferences, core group and child in need review meetings

2.9 ensure that consistent and effective record keeping systems are in place and guidelines are followed throughout the setting.

2.10 ensure that a system is in place to review incidents and observations to identify patterns of concern.

2.11 contribute to assessments and provide reports to initial and review conferences which have been shared with parents first.

Record keeping:Astbury Merekats will follow Cheshire East’s safeguarding procedures with reference to Cheshire East LSCB “Recording and reporting Guidance.” September 2015.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead /Deputy DSL ensure that:

2.12 Safeguarding information including Child Protection information is stored and handled in line with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 ensuring that information is:

used fairly and lawfully for limited, specifically stated purposes used in a way that is adequate, relevant and not excessive accurate kept for no longer than necessary handled according to people’s data protection rights kept safe and secure.

2.13 Any concerns about a child will be recorded in writing within 24 hours. All records will provide a factual, evidence-based account. Timely, accurate recording of every episode/

incident/ concern/ activity/ actions will be made including telephone calls to other professionals. Records will be signed, dated and where appropriate, witnessed.

2.14 The DSL will be aware of the collective impact of these records and take action to consult with ChECS where the nature and number of records creates a concern.

2.15 Hard copies of records or reports relating to Safeguarding and Child Protection concerns will be kept in a separate, confidential file, securely stored away from the child’s main file. Authorisation to access these records will be controlled by the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) / Manager.

2.16 In the case of a child protection referral, serious injury, or where serious concerns are raised, the DSL will immediately consult with Cheshire East Consultation Service (ChECS).

SECTION 3: PREVENTING UNSUITABLE PEOPLE WORKING WITH CHILDREN:

Safer recruitment and professional boundaries:

Our setting ensures that all appropriate measures are applied in relation to everyone who works in the setting who is likely to be perceived by the children as a safe and trustworthy adult.

We will ensure that:

3.1 all adults who are likely to have regular contact with children (including those living or working on the premises) are checked for their suitability. (For childminders this includes ensuring that Ofsted is supplied with timely information about anyone over the age of 16 years on the premises in order to carry out these checks.)

3.2 we operate safer recruitment practices including appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and barred list checks, reference checks, verifying identity, vocational qualifications, obtaining professional references, checking previous employment history and ensuring that a candidate has the health and physical capacity for the job.

3.3 all staff are required to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings that may affect their suitability to work with children (whether received before or during their employment at the setting). This will also include “disqualification checks” taking into account that a childcare worker may become disqualified because they live in the same household as another person who is disqualified, or because they live in the same household where a disqualified person is employed.

3.4 we do not allow people whose suitability has not been checked to have unsupervised contact with children.

3.5 any volunteers are appropriately supervised at all times.

3.6 all staff have a copy of, and have read and understood, our safeguarding policy and procedures. They have up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues including know how to report concerns about a colleague’s behaviour.

3.7 all staff adhere to a published code of conduct and other professional standards at all times, including activities out of hours. Staff are aware of social media / on-line conduct.

3.8 “Practitioners must not be under the influence of alcohol or any other substance which may affect their ability to care for children. If practitioners are taking medication which may affect their ability to care for children, those practitioners should seek medical advice. Providers must ensure that those practitioners only work directly with children if medical advice confirms that the medication is unlikely to impair that staff member’s ability to look after children properly. Staff medication on the premises must be securely stored, and out of reach of children at all times.”Para.3.19 Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2014

3.9 any disciplinary proceedings against staff related to Child Protection matters are concluded in full in accordance with Government guidance and Local procedures.

3.10 staff are given support and confidence to report misconduct.

Procedures for allegations against an adult working with children or young people:

“Registered providers must inform Ofsted or their childminder agency of any allegations of serious harm or abuse by any person living, working, or looking after children at the premises (whether the allegations relate to harm or abuse committed on the premises or elsewhere). Registered providers must also notify Ofsted of the action taken in respect of the allegations. These notifications must be made as soon as is reasonably practicable, but at the latest within 14 days of the allegations being made. A registered provider, who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with this requirement, commits an offence”.

Para.38. Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2014

3.11 All staff are made aware of the procedures to be followed if there is an allegation against an adult working with children. The procedures are applied where there is a concern of any allegation of serious harm or abuse by any person living, working, or looking after children at the premises (whether the allegations relate to harm or abuse committed on the premises or elsewhere).

Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child Possibly committed an offence against, or related to, a child; or Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a

risk of harm to children

The above criteria relates to the adult’s behaviour in the workplace, the community and in their home and social life.

3.12 Allegations must be reported to and discussed with the Manager who will report the matter to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) by completing a LADO referral form and will seek their advice on the next steps.

3.13 Staff are aware that if the allegation of abuse is against the Manager they will report the matter to the setting Owner / Chair who will speak to the LADO to discuss the next steps.

3.14 The ‘Emergency Duty Team’ should be contacted outside normal working hours: 0300 123 5022.

3.15 Staff are aware that no member of staff will conduct their own investigation or pass on information to the alleged perpetrator without prior consultation with the LADO. In all allegations the LADO will advise on the action to take when the matter has been formally considered after receipt of the LADO referral form.

3.16 The Manager will keep written, signed and dated records detailing any allegation and action taken as near to the time of disclosure as possible even when no investigation is undertaken; following up any verbal referral in writing within 24 hours.

4. ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:

Use of mobile phones and cameras:Dedicated setting mobile phone: 07748 699352

To protect children we will ensure that the dedicated setting mobile phone:4.1 is stored securely when not in use.

4.2 is protected with a password, is clearly labelled and its use is open to scrutiny. All staff

are vigilant and alert to any potential misuse.

4.3 is only used by allocated people who have a clear understanding of what constitutes misuse and know how to minimise the risk. These staff are responsible for their own behaviour regarding the use of the phone and avoid putting themselves into compromising situations which could be misinterpreted and lead to potential allegations.

4.4 is not used in areas such as toilets, changing rooms, nappy changing areas and sleep areas.

4.5 does not detract from the quality of supervision and care of children.

Personal mobiles and electronic devices:

4.6 Personal mobile phones and recording devices (tablets, cameras, laptops etc) are never used in the setting.

4.7 If staff have personal phones or devices these are stored securely in the staff room and will be switched off or on silent whilst staff are on duty.

Mobiles belonging to visitors:4.8 We request that mobiles belonging to visitors are either switched off and/or stored

securely in the staff room on entering the setting.Mobiles belonging to older children:4.9 Have signed consent from their parents giving permission for the child to have a mobile

and agreeing that they will be stored securely in the staffroom and be switched off or on silent whilst in the setting.

Cameras photography and images:4.10 Obtain parents’ and carers’ consent for photographs to be taken or published (for

example, on our website or in newspapers or publications).

4.11 Ensure the setting’s designated camera is only used in the setting and any images taken will not be emailed as it may not be secure. (In some instances, it may be required to seek parental permission to email images, but the potential risks must be made clear to parents).

4.12 Ensure that children are appropriately dressed, and do not use the child’s name with an image on a photograph.

4.13 Ensure that parents personal cameras are not used to take photographs, video or audio recordings in our setting without prior explicit written consent from the setting, for example, for a special event, such as Christmas plays.

4.14 Ensure that all images are stored securely and password protected. Where images are stored the setting will register with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), in accordance with data protection laws.

4.15 Ensure where professional photographers are used DBS’s, references and parental consent will be obtained prior to photographs being taken.

4.16 Ensure ‘acceptable use’ rules regarding the use of cameras by children are embedded in practice.

4.17 Ensure the use of cameras, webcams and CCTV is closely monitored and open to scrutiny. (Information on the use of CCTV can be found on the ICO website)

Other related policies / procedures:

The setting takes safeguarding seriously and understands this policy is over- arching. The setting also maintains other linked policies in line with the legislative requirements; together these make up the suite of policies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in this setting.

Cheshire East Emergency Contact Numbers

Safeguarding Concerns 0300 123 5012 (Mon-Thurs 8.30 a.m. – 5pm or Fri 8.30 a.m. – 4.30 pm)Out of Hours Service: 0300 123 5022

Family Information Service/General Enquiries : 0300 123 5033

Local Authority Designated Officer: (allegations against staff) 01270 685904 &01606 288931

Police: Emergency 999 or Non Emergency 101

OfSTED: 0300 123 4666

These contact numbers are displayed in the setting Safeguarding Folder.

Staffordshire Emergency Contact Numbers

First Response Team 0800 1313126 (Mon-Thurs 8.30 a.m. – 5pm or Fri 8.30 a.m. – 4.30 pm)Out of Hours Service: 0845 6042886

Emergency Duty Service (EDS) (local authority) : 01785 354030

Police: Emergency 999 or Non Emergency 08453 30 20 10

OfSTED: 0300 123 4666

These contact numbers are displayed in the setting Safeguarding Folder.

Whistle Blowing Policy

Astbury Merekats is committed to the highest standards of openness, probityand accountability. If a member of staff discovers evidence of malpractice orwrong doing within the Club they can disclose this information internally withoutfear of reprisal. Our Whistleblowing policy is intended to cover concerns suchas:

Financial malpracticeFailure to comply with a legal obligation

Criminal activityDangers to health and safety or the environment

Improper conduct or unethical behaviour

This policy should not be used to question business decisions made by the Club,or to raise any matters that are covered under other policies (eg discriminationor racial harassment). Any allegations relating to child protection will follow theprocedures set out in the Safeguarding Children policy.

Raising a concern

Ideally the staff member should put his or her allegations in writing, setting outthe background to the situation, giving names, dates and places where possible,and the reason why they are concerned about the situation.

In the first instance concerns should be taken to the Club’s manager. If, due tothe nature of the problem, this is not possible, contact your local play workadvisor for advice.

If this person or body is unwilling or unable to act on the concern, the staffmember should then raise it with:

Ofsted (if it concerns the safe and effective running of the club)The Local Authority Designated Officer or the Local Safeguarding Children Board (if it concerns a child protection issue and is not already covered by the procedure set out in the Club’s Safeguarding Children policy)Ultimately, with the police (if a crime is thought to have been committed).

If the member of staff is still uncertain about how to proceed with theconcern, he or she should contact the whistle-blowing charity PCAW (PublicConcern at Work) for advice.

Responding to a concern

Initial enquiries will usually involve a meeting with the individual raising theconcern, and will decide whether an investigation is appropriate and, if so, whatform it should take. If a concern relates to issues which fall within the scope ofother policies, it will be addressed under those policies.

If the initial meeting does not resolve the concern, further investigation isrequired. The appropriate person will investigate the concerns thoroughly,ensuring that a written response can be provided within ten working days wherefeasible, or if this is not possible, giving a date by which the final response canbe expected. The response should include details of how the matter wasinvestigated, conclusions drawn from the investigation, and who to contact ifthe member of staff is unhappy with the response and wishes to take thematter further.

Rights and responsibilities of the whistle-blower

All concerns will be treated in confidence and the Club will make every effortnot to reveal the identity of anyone raising a concern in good faith. At theappropriate time, however, the member of staff may need to come forward as awitness.

If a member of staff raises a concern in good faith which is then not confirmedby the investigation, no action will be taken against that person.

If the investigation concludes that the member of staff maliciously fabricatedthe allegations, disciplinary action may be taken against that person.

Contact information

LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer): 01270 685904 or 01606 288931

Intimate Care

In intimate care situations, the child’s safety, dignity and privacy are ofparamount importance. Children requiring intimate care will be treatedrespectfully at all times.

‘Intimate care’ covers any task that involves the washing, touching or carryingout a procedure to intimate personal areas and is associated with bodilyfunctions and personal hygiene.

Astbury Merekats staff who provide intimate care will do so in a professionalmanner. Staff are aware of safeguarding issues and will have relevant training(eg: health and safety, child protection, manual handling) before providingintimate care. No child should suffer distress or pain as a result of receivingintimate care.

Staff will work in partnership with parents or carers to provide careappropriate to the needs of the individual child and together will produce a careplan. The care plan will set out:

What care is requiredNumber of staff needed to carry out the task (if more than one person isrequired, reasons will be documented)

Additional equipment requiredChild’s preferred means of communication (eg verbal, visual)Child’s level of ability – what tasks they are able to carry out bythemselves.

Best practice

When intimate care is given, the member of staff will explain fully each taskthat is carried out and the reasons for it. Staff will encourage children to do asmuch for them as they can.

If a child requires intimate care on a regular basis, it is a good idea for twomembers of staff to share the care between them. In this way the child shouldnot become overly dependent on a single member of staff, and is less likely tobecome distressed if their usual carer is occasionally unavailable. However,parents’ views on the number of staff providing personal care to their child must also be taken into consideration - some children may simply be unable tocope with more than one carer.

If the setting has good policies in place that promote safe recruitment,together with regular supervision, and sound safeguarding and intimate careprocedures, the child’s need for consistent care should not be compromised ifonly one member of staff provides the intimate care.

Protecting children

If a member of staff is concerned about any physical changes to a child, such asmarks, bruises, soreness etc, they will inform the manager or designated safeguarding officer immediately. The Safeguarding Children policy will then be implemented.

Should a child become unhappy about being cared for by a particular member ofstaff, the manager will look into the situation and record any findings. Thesewill be discussed with the child’s parents or carers in order to resolve theproblem. If necessary the manager will seek advice from outside agencies.

If a child makes an allegation against a member of staff, the procedure set outin the Safeguarding Children policy will be followed.

Dealing with blood and body fluids

Blood, vomit, urine and faeces will be cleaned up immediately and disposed ofsafely by double bagging the waste and removing it from the premises. Whenthey are dealing with body fluids, staff will wear personal protective clothing(disposable plastic gloves and aprons) and will wash themselves thoroughlyafterwards. Soiled children’s clothing will be bagged to go home – staff will notrinse it. Children will be kept away from the affected area until the incident hasbeen dealt with fully.

Staff at Astbury Merekats will maintain high standards of personal hygiene atall times.

Safe Recruitment of Staff Policy

All staff applying for job vacancies within Astbury Merekats will initiallycomplete an application form outlining their full employment history,qualifications, identity checks and details of at least two referees.

Once the application has been returned with all of the relevant informationcomplete, a small number of applicants will be short listed and invited for aninterview. A letter will be sent out inviting applicants to attend the interview,and the most suitable candidate will be offered the job in writing, subject tosuitable references and Disclosure and Barring Service Checks being issued.This DBS disclosure number and date of issue will be kept on site on a singlecentral record in the safeguarding folder.

Once the relevant checks are complete staff will be given and inductionmeeting, which will involve discussing the clubs policies and procedure,emergency procedures, a tour of the premises (pointing out relevant safetyissues, e.g. fire exits ) and the terms and conditions of the job. Once theinduction is complete staff will be able to begin employment with AstburyMerekats out of School Club.

Staff Induction and Development

Each new member of staff at Astbury Merekats receives a copy of all of theClub’s policies and procedures. During the first few weeks of their employment,the manager will discuss the practical implications of the Club’s policies andprocedures with them. The new staff member will sign the Policy ConfirmationSlip to confirm that they have received and understood the Club’s policies.

As part of the induction process the manager will also:

Introduce the new member of staff to their colleagues, children and parentsor carers

Show the new member of staff around the premises, pointing out all fireexits, location of first aid kit and fire safety equipment, location of Clubrecords and documentation, storage, toilets etc

Show the new member of staff any outside play areas, fire assembly points,collection points at the school and highlight any known hazards

Explain all aspects of the day-to-day management and running of the ClubInform the new member of staff about the Club’s obligation to comply withthe Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Explain the processes for appraisals, training and development, bookingholidays, sickness absence, staffing rota, etc.

Development and training

To ensure that staff development needs are being met, and that staff trainingand qualifications are meeting the requirements of the Club and the StatutoryFramework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, we provide all our staff with:

a thorough induction processa system of regular Supervisions and appraisals.Opportunities for training and professional development.

We also keep an up to date record of staff qualifications and maintain a trainingdevelopment plan in accordance with Ofsted guidelines.

Appraisals and reviews

The manager will hold an annual appraisal meeting with each member of staff.The appraisal will be used to reflect on progress and challenges over theprevious year and to identify current knowledge and skills, areas for futuredevelopment and potential training needs.

Supervision

Supervision meetings are now a statutory requirement of the revised EYFSFramework (2012). This requires all Early Years settings to provide regular 1.1supervision meetings from a trained supervisor. Supervisory meetings give staffthe opportunity to raise any professional queries, discuss career progression,clarify roles, support performance management and provide practitioners withthe opportunity to raise any concerns they might have about children in theircare and receive support to help them deal with difficult or challengingsituations at work.

TrainingThe manager will identify and promote suitable training courses for staff sothat they can expand their professional development and keep their knowledgeof childcare and playwork issues up to date. Staff are expected to attendtraining courses as and when requested by their manager.

Staff meetingsStaff meetings provide a forum in which staff can share information, solveproblems and raise work issues.

Missing Child Policy

At Astbury Merekats our staff are always alert to the possibility that childrencan go missing during sessions. To minimise the risk of this happening staff willcarry out periodic head counts.

If a child cannot be located, the following steps will be taken:

All staff will be informed that the child is missing.Staff will conduct a thorough search of the premises and surrounding area.After 10 minutes the police will be informed. The manager will then contactthe child’s parents or carers.

Staff will continue to search for child whilst waiting for the police andparents to arrive.

We will maintain as normal a routine as possible for the rest of the childrenat the Club.

The manager will liaise with the police and the child’s parent or carer.

The incident will be recorded in the Incident Log. A review will be conductedregarding this and any other related incidents along with relevant policies andprocedures. We will identify and implement any changes as necessary.

If the police or Social Care were involved in the incident, we will also informOfsted.

Useful numbers

Children’s Assessment Team: 0300 123 5012Out of Hours: 0300 123 5022Police: 999 or 101Ofsted: 0300 123 4666

Uncollected Children Policy

Astbury Merekats will ensure that all children are collected by a parent orcarer at the end of each session. If a child is not collected at the end of asession, and the parent or carer has not notified us that they will be delayed,we will use the following procedures:

Up to 15 minutes late

When the parent or carer arrives they will be reminded that they must callthe Club to notify us if they are delayed.

The parent or carer will be informed that penalty fees will have to becharged (unless the delay was genuinely unavoidable).

Over 15 minutes late

If a parent or carer is more than 15 minutes late in collecting their child, themanager will try to contact them using the contact details on file.

If there is no response from the parent or carer, messages will be leftrequesting that they contact the Club immediately. The manager will then tryto contact the emergency contacts listed on the child’s registration form.

While waiting to be collected, the child will be supervised by at least twomembers of staff.

When the parent or carer arrives they will be reminded that they must callthe Club to notify us if they are delayed, and that penalty fees will have tobe charged (except in exceptional circumstances).

Over 30 minutes late If the manager has been unable to contact the child’s parents or carers

after 30 minutes, the manager will contact the local Social Care team foradvice.

The child will remain in the care of two of the Club’s staff, on the Club’spremises if possible, until collected by the parent or carer, or until placed inthe care of the Social Care team.

If it is not possible for the child to remain at the Club’s premises, a note willbe left on the door of the Club informing the child’s parent or carer wherethe child has been taken (e.g to the home of a staff member or into the careof a safeguarding agency) and leaving a contact number. A further messagewill be left on the parent or carer’s telephone explaining events.

Managing persistent lateness

The manager will record incidents of late collection and will discuss them withthe child’s parents or carers. Parents and carers will be reminded that if theypersistently collect their child late they may lose their place at the Club.

Useful contacts

Children’s Assessment Team: 0300 123 5012

Emergency Duty Team: 0300 123 5022

Behaviour Management Policy

Astbury Merekats uses effective behaviour management strategies to promotethe welfare and enjoyment of children attending the Club. Working inpartnership with parents, we aim to manage behaviour using clear, consistentand positive strategies. The Club rules are clearly displayed at every session,and are discussed regularly.

The Club’s designated member of staff responsible for behaviour management isLouise Jones and the deputy is Libby Dakin.

Whilst at Astbury Merekats we expect children to:

Use socially acceptable behaviourComply with the Club rules, which are compiled by the children attending theclub

Respect one another, accepting differences of race, gender, ability, age andreligion

Develop their independence by maintaining self-disciplineChoose and participate in a variety of activitiesAsk for help if neededEnjoy their time at the Club

Encouraging positive behaviour

Positive behaviour is encouraged by:

Staff acting as positive role modelsPraising appropriate behaviourReward systemInforming parents about individual achievementsOffering a variety of play opportunities to meet the needs of the childrenattending the Club

It is inevitable that as children develop and learn, there are times when theyneed support and guidance to understand that their behaviour is not acceptable.Staff at the Club will try to determine the cause or triggers of theinappropriate behaviour to prevent the situation from recurring.

Dealing with inappropriate behaviour

Challenging behaviour will be addressed in a calm, firm and positive manner.In the first instance, the child will be temporarily removed from theactivity.

Staff will discuss why the behaviour displayed is deemed inappropriate.Staff will give the child an opportunity to explain their behaviour, to helpprevent a recurrence.

Staff will encourage and facilitate mediation between children to try toresolve conflicts through discussion and negotiation.

If the inappropriate behaviour appears to be as a result of boredom, staffwill consult with the child to find activities that more fully engage them.

Staff will consult with parents to formulate clear strategies for dealing withpersistent inappropriate behaviour.

Corporal punishment or the threat of corporal punishment will never be used.

If after consultation with parents and the implementation of behaviourmanagement strategies, a child continues to display inappropriate behaviour, theClub may decide to exclude the child.

Physical intervention

Physical intervention will only be used as a last resort, when staff believe thataction is necessary to prevent injury to the child or others, or to preventsignificant damage to equipment or property. If a member of staff has tophysically restrain a child, the manager will be notified and an Incident recordwill be completed. The incident will be discussed with the parent or carer assoon as possible.

All serious incidents will be recorded on an Incident record and kept in thechild’s file. This may be used to build a pattern of behaviour, which may indicatean unknown underlying cause. If a pattern of incidents indicates possible abuse,we will implement child protection procedures in accordance with ourSafeguarding policy.

Anti-Bullying Policy

Astbury Merekats will provide a supportive, caring and safe environment inwhich all children are free from the fear of being bullied. Bullying of any form isnot tolerated in our club, whether carried out by a child or an adult.

Staff, children and parents or carers will be made aware of the Club’s positionon bullying. Bullying behaviour is unacceptable in any form.

Any child who is a victim of bullying will be dealt with in a sympathetic manner.If bullying is suspected or reported, the incident will be dealt with immediatelyby the member of staff informed, and then discussed with the supervisor. Aclear account of the incident will be recorded in an Incident log. All staff willbe informed so that close monitoring of this can begin. Parents of both partieswill be informed.

Astbury Merekats defines bullying as the repeated harassment of othersthrough emotional, physical, psychological or verbal abuse.

Physical: Pushing, scratching, spitting, kicking, hitting, biting, taking ordamaging belongings, tripping up, punching or using any sort of violenceagainst another person.

Psychological: Behaviour likely to create a sense of fear or anxiety inanother person.

Emotional: Being deliberately unkind, shunning or excluding another personfrom a group or tormenting them. For example, making another person feel‘left out’ of a game or activity, passing notes about others or making fun ofanother person.

Verbal: Name-calling, put-downs, ridiculing or using words to attack,threaten or insult. For example, spreading rumours or making fun of anotherperson’s appearance.

Preventing bullying behaviour

Staff at Astbury Merekats will foster an anti-bullying culture in the followingways:

Encouraging caring and nurturing behaviourDiscussing friendships and encouraging paired, group and team playEncouraging children to report bullying without fearDiscussing the issues surrounding bullying with the children, including whybullying behaviour will not be tolerated

Exploring the consequences of bullying behaviour with the children.

Responding to bullying behaviour

Astbury Merekats acknowledges that despite all efforts to prevent it, bullyingbehaviour is likely to occur on occasion. Should such incidents occur, the Clubwill respond in accordance with the following principles:

We will address all incidents of bullying thoroughly and sensitively.Victims of bullying will be offered the immediate opportunity to discuss thematter with a member of staff who will reassure the child and offer support.

They will be reassured that what they say will be taken seriously and handledsympathetically.

Staff will support the individual who has been bullied, keeping them underclose supervision, and checking their welfare regularly.

If another child witnesses bullying and reports this, staff will reassure themthat they have done the right thing. Staff will then investigate the matter.

If a member of staff witnesses an act of bullying, involving children oradults at the club, they will inform the supervisor.

Children who have bullied will be helped by discussing what has happened,establishing why the child became involved. Staff will help the child tounderstand why this form of behaviour is unacceptable and will encouragehim/her to change their behaviour

If bullying behaviour persists, more serious actions may have to be taken, aslaid out in the Suspensions and Exclusions policy.

All incidents of bullying will be reported to the manager and will be recordedon an Incident Log. The manager and other relevant staff will review theClub’s procedures in respect of bullying, to ensure that practices arerelevant and effective.

Suspensions and Exclusions Policy

Astbury Merekats will deal with negative and inappropriate behaviour by usingconstructive behaviour management techniques. We will involve staff, parentsand children to tackle disruptive and challenging behaviour collectively.

We acknowledge that some children will require additional support in order toachieve acceptable levels of behaviour. Where we identify a child with theseneeds, we will work closely with the parents or carers to deal with theinappropriate behaviour in accordance with our Behaviour Management policy.

Where a child persistently behaves inappropriately, we will implement thefollowing procedure:

1. After two verbal warnings within a session, a formal final warning will begiven; staff will explain why the behaviour is unacceptable along with theconsequences of further incidents.

actions and to identify strategies for avoiding such incidents in the future.

behaviour Log.

2. Staff will encourage the child to discuss their behaviour, to explain their

3. Details of formal warnings, suspensions and exclusions will be recorded in the

4. The formal warning will be discussed with the child’s parent/carer.5. All staff will be informed when a child is given a final formal warning.

Staff will inform the manager if they believe that a child’s behaviour warrantssuspension or exclusion.

We will only suspend or exclude a child from the Club as a last resort, when allother behaviour management strategies have failed or if we feel that childrenor staff are at risk. We will try to give parents/carers time to arrangealternative childcare to cover the period of suspension.

Suspensions and exclusions will be fair, consistent and appropriate to thebehaviour concerned, and will take account of the child’s age and maturity aswell as any other factors relevant to the child’s situation. If appropriate, we willseek advice from other agencies; this may include accessing funding foradditional support.

Temporary suspensions

Temporary suspensions will be applied in the following situations:

Where a final formal warnings has failed to improve a child’s persistent,challenging and unacceptable behaviour.

In the event of a serious or dangerous incident where other children orstaff may be at risk, we will suspend a child with immediate effect. Wewill contact the parents or carer and ask that the child is collectedimmediately. Immediate suspensions will only be applied with theagreement of the manager.

The Club may temporarily suspend the child for a period of up to 15 days. If theClub takes this step, we will discuss our concerns with the parents/carers inorder to work together to promote a more desirable pattern of behaviour.

At the end of the suspension period the manager will meet with theparents/carers and the child, in order to agree any conditions relating to thechild’s return to the Club.

Permanent exclusion

In exceptional circumstances, and only when all other attempts at behaviourmanagement have failed, it may be necessary to permanently exclude a childfrom the setting.

If a child is excluded from the Club, the parents/carers will be given a verbaland written explanation of the issues and subsequent actions. The parent/carerhas the right to appeal to the manager against the exclusion within 14 days ofreceiving written notification of the exclusion.

Mobile Phone / E-Safety Policy

All staff at Astbury Merekats are only permitted to take photographs ofchildren within the club, using the Club tablet. No personal phones or camerasare allowed within the room or used to take any photos of children within theclub. The Club has its own mobile phone without a camera that is used to contactparents and for parents to contact us during Club hours.

Astbury Merekats recognises that cameras and the internet are a usefulresource for both staff and children, for purposes of evidence andentertainment. However to ensure the safety of our children the guidelineswithin this policy must be followed.

A copy of the SMART guidelines will printed out and kept next to the computer.The guidelines will be explained to any children wishing to access the Internet:

Safe: Keep safe by not giving out personal information – such asname, email, phone number, address, or school name – to people whoyou don’t trust online.

Meeting: Never agree to meet anyone you have only met online unlessyour parent or carer is with you.

Accepting: Do not accept emails or instant messages, or open files,Images or texts from people you don’t know. They can contain virusesor nasty messages.

Reliable: Not all the information found on the Internet is reliableand people you meet online won’t always be telling the truth.

Tell: Tell a member of staff or your parents if someone or somethingyou encounter online makes you feel uncomfortable.

If a child encounters something inappropriate on the Internet the manager willbe informed and the incident will be noted on an Incident Record in the child’sfile. The child’s parent will be asked to sign the Incident Record.

We have put in place the following safeguards:

The computer is located so that the screen can easily be seen from the restof the room.

Staff will supervise the use of the Internet.The computer has an up to date virus checker and firewall installed.The Safe Search Filtering is turned on.The computer’s browser history is regularly checked to monitor which sitesare being accessed and all staff and children are informed of this fact.

We also encourage parents to recognise their responsibilities in supporting oursetting to keep children safe by

Requesting them not to publish photos of their or other parent’s childrenwith their names and name of this setting on social networking sites.

requesting they do not discuss the setting on social networking sites

requesting them to follow procedures outlined in other policies (e.g.medicine policy/reporting accidents/illness/absence etc)

requesting parents not to bring mobile phones into the club

Illness and Accidents

At Astbury Merekats we endeavour to deal promptly and effectively with anyillnesses or injuries that may occur while children are in our care. We take allpractical steps to keep staff and children safe from communicable diseases.

When joining the club all parents or carers must complete the form, givingpermission for emergency medical treatment for their child in the event of aserious accident or illness.

We will record any accidents or illnesses, together with any treatment given, onan Incident Record or Accident Record sheet as appropriate, which the parentor carer will be asked to sign when they collect the child.

Astbury Merekats cannot accept children who are ill. If any children are ill whenthey first arrive at the Club we will immediately notify their parents or carersto come and collect them. Any children who have been ill should not return tothe Club until they have fully recovered, or until after the minimum exclusionperiod has expired (see table at the end of this policy).

First aidThe Club’s designated First Aiders are Natasha Hamilton, Louise Jones, Libby Dakin and Neil Kippen. The designated First Aiders have a current first aidcertificate and have attended a 12 hour paediatric first aid course. We willensure that there is a qualified first aider present at every session of the Club,therefore all other employees will also receive first aid training.

The location of the first aid box and a list of qualified first aiders are clearlydisplayed at the Club. The designated First Aiders regularly checks thecontents of the first aid box to ensure that they are up to date, appropriatefor children and comply with the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations1981.

The manager will ensure that a first aid kit is taken on all outings and that atleast one member of staff on the outing holds a current paediatric first aidcertificate.

Procedure for a minor injury or illness

The first aider at the session will decide upon the appropriate action to take ifa child becomes ill or suffers a minor injury.

If a child becomes ill during a session, the parent or carer will be askedto collect the child as soon as possible. The child will be kept comfortableand will be closely supervised while awaiting collection.

If a child complains of illness which does not impair their overallwellbeing, the child will be monitored for the rest of the session and theparent or carer will be notified when the child is collected.

If a child suffers a minor injury, first aid will be administered and thechild will be monitored for the remainder of the session. If necessary,the child’s parent will be asked to collect the child as soon as possible.

Procedure for a major injury or serious illness

In the event of a child becoming seriously ill or suffering a major injury, thefirst aider at the session will decide whether the child needs to go straight tohospital or whether it is safe to wait for their parent or carer to arrive.

If the child needs to go straight to hospital, we will call an ambulance anda member of staff will go to the hospital with the child. The staffmember will take the child’s form with consent to any necessarytreatment (as approved by the parents on the Registration Form ).

We will contact the child’s parents or carers with all urgency, and if theyare unavailable we will call the other emergency contacts that we have onfile for the child.

After a major incident the manager and staff will review the events andconsider whether any changes need to be made to the Club’s policies orprocedures.

We will notify Ofsted and child protection agencies in the event of anyserious accident or injury to a child in our care.

We will notify HSE under RIDDOR in the case of a death or major injuryon the premises (eg broken limb, amputation, dislocation, etc – see theHSE website for a full list of reportable injuries).

Communicable diseases and conditions

If a case of head lice is found at the Club, the child’s parents or carers will bediscreetly informed. Other parents will be warned to check their own childrenfor head lice, but care will be taken not to identify the child affected.

If an infectious or communicable disease is detected on the Club’s premises, wewill inform parents and carers as soon as possible.

If there is an incident of food poisoning affecting two or more children lookedafter at the Club the Manager will inform Ofsted.

If there is an outbreak of a notifiable disease at the Club, we will inform thelocal health protection unit, HSE under RIDDOR (if appropriate), and Ofsted.

Useful contacts

Ofsted: 0300 123 1231

RIDDOR Incident Contact Unit: 0845 300 99 23

Minimum exclusion periods for infectious conditions and diseases

Disease/ConditionChicken Pox

Cold Sores

Conjunctivitis

Diphtheria*

Diarrhoea and Vomiting

Glandular Fever

Gastro-enteritis, E. Coli, FoodPoisoning, Salmonella andDysentery

Hand, Foot and Mouth disease

Hepatitis A*

Hepatitis B* and C*

High temperature

HIV/AIDS

Impetigo

Influenza

Measles*

Meningitis*

Molluscum Contagiosum

Mumps*

Pediculosis (lice)

Pertussis* (Whooping cough)

Poliomyelitis

Ringworm of scalp

Exclusion period5 days from first appearance of rash

None. Avoid contact with sores

24 hours or until the discharge from eyeshas stopped

Until certified well by doctor

48 hours after symptoms cleared

Until fully recovered

Until certified well by doctor

Usually 10 days or while rash and ulcers arepresent

Until certified well

None

24 hours

None

Until the skin has healed

Until recovered

5 days from onset of rash

Until recovered

None

5 days from onset of swollen glands

Until treatment has been given

21 days from the onset or 5 days fromcommencing antibiotic treatment

Until certified well by doctor

Until cured

Ringworm of the body

Rubella* (German Measles)

Scabies

Scarlet fever*

Slapped Check, Fifth Disease

Streptococcal infection of thethroat

Threadworms

Tonsillitis

Tuberculosis*

Typhoid*, Paratyphoid*

Warts (including Verruca)

Until treatment has been given

5 days from onset of rash

Until treatment has been given

5 days from start of the treatment

None

3 days from the start of the treatment

Until treatment has been completed

None

Until certified well by doctor

Until certified well by doctor

None. Verruca sufferers should keep feetcovered

* Denotes a notifiable disease.

If in any doubt contact local health services for further information

Administering Medication Policy

If a child attending Astbury Merekats requires prescription medication of anykind, their parent or carer must complete a Permission to administer medicineform in advance. Staff at the Club will not administer any medication withoutsuch prior written consent.

Ideally children should take their medication before arriving at the Club.Astbury Merekats can only administer medication that has been prescribed by adoctor. To ensure that this is the case all medication provided must have theprescription sticker attached which includes the child’s name, the date, thetype of medicine and the dosage.

A designated staff member will be responsible for administering medication orfor witnessing self-administration by the child. The designated person willrecord receipt of the medication on a Medication Log, will check that themedication is properly labelled, and will ensure that it is stored securely duringthe session. Before any medication is given, the designated person will:

Check that the Club has received written consentAsk another member of staff to witness that the correct dosage is given.

When the medication has been administered, the designated person must:

Record all relevant details on the Record of Medication Given formAsk the child’s parent or carer to sign the form to acknowledge that themedication has been given.

When the medication is returned to the child’s parent or carer, the designatedperson will record this on the Medication Log.

Staff will keep a child’s medication safe until it is required. Inhalers must belabelled with the child’s name.

If a child refuses to take their medication, staff will not force them to do so.The manager and the child’s parent or carer will be notified, and the incidentrecorded on the Record of Medication Given.

Certain medications require specialist training before use, e.g Epi Pens. If achild requires such medication the manager will arrange appropriate training assoon as possible. It may be necessary to absent the child until such training hasbeen undertaken. Where specialist training is required, only appropriatelytrained staff may administer the medication.

A child’s parent or carer must complete a new Permission to AdministerMedication form if there are any changes to a child’s medication (includingdosage or frequency).

If a child suffers from a long term medical condition the Club will ask thechild's parents to provide a medical care plan from their doctor, to clarifyexactly what the symptoms and treatment are so that the Club has a clearstatement of the child's medical requirements.

Equal Opportunities

At Astbury Merekats we will ensure that we provide a safe and caringenvironment, free from discrimination, for everyone in our community includingchildren with additional needs. To achieve the Club’s objective of creating anenvironment free from discrimination and welcoming to all, the Club will:

Respect the different racial origins, religions, cultures and languages in amulti-ethnic society so that each child is valued as an individual withoutracial or gender stereotyping.

Not discriminate against children on the grounds of disability, sexualorientation, class or family status.

Help all children to celebrate and express their cultural and religiousidentity by providing a wide range of appropriate resources and activities.

Strive to ensure that children feel good about themselves and others, bycelebrating the differences which make us all unique individuals.

Ensure that its services are available to all parents/carers and children inthe local community.

Ensure that the Club’s recruitment policies and procedures are open, fair andnon-discriminatory.

Work to fulfil all the legal requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

Racial harassmentThe Club will not tolerate any form of racial harassment. The Club will challengeracist and discriminatory remarks, attitudes and behaviour from the children atthe Club, from staff and from any other adults on Club premises (e.gparents/carers collecting children).

Equal Opportunities Named Coordinator

The Club’s Equal Opportunities Named Coordinator (ENCO) is Libby Dakin andthe deputy is Neil Kippen. The ENCO is responsible for ensuring that:

Staff receive relevant and appropriate trainingThe Equal Opportunities policy is consistent with current legislation andguidance

Appropriate action is taken wherever discriminatory behaviour, language orattitudes occur.

Special Educational Needs

Children with additional needsOur Club recognises that some children have additional needs or physicaldisabilities that require particular support and assistance. We will takeappropriate action to ensure that all children can access our services and aremade to feel welcome.

Where one to one support is required we will assist parents in accessing thefunding required to provide the additional care.

Special Educational Needs CoordinatorThe Club’s Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is Louise Jones andthe deputy is Libby Dakin. The SENCO will:

Manage the provision for children with special educational needs or physicaldisabilities.

Be fully trained and experienced in the care and assessment of such children.

All members of staff will assist the SENCO in caring for children withadditional needs or physical disabilities

Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs

SmokingSmoking is not permitted anywhere on the premises of Astbury St Mary’sPrimary School, including outside play areas. This rule applies to everyoneincluding staff, people collecting children or any other visitors.

AlcoholAnyone who arrives at the Club clearly under the influence of alcohol will beasked to leave immediately. If they are a member of staff, disciplinaryprocedures will follow.

DrugsAnyone who arrives at the Club clearly under the influence of illegal drugs willbe asked to leave immediately. If they are a member of staff, seriousdisciplinary procedures will follow.

If a member of staff is taking prescription drugs that may affect their abilityto function effectively, they must inform the manager as soon as possible. Themanager will then complete a risk assessment.

Safeguarding children

All members of staff have a duty to inform the manager and the SoCCo if theybelieve that a parent or carer is a threat to the safety of a child due theirbeing under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs when they drop off orcollect their child. The manager and SoCCo will decide upon the appropriatecourse of action.

If a parent or carer is clearly over the alcohol limit, or under the influence ofillegal drugs, staff will do everything they can to prevent the child fromtravelling in a vehicle driven by them. If necessary the police should be called.

Healthy Eating Policy

Astbury Merekats will provide healthy, nutritious and balanced food and drinks.Food and drink will be safely prepared with regard to the dietary and religiousrequirements of the children in our care. We ask parents to notify us regardingany special dietary requirements or allergies when they register their child.

Astbury Merekats will promote healthy eating and will lead by example. Staffresponsible for food preparation, handling and storage will have receivedappropriate training.

We will provide suitable healthy snacks for all the children.Children will be encouraged to develop good eating skills and table manners.All children will be given plenty of time to eat.Where appropriate, children will be involved in planning and preparing foodand snacks.

Fresh drinking water will be available at all times.Fresh fruit will be available at all sessions.Withholding food will not be used as a form of punishment.Staff will discuss with children the importance of a balanced diet whereappropriate.

The club will not regularly provide sweets for children.We will avoid excessive amounts of fatty or sugary foods.Children will not be forced to eat or drink anything against their will.

Environmental Policy

Astbury Merekats is committed to the protection of the environment throughreducing pollution, emissions and waste.

As part of the induction process, and through staff meetings and training, ourstaff will be informed about reducing the use of raw materials, supplies andenergy.

We raise the children’s awareness of environmental issues through discussions,projects and day-to-day activities within the club.

Children and staff follow the Club’s ‘eco code’:

We re-use and recycle our waste material, and the recycling bins are easilyaccessible to staff and children.

We switch off lights when not in use and fit the lights with energy savingbulbs where possible.

We turn off electrical equipment at the power source when not in use.We turn off taps after use and do not waste water.We do not drop litter.We plan our outings to minimise vehicle use and use public transportwhenever possible.

Confidentiality Policy

At Astbury Merekats we respect the privacy of the children attending the Cluband the privacy of their parents or carers. Our aim is to ensure that all thoseusing and working at Astbury Merekats can do so with confidence.

We will respect confidentiality in the following ways:

Parents can ask to see the records relating to their child, but will not haveaccess to information about any other children.

Staffs only discuss individual children for purposes of planning and groupmanagement.

Staffs are made aware of the importance of confidentiality during theirInduction process.

Information given by parents to Club staff will not be passed on to thirdparties without permission unless there is a safeguarding issue (as covered inour Safeguarding Policy).

Concerns or evidence relating to a child’s safety, will be kept in a confidentialfile and will not be shared within the Club, except with the designatedSafeguarding Officer and the manager.

Issues relating to the employment of staff, whether paid or voluntary, willremain confidential to those making personnel decisions.

Confidential records are stored securely in a lockable cupboard.Students on work placements are informed of our confidentiality policy andare required to respect it.

Sharing information with outside agencies

We will only share information with outside agencies on a need-to-know basisand with consent from parents, except in cases relating to safeguardingchildren or criminal activity. If we decide to share information without parentalconsent, we will record this in the child’s file, clearly stating our reasons.

We will only share relevant information that is accurate and up to date. Ourprimary commitment is to the safety and well-being of the children in our care.

Data Protection Act

We comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998, regardingobtaining, storing and using personal data, therefore we are registered with theInformation Commissioner’s Office.

Complaints Procedure

At Astbury Merekats we aim to work in partnership with parents to deliver ahigh quality childcare service for everyone. If for any reason we fall short ofthis goal, we would like to be informed in order to amend our practices for thefuture. Our complaints policy will be displayed on the premises at all times.Records of all complaints will be retained for a period of at least three years. Asummary of complaints is available for parents on request.

The manager will generally be responsible for dealing with complaints. If thecomplaint is about the manager, the registered person or other senior memberof staff will investigate the matter. Any complaints received about staffmembers will be recorded on an Incident log and a Complaints log will becompleted. Any complaints made will be dealt with in the following manner:

Stage oneComplaints about aspects of Club activity: The manager will discuss the matter informally with the parent or carer

concerned and aim to reach a satisfactory resolution.

Complaints about an individual staff member:

If appropriate the parent will be encouraged to discuss the matter withstaff concerned.If the parent feels that this is not appropriate, the matter will be discussedwith the manager, who will then discuss the complaint with the staff memberand try to reach a satisfactory resolution.

Stage twoIf it is impossible to reach a satisfactory resolution to the complaint throughinformal discussion, the parent or carer should put their complaint in writing tothe manager. The manager will:

Acknowledge receipt of the letter within 7 days.Investigate the matter and notify the complainant of the outcome within 28days.Send a full response in writing, to all relevant parties, including details of anyrecommended changes to be made to the Club’s practices or policies as aresult of the complaint.Meet relevant parties to discuss the Club’s response to the complaint, eithertogether or on an individual basis.

If child protection issues are raised, the manager will refer the situation to theSafeguarding of Children Officer, who will then contact Social Care and followthe procedures of the Safeguarding Children Policy. If a criminal act may havebeen committed, the manager will contact the police.

Making a complaint to OfstedAny parent or carer can submit a complaint to Ofsted about Astbury Merekatsat any time. Ofsted will consider and investigate all complaints.

Ofsted’s address is:Ofsted,Picadilly Gate,Store Street,Manchester,M1 2WD.

Telephone: 0300 123 1231 (general enquiries) 0300 123 4666 (complaints)

These policies were written by: AstburyMerekats

These policies were reviewed on 31st Oct 2014, 2015

These policies were reviewed on 24th February 2016

Date: 31st Oct 2011

Signed: N. J Kippen

Signed: N . J Hamilton