PARENT / CARERS

INFORMATION PACK

Clare Tilney 209 Greenways Delves Lane Consett Co Durham DH8 7DW Telephone 01207 503621 Mobile 07948 296158 E-mail clare.tilney1@btinternet.com

Clare Tilney Child Minder

Introduction and Personal Information

My name is Clare Tilney and I am married to Paul. We have two children, Sam and Eve. I currently work 3 days a week as a Human Resources Support Officer for Durham County Council, therefore I can only provide child care on a Thursday and a Friday and occasional Saturdays. Paul works full time as a Technology Risk Assurance Audit Manager for the NHS and is registered by Ofsted to be my Assistant. I have been registered since 18 December 2008. I am registered to care for 6 children under the age of 8 years. I am registered to provide the 15 hours flexible free entitlement to 2 and 3 year olds. I hold an NVQ Level 3 in Childcare, Learning and Development and a Diploma in Business and Finance. I am a member of the Professional Association of Child Care and Early Years (PACEY). This means that I have access to all the latest childminding information which helps me to offer the best care to your child. If you would like any further information about PACEY please do not hesitate to ask me. My public liability insurance is with PACEY and I comply with all of the requirements laid down by the insurance company. I provide care in a loving family environment. This allows me to provide continuity of care unrivalled by any other form of childcare and provides children from a very young age with a valuable source of support. Siblings can be cared for together as they would be in your own home – there is no baby room or toddler room segregation. The rest of this pack is designed to give you some information about the childminding service that I offer. Please take the time to read it and should you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me.

Choosing Your Childminder

Before you make the decision of who to leave your child with, you will visit many childminders. When you come to see me we will have an informal chat about every aspect of my childminding service. I will give you lots of information and answer any questions that you may have. It is a good way for us to get to know each other. If you then decide that you would like to use me to care for your child there will be several forms to complete. One of these forms is a contract. I have contracts for each child in my care. The contract sets out the hours that childcare will be provided and the fees etc. This will be revised on occasion but not without prior notice to all parents. All concerned parties must sign the contract, i.e. both parents and childminder. We can complete all of these forms together or you may wish to take them home and read through them properly.

Daily Diaries

When your child starts you will be given a book which will be our daily diary. The purpose of this will be for me to record the events of the day and for the parents to record anything significant that happens at home. This way, there will be a written record of all food and drink taken, toilet habits, sleep etc. Please remember to put the book in your child’s bag each morning.

Fees and Holidays

My normal hours of work are Thursdays and Fridays, 6.30am until 6.30pm, though I am flexible and can work outside of these hours. My hourly rate is £3.50 weekdays and £5.00 on a Saturday. I will reduce my hourly rate to £3.00 if I have more than one child from the same family so it would be £6.00 an hour in total for 2 siblings and £4.50 an hour on a Saturday. An invoice will be issued at the end of each month detailing amount owed. I will charge to the nearest 15 minutes. Sickness If I cannot offer care due to myself or my family being sick then no fee will be charged. If a child in my care does not attend due to sickness then no fee will be payable. Holidays I will require 3 weeks holiday during the summer and usually 1 week at Christmas. I will not be available to work Good Friday and reserve the right to take up to an additional 4 days throughout the year. During this time no fee will be payable. There will be times in the year when I can provide additional care, especially during school holidays. I will let you know in advance when I can provide additional days and the normal hourly rate will apply. I ask that you try to give me as much notice as possible for your holidays and in return I will give you as much notice as I can for my holidays, the minimum period being 4 weeks. Summary To summarise I will only charge for care provided and an invoice will be issued at the end of each calendar month detailing the care provided and amount due. Payment can be made by cash, childcare vouchers, cheque, direct debit or bank transfer.

Settling in Period

When parents/carers decide to bring their child to me I will offer them the chance to have a settling in session free of charge. The following will be offered before the start of a contract: Two or three weeks before the child is due to start with me I will offer the parents one free, three hour session. This will ensure that the child is familiar with me and the environment and also for parents/carers to see that the child is happy with me.

Learning Journey Files

As part of the Early Years Foundation Stage I need to produce evidence of your child’s time with me. I will do this by putting any special pieces of work, any photos taken and any developmental records into a learning journey file. The file also included an achievement record which I produce at the end of each term and a planning sheet for the following term. This file will stay with me until your child leaves my care and then you can take it home. It will be shown to the Ofsted Inspector during my inspections; therefore it will remain in my setting so I can add to it whenever I need to. The journeys are available for you to look at whenever you wish and I would encourage you to do so.

What Your Child Needs to Bring

Depending on the age of your child you will need to bring some or all of the following:

Nappies, wipes and cream

Bottles of prepared milk and spares

Juice and a cup

Baby food

Any soothers that your child uses

A change of clothing

Packed lunch (if your child has special dietary requirements)

Suitable outdoor clothing, whether it be summer or winter

Suntan cream

Meals I aim to provide children with a healthy, balanced and tasty diet. I will work with parents to ensure that I provide food that the child likes, however if your child has any special dietary requirements I ask that you provide their food or if your child is under 12 months I ask that you provide all food and milk. The children will be encouraged to sit at the table during mealtimes and they will be encouraged to develop good eating skills and table manners. Drinking water will be available at all times of the day, with milk and low sugar cordials available at snack and meal times. Fizzy drinks will not be provided at any times. Parents will be advised if I have any concerns about a child’s eating habits. Examples of the meals that I serve are set out below: Breakfast

Choice of cereals or toast Lunch

Sandwiches with various fillings such as cooked meat, cheese, tuna or spreads. All sandwiches will be served with salad garnish.

Soups such as tomato, vegetable or mushroom. Soup will always be served with bread or rolls.

Toast with various toppings such as cheese, egg or beans. Tea

Jacket potato with cheese or tuna served with salad

Lasagne

Pizza, garlic bread and salad

Curry and Rice with naan bread

Spaghetti bolognaise

Cottage pie with vegetables

Fish fingers, chips and peas

Chicken risotto

Chicken nuggets, chips and salad

Sausages, mash and vegetables

Pasta and garlic bread Puddings will be served after lunch and tea and may consist of yoghurts, fromage frais, instant whip, fresh fruit, custard, jelly or tinned fruit and cream. Snacks

Fresh fruit, bread sticks, crackers, biscuits or cheese dippers.

Toilet Training

Once you feel that your child is ready for toilet training I will follow your routine and encourage your child whilst they are in my care. I ask that you supply a reasonable amount of extra clothing (including socks). During toilet training I ask that children be dressed in ‘user friendly’ clothing such as clothes with elasticated waistbands this makes it easier to remove clothes quickly when the child is in a hurry.

Medical Information I have a fully stocked first aid kit, which is checked regularly and will be used for the treatment of minor day to day injuries that may occur, e.g. cuts, bruises, scratches etc. I can only give medicine to your child if it has been prescribed by a doctor or other medical professional. You will need to complete “Permission to Administer Medicine Form” before any prescribed medicines can be given. If your child is unwell with an infectious illness I will not be able to provide care for them. If your child has a sickness and / or diarrhoea bug I will not be able to provide care until they have been well for 48 hours. If your child becomes unwell when they are with me, I will contact you to arrange for them to be collected as soon as possible.

Policies and Procedures

As a registered childminder I have a full list of working policy statements which are available for all parents to view and which are also included in this information pack. These help parents to understand my views and practices concerning childcare and also serve to lay some ground rules. The next few pages cover all of my policies. Please take the time to read through them as they cover all the important issues that you need to be aware of. There is a form at the end which you need to sign and return to me to say that you have read and understood each policy. There is also a permission form which you need to look though and sign the relevant sections.

Behaviour Management Policy

As a registered childminder I aim to offer a high quality childcare service for parents and children. I recognise the need to set reasonable and appropriate limits to help manage the behaviour of children in my care. I have set out below the key points of my policy.

I use positive discipline as an effective way of setting limits for children.

All good behaviour will be rewarded.

Corporal punishment will not be used or threats of corporal punishment.

There may be occasions where physical intervention is necessary. Physical intervention is where I will use reasonable force to prevent a child from injuring themselves or others or damaging property. I will keep a record of any occasion where physical intervention was used and parents / carers will be informed on the same day, or as soon as reasonable practicable.

I will aim to be aware of the warning signals that may pre-empt challenging behaviour.

I will involve the children in decision making.

I will encourage self discipline and respect for others because children need to grow into people who behave well even when there is no one to tell them what to do.

I will set realistic limits according to age and stage of development of the child.

My family and I will set a good example and will provide positive role models for children to follow.

I will not tolerate negative language or bad behaviour in my home from any adults or children.

When children use unacceptable behaviour I will try to distract them or explain the reasons why this behaviour is not allowed (dependent on the child’s age and stage of understanding).

I will use encouragement and not orders. An instruction such as ‘Do as you are told’ teaches nothing for next time. Positive discipline means explaining why and discussing consequences of actions.

I will build upon a child’s self-esteem as attention, approval and praise builds self-esteem and a child who feels valued is more likely to behave well.

I will not tolerate bullying of any kind in my setting. I define bullying as verbal, physical or indirect such as exclusion or spreading rumours. If I suspect or see that any form of bullying is taking place I will explain to the child the negative effects that bullying can have and why it is not acceptable. In more serious cases I will record the incident and inform parents so we can discuss the problem.

There may be occasions when a child may bite. This may be because they are teething, frustrated, exploring using their mouth, asserting their independence and wanting to gain control or attention or because they could be stressed. Should a child be bitten I will ensure that, if required, any first aid is applied correctly and the incident will be recorded and parents asked to sign it.

By providing a happy, well managed environment, the children in my care will be encouraged to develop social skills to help them be accepted and welcomed in society as they grow up.

Collection / Late Collection / Uncollected Child/ Collection Policy

In the event of a child not being collected on time or not being collected at all, the following procedure will be followed:

I will allow half an hour for late collection because I appreciate that in some occupations it is not always possible to leave exactly on time and I allow for traffic congestion.

After the first half hour I will telephone the person who is collecting the child to see if there is a problem.

If the person collecting the child is not the parent / carer, I will ring the parent / carer and let them know about the situation.

If I cannot contact the parent / carer I will ring any other emergency contact numbers that I have and request that the child is collected immediately.

Should there be no reply from these numbers I will continue to try at regular intervals. At no time will a child be allowed to go with a person other than those agreed. During this time I will continue to safely care for the child. Should I exceed my official ratios I will notify Ofsted. After a reasonable amount of time I will inform the Initial Response Team on 0845 8505010. If at any time the usual arrangements for the collection of your child need to be altered this must be done with prior notice At no time will children be allowed to leave my home with any person not authorised to do so. In the case of an emergency whereby a non authorised person is to collect the child I must be informed by yourself, who this person will be. The person must be over the age of 16, have identification or use a given password. This system will only be used in an emergency and cannot form part of daily practice.

Complaints Procedure

As your registered childminder I aim to provide a high standard of care for your child. I provide many different activities which are all age and stage appropriate. I provide care based on routines that the child follows at home and try to establish good working relationships with the child, their parents, carer and anyone else involved in the care of the child. If you are unhappy with any aspect of the care I provide or you are unsure about anything concerning your child, I encourage you to speak to me to discuss this. If necessary, we can arrange a special time when you can speak to me privately, or you can speak to me when you collect your child. If you are still unhappy you should put your concerns to me in writing. I will investigate and respond to you within 28 days of receiving the letter. However, if you feel that the issue is still unresolved, you may contact the Ofsted complaints department at: Ofsted National Business Unit Piccadilly Gate Store Street Manchester M1 2WD Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk Telephone 0300 1231231 They will advise you on what course of action to take and will also contact me so that the situation can be resolved.

Please note Ofsted will not deal with any complaints regarding contractual or payment disputes or any employee/employer matters. Ofsted will only deal with matters concerning the requirements for registration or any conditions of registration.

Confidentiality Policy

As a registered childminder I will ensure I respect the privacy of all families with children in my care. Confidentiality is important and necessary as part of my childminding service. All personal details of children in my care are kept in a locked box.

Personal details about your child and your family will not be disclosed to other families who use my childminding service without your written permission.

Personal details about your child and your family will not be disclosed to agencies outside my childminding service without your written permission.

The terms and conditions of the contract that you have signed and agreed on will not be discussed with anyone without your written permission.

Any family history or current problems discussed with myself will not be passed on to anyone without your written permission.

.In the event of a child protection issue arising, information that I have about your child can be shared with the relevant agencies in keeping with Durham County Council’s Safeguarding Children’s Board procedures.

.Subject to a medical emergency, in the event of the parent being unable to be contacted, the child’s details will be shared with the appropriate medical staff in line with the signed emergency medical treatment permissions form.

Equal Opportunities Policy

As a registered childminder I will ensure that I actively promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practices for all children. I will not discriminate against any child or their family on the grounds of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religious belief, class, HIV/Aids or family status. All the children in my care will receive the same opportunities and will be given equal chances to play, develop and learn and these will be adapted to suit their individual needs. I encourage all children to have respect for themselves and others and will not tolerate negative attitudes towards other people. The toys, books and puzzles that I use reflect a multi-cultural society and also a society which includes people with disabilities. I will endeavour to support children’s emotional welfare and well-being and to respect the needs of others. I have been diversity trained through Durham County Council and I will create a welcoming environment where all children feel included regardless of their race, gender, disability or family background. I will teach children that gender, colour, disability etc does not limit what people are capable of achieving. I will endeavour to be a positive role model and discourage racist and discriminatory remarks. I will endeavour to promote positive attitudes and behaviours. I prohibit the use of racist or derogatory language used either in a general way or directed at any individual person. Should a child behave in this way I will speak to them about why this is not appropriate and try to prevent it from happening again. I expect parents who leave their children in my care to respect the other children that I care for and their families. I also expect parents and their children to respect my family. Any parents using racist or derogatory language will be asked to stop speaking in this manner immediately or to leave the premises.

Emergency Evacuation Policy

As a registered childminder the safety of the children in my care is my utmost priority. My smoke alarm is checked weekly as part of my risk assessment and I carry out a fire drill every 3 months. The children are taught that on the sound of the smoke alarm or the call of fire they must stop what they are doing. They must follow me and leave the house sensibly and calmly WITHOUT running, to the assembly point. My assembly point is the top of the drive at the front of the house and the children must wait there while I take the register and ring for the Fire Brigade. My register is kept in the front porch and there is a copy of my emergency contact details in the front of the register. I will then contact parents and arrange for the children to be collected.

Health and Safety Policy

The Health and Safety of your child is very important to me and I have therefore documented the following procedures that I have in place to support this. General Safety

All toys will be checked and cleaned regularly to ensure they are safe for your child to use. Any broken or hazardous toys will be removed immediately. Children will only be offered toys and resources that are suitable for their age/stage of development.

All resources will be used in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines.

I do a quick risk assessment of my home and garden every morning before the children arrive to ensure that it is a safe environment for minded children.

All plug sockets not in use have socket covers.

All equipment will be checked and cleaned regularly. All equipment is fitted with the correct safety harnesses to prevent accidents, for example highchair and pushchairs.

I use safety equipment appropriate for the children in my care, ie stair gates, cupboard locks etc. These are checked regularly.

Personal Safety

I will keep my front door locked to prevent the children opening the door to strangers.

Strangers will not be allowed to enter the property unless they can produce id, otherwise they will be asked to call back at a later time.

Children must stay with me when we are away from home. Younger children will be in a pushchair with secure fastenings. Older children will either be on a harness or wrist strap or holding onto my hand or pushchair.

I have emergency contract details with me at all times.

I will work with parents to teach the children about safety issues such as stranger danger and crossing the road.

My first aid box is kept on top of the kitchen cupboards well out of reach of children, it is fully stocked and checked regularly.

Sleeping children will be monitored regularly. Emergency Plan

I have a fire evacuation plan in place in the event of a fire.

The fire evacuation drill will be carried out every 3 months from a different room in the house.

My smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarm are checked and recorded on a weekly basis.

Mobile phones will be carried when off site.

My first aid certificate is in place and in date.

My first aid kit is clearly marked and stored safely.

Food Safety and Hygiene

I keep my kitchen very clean, following hygiene guidelines on the storing of food, keeping the fridge at the correct temperature etc.

Fridge temperature is checked daily.

Where food if provided for the child it will be stored at the correct temperature.

Any formula or breast milk provided will be stored at the correct temperature.

Any left over milk will be with discarded or returned.

Bottles will only be rinsed after use.

I follow strict hygiene guidelines to prevent contamination.

All food provided is recorded.

I supply healthy and nutritious meals and drinking water is always available. I will ensure babies and very young children have sufficient liquid.

As a provider of meals and snacks I am aware of my responsibilities under food hygiene legislation including registration with a local authority.

Children will be encouraged to wash their hands before eating and after playing or using the toilet.

Paper towels are used at all times.

Children will be encouraged to brush their teeth after lunch.

I ensure that the children do not have access to any waste, the bins are emptied daily and any used nappies are double wrapped and placed in the outdoor rubbish bin..

I will work with you to teach the children about making healthy food choices and physical exercise.

Sick children will not be allowed to attend my setting until they have been well for the recommended period of time. (See guidance on infection control).

If there is an outbreak of food poisoning affecting two or more children looked after on my premises I will notify ofsted within 14 days of the incident occurring in order to comply with regulations.

I will keep all food receipts so that if there is an outbreak of food poisoning on my premises I will be able to trace the outlet where the food was purchased.

Documentation

Children’s arrival and departure times will be noted in the attendance register each day.

A record of accidents, incidents and pre-existing injuries will be kept up to date and parents will be asked to sign whenever they are informed as such.

Written risk assessment are reviewed regularly.

Child record forms are completed for each child.

Parental permission forms are completed for each child.

Inclusion Policy

All children will be welcomed into my home and I will aim to work in partnership with parents, professionals and other relevant bodies to gain information and understanding of specific needs. I will ensure that each child is treated as an individual and that all children in my care are offered the same access to opportunities. I will support individual children’s learning and development through endeavouring to ensure that each child will be provided with opportunities to participate in all activities. The Local Authority Inclusion Team offers support, advice and guidance to practitioners and parents. Telephone 0191 3833000.

Internet Safety Policy

In order to promote the learning and development of the children in my care they are encouraged to use the computer and access the internet. The children will be supervised at all times when using the internet and will only be allowed on websites that are appropriate to their age and stage of development. The children will not be allowed to access any chat rooms and any video clips that I want to use in my themes will be viewed beforehand by myself in order to assess their suitability. The children will be kept safe from terrorist and extremist material when accessing the internet. The computer has a built in anti-virus checker that is activated each time the computer is switched on.

Lost Child Policy

All children in my care will be supervised at all times therefore the chances of losing a child will be extremely unlikely and I will take the following precautions:

□ Ensure external boundaries are secure. □ Ensure I use appropriate equipment eg reins, wrist straps or children

hold my hand or the pushchair. □ Give careful consideration to where I take the children on outings. □ Carry out a full risk assessment prior to any outings or visits. □ Consider the supervision of children in relation to numbers of children

taken.. However, if a child does become lost whilst in my care I will initiate a search of the premises and surrounding area. If the child is not found quickly I will contact the police and parents /carers. I will give everyone involved in the search a full description of the child and as much information about the surrounding area as possible. I will give regard to the care and safety of remaining children. Should it be necessary I will use identified emergency cover as previously agreed with parents / carers. I will inform Ofsted as soon as possible. After the incident a full written report will be made and given to parents and a copy sent to Ofsted. A review of risk assessment procedures will be carried out and actions recorded.

Medication / Sickness Policy

The following points make up my medication / sickness policy.

□ When a child starts in my setting who has a medical condition I will ensure that I have sufficient information about the condition.

□ It is the responsibility of the parent to make sure all relevant information regarding their child’s medical needs are correct and up to date before being passed to me.

□ If a child becomes unwell while in my care I will contact the parent/carer immediately to discuss the situation. For this reason a minimum of 2 emergency contact numbers must be provided. These numbers will be carried with me at all times.

□ Until the child is collected I will ensure they are kept as comfortable as possible.

□ Without breaching confidentiality, parents will be informed if there is an infectious disease that may affect other children or their parents.

□ I must be informed of any illness occurring out of the childminding environment.

□ Sick children will not be allowed to attend my setting until they have been well for the recommended period of time. (See guidance on infection control).

□ Should my family or myself be sick the childminding service may not be available. I will endeavour to inform parents as soon as possible and keep them up to date.

□ Where necessary I will arrange professional training to enable me to administer treatment or medicine for certain conditions.

□ On receipt of any medication to be administered to a child a consent form must be completed by a parent or guardian on the morning of the day the medicine needs to be administered.

□ All medicines will be stored in accordance with product instructions and well out of reach of other children.

□ If medication has to be refrigerated it will be put in the fridge and the children will not be allowed access to it.

□ If the medication also needs to be administered at home it will be handed back to the parent or carer as the child leaves.

□ Any medication that needs to be discarded because it is out of date or is no longer required will be returned to the parent. It is parents responsibility to ensure that all medication is in date.

Non Prescription Medicine

□ If a child becomes ill while in my care with a temperature I will contact a parent or carer. If the parent requests I will administer non prescription medicine such as calpol but only once the parent has sent a text or e-mail giving me permission. A verbal message is not sufficient and will not be taken as parental consent.

□ If non prescription medicine has been administered the parent or carer must complete a medication consent form when the child is collected.

□ All non prescription medicine must be supplied by the parent and I will clearly label it with the child’s name.

Prescription Medication.

□ Any short term medication to be administered to a child must be prescribed by a doctor and have the following information on it.

1. The name of the child. 2. Date. 3. Name of the medication. 4. Date of birth. 5. Dosage. 6. Strength (if applicable) 7. Expiry date (if applicable)

□ Medication must be in the original packaging or bottle with the original

pharmacy label on it. If I do not have all of the relevant information the medication will not be administered.

□ Once the medication has been administered I will complete a medication form which will be signed by the parent or carer as well as myself.

Long Term or Ongoing Medical Conditions.

□ If a child has a long term or ongoing medical needs a meeting will be held to discuss the needs of the child before they start in my setting and a consent form will be completed to enable me to administer medicine.

□ Times and dosage of medication will be supplied to the parent at the end of each day.

□ Regular discussions will be held with parents to make sure all of the information I hold on the consent form is up to date.

□ It is the responsibility of the parent or carer to inform me of any changes to dosage etc.

□ If any changes do occur then a new consent form will be required. □ Long term conditions that require special care will be dealt with on an

individual basis.

Mobile Phone Policy

I request that parents do not use mobile phones when picking up or dropping off children. If any older children, in my care, have mobile phones in my setting, I will request that they are placed in a bowl in my kitchen and collected at the end of the day. During this time the phone can remain switched on.

Outings and Transport Policy

Visits and outings compliment activities and provide enriching experiences for children. When any visit or outing takes place the safety of the child remains paramount. I have full risk assessments in place for using my car, public transport or walking and a parental permission form must be signed.

Partnership with Parents / Carers Policy As a registered childminder I recognise that parents are the most significant people to the child, and as such I will value your role. As a parent you know your child best and I respect your knowledge and advice. Communication is therefore important. You will be given information on a daily basis via your daily diary with regards to your child’s time with me. You are encouraged to share any information about your child, which I may need to know and you can do this when you pick up your child, call back at a pre-arranged time when there are no other children present or telephone me at an agreed time. For children on the Early Years Register I am required by Ofsted to keep evidence of children’s learning and how they are making progress. To support this documentation I would appreciate any information that you provide to enable me to support your child / children’s interests. I will also keep you informed of any training that I take or anything else that I think is relevant to your child.

Personal Emergency Policy

In the event of a personal emergency where I may be unable to provide care for the children the following procedure will be actioned in order to maintain safe care of a the children at all times. I have 2 named people who are authorised to care for children either on their premises or in my own home should an emergency arise. Your child / children will not be left with any other person at any time. I / named persons will endeavour to contact parents / named emergency contacts of the child to inform you of the situation. I / named persons will inform Ofsted of the situation immediately.

Personal Possessions Policy

I provide a wide range of toys and activities for all the children in my care, catering for different needs, abilities and ages. Whilst it is not necessary for children to bring additional toys with them to play with I can appreciate that sometimes a child may have a particular comfort toy that they wish to bring or a toy that they have been playing with just before they left home. I will endeavour to keep all children’s toys and resources safe, however I am sure you appreciate with several children in my care at any one time, it is not always possible to keep an eye on their belongs when we are out and about. Whilst losses are rare I would advise that if a toy is very special or expensive that it remains safely at home as I will not be held responsible for loss or damage to them.

Photograph and Observation Policy

EYFS states babies and young children are individuals. Learning and development needs to be planned around the individual needs and interests of the child. Planning is informed by the use of ongoing observational assessment which I will support with photos.

During activity time I will be observing your child to see how they are progressing and recording their development. As part of the Early Years Foundation Stage I need to produce evidence of these observations and developments, to enable me to do this I may need to take photographs of your child, either on my camera or mobile phone, to put in their learning journal. The observations are confidential documents and will not be made available to anyone else other than the parent / carer and Ofsted without written permission from the parent / carer. I will not allow any other person to take photos of the children without written parental permission. For this reason I prohibit the use of camera’s or any other photographic device, including mobile phones, within my setting. If you agree to me taking photographs of your child and carrying out observations you will be required to sign a separate permission form.

Parents are welcome to see copies of any observations and planning related to their child.

Promoting British Values Policy

As part of the Government’s Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 I have to have ‘due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism’ known as the Prevent Duty. As part of this duty I have to promote British values within my setting and to keep the children safe and promote their welfare with regards to extremism. The British values that I must promote are democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. In my setting these 4 values will be promoted in the following ways:

The children in my care will be involved in decision making within the setting and will be encouraged to make choices and have their own ideas.

The children will be encouraged to know their views count and to value each other’s views and values.

The children will be encourage to talk about their feelings and I will support the children to manage their own feelings and behaviour and to resolve conflict.

The children will learn to distinguish right from wrong and to understand their own and others behaviour and its consequences.

I will support and promote the children’s self-confidence and self-awareness.

The children will be allowed to take risks within a safe environment. I will support the children’s understanding of diversity and challenge

negative attitudes and stereotypes.

I will model an inclusive attitude and tolerance to different faiths, cultures, races and beliefs and will help the children to recognise and respect these.

Safeguarding Children Policy

The care, safety and protection of all children in my setting is of the utmost importance to me. The following points make up my safeguarding children policy. I will follow the guidelines and procedures for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children as outlined by the Durham Local Safeguarding Children’s Board – www.durhamlscb.gov.uk I have a copy of ‘What to do if you are Worried a Child is being Abused’ and I will follow the procedure as stated. This is kept in my Safeguarding and Welfare File. Children will be supervised at all times. My front door is always locked and children will not be allowed to answer the front doors. I will request that all visitors show identification unless they are friends or family. Children will never be left alone with visitors or anyone other than myself. If I am unsure of anyone at my front door they will not be allowed into the premises. Children will only be allowed to leave my care with the person named on the contract – who is familiar to me. If anyone else is collecting the child I need to be introduced to them beforehand. Children will never be intentionally exposed to any dangerous situation. Any injuries that your child has upon arrival at my house must be recorded in my existing injuries file. A brief explanation from you on how the injury occurred will be required and also your signature. The EYFS requires me to produce observations of children’s development. In order to evidence these observations I will take photos on my camera or mobile phone (with parental consent). These photos will not be made available to anyone else other than parents /carers or Ofsted without written permission from the parent/carer. I have a separate photography policy to reflect this.

Suspicion of Abuse If I suspect that a child is the victim of abuse I will record any evidence that alerts me to possible child abuse including, the time, date and circumstances surrounding the evidence. Recorded evidence will include anything a child may say, marks and bruises, changes in behaviour and appearance and anything said to me by the parents/carer. I will not question a child, just listen, observe and record. I will seek advice from Children and Adult’s Services or the First Contact Service. I will act on their advice and, if appropriate, advise the parents of everything that has happened. Direct Disclosure In the event of a direct disclosure from a child I will listen to the child without asking any questions. I will reassure the child that they have done the right thing and that it is not their fault. I will record everything that is said to me by the child, including times, dates and circumstances surrounding the disclosure. I will ring Children and Adult’s Services or the First Contact Service and ask for their help and advice. If appropriate, I will advise the parents/carer of everything that has happened and put them in contact with the professionals dealing with the case. Whistle Blowing In my role as a childminder I have a duty to report unacceptable behaviour, that I may witness by other professionals working with children, to the relevant authorities. I will do this if I deem the behaviour to have:

□ Caused harm to a child. □ Has placed a child at risk. □ Had a detrimental effect on a child.

Allegations of Abuse Against Myself or my Family As a childminder working in isolation, I recognise I can be vulnerable to allegations of abuse being made against myself, family or any other person registered to look after children on my premises.

I will aim to protect myself from such allegations by:

□ Ensuring children are supervised at by myself, or any other person registered to do so on my premises, at all times.

□ Recording any accidents or incidents that occur while children are in my care, ensuring parents are informed and sign all documents.

□ Asking parents to inform me of any accidents or incidents occurring outside my care.

□ Noting and recording, with parental signature, any marks on children when they arrive, requesting parent’s explanation of how they occurred.

□ Keeping accurate records on each child. □ Ensuring all members of my household over 16 years of age have CRB

clearance. □ Not allowing visitors/workmen in my home to have unsupervised

access to children. In the event of any allegation made against myself or my family I will record everything that is said to me by the child or parents, including times, dates and circumstances surrounding the disclosure. Should there be any witnesses they will be requested to write a statement detailing the incident and giving their contact details. I will contact Ofsted within 14 days of the allegation being made. I will also contact the First Contact Service and ask for their help and advice on how to deal with the allegation. The Prevent Duty As part of the Prevent duty (see Promoting British Values Policy), if a child in my care expresses extremist views or if a parent or guardian causes me concern with regards to extremism I will follow the LSCB procedure. To summarise my home is an environment where children will be safe and secure and can feel happy and well looked after in the absence of their parents and I will endeavour to keep my knowledge of safeguarding and protecting children’s welfare as up-to-date as possible. Useful Numbers: Ofsted: 03001231231 NSPCC: 08088005000 First Contact Service 03000 267979 Police 08456060365

SEND Policy

The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice states that:

Children have special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made for them. Children have a learning difficulty if they:

a) have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age; or (b) have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for children of the same age in schools within the area of the local education authority (c) are under compulsory school age and fall within the definition at (a) or (b) above or would so do if special educational provision was not made for them. Children must not be regarded as having a learning difficulty solely because the language or form of language of their home is different from the language in which they will be taught. Special educational provision means: (a) for children of two or over, educational provision which is additional to, or otherwise different from, the educational provision made generally for children of their age in schools maintained by the LEA, other than special schools, in the area (b) for children under two, educational provision of any kind. See Section 312, Education Act 1996

Children with special educational needs or disability are welcomed into my setting, as are all our children.

When I know that a child may have a special educational need or disability before they start in my setting, I will endeavour to set up a good transition for that child into my setting involving child, parents/carers and any outside professionals known to the child.

I recognise the vital role of parents/carers in the identification, assessment and response to their children’s special educational needs. I will work in close partnership with parents/carers, valuing their views and contributions and keeping them fully involved in their child’s learning and development. I will ask parents to provide me with further details of professionals involved with their child and I am committed to the effective collaboration between all agencies working with a child and a multi-disciplinary approach to meeting children’s special educational needs. I will actively support the establishment and maintenance of close links with all agencies working with the child.

I believe in providing every possible opportunity to develop the full potential of all children and I recognise that the individual needs of a child have to be considered when planning.

My aim is that all children with special educational needs participate in activities and I will provide activities and resources that are accessible to the individual needs of the child.

I believe in the involvement of the child and the importance of taking their views into account. I will make every effort to involve the child in decision-making about their special educational provision and all children are valued and their self- esteem promoted.

Settling In Policy

I acknowledge that separation anxiety is very hard for children and their parents / carers. Separation anxiety can show itself in many different forms including loud cries, tantrums, running to the door, sadness or withdrawal. I therefore operate a settling in policy and realise the length of time will differ depending on the individual needs of the child which is why I will allow parents / carers as many visits as they require with the child until they feel confident that the child is happy enough to be left. Once the parent / carer does feel confident that the child is happy enough to be left I will offer them two free sessions, a session will be up to four hours long. After the second session, assuming you the parent / carer is satisfied that the child is settled, I will draw up all of the paperwork and contract for completion by both parties, ie parents and myself. The first four weeks of the contract will still be subject to a trial period under which either party can terminate the contract without notice for whatever reason. Once the trial period has passed I will require one months notice if the contract is to be terminated.

Smoking Policy

Smoking is not permitted on any part of the premises at any time. This is regardless of a person’s status or their reason for being on the premises. Entrances, exits, outside, garden, car and forecourt areas are smoke free zones. I will not knowingly expose the children in my care to second hand tobacco smoke and will take this into account when taking the children on outings or visits.

Supporting Children with a Medical Condition

From September 2014 the new SEND Reforms state that settings have an obligation to make arrangements for children with medical conditions. A medical condition can be summarised as follows: Short –term – affecting their participation in activities while they are on a course of medication. Long – term – potentially limiting their access to education and requiring extra and support. The prime responsibility for child’s health lies with the parents who should supply the medication and should supply me with information. However I will aim to:

Assist parents in providing medial care for their child. To ensure that children with medical needs receive proper care and

support while in my care. Ensure access and participation in activities if possible. Monitor and keep appropriate records including an individual health

care plan.

I will work closely with parents regarding the needs of their child; however I do expect the following:

Parents teach their child to self administer medication if this is practicable and I will only be involved if there is no alternative.

Parents must provide me sufficient information regarding their child’s medical condition and the care and support they require. The information should include the nature of the condition, when and/or where the child may need extra attention, the likelihood of an emergency and the action to take in the event of an emergency.

Where I have to administer medication I ask that it is in the original pharmacy packaging and the prescription and dosage should be printed on the outside.

Medicines should be handed to me by the parent and not sent with a child.

I will expect parents to complete the relevant documentation supplied by myself.

Policies and Procedures Signature Form Please sign below to say that you have read and received a copy of the following policies.

Behaviour Management Policy

Collection / Late Collection / Uncollected Child Policy

Complaints Procedure

Confidentiality Policy

Equal Opportunities Policy

Emergency Evacuation Policy

Health and Safety Policy

Inclusion Policy

Internet Safety Policy

Lost Child Policy

Medication / Sickness Policy

Mobile Phone Policy

Outings and Transport Policy

Partnership with Parents / Carers Policy

Personal Emergency Policy

Photograph and Observation Policy

Promoting British Values

Safeguarding Children

SEND Policy

Settling In Policy

Smoking Policy

Supporting Children with a Medical Condition.

Parent / Carer Signature………………………………………………………….. Print Name ………………………………………………………. Name(s) of child / children in my care………………………………. ………………………………..………………………………………… Date………………………………………………………………

Final Points

I hope that your time with me is going to be enjoyable, rewarding and educational for your child. I aim to help your child to develop and will provide lots of opportunities for learning. I aim to form good relationships with parents/ carers. If you are unsure of any aspect of the childminding agreement or anything in the information pack please discuss these with me. Thank you for considering me as your childminder. I look forward to working with you and your child.

Clare