Policies & Procedures

Aims & Objectives Policy

Vision Statement: Our Vision is to provide outstanding provision to help ensure the very best start for all children using the Early Years Foundation Stage to achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes by providing a safe, caring, stimulating environment, with age appropriate activities and free play, to extend children’s development in all areas of learning.

Aims and Objectives:

• 1. We will support children to extend knowledge, skills, understanding and confidence, and help them to overcome any disadvantage by:
• Working in partnership with parents.
• Creating a safe, caring, stimulating and inclusive environment for all children and with regard for The Special Educational Needs & Disability Code of Practice.
• Providing play and activities, appropriate to all children’s needs, ages and stages of development, covering Learning, Development and Care as set in the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework.
• 2. To encourage personal, social, and emotional development, to extend children’s self-esteem and sense of value by:
• Forming good, trusting relationships between children and practitioners, with practitioners acting as good role models.
• Providing opportunities that encourage self-confidence and independence.
• Providing clear and consistent boundaries of expected behaviour within the setting through positive role models.
• To encourage sensitivity to needs of others, valuing the achievement of themselves and others by praise and celebration.
• Opportunities to explore their own cultures, and to respect and value different family structures, ethnicity, and religious beliefs of others.
• Equal Opportunities for all.
• 3. To encourage awareness of living a healthy and safe life-style by:
• Setting daily routines to encourage self-care skills such as hand washing, and toileting.
• Developing an awareness of health, safety and personal hygiene through the activities we provide and routines we follow.
• Providing healthy snacks at snack time.
• Providing an adult to child ratio that conforms to, or above the requirements of the EYFS statutory framework.
• Opportunities to work with children and parents and the community to ensure the safety of children and to give them the best start in life.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Admissions Policy

Statement of Intent

It is our intention to make our Pre-School accessible to children and families from all sections of the local community.

Aim

We aim to ensure that all sections of our community have access to the pre-school through open, fair, and clearly communicated procedures.

Methods

To achieve this aim, we operate the following admissions policy.

• We ensure that the existence of the pre-school is advertised in places accessible to all sections of the community.
• We ensure that information about our Pre-School is accessible - in written and spoken form -and, where appropriate, in different languages. Where necessary, we will try to provide information in Braille, or through signing or an interpreter.
• We arrange our waiting list in birth order on a first come first served basis. In addition, our policy may take into account the following: - siblings already attending or previously attended the pre-school. - Any social, medical or special educational needs. - Any children that qualify for disadvantaged 2-year funding.
• We describe our Pre-School and its practices in terms which make it clear that it welcomes both fathers and mothers, other relations, and other carers, including childminders.
• We describe our Pre-School and its practices in terms of how it treats individuals, regardless of their gender, special educational needs, disabilities, background, religion, ethnicity or competence in spoken English.
• We describe our Pre-School and its practices in terms of how it enables children with disabilities to take part in the life of the pre-school.
• We monitor the gender and ethnic background of children joining the group to ensure that no accidental discrimination is taking place.
• We make our equal opportunities policy widely known.

• We are flexible about attendance patterns to accommodate the needs of individual children and families.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Arrival & Going Home Procedure

Parents wait outside the building on the left-hand side – not blocking the entrance. Thank you.

9.10 (Start of the morning session) The manager or deputy collects the parents from outside and brings them through to the pre-school and takes the register. Children’s name cards are on the tray unit in the middle of the lobby.

Parents help their children to find a peg and hang their coats up and find their names to take with them and stick on the board as they enter their playroom. This allows the staff to know immediately who has and hasn’t arrived.

The staff member greets all arriving carers and children. She checks that no unauthorized adults enter the pre-school and no children leave the building. If a child is being collected by another adult the parent informs the member of staff and must make sure they know the child’s collection password. We will only release children to people we have been informed about and know the password. The pre-school doors close at 9.25. A designated member of staff remains on the front doors until it is closed.

Children must place their water bottle into the designated tray in the playroom and must place any items for showing into ‘our special box’.

9.25 - 3.40 If you arrive after 9.25 ring the buzzer and a member of staff will let you in. During opening hours 9.10 – 3.40 you can call on 07853 973414 to speak to a member of staff on site or you can ring Helen on 07914 819730 to leave a message.

11.40 Children come in for story time. At 11.55 the children staying for lunch go into the lunchroom. The remaining children sing the Goodbye song and finish with singing time. This is their cue that it is the end of the session and that the parents/carers will be coming to collect them.

12.00 - 12.10 We collect parents/carers from outside at 12.00 for parents to collect their child and a member of staff remains at the front door until every child has been collected.

Children remain seated until a member of staff has called their name once an appropriate adult has arrived. There are also at least two other members of staff present to watch the children. Parents having collected their children take anything from their pegs and trays (things the children have made, letters, and notes home. All

children stay sitting with a member of staff until they have been collected. Any toys or item held should be collected on your way out of the pre-school.

Parents must collect promptly by 12.10 as this is when the staff need their lunch break ready to reopen promptly for the afternoon session at 12.40.

12.40pm (Afternoon session) The manager or deputy collects the parents from outside and brings them through to the pre-school and takes the register. Children’s name cards are on the tray unit in the middle of the lobby.

Parents help their children to find a peg and hang their coats up and find their names to take with them and stick on the board as they enter their playroom. This allows the staff to know immediately who has and hasn’t arrived.

The staff member greets all arriving carers and children. She checks that no unauthorized adults enter the pre-school and no children leave the building. If a child is being collected by another adult the parent informs the member of staff and must make sure they know the child’s collection password. We will only release children to people we have been informed about and know the password. The pre-school doors close at 12.50. A designated member of staff remains on the front doors until it is closed.

Children must place their water bottle into the designated tray in the playroom and must place any items for showing into ‘our special box’.

1.10 (Children staying for lunch) The manager or deputy collects the parents from outside and brings them through to the pre-school at 1.10pm only for parents to collect the children that have stayed for lunch and a member of staff remains at the front door until every child has been collected.

Children remain seated until a member of staff has called their name once an appropriate adult has arrived. There are also at least one other members of staff present to watch the children. Parents having collected their children take anything from their pegs and trays (things the children have made, letters, and notes home). All children stay sitting with a member of staff until they have been collected. Any toys or item held should be collected on your way out of pre-school.

3.10 Children come in for story time. 3.25 The children sing the Goodbye song and finish with singing time. This is their cue that it is the end of the session and that the parents/carers will be coming to collect them.

3.30-3.40 We collect parents/carers from outside at 3.30 for parents to collect their child and a member of staff remains at the front door until every child has been collected. Children remain seated until a member of staff has called their name once an appropriate adult has arrived. There are also at least two other members of staff

present to watch the children. Parents having collected their children take anything from their pegs and trays (things the children have made, letters, and notes home. All children stay sitting with a member of staff until they have been collected. Any toys or item held should be collected on your way out of pre-school.

Parents must collect promptly by 3.40pm.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Behaviour Management Policy

Statement of Intent

Our playschool believes that children flourish best when they know how they are expected to behave and should be free to play and learn without fear of being hurt or unfairly restricted by anyone else.

Aim

We aim to provide an environment in which there is acceptable behaviour and where children learn to respect themselves, other people and their environment.

Methods

We require all staff, volunteers and students to provide a positive model of behaviour by treating children, parents and one another with friendliness, care and courtesy.

• We require all staff, volunteers and students to use positive strategies for handling any conflict by helping children find solutions in ways which are appropriate for the children's ages and stages of development - for example distraction, praise and reward.
• We familiarise new staff and volunteers with the pre-school's behaviour policy and its rules for behaviour.
• We expect all members of the pre-school - children, parents, staff, volunteers and students - to keep to the rules, requiring these to be applied consistently.
• We praise and endorse desirable behaviour such as kindness and willingness to share.
• We avoid creating situations in which children receive adult attention only in return for undesirable behaviour.
• We recognise that codes for interacting with other people vary between cultures and require staff to be aware of - and respect - those used by members of the playschool.
• When children behave in unacceptable ways, we help them to see what was wrong and how to cope more appropriately.
• We never send children out of the room by themselves.
• We never use physical punishment, such as smacking or shaking. Children are never threatened with these.
• We do not use techniques intended to single out and humiliate individual children.
• We only use physical restraint, such as holding, to prevent physical injury to children or adults and/or serious damage to property. Details of such an event (what happened, what action was taken and by whom, and the names of witnesses) are brought to the attention of our Pre-School leader and are recorded in our Incident Book. A parent is informed on the same day and signs the Incident Book to indicate that he/she has been informed.
• In cases of serious misbehaviour, such as racial or other abuse, we make clear immediately the unacceptability of the behaviour and attitudes, by means of explanations rather than personal blame.
• We do not shout or raise our voices in a threatening way to respond to children's behaviour.

• We handle children's unacceptable behaviour in ways which are appropriate to their ages and stages of development - for example by distraction, discussion or by withdrawing the child from the situation.
• We work in partnership with children's parents. Parents are regularly informed about their children's behaviour by their keyworker. We work with parents to address recurring unacceptable behaviour.

Bullying

Bullying involves the persistent physical or verbal abuse of another child or children. We take bullying very seriously.

If a child bullies another child:

We intervene to stop the child harming the other child.

We explain to the child doing the bullying why his/her behaviour is inappropriate.

We give reassurance to the child who has been bullied.

We help the child who has done the bullying to say sorry for his/her actions.

We make sure that children receive praise when they display acceptable behaviour.

We do not label children who bully.

We discuss what has happened with their parents and work out a plan for handling their behaviour.

We share what has happened with the bullied child’s parents and explain we are helping them to adopt more acceptable ways of behaving.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Confidentiality Policy

Statement of Intent

It is our intention to respect the privacy of children and their parents and carers, while ensuring that they access high quality pre-school care and education.

Aim

We aim to ensure that all parents and carers can share their information in the confidence that it will only be used to enhance the welfare of their children.

Methods

To ensure that all those using and working in the pre-school can do so with confidence, we respect confidentiality in the following ways.

• Parents have ready access to the files and records of their own children but do not have access to information about any other child.
• Staff will not discuss personal information given by parents with other members of staff, except where it affects planning for the child's needs.
• Staff induction includes an awareness of the importance of confidentiality in the role of the key person.
• Any concerns/evidence relating to a child's personal safety are kept in a secure, confidential file and are shared with as few people as possible on a "need-to-know" basis.
• Personal information about children, families and staff is kept securely whilst remaining as accessible as possible.
• Issues to do with the employment of staff, whether paid or unpaid, remain confidential to the people directly involved with making personnel decisions.
• Students on pre-school Learning Alliance or other recognised qualifications and training, when they are observing in the pre-school, are advised of our confidentiality policy and required to respect it.
• Use of personal mobile phones for phone calls or taking pictures is not allowed, the pre-school owns a digital camera. Permission is obtained from the parents upon registration to allow photographs to be taken. See separate policy on mobiles and social media

• The use of facebook or any other social networking site for communicating pre-school information is not allowed.

All the undertakings above are subject to the paramount commitment of the pre-school, which is to the safety and well-being of the child. Please see also our policy on Safeguarding Children and Child Protection and Social Networking policy.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Equality & Diversity Policy

Statement of Intent

Our Pre-School is committed to providing equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children and families.

Aim

We aim to:

• provide a secure environment in which all our children can flourish and in which all contributions are valued.
• include and value the contribution of all families to our understanding of equality and diversity;
• provide positive non-stereotyping information about different ethnic groups and people with disabilities.
• improve our knowledge and understanding of issues of equality and diversity and make inclusion a thread which runs through all the activities of the pre-school.

The legal framework for this policy is:

• Race Relations Act 1976.
• Race Relations Amendment Act 2000.
• Sex Discrimination Act 1986.
• Children Act 1989 and
• Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001.

Methods

Admissions. (See separate admissions policy.)

Our Pre-School is open to all members of the community.

• We provide information in clear, concise language, whether in spoken or written form.
• We base our admissions policy on a fair system.
• We do not discriminate against a child with a disability or refuse a child entry to our Pre-School because of any disability.
• We ensure that all parents are made aware of our equal opportunities policy.
• We develop an action plan to ensure that people with disabilities can participate successfully in the services offered by the pre-school and in the curriculum offered.

Employment

• Posts are advertised and all applicants are judged against fair criteria.
• The applicant who best meets the criteria is offered the post, subject to references and checks by the Criminal Records Bureau (DBS check). This ensures fairness in the selection process. All job descriptions include a commitment to equality and diversity as part of their specifications.

Training

• We seek out training opportunities for staff and volunteers to enable them to develop practices which enable all children to flourish.
• We review our practices to ensure that we are fully implementing our policy for equality and diversity.

Curriculum

The curriculum offered in the pre-school encourages children to develop positive attitudes to people who are different from themselves. It encourages children to empathise with others and to begin to develop the skills of critical thinking.

We do this by:

• making children feel valued and good about themselves.
• ensuring that children have equality of access to learning.
• reflecting the widest possible range of communities in the choice of resources.
• avoiding stereotypes or derogatory images in the selection of materials.
• celebrating a wide range of festivals.
• creating an environment of mutual respect and tolerance.
• helping children to understand that discriminatory behaviour and remarks are unacceptable.
• ensuring that the curriculum offered is inclusive of children with special educational needs and children with disabilities and
• ensuring that children whose first language is not English have full access to the curriculum and are supported in their learning.

Valuing Diversity in Families:

• We welcome the diversity of family life and work with all families.
• We encourage children to contribute stories of their everyday life into the pre-school.
• We encourage parents/carers to take part in the life of the pre-school and to contribute fully.
• For families who have a first language other than English, we value the contribution their culture and language offer.
• We offer a flexible payment system for families of differing means at the pre-school Leaders discretion.

Food:

• We work in partnership with parents to ensure that the medical, cultural, and dietary needs of children are met.
• We help children to learn about a range of food, and respect cultural differences.
• Refer to Food and Drink policy.

Meetings:

• Meetings are arranged to ensure that all families who wish to, may be involved.
• Information about meetings is communicated in a variety of ways - written or verbal - to ensure that all parents have information about access to the meetings.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Equipment & Resources Policy

Statement of Intent

We believe that high quality care and education is promoted by providing children with safe, clean, attractive, age and stage appropriate resources, toys, and equipment.

Aim

We aim to provide children with resources and equipment which help to consolidate and extend their knowledge, skills, interests, and aptitudes.

Methods

To achieve this aim:

• we provide play equipment and resources which are safe and - where applicable - conform to the BSEN safety standards or Toys (Safety) Regulation (1995);
• We provide a sufficient quantity of equipment and resources for the number of children;
• We provide resources which promote all areas of children's learning and development, which may be child- or adult-led;
• We select books, equipment and resources which promote positive images of people of all races, cultures, and abilities, are non-discriminatory and avoid racial and gender stereotyping;
• We provide play equipment and resources which promote continuity and progression, provide sufficient challenge, and meet the needs and interests of all children;
• We provide made, natural and recycled materials which are clean, in good condition and safe for the children to use;
• We provide furniture which is suitable for children and furniture which is suitable for adults;
• We store and display resources and equipment where children can independently choose and select them;
• We check all resources and equipment regularly as they are set out at the beginning of each session and put away at the end of each session. We repair and clean, or replace any unsafe, worn out, dirty or damaged equipment;
• We keep an inventory of resources and equipment. This will record the date on which each item was purchased and the price paid for it;
• We provide adequate insurance cover for the pre-school's resources and equipment;

• We plan the provision of activities and appropriate resources so that a balance of familiar equipment and resources and new exciting challenges is offered.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Early Education Entitlement Funding (FEF) Policy

Opening Hours

Lavender pre-school is open Monday to Friday 9.10-3.40. With a choice of 9.10 or 12.40pm start time, and a choice of 12.10, or 3.40 finish time.

The discretion of the Pre-School Leader and the availability of places, and discussions with parents, decide the number of sessions attended by each child from two to ten sessions per week. We try to arrange holidays to coincide with the local schools. We are open for 38 weeks per year.

Funded Entitlement – Universal entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds

All children attending Pre-School in the London Borough of Sutton will receive funding the term after their third birthday. A form will be given to you at the start of the term by the Pre- School for you to complete and return within 7 days for the funding to be claimed.

This funding currently entitles each child to any combination of 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year. The Pre-School claims the funding directly.

If your child attends another setting, then you can choose how you split the funded hours between the two settings.

Any hour booked over and above the 15 free hours will be charged at £6.50 per hour. We are open for 32.5 hours per week.

Examples of funded hours:

Every afternoon Monday to Friday 12.40-3.40 equals 15 hours or Every morning, Monday to Friday 9.10-12.10 or if 2.5 days booked then 1 hour charge will apply for example Tuesday 9.10-3.40, Wednesday 9.10-3.40 and Friday 12.40-3.40 will equal fees of 1 hour of £6.50 per week.

Parents have the choice to decide on what combination of hours they would like depending on availability.

All 3 and 4-year olds become eligible for their universal free entitlement of a total of 570 hours a year of free childcare, from the start of the term after their 3rd birthday.

If your child turns three between 1st April 2026 and 31st August 2026 they will be funded from 1st September 2026. If your child turns three between 1st September 2026 and 31st December 2026 they will be funded from 1st January 2027. If your child turns three between

1st January 2026 and 31st March 2026 they will be funded from 1st April 2026.

Children receive their universal free entitlement until the end of the term in which the child reaches their fifth birthday.

Two-year old eligibility.

Funded Early Learning for 2 year olds (whose families receive an additional form of government support)

Eligible families can access up to 15 hours of funded early education and childcare the term after their second birthday. Parent/carers need to be in receipt of help regarding finance e.g. income support, universal credit, non-financial including looked after by a local council, has an SEN statement or EHCP, receives DLA or the parent is a non-UK citizen who cannot claim benefits. To check eligibility please contact Sutton Family Information Service and either complete an online application form, email familyinfo@sutton.gov.uk or telephone 020 8770 6000.

In the event that the family’s circumstances change resulting in them no longer being eligible, whilst the child is already accessing the free entitlement, he/she child will continue to receive the two-year free entitlement funding until the he/she is eligible for 3-year-old funding.

Some eligible families will receive a letter from London Borough of Sutton informing them of their entitlement, how to apply and a copy of the Directory of Early Years Providers. This letter is confirmation that the family is eligible for two- year old free entitlement funding. All parents will need to apply for the funding via the Sutton Google Form and once you receive an email confirmation this is your proof that your child is entitled to 15 funded hours. When you return your application form Lavender will also need this proof email.

Any parent/carer who considers they are eligible for two-year-old free entitlement, must complete the parent declaration form (sent out with application form for a place at Lavender) to confirm eligibility. This form must be fully completed and signed by both the parent/carer and the provider.

Parents will be able confirm their eligibility for two-year-old funding on the Sutton Google Form that is available via www.sutton.gov.uk/freechildcare

Any hours over the funded hours are charged at £7.50 per hour and invoiced half termly in advance.

Working Parents:

Extended free entitlement (30 hours) – 3 and 4-year olds

Children from working families are eligible for an additional 570 hours a year free childcare. Working families must meet the eligibility criteria below to claim the extended free entitlement:

• Both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family), and:
• each parent earns, on average, a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage or national living wage and earns less than £100,000 per year.

Parents must confirm their eligibility for the 30 hours on their childcare service account. If eligible, they will receive a 30-hour 11-digit eligibility code. Further information on all free childcare options available can be found at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

Alongside the 30 hours eligibility code, which is the child’s unique 11-digit number, and original copies of documentation, birth certificate and proof of home address, Lavender Preschool must acquire written consent on the parent declaration form, from, or on behalf of, the parent to be able to receive confirmation and future notifications from the local authority of the validity of the parent’s 30 hours eligibility code.

Once Lavender has received written consent from the parent, they should verify the 30 hours eligibility code with the local authority. The local authority will confirm the validity of 30 hours eligibility codes through the Eligibility Checking Service (ECS) to allow providers to offer 30 hours places for eligible three and four year-olds.

Thereafter, the local authority will complete audit checks to review the validity of eligibility codes for children who qualify for 30 hours free childcare at 6 fixed points in the year, both at half-term and at the end of term across the year. It is the local authority’s responsibility to notify a provider where a parent has fallen out of eligibility and inform them of the grace period end date.

We are open 32.5 hours per week but if you wish you may split your hours between Lavender and another setting (childminder, Preschool, school nursery etc.). Parents need to decide on which setting gets the universal hours and which gets the extended hours.

30 hours entitles you to 4 full days 9.10-3.40 plus 1 morning with lunch or an afternoon session. Any additional hours are charged at £6.50 per hour payable half termly in advance.

Working Parents:

Extended entitlement (30 hours) – 2-year olds

Working parents of 2 year-olds from September 2025 are now eligible to 30 hours funded education per week term time, using the same criteria and checks as above with 3- and 4-year-olds.

Fees

There are no fees attached to the 15- or 30-hours funded entitlement.

If you book your child in for more than their funded entitlement the fees are £6.50 per hour for any hour over, (3- and 4- year olds) and £7.50 (2-year-olds) If your child is booked in for all 32.5 hours and they receive the extended entitlement of 30 hours, you will be charged 2.5 hours per week totalling £16.25/£18.75.

All fees are payable at the end of each ½ term in advance, it is not normally refundable. A letter will be given approximately two weeks before it is due detailing the amount and which days and hours your child is booked in and the term dates with any exclusions (i.e. bank holidays). Half-term varies in length from 5 to 8 weeks.

The fees can be paid by cash or bank transfer, made payable to Lavender Pre-School or preferably direct to account.

Account details are:

Name: Lavender Pre-School

Bank: Santander Business Account

Sort code: 09-06-66

Account Number: 41844886

Reference: Your child’s name

Snack/Consumables Fee

We ask that every parent brings in 1 snack or consumable item each week. Alternatively, if it is easier, you can contribute £3 per week so we can purchase snack or consumable items for your child. A full list is on the noticeboard in the lobby.

We also accept childcare vouchers. These are available through larger companies, and they pay your Pre-School fees directly from your salary into the Pre-School, saving you any tax. We are currently registered with 8 different voucher companies. Please check which one your employer uses and contact Helen to register your child.

This policy was accepted on 16th March 2026 on behalf of Lavender Pre-School – Tweeddale. This policy is updated every September.

Food & Drink Policy

Statement of Intent

This Pre-School regards snack and meal times as an important part of the pre-school's session. Eating represents a social time for children and adults and helps children to learn about healthy eating.

Aim

At snack times, we aim to provide nutritious food, which meets the children's individual dietary needs. We aim to meet the full requirements of the EYFS guidance and standards on food and drink.

Methods

• Before a child starts to attend the pre-school, we find out from parents their children's dietary needs, including any allergies.
• We record information about each child's dietary needs in her/his registration record.
• We regularly consult with parents to ensure that our records of their children's dietary needs -including any allergies - are up-to-date.
• We display current information about individual children's dietary needs so that all staff and volunteers are fully informed about them.
• We implement systems to ensure that children receive only food and drink which is consistent with their dietary needs and their parents' wishes.
• We provide nutritious food at snack time, avoiding large quantities of fat, sugar and salt and artificial additives, preservatives, and colourings.
• We include foods from the diet of each of the children's cultural backgrounds, providing children with familiar foods and introducing them to new ones.
• Through discussion with parents and research reading by staff, we obtain information about the dietary rules of the religious groups to which children and their parents belong, and of vegetarians and vegans, and about food allergies. We take account of this information in the provision of food and drinks.
• We require staff to show sensitivity in providing for children's diets and allergies. Staff do not use a child's diet or allergy as a label for the child or make a child feel singled out because of her/his diet or allergy.
• We organise meal and snack times so that they are social occasions in which children and staff participate.
• We use meal and snack times to help children to develop independence through making choices, serving food and drink, and feeding themselves.
• The children bring in their own water bottle filled with fresh water so that fresh drinking water constantly available for the children.
• We inform parents who provide food for their children about the storage facilities available in the pre-school.
• We have rules about children sharing and swapping their food with one another to protect children with food allergies.

• We provide all children with milk, semi pasteurised milk, or water to drink.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Health & Safety Policy

Statement of Intent

This Pre-School believes that the health and safety of children is of paramount importance. We make our Pre-School a safe and healthy place for children, parents, staff, and volunteers.

Aim

We aim to make children, parents, and staff aware of health and safety issues and to minimise the hazards and risks to enable the children to thrive in a healthy and safe environment.

Methods

The member of staff responsible for health and safety is Karen Charman. She is competent to carry out these responsibilities. She has undertaken basic health and safety training and regularly updates her knowledge and understanding. We display the necessary health and safety poster in the Tweeddale Centres office.

Risk Assessment

Our risk assessment process includes:

• Checking for hazards and risks indoors and outside, and in our activities and procedures. Our assessment covers adults and children.
• Deciding which areas need attention; and
• Developing an action plan which specifies the action required the timescales for action, the person responsible for the action and any money required.

We maintain lists of health and safety issues which are checked:

• Daily before the session begins.
• Weekly.
• Termly.
• Yearly - when a full risk assessment is carried out.

Insurance Cover

We have public liability insurance and employers' liability insurance. The certificate is displayed on our noticeboard in our lobby.

Awareness Raising

Our induction training for staff and volunteers includes a clear explanation of health and safety issues so that all adults can adhere to our policy and understand their shared responsibility for health and safety. The induction training covers matters of employee well-being, including safe lifting.

• Records are kept of these induction training sessions and new staff and volunteers are asked to sign the records to confirm that they have taken part.

• Health and safety issues are explained to the parents of new children so that they understand the part they play in the daily life of the pre-school.
• As necessary, health and safety training is included in the annual training plans of staff and health and safety is discussed regularly at staff meetings.
• We have a no smoking policy.
• Children are made aware of health and safety issues through discussions, planned activities, and routines.

Children's Safety

• Only persons who have been checked for criminal records by an enhanced disclosure (DBS) from the Criminal Records Bureau and are registered with Ofsted as child carers have unsupervised access to the children, including helping them with toileting.
• Adults do not normally supervise children on their own.
• All children are supervised by adults at all times.
• Whenever children are on the premises at least two adults are present.

Security

• Systems are in place for the safe arrival and departure of children. (refer to arrival and going home procedures). The times of the children's arrivals and departures are recorded.
• The arrival and departure times of adults - staff, volunteers, and visitors - are recorded.
• Our systems prevent unauthorised access to our premises.
• Our systems prevent children from leaving our premises unnoticed.

Windows

• Low level windows are made from materials which prevent accidental breakage or are made safe.
• All Windows have locks and are secured so that children cannot climb through them.

Doors

• We take precautions to prevent children's fingers from being trapped in doors.
• We have child friendly doors in the toilets to prevent children locking themselves in and stop fingers being trapped.

Floors

All surfaces are checked daily to ensure they are clean and not uneven or damaged.

Kitchen

• Children do not have any unsupervised access to the kitchen.
• All surfaces are clean and non-porous.
• There are separate facilities for hand-washing and for washing up.
• Cleaning materials and other dangerous materials are stored out of children's reach.
• When children take part in cooking activities, they: - are supervised at all times. - are kept away from hot surfaces and hot water; and - do not have unsupervised access to electrical equipment.

Electrical/Gas Equipment

• All electrical/gas equipment conforms to safety requirements and is checked regularly.
• Our boiler/electrical switchgear/meter cupboard is not accessible to the children.

• Fires, heaters, electric sockets, wires, and leads are properly guarded and the children are taught not to touch them.
• Storage heaters are checked daily to make sure they are not covered.
• There are sufficient sockets to prevent overloading.
• The temperature of hot water is controlled to prevent scalds.
• Lighting is adequate in all areas including storage areas.
• All sockets have covers over them

Storage

• All resources and materials which children select are stored safely.
• All equipment and resources are stored or stacked safely to prevent them accidentally falling or collapsing.

Outdoor area

• Our outdoor area is securely fenced.
• Our outdoor area is checked for safety and cleared of rubbish before it is used.
• All outdoor activities are supervised at all times.
• A gardening company after looks after the outdoor area to prevent overgrown bushes, grass, brambles etc.

Hygiene

• We regularly receive information from the Environmental Health Department and the Health Authority to ensure that we keep up-to-date with the latest recommendations.
• Our daily routines encourage the children to learn about personal hygiene.
• We have a daily cleaning routine for the Pre-School which includes main rooms, side rooms, kitchen, toilets and nappy changing area.
• We have a schedule for cleaning resources and equipment, dressing up clothes and furnishings. We have an onsite laundry room.
• The toilet area has a high standard of hygiene including hand washing and drying facilities and the disposal of nappies.
• We implement good hygiene practices by: - cleaning tables between activities. - checking toilets regularly. - wearing protective clothing - such as aprons and disposable gloves - as appropriate. - providing sets of clean clothes. - providing tissues and parents providing wipes. - only using paper towels/ hand dryers.

Activities

• Before purchase or loan, equipment and resources are checked to ensure that they are safe for the ages and stages of the children currently attending the Pre-School.
• The layout of play equipment allows adults and children to move safely and freely between activities.
• All equipment is regularly checked for cleanliness and safety and any dangerous items are repaired or discarded.
• All materials - including paint and glue - are non-toxic.
• Sand is clean and suitable for children's play.

• Physical play is constantly supervised.
• Children are required to wear trainers or similar which are suitable for all types of climbing equipment
• Children are taught to handle and store tools safely.
• Children learn about health, safety, and personal hygiene through the activities we provide and the routines we follow.

Food and drink

• Staffs that prepare and handle food receive appropriate training and understand - and comply with - food safety and hygiene regulations.
• All food and drink is stored appropriately.
• Adults do not carry hot drinks through the play area(s) and do not place hot drinks within reach of children. All hot drinks are consumed away from the children.
• Snack and meal times are appropriately supervised and children do not walk about with food and drinks.
• Fresh drinking water is available to the children at all times.
• We operate systems to ensure that children do not have access to food/drinks to which they are allergic.

Outings & Visits

• We have agreed procedures for the safe conduct of outings.
• Procedures to be followed on outings are contained within our outings policy.
• A risk assessment is carried out before an outing takes place.
• Parents always sign consent forms before major outings.
• Our adult to child ratio is high, normally one adult to three children.
• The children are appropriately supervised to ensure no child gets lost and that there is no unauthorised access to children.
• Records are kept of the vehicles used to transport children, with named drivers and appropriate insurance cover.

For those children remaining at pre-school, the adult to child ratio conforms to the requirements of the EYFS standards.

Animals

• Animals visiting the pre-school are free from disease, safe to be with children and do not pose a health risk.

Fire Safety

• Fire doors are clearly marked, never obstructed, and easily opened from inside.
• Smoke detectors/alarms and fire fighting appliances conform to BSEN standards, are fitted in appropriate high risk areas of the building, and are checked as specified by the manufacturer.
• Our emergency evacuation procedures are approved by the Fire Safety Officer and are: - clearly displayed on the premises. - explained to new members of staff, volunteers, and parents; and - practised regularly at least once every half term.
• Records are kept of fire drills and the servicing of fire safety equipment.

First Aid & Medication

At least one member of staff with a current first aid training certificate (relevant to infants and young children) is on the premises or on an outing at any one time. The first aid qualification includes first aid training for infants and young children.

Our first aid kit:

• Complies with the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981;
• is regularly checked by Karen Charman and re-stocked as necessary;
• is easily accessible to adults; and
• is kept out of the reach of children.

At the time of admission to the pre-school, parents' written permission for emergency medical advice or treatment is sought. Parents sign and date their written approval.

Our Accident Book:

• is kept safely and accessibly;
• all staff and volunteers know where it is kept and how to complete it; and
• is reviewed at least termly to identify any potential or actual hazards.

Ofsted is notified of any serious injury requiring treatment by a General Practitioner or hospital, or the death of a child or adult.

Any serious injury requiring General Practitioner or hospital treatment to a child, parent, volunteer, or visitor is reported to the local office of the Health and Safety Executive.

We meet our legal requirements for the safety of our employees by complying with RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injury, Disease, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations). We report to the local office of the Health and Safety Executive:

• Any accident to a member of staff requiring treatment by a General Practitioner or hospital; and
• any dangerous occurrences (i.e. an event which does not cause an accident but could have done).

All drugs for emergency use must clearly labelled with child’s name and be kept in our medicine cupboard, located in the milk kitchen which is inaccessible to the children.

Parents give prior written permission for the administration of medication. The administration is recorded accurately and parents sign the record book to acknowledge the administration of a medicine.

If the administration of prescribed medication requires medical knowledge, individual training is provided for the relevant member of staff by a health professional.

Sickness

Our policy for the exclusion of ill or infectious children is discussed with parents. This includes procedures for contacting parents or other authorised adults if a child becomes ill at pre-school. Ofsted and the Health Protection Agency is notified of any infectious diseases which a qualified medical person considers notifiable.

Safety of adults

• Adults are provided with guidance about the safe storage, movement, lifting and erection of large pieces of equipment, through a manual handling induction.
• When adults need to reach up to store equipment they are provided with safe equipment to do so.
• All warning signs are clear and in appropriate languages.
• Adults do not remain in the building on their own or leave on their own after dark.

• The sickness of staff and their involvement in accidents is recorded. The records are reviewed termly to identify any issues which need to be addressed.

Records

In accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage Standards, we keep records of:

• Adults authorised to collect children from pre-school.
• The names, addresses and telephone numbers of emergency contacts in case of children's illness or accident.
• The allergies, dietary requirements, and illnesses of individual children.
• The times of attendance of children, staff, volunteers, and visitors;
• accidents; and
• incidents.

In addition, the following policies and documentation in relation to health and safety are in place.

• Risk assessment.
• Record of visitors.
• Fire safety procedures.
• Fire risk assessment
• Fire safety records and certificates.
• Operational procedures for outings.
• Administration of medication.
• Prior parental consent to administer medicine.
• Record of the administration of medicines.
• Prior parental consent for emergency treatment.
• Accident record.
• No smoking.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Nappy Changing Policy

We will accept children into our Pre-School who are not yet toilet trained.

It is our policy to help with advice and practical assistance through the period of toilet training.

Children wearing nappies must provide a supply of spare nappies and wipes.

Children will only be changed if they have soiled their nappy, unless they are booked in for a whole day, in which case they will be changed after lunch.

Nappies will be changed on a changing mat on the changing table in the children’s toilet area.

It is normal practice for the child’s key person to change a nappy. If the key person is unavailable then another member of staff will change them.

A child will never intentionally be left in a dirty nappy.

Staff will wear gloves and wash hands before and after changing a child. We have disposable aprons available for staff to use.

The changing mat will be wiped over before and after being used.

All nappies will be placed immediately in the yellow sacks in the nappy bin.

Any dirty clothes will be sealed in a nappy sack and given to the parent/carer at the end of the session to wash.

Children that have any kind of toilet accident during a pre-school session will be changed with a minimum of fuss in the toilets. Where the parent/carer has not provided alternative clothing, the child will be dressed in spare clothes belonging to our Pre-School. The parent/carer is then required to wash and return the clothes as soon as possible.

If a child arrives at preschool in a dirty nappy it is expected that the parent will use our changing facilities and change their child on arrival.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

No Smoking Policy

Statement of Intent

To provide a clean and unpolluted atmosphere for the children.

Method

• Nobody is permitted to smoke on the premises of the pre-school or Children’s Centre including the premises outside

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Outings Procedure

Before an outing takes place, written permission must be received from the parent/carer.

Parents/carers will be given details of the outing before the trip, including times, dates, place going to, and a mobile phone number to contact staff in an emergency.

During an outing, there must be a ratio of at least 1 adult for every 3 children. This number can be made up with parents/carers.

If hiring transport a reputable company must be used and all safety guidelines must be followed such as:

• using seat belts, child seats, booster seats, air bags
• ensuring maximum seating is not exceeded

A record of vehicles and drivers including licences and MOT certificates will be kept.

A record of children’s essential information containing emergency numbers and doctor’s details etc must be taken on the outing and kept confidential.

Notifying staff of procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency.

Prior to the outing a risk assessment will be carried out by visiting the venue and if walking checking for any potential risk en-route.

A first aid kit and spare clothing will be taken as a precaution.

A check that the pre-school’s insurance covers the outing and any private or hired vehicles will be carried out prior to the outing.

Care will be taken to provide for children with disabilities and any cultural requirements. Parents will be consulted for advice.

Parents will be advised of appropriate clothing for their children i.e. sun hats and cream, welly boots and rain coats or to wrap up warm.

Parents will be advised how much, if any, pocket money is to be carried.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Parental Involvement Policy

We believe that children benefit most from pre-school education and care when parents and pre-schools work together in partnership.

Our Aim

• To support parents as their children's first and most important educators.
• To involve parents in the life of the pre-school and their children's education.
• To support parents in their own continuing education and personal development.

Method

To fulfil these aims:

• We are committed to ongoing dialogue with parents to improve our knowledge of the needs of their children and to support their families.
• Through access to written information and through regular informal communication, we inform all parents about how the group is run and its policies. We check to ensure parents understand the information which is given to them.
• We encourage and support parents to play an active part in the running of the pre-school.
• We encourage every parent to help at preschool in whatever way they can.
• We inform all parents on a regular basis about their children's progress.
• We involve parents in the shared record keeping about their children - either formally or informally - and ensure parents have access to their children's written records.
• We provide opportunities for parents to contribute their own skills, knowledge, and interests to the activities of the group.
• We inform parents about relevant workshops and training.
• We provide information about opportunities for being involved in the pre-school in ways which are accessible to parents with basic skills needs, or those for whom English is an additional language.
• We hold meetings at our Pre-School which is accessible and appropriate for all.
• We welcome the contributions of parents, in whatever form these may take.
• We inform all parents of the systems for registering queries, complaints or suggestions and check to ensure these are understood. All parents have access to our written complaints procedure.
• We provide opportunities for parents to learn about the pre-school curriculum and about young children's learning, in the pre-school and at home.
• We provide a parent’s information display board, and a website with weekly curriculum information as well as news, general information and photographs.

In compliance with EYFS standards and guidance, the following documentation is in place:

• Admissions policy.
• Complaints procedure.

• record of complaints; and
• activities provided for children.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Safeguarding Children & Child Protection Policy

Statement of Intent

Our Pre-School wants to work with children, parents and the community to ensure the safety of children and to give them the very best start in life.

Aims

Our aims are to:

• create an environment in our Pre-School which encourages children to develop a positive self-image, regardless of race, language, religion, culture, or home background;
• help children to establish and sustain satisfying relationships within their families, with peers, and with other adults;
• encourage children to develop a sense of autonomy and independence;
• enable children to have the self-confidence and the vocabulary to resist inappropriate approaches; and
• work with parents to build their understanding of and commitment to the welfare of all our children.

The legal framework for this work is:

Primary legislation.

• The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
• The Children Act 1989 – S47.
• The Children Act 2004 (Every Child Matters).
• Data Protection Act 1998.
• The Protection of Children Act 1999.
• The Children (NI) Order.
• The Children (Scotland) Order.

Guidance

• Working Together to Safeguard Children (revised 2010).
• What to do if you are worried a child is being abused (revised 2006).
• The Framework for the Assessment of children in Need and their Families (2000).
• The Common Assessment Framework (2005).
• London Child Protection (2010).

Secondary Legislation

• Sexual Offences Act (2003).
• Criminal Justice and Court Services Act (2000).
• Human Rights Act (1998).
• Race Relations (Amendment) Act (2000).
• Race Relations (Amendment) Act (1976) Regulations.

• Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Liaison with Other Bodies

• We work within the Sutton Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines.
• We have a copy of ‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused’ available for staff and parents to see.
• We notify the registration authority (Ofsted) of any incident or accident and any changes in our arrangements which affect the wellbeing of children.
• We have procedures for contacting the local authority on child protection issues, including maintaining a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of social workers, to ensure that it is easy in any emergency for the setting and social services to work together.
• If a report is to be made to the local authority social care department, we act within the areas Safeguarding children and Child Protection guidance in deciding whether we must inform the child's parents at the same time.

Methods

Staffing and volunteering:

• We provide adequate and appropriate staffing resources to meet the needs of children.
• Applicants for posts within the pre-school are clearly informed that the positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Candidates are informed of the need to carry out checks. Where applications are rejected because of information that has been disclosed, applicants have the right to know and to challenge incorrect information.
• We abide by Ofsted requirements in respect of references and police checks for staff and volunteers, to ensure that no disqualified person or unfit person works at the preschool or has access to the children.
• Volunteers do not work unsupervised.
• We abide by the Protection of Children Act requirements in respect of any person who is dismissed from our employment or resigns in circumstances that would otherwise have lead to dismissal for reasons of child protection concern.
• We have procedures for recording the details of visitors to the pre-school.
• We take security steps to ensure that we have control over who comes into the preschool so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children.
• We do not use personal mobile phones to take pictures of children, mobiles are kept in the staff room during working hours (see policy on mobiles and digital media).
• We do not use facebook or any other social networking site to communicate any pre-school matters.

Responding to Suspicions of Abuse

• We acknowledge that abuse of children can take different forms – physical, emotional and sexual, as well as neglect.
• When children are suffering from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or may be experiencing neglect, this may be demonstrated through the things they say (direct or indirect disclosure) or through changes in their appearance, their behaviour or their play.
• Where such evidence is apparent the child’s key worker makes a dated record of the details of the concern and discusses what to do with the setting leader or designated person. The information is stored in the incident book.
• Staff in the setting take care not to influence the outcome either through the way they speak to children or by asking questions of the children.

Allegations Against Staff

• We ensure that all parents know how to complain about staff within the setting, which may include allegation of abuse.
• We follow the guidance of the Sutton Local Safeguarding Children Board when responding to any complaint that a member of staff or volunteer has abused a child.
• We respond to any disclosure by children or staff that abuse by a member of staff may have taken or is taking place, by first recording the details of any such incident.
• We refer any such complaint immediately to the local authorities’ social service department to investigate.
• We co-operate entirely with any investigation carried out by social services in conjunction with the police.
• Our policy is to suspend the member of staff on full pay for the duration of the investigation; this is not an indication of admission that the alleged incident has taken place but is to protect the staff as well as children and families throughout the process.

Disciplinary Action

• Where a member of staff or a volunteer is dismissed from the setting or internally disciplined because of misconduct relating to a child we notify the Department of Health administrators so that the name may be included on the List for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults.

Training

• We seek out training opportunities for all adults involved in the setting to ensure that they can recognise the signs and symptoms of possible abuse and that they are aware of the local authority guidelines for making referrals.
• We ensure that all staff know the procedures for reporting and recording their concerns in the setting.

Planning

The layout of the room allows for constant supervision. Where children need to spend time away from the rest of the group, the door is left ajar.

Curriculum

• We introduce key elements of child protection into our programme, to promote personal, social, and emotional development of all children so that they may grow to be ‘strong, resilient and listened to’ and so that they develop an understanding of why and how to keep safe.
• We create within the pre-school a culture of value and respect for the individual, having positive regard for children’s heritage arising from their colour, ethnicity, languages spoken at home, cultural and social background.
• We ensure that this is carried out in a way that is appropriate for the ages and stages of our children.

Disclosures

Where a child makes a disclosure to a member of staff, that member of staff:

• Offers reassurance to the child;
• Listens to the child; and
• Gives reassurance that she or he will act. The member of staff does not question the child.

Recording Suspicions of Abuse and Disclosures

Staff make a record of:

• The child's name.
• The child's address.

• The age of the child.
• The date and time of the observation or the disclosure.
• An objective record of the observation or disclosure.
• The exact words spoken by the child.
• The name of the person to whom the concern was reported, with date and time; The names of any other person present at the time. These records are signed and dated and kept in a separate confidential file. All members of staff know the procedures for recording and reporting.

Informing Parents

Parents are normally the first point of contact. If a suspicion of abuse is recorded, parents are informed at the same time as the report is made, except where the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board does not allow this. This will usually be the case where the parent is the likely abuser. In these cases, the investigating officers will inform parents.

Confidentiality

All suspicions and investigations are kept confidential and shared only with those who need to know. Any information is shared under the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

Support to Families

• The setting takes every step in its power to build up trusting and supportive relations among families, staff, and volunteers in the group.
• The setting continues to welcome the child and the family whilst investigations are being made in relation to abuse in the home situation.
• Confidential records kept on a child are shared with the child's parents or those who have parental responsibility for the child only if appropriate under the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.
• With the proviso that the care and safety of the child is paramount, we do all in our power to support and work with the child's family.
• The setting makes clear to parents its role and responsibilities in relation to Child Protection such as for the reporting of concerns, providing information, monitoring of the child, and liaising at all times with the local social services department.

Our designated person is: Michele Whelan Our designated officer who oversees this work is: Helen Elliott

• MASH – Sutton Civic Offices, St Nicholas Way Sutton SM1 1EA 020 8770 6001
• Wallington Police Station non-emergency 101 28 Stafford Rd, Wallington, SM6 9AA
• NSPCC 0808 800 5000
• LSCB, Sutton branch – Sutton Civic Centre, St Nicholas Way Sutton SM1 1EA 020 8770-4534 Child Protection Manager – Paul Sharma
• Sutton Social Services 020 8770 5000 Out of Hours number

Website address; londonscb.gov.uk

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Special Educational Needs & Disability Policy

Statement

At Lavender Pre-school we welcome the inclusion of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. All children will be provided with an environment in which they are supported, to enable them to reach their full potential. This includes very able children as well as those with learning difficulties or disabilities.

The Co-ordination of Provision for Children with Special Educational Needs The Special Needs Co-ordinator for Lavender Pre-school is Marie Wright. She will work closely with key persons and parents to ensure that the planning, implementation, monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the Special Needs of the children within the pre-school are maintained. Plans and records will always be shared with parents. We offer a staged approach of monitoring children with special needs and disabilities using IPs. (see attached)

Complaints Re SEND

Any complaints should be addressed to Mrs. Helen Elliott, Pre-school leader, using the normal complaints policy. A meeting will be arranged to discuss the situation with all involved.

Training Opportunities

The SENDco keeps up to date with training provided by London Borough of Sutton. Training courses are also available to all staff on a termly basis. They include many aspects of child development and issues concerning children with additional needs.

Links with Other Provisions/Services

Regular branch meetings are attended with local schools and pre-schools to ensure continuity of care. The area SENDco provides support and information on referring children to other professionals. We also have access to local authority and voluntary services. Transition meetings can be arranged for children moving on to a new setting to ensure that all information and development files are passed on.

Admissions Arrangements

We ensure that our inclusive admissions practice ensures equality of access and opportunity through the admissions policy. We will not exclude any child on the grounds of their additional needs, and every effort will be made to accommodate individual needs. Please refer to our equal opportunities policy and behaviour management policy.

Facilities and Provision Available for Children with SEND

We have no steps anywhere and a disabled toilet at Lavender Pre-school - Tweeddale. We would also ensure that every possible adjustment to our physical environment is as far as possible suitable

for any children with disabilities, ensuring privacy where necessary. We would also employ extra staff if necessary via the inclusion grant.

We provide a broad and balanced curriculum for all children with SEND.

We provide a differentiated curriculum to meet individual needs and abilities.

Success Criteria. All staff are aware of policy and regular meetings ensure that all staff are fully informed and updated. All staff and SENDCo evaluate and review all procedures and SEND policy annually.

Partnership with Parents

Lavender Pre-School has an “open door” policy which allows parents/carers the opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have. We value parent’s knowledge and understand that they know their children best, and have a wealth of information, which when shared, can ensure that all the child’s needs are fully met. We ensure that parents are kept fully informed via newsletters, the website, notice boards, verbal discussions, text messages and children’s record folders. Regular meetings take place and all targets set on an IP are fully discussed with parents. We also respect the confidentiality of any information shared.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Settling in Pre-School Policy

Statement of Intent

We want children to feel safe, stimulated and happy in the absence of their parents and to feel secure and comfortable with staff and to recognize other adults as a source of help and friendship. We also want parents to have confidence in both their children's wellbeing and their role as active partners with the pre-school.

Aim

We aim to make the pre-school a welcome place where children settle quickly and easily. Children cannot play or learn successfully if they are unhappy or anxious. Our aim is to help children feel comfortable in pre-school. Consideration has been given to the individual needs and circumstances of children and their families.

Methods

• Before a child starts to attend the pre-school, we use a variety of ways to provide his/her parents with information. These include written information (including our Welcome brochure and policies), our website, displays about pre-school activities, an information day and an individual visit with the parents and child.
• The child’s key person meets with the parents to ensure all relevant information about the child can be made known on the induction day.
• When a child starts to attend, we work with his/her parents to decide on the best way to help the child to settle into the pre-school.
• We allocate a key person to each child and his/her family, before she/he starts to attend; the key person welcomes and looks after the child and his/her parents at the child's first few sessions.
• We use the pre-start visit and the induction day at which a child attends to explain and complete with his/her parents the child's registration records.
• We introduce a flexible admission procedure to meet the needs of individual families.
• We support parents for as long as it takes to settle their child into pre-school.
• Where appropriate we encourage parents to leave their children for short periods of time at first, building up to longer absences.

• Within the first six weeks of starting we discuss and work with the child's parents to start their child's record of achievements.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Safeguarding Children and the use of Social Networking Sites, Mobile Phones & Digital Photography

Our pre-school wants to work with children, parents, and the community to ensure the safety of children and to give them the very best start in life.

Aims

Our aims are to:

• create an environment in our pre-school which encourages children to develop a positive self image, regardless of race, language, religion, culture, or home background;
• help children to establish and sustain satisfying relationships within their families, with peers, and with other adults;
• encourage children to develop a sense of autonomy and independence;
• enable children to have the self confidence and the vocabulary to resist inappropriate approaches; and
• work with parents to build their understanding of and commitment to the welfare of all our children.

The legal framework for this work is:

Primary legislation

• The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
• The Children Act 1989 – S47
• The Children Act 2004 (Every Child Matters)
• Data Protection Act 1998
• The Protection of Children Act 1999
• The Children (NI) Order
• The Children (Scotland) Order
• Childcare Act 2006
• The Early Years Foundation Stage section 1.3, 1.4, 2.2, 3.3 4.2

Guidance

• Working Together to Safeguard Children (revised 2006)
• What to do if you are worried a child is being abused (revised 2006)
• The Framework for the Assessment of children in Need and their Families (2000)
• The Common Assessment Framework (2005)

Secondary Legislation

• Sexual Offences Act (2003)
• Criminal Justice and Court Services Act (2000)
• Human Rights Act (1999)
• Race Relations (Amendment) Act (2000)
• Race Relations (Amendment) Act (1976) Regulations
• Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Policy Statement

Children have their photographs taken to provide evidence of their achievements for their developmental records (The Early Years Foundation Stage, EYFS 2012) Staff visitors, volunteers and students are not permitted to use their own mobile phones to take or record any images of pre-school children for their own record during session times. A mobile phone and a separate camera is provided for pre-school use.

Procedures

• Under the Data Protection Act 1998 the pre-school must seek parental consent to take photographs and use video equipment. Photographs will be stored on the pre-school laptop, until the pre-school ceases to operate, should this occur then all photographs will be shredded or deleted.
• The pre-schools digital camera and memory cards and sticks only leave the premises when they are being developed by a professional company (usually ASDA or CostCo). Once pictures have been collected, they remain confidential and are immediately returned to the setting and the images are deleted from the cameras memory
• Photographs may be taken during indoor and outdoor play and displayed in albums on photo boards or in the child’s development records for all children, parents, and carers to look through
• Often photographs will contain other children in the background
• Any events such as Summer Fun Day, Christmas Nativity show or Children’s Leaving ceremonies may be recorded by video and photographed by staff, parents, and carers but always in full view of all attending
• Any images taken on these occasions must not be put on any social networking site such as Facebook unless only your own child is in the image and no other children, staff or parents are seen and nothing identifying the pre-school is in view or written next to the image.
• On occasion, we might like to use photographs of the children at pre-school to advertise/promote the pre-school; however specific parental permission for this would be required
• All staff mobile phones must be kept in a staff only area or with their personal belongings, children are not permitted in this area
• Visitors and parents may only use their phone outside the building as this interrupts the setting and most phones now contain an inbuilt camera
• All cameras and mobile phones including the designated pre-school one are prohibited in the toilet and nappy changing area
• In case of a personal emergency all incoming personal calls should be directed through the pre-schools mobile
• Staff are asked not to make personal calls during their working hours; however, in an urgent case a call may be made or accepted if deemed necessary by the Manager
• The pre-schools mobile is kept within reach of staff during all working hours.
• The camera is kept on a high shelf for any member of staff to gain easy access whenever necessary during working hours. After hours, the camera is locked away.
• Staff are not permitted to use any Social Networking site to discuss anything related to pre-school even if the site is a closed site as this would be in breach of our confidentiality policy
• No parents/carers or staff are allowed to use offensive language at preschool or to each other or children or on any social media, as agreed and signed for on the home / preschool contract.

Our designated person is Michele Whelan

Our designated officer who oversees this work is Helen Elliott

• MASH – Sutton Civic Offices, St Nicholas Way Sutton SM1 1EA 020 8770 6001

• Wallington Police Station non-emergency 101 28 Stafford Rd, Wallington, SM6 9AA
• NSPCC 0808 800 5000
• LSCB, Sutton branch – Sutton Civic Centre, St Nicholas Way Sutton SM1 1EA 8770-4534 Child Protection Manager – Paul Sharma
• Sutton Social Services 8770 5000 Out of Hours number

This policy was adopted on 1st September 2019 for Lavender Pre-School – Tweeddale

Signed on behalf of the Pre-School

Staffing & Employment Policy

Statement of Intent

We provide a high staffing ratio to ensure that children have sufficient individual attention and to guarantee care and education of a high quality. Our staff are appropriately qualified and are checked for criminal records through the Criminal Records Bureau and all have DBS checks in accordance with Ofsted's requirements.

Aims

To ensure that children and their parents are offered high quality pre-school care and education.

Methods

• To meet this aim we use the following ratios of adult to child: - children aged two years of age: 1 adult: 4 children. - children aged three - seven years of age: 1 adult: 8 children.
• A minimum of two staff/adults are on duty at any one time.
• We use a key person system to ensure that each child and each family has a particular member of staff for discussion and consultation.
• We hold regular staff meetings to undertake curriculum planning and to discuss children's progress, their achievements and any difficulties which may arise from time to time.
• We work towards offering equality of opportunity by using non-discriminatory procedures for staff recruitment and selection.
• All staff have job descriptions which set out their roles and responsibilities.
• We welcome applications from all sections of the community. Applicants will be considered based on their suitability for the post, regardless of marital status, age, gender, culture, religious belief, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. Applicants will not be placed at a disadvantage by us imposing conditions or requirements which are not justifiable.
• Our pre-school leader and senior staff hold the CACHE level 3 Diploma in Pre-School Practice/NNEB or equivalent and a minimum of half of our staff hold the CACHE level 3 Certificate in Pre-School Practice or an equivalent qualification.
• We provide regular in-service training to all staff - whether paid staff or volunteers - through the pre-school Learning Alliance, London Borough of Sutton or LSCB.
• Our Pre-School budget allocates resources to training.
• We provide staff induction training in the first week of employment. This induction includes our Health and Safety Policy and Procedures, Confidentiality, Behaviour Management and Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures. Other policies and procedures will be introduced within an induction plan.
• We support the work of our staff by holding yearly appraisals and termly staff supervisions.

• We are committed to recruiting, appointing and employing staff in accordance with all relevant legislation and best practice.
• We use Ofsted guidance on obtaining references and criminal record checks through the DBS for staff and volunteers who will have any access to children.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Student Placement Policy

Statement of Intent

This pre-school recognises that qualifications and training make an important contribution to the quality of the care and education provided by pre-school settings. As part of our commitment to quality, we offer placements to students undertaking early years' qualifications and training, including those studying for the CACHE level 2 Certificate in Pre-School Practice and CACHE level 3 Diploma in Pre-School Practice or equivalent.

Aim

We aim to provide for students on placement with us, experiences which contribute to the successful completion of their studies and which provide examples of quality practice in early years care and education.

Methods

• We require students to meet the 'suitable person' requirements of Ofsted.
• We require schools placing students under the age of 17 years with the pre-school to vouch for their good character.
• We supervise students under the age of 17 years at all times and do not allow them to have unsupervised access to children.
• Students who are placed in our Pre-School on a short-term basis are not counted in our staffing ratios. Students who are placed for longer periods - for example, a year - may be counted in our staffing ratios provided we consider them to be competent.
• We take out employers' liability insurance and public liability insurance which covers both trainees and voluntary helpers.
• We require students to keep to our confidentiality policy.
• We co-operate with students' tutors in order to help students to fulfil the requirements of their course of study.
• We provide students, at the first session of their placement, with a short induction on how our Pre-School is managed, how our sessions are organised and our policies and procedures.
• We communicate a positive message to students about the value of qualifications and training.
• We make the needs of the children paramount by not admitting students in numbers which hinder the essential work of the pre-school.

• We ensure that students placed with us are engaged in bona fide early years' training which provides the necessary background understanding of children's development and activities.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

Safe Sun Policy

On sunny days and during the summer term we apply the safe sun policy.

As part of our curriculum we talk to the children about keeping safe and this includes keeping safe in the sun.

We have a policy that says all children and adults must wear sun hats whilst outside on a sunny day.

Hats should have a cover for the neck and must be named.

Parents are responsible for applying sun cream at least 15 minutes before the child attends pre-school each session.

If a child is more vulnerable to getting burnt (very fair/freckly skin) then parents need to provide sun cream and advise staff when it needs to be reapplied. We will reapply sun cream to all children staying all day when needed.

All children must bring a named water bottle into pre-school with fresh water in it each session.

Snack time is café style enabling children to choose when they stop and have a drink and a snack.

Each child’s water bottle is accessible throughout the session without needing to ask permission.

Children should wear suitable clothing for the weather i.e. shoulders should be covered.

We do not allow open toed shoes or crocs due to them being unsuitable for the climbing equipment we have outside.

There is some shade available at all times whilst the children are outside

Children are at pre-school from 3 to a maximum of 6.5 hours each day and some part of each session will be indoors out of the sun.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….

The Non & Late Collection of Children Policy

Statement of Intent

In the event that a child is not collected by an authorised adult at the end of a pre-school session/day, Lavender Pre-school puts into practice agreed procedures. These ensure the child is cared for safely by an experienced and qualified practitioner who is known to the child.

Aim

In the event that a child is not collected by an authorised adult, we will ensure that the child receives a high standard of care in order to cause as little distress as possible. We inform parents/carers of our procedures so that, if they are unavoidably delayed, they will be reassured that their children will be properly cared for.

Procedures

• 1. Parents of children starting at the pre-school are asked to provide specific information which is recorded on our Registration Form, including:
• Home address and telephone number - if the parents do not have a telephone, an alternative number must be given, perhaps a neighbour's.
• Place of work, address and telephone number (if applicable).
• Mobile telephone number (if applicable).
• Names, addresses, telephone numbers and signatures of adults who are authorised by the Parents to collect their child from pre-school, for example a childminder or grandparent; and
• Information about any person who does not have legal access to the child.
• 2. On occasions when parents are aware that they will not be at home or in their usual place of work, they record how they can be contacted on our Collection sheet.
• 3. On occasions when parents or the persons normally authorised to collect the child are not able to collect the child, we will need to be informed and the person collecting will need to give us the child’s collection password before they will be released.
• 4. Parents are informed that if they are not able to collect the child as planned, they must inform us so that we can begin to take back-up procedures. We provide parents with our contact telephone number. We also inform parents that - in the event that their children are not collected from pre-school by an authorised adult and the staff can no longer supervise the child in our premises - we apply our child protection procedures as set out in our safeguarding children and child protection policy.
• 5. If a child is not collected at the end of the session/day, we follow the following procedures:
• The Collection Book is checked for any information about changes to the normal collection routines.
• If no information is available, parents/carers are contacted at home or at work.

• If this is unsuccessful, the adults who are authorised by the parents to collect their child from pre-school - and whose telephone numbers are recorded on the Registration Form – are contacted.
• All reasonable attempts are made to contact the parents/carers, for example a neighbour is contacted, or another member of staff visits the child's home.
• The child stays at pre-school in the care of two fully-vetted workers until the child is safely collected.
• The child does not leave the premises with anyone other than those named on the Registration. Form and in the Collection Book.
• If no-one collects the child and the premises are closing, or staff are no longer available to care for the child, we apply the procedures set out in our Safeguarding children Policy. We contact our local authority social services department (telephone number 020 8770 5000) and inform Ofsted (telephone number 0845 404040) and our local Pre-School Learning Alliance office/Pre- School Development Worker, a full written report of the incident is recorded; and
• depending on circumstances, we reserve the right to charge parents for the additional hours worked by our staff.

Fees

A charge of £12 for each 15 minutes late will be made if we have not had any notice of a late collection or a parent is late on more than one occasion. To cover costs of extra rent and 2 staff wages or if it is a 12.10pm collection then the child will be booked in for lunch at a charge of £5 for the hour.

To be reviewed annually by all members of staff.

Date to be reviewed……………3/2/18 …………………………………………….