Policies and Procedues

We have operational policy and procedure documents that explain how we organise and manage a range of issues. Copies are displayed in the nursery main hallway (blue folder) and are available on request from the nursery office. A brief description of some of our key policies and procedures are:

Safeguarding children

Oak Cottage Nursery will work with children, parents and the community to ensure the rights and safety of children and to give them the very best start in life. It is our duty to report any suspicions or concerns that a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering significant harm. In this instance we are required to contact the Front Door for Families Tel 01273 290400 and follow advice given. Gemma Bonwick the Nursery Manager is the designated person responsible for safeguarding issues and the deputy person is Mairi Law.

Confidentiality

At Oak Cottage Nursery, staff and managers can be said to have a ‘confidential relationship’ with families. It is our intention to respect the privacy of children and their parents and carers, while ensuring that they access high quality early years care and education in our setting. 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. There are record keeping systems in place that meet legal requirements; means of storing and sharing that information take place within the framework of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Human Rights Act

Equal Opportunities

We will ensure that our service is fully inclusive in meeting the needs of all children, particularly those that arise from their ethnic heritage, social and economic background, gender, ability or disability. Our setting is committed to anti-discriminatory practice to promote equality of opportunity and valuing diversity for all children and families.

Supporting children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities

At Oak Cottage Nursery we are proud to be a fully inclusive nursery. We have extensive experience in working with children with a wide range of additional needs including global development delay, blindness, deafness, downs syndrome, autism, speech and language delay and medical issues. We work closely with parents and agencies involved with the child to provide an environment in which all children, including those with special educational needs or disabilities, are supported to reach their full potential.

Managing children who are sick or infectious and Administration of medicines

Oak Cottage nursery has an obligation to promote good health and hygiene for all children, parents and staff and to minimise the risk of illness and infections. If a child becomes unwell at nursery or has an illness or infection, parents will be contacted and asked to collect the child. Children should remain at home until they are well enough to return to the nursery or until exclusion period for illness/communicable disease. We are able to administer prescribed medication to a child following procedures set out in this policy.

Exclusion period for illness / communicable disease

Disease/Illness	Minimal Exclusion Period
Antibiotics prescribed	24 hours - must be well before returning to nursery
High temperature (above 37.5c)	Until temperature has returned to normal without medication. Must be well before returning to nursery
Vomiting/Diarrhoea	48 hour exclusion after last episode
Conjunctivitis	None (if an outbreak occurs contact the duty room)
Impetigo	Until lesions are crusted and healed, or 48 hours after commencing antibiotic treatment
Headlice (Nits)	None treatment recommended in cases where live lice have been seen
Threadworms	None – treatment recommended for child and household contacts
Ringworm	Exclusion not normally required, but treatment is required
Slapped Cheek	None once rash has developed
Hand, Foot and Mouth	None (if large number of children are affected exclusion may be considered)
Chickenpox	Until all vesicles have crusted over
Measles and German Measles (Rubella)	4 days from onset of rash
Mumps	5 days after onset of swelling
Scabies	Child can return after first treatment. Household and close contacts require treatment
Scarlet fever	XChild can return 24 hours after antibiotic treatment (if more than one child has scarlet fever contact PHA duty room for advice)
Shingles	Only if rash is weeping and cannot be covered (can cause chicken pox in those who are not immune- spread by very close contact and touch)
Whooping cough	48 hours after commencing antibiotic treatment)
Glandular fever	None
Tonsillitis	None – Many causes, most cases are due to viruses and do not need antibiotic

Achieving Positive Behaviour

At Oak Cottage Nursery, we believe that children flourish best when their personal, social and emotional needs are met and where there are clear and developmentally appropriate expectations for their behaviour. Children need to learn to consider the views and feelings, needs and rights, of others and the impact that their behaviour has on people, places and objects. This is a developmental task that requires support, encouragement, teaching and setting the correct example. Our nursery is rich with experiences to enhance these skills in a warm and secure environment.

Complaints

At Oak Cottage Nursery we believe that children and parents are entitled to expect courtesy and prompt, careful attention to their needs and wishes. We welcome suggestions on how to improve our setting and will give prompt and serious attention to any concerns about the running of the setting. We anticipate that most concerns will be resolved quickly by an informal approach to the appropriate member of staff, usually the manager. If this does not achieve the desired result, we have a set of procedures for dealing with concerns. We aim to bring all concerns about the running of our setting to a satisfactory conclusion for all of the parties involved.