Candystripe.inc

Policy Regarding Qualifications / Suitable Person

Candystripe will ensure that every employee has been vetted, police checked referenced and all information logged accordingly. Until all relevant checks are completed, any person that has not been fully vetted will not be left alone.
Qualifications

The person in charge who is present will have at least, or be working towards a level 3 qualification, appropriate to the post. In addition, the manager has at least two years experience of working in a day care setting. Trainees less than 17 years of age are supervised at all times and not counted in the adult: child ratios. All staff are suitable, both mentally and physically to care for children. All staff have the appropriate experience, skills and ability to do their jobs.

Volunteers
Any volunteers will be vetted in exactly the same way as employees, and not left alone with children until the completion of the checks.

Students / Other Persons on Placement
From time to time Candystripe accepts persons on placement, from various backgrounds i.e. schools, colleges, The Shawtrust, Mencap etc. The management will ensure suitability, and adequate support depending on the individual needs. They will not be left alone with the children at any time.

Membership Policy for Crèche, Day Care and Out of School

At no time can any non members enter or use and facilities on the site without authorisation. At each session, the leader will ensure a register is completed in full, and accurately. Each child must be marked in and out, with the time of arrival and departure. Children under eight and especially younger children will need permission from parents to leave the site. The register must be kept up to date and accurate in case of a fire.

Policy on Staff Ratios to Children

Candystripe will always endeavour to maintain continuity of provision for the children it cares for after school, crèche or day care. However, legal requirements mean that a ratio of staff members to children must not be exceeded, and that there must always be the required staff present.
If it is found that there is not enough staff to cover the number of children present, (due to illness etc) the Leader must take responsibility and call parents and ask them to pick their children up as soon as possible. If it is known in advance that there will be a staffing problem, the staff at Candystripe office will endeavour to contact as many people as possible, before school finishing time (for out of school clubs).
Enough children need to be picked up, in order to meet the correct ratios.
If the children cannot be picked up, we will look after them until they can be picked up. We recognise that some parents will not be able to pick up their children due to work commitments.
Consideration should be made of other after school activities run by the school, and the impact that makes on the numbers present i.e. if there is 24 booked in, but 8 are at after school activities, by the time they arrive, some children will have been picked up. The safety and care of the children is always the first priority.

Staff Training and Qualifications

Candystripe shall ensure as far as possible that
At each site at least half the staff holds a level 2 qualification appropriate for the care or development of children. Where staff do not have the appropriate qualification, they will have a personal development action plan detailing how they will meet this criteria for the future.
Each member of staff will have full induction training, including health and safety, child protection, and receive all the information they need in order to do their job effectively.
A Training Needs Analysis will be done once a year to ensure the continuing training needs of the staff are met.
All individual staff records are kept securely at the office - details of names and address, qualifications will be kept securely at each club.

Employee and Volunteer Relations Policy

Candystripe's policy concerning its employees is designed to achieve four objectives.
To establish and maintain mutual confidence, respect and goodwill between all those who work in the company. All employees have responsibility for and a common interest in the success of Candystripe.
To ensure that all employees are treated with respect and that questions or problems of any kind are dealt with equitably and promptly. (Please refer also to Equal Opportunities Policy)
To ensure that there is a well-established and recognised procedure for dealing with matters raised by an employee.
To communicate decisions and information to all employees concerned using the most effective method.


Vacancy Advertising Policy

The Company's Policy is that all vacancies will be advertised internally.
In some cases they will be advertised internally and externally at the same time. Any vacancies still available after internal interviewing will be advertised externally.


Group Size

Where the club numbers exceed MAX CAPACITY, the club leader will devise an action plan to ensure the numbers are managed suitably for that particular club. For example, if the number of children present is 40 - they will be split appropriately, into one group of 26 and one group of 14 - or 20 and 20.
Another leader, or senior play worker will be placed in charge of the second group and serve as the point of contact for the children.
The action plan will be discussed with the manager and reviewed and updated as necessary.
Should staff need to be moved from club to club, it is the manager's responsibility to ensure that the staff have the correct qualifications and experience at each club.

Play Policy

Candystripe.inc aims to provide positive play opportunities to all children who use our service, no matter what their race, colour, ethnic or national origin, gender, physical, sensory, mental disability or social class.
Positive play opportunities mean allowing children to develop awareness about themselves and others, to learn without pressure and make choices about their play, which will enable them to develop many skills for the future.
Candystripe.inc endeavours to provide both structured and unstructured activities to ensure that they are providing age-appropriate and stimulating activities, and to encourage the children to involve themselves in planning the activities.

Physical Environment

A risk assessment will be carried out, and documented. Each activity will have a risk assessment, and guidelines drawn up for reference. At the start of each session it is the Leaders responsibility to check:-
The premises are safe, All fire exits are clear, The mobile phone is switched on, There are sufficient supplies for the session, The room is separated for the different activities, The room is clean, warm and welcoming, The club is organised with specific areas, to play, relax, and eat, Toilets are clean and in working order, with hot and cold running water, The children do not have access to the kitchen - useless for a supervised baking activity
Leaders, Head of rooms, they must read through the risk assessment, before the session begins.


Cleaning and Equipment Checks

Cleaning

There will be a cleaning rota at each complex or club , which will be the responsibility of the Leader. The site must be kept clean and tidy at all times. The rota will be signed and dated kept up to date.
Specific areas that must be cleaned regularly:
Kitchen area
Toilets, cleaned and checked every day
Office
Individual rooms


Equipment

All equipment used by the children, must be regularly checked and broken toys thrown away immediately. There is an 'Equipment Check Form' to be completed, signed and dated after every check is done. It is the Leaders responsibility to ensure this is done regularly.

Hygiene
The premises, equipment etc are to be kept clean at all times. Food handling guidelines are to be observed and implemented.
The leader must hold, or be working towards a Basic Food Hygiene qualification. Regular training will be offered to all staff regarding standards of cleanliness at the site.

Policy on Sandpits
Sandpits must be protected from contamination and the sand kept clean, and changed at suitable intervals.
Any children playing with the sand must wash their hands immediately after use (worms are transmitted very easily through sand).
First Aid Procedure

Minor Accidents

The child should be referred to the relevant first aider who will decide how to treat the injury according to their first aid training. The accident should then be entered onto an accident form if necessary (bump to the head, etc)

Major Accidents

The first aider should be called immediately. They should then apply first aid quickly and efficiently in line with their training.
During this time another member of staff should call for an ambulance providing all relevant details of the injury, location of the site and child's name. If it is serious injury, under no circumstances is any member of staff who is dealing with the child, to transport injured children to hospital either in their own or Candystripe transport. An ambulance must be called.
The child's parent / carer should be notified, as soon as possible.
A call should be made to a senior member of staff, so that others know of the situation.
If the parent / carer have not arrived by the time the ambulance is ready to leave, a member of staff must accompany the child to hospital.
An accident form must be completed as soon as possible and kept on file or handed to the Office or Senior Management.
A full report of the incident should also be written by the Centre manager and any witnesses to the incident.


Canystripe Policy on Medication

Candystripe will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the occasional, regular or emergency administration of medicines takes place, within certain condition
In all cases, except emergency first aid, the staff must ensure:
The medicine must be kept in a secure place, out of reach of children and clearly labelled.
In the case of prescribed medicine:
i) The child's doctor must prescribe the medicine.
We must have a letter of authorisation from the parent, and a medicine consent form signed.
We must have written details from the child's doctor / parent concerning,
-What condition is for and its name
-How and when it should be administered
-Any other relevant information

In the case of non-prescribed medicine, we must have written permission from the parent, and full details concerning the condition and the administration of the medicine.
The group must keep a written record of the child's name, date, time and type of drug administered and dosage given.
The medicine must be administered by a training First Aider, and witnessed by another.


Candystripe Policy on Sun Tan Lotion

Candystripe will provide sun tan lotion for all the children who attend in the summer holidays or any days when the sun is really hot.
The procedure is to apply the sun tan lotion on the children who are not able to do it for themselves. For children who can apply the sun tan lotion, they are to apply this under the supervision of the staff as this ensures it has been applied.
Some parents may provide alternative suntan lotion brand and staff are to ensure that the children use the one, which has been provided the parent/guardian.


Candystripe Policy on Food and Drink

Food Policies
Fresh drinking water will be made available to children at all times.

Health Eating Policy
Candystripe actively promotes healthy eating for the children in our care. We provide a variety of healthy foods. We actively encourage healthy eating through baking activities, and working in partnership with outside agencies to raise awareness.
If any child has a particular allergy, or dietary requirement, Candystripe will monitor such requirements via the registration form, and any individual issues will be highlighted by printing the children's details on different coloured paper and storing a copy at the club. To make children feel comfortable coloured bracelets will be used to ensure that children wearing a specific colour will have specific allergies.

Packed Lunch and Picnics
Parents/careers are asked to provide packed lunches for children when they attend play schemes.

Food Handling/Preparation Policy
Candystripe.inc will observe current legislation and training. All staff involved with food preparation should ensure they observe the Food Hygiene regulations which are posted in the Kitchen area.

Liaison with Parents

Parents are encouraged to talk to the staff, and share any relevant information. Anything of particular importance will be noted down on the contact details that will be kept securely at each complex.
Confidentiality will be maintained at all times. It is our policy not to discuss children or parents details for any reason, other than in private, and for the benefit of the child. Information shared will be on a need to know basis only.

Parental Involvement Policy

Candystripe actively encourages parents to be involved in the policy making of Candystripe. We always welcome comments, suggestions and offers of help, as well as constructive criticism from parents. We recognise that we serve not only the children we care for but also their parents and carers. We aim to consult with parents through regular surveys and questionnaires, open meetings and coffee evenings and parent panels. Parents are informed through notices, newsletters, and the parent handbook.
Staff at the groups can always make time to speak to parents, or our staff are available to discuss any issues parents may have. We also respect the fact that the majority of our parents are in full or part-time work, and so have many demands on their time.

Accepted Methods of Behaviour Management

At each setting the staff and children will form a set of rules that are agreed by all, and displayed clearly for all to see. These rules will be dated, and reviewed and developed as necessary.
Accepted methods of behaviour management are:-
Positive language and a level voice
Language appropriate to the age of the child, and at a level they understand
Time out
Withdrawal of privileges

It is not acceptable to :
Raise your voice, constantly, and without good reason (e.g. child is in danger)
Use any form of physical intervention e.g. holding unless it is necessary to prevent personal injury to the child, other children, an adult or serious damage to property. Use physical punishments, or the threat of them


Bullying

All staff are to be alert to instances of bullying and children are encouraged to report such incidents.

Policy on Children Who Leave the Premises

If a child, in the care of Candystripe, leaves an out of school club on their own, staff are not to chase them. You must follow at a safe distance, and try and keep them in sight.You must inform the police, the child's parent/carers, and also alert the office.

Child Protection Policy

If you are worried and you think a child in your care is being abused, what should you do? Make sure you share your feelings or concerns with the leader/manager in a confidential manner. The information must be passed to the Director, only the director is legally entitled to contact Social Services or the police regarding the matter. Please refer to the Child Protection Guidelines, provided by the Leeds Area Child Protection Committee, for further information.

Admission Policy

Candystripe welcomes all children into their group and aims to guarantee 'A Place for everyone'. Admission is based on numbers in the group, staff ratios, and booking procedures. All possible attempts are made to offer places t all children who need them. Care is taken not to exclude parents who do not know the system, whose first language is not English who are new to the area or whose children's need is urgent.

Complaints Policy

If you are worried or upset about anything, concerning your family or any of the services we provide and you wish to discuss it with someone, please do not hesitate to talk firstly to a staff member. If after talking to the staff member you are still unhappy, please see the Manager. All complaints will be dealt with promptly. Behaviour management must be consistent and developmentally appropriate, respecting individual children's level of understanding and maturity. Any incident must be recorded and the parent informed of the incident on the day.

Lost child policy - outings

If a child is lost on a nursery outing, all remaining children will be kept in a group and the register checked. One staff member (and their mobile phone) will stay with the children and all other staff members will begin to search nearby areas. The manager and police will be informed by mobile phone. The manager will then contact the parents if required.

Failure to collect policy

In the event that a child is not collected once the nursery has closed, the senior staff member will contact one or both of the parents/carers. If there is no response, the people listed as emergency contacts will also be phoned. If the event of a delay, two staff members will wait with the child(ren) until they are collected. If no one can collect, Social services and Ofsted will be informed and the staff will remain until an authorised person has collected the child(ren).

Outings procedure

Whenever children leave the nursery grounds a signed parental consent form is required, along with an outing form stating the departure and return time, the location of the trip, the staff members in attendance and a description of the child's clothes. These forms are left with the manager and at least two staff members take mobile phones with them for communication purposes. A first aid kit is also taken and a complete register, which should be checked every 30 minutes or so. Children should be in appropriate clothes for the weather, had the opportunity to go to the toilet and have refreshments available (if it is very hot).

Arrival & departure procedure

When children are arriving at nursery, they should be greeted immediately and their parents/carers greeted secondly. The nursery should always be warm, clean and tidy with appropriate music playing, activities set up and welcoming staff. Parents should always feel comfortable seeking advice or discussing their child's day with staff.