The Health and Safety of your child is very important to me and I make it my first priority to keep children in my care healthy and safe. I therefore have the following procedures in place to support this:

• All toys will be checked and cleaned regularly to ensure they are safe for your child to use. Any broken or hazardous toys will be removed immediately. Children will only be offered toys and resources that are suitable for their age/stage of development or younger.
• I do a quick visual risk assessment of my home every morning before the children arrive to ensure that it is a safe environment for minded children.
• All equipment will be checked and cleaned regularly. All equipment is fitted with the correct safety harnesses to prevent accidents, for example highchairs and pushchairs.
• Car seats are checked regularly to ensure they are correctly fitted. 
• I use safety equipment appropriate for the children in my care, eg stair gates, cupboard locks, etc. These are checked regularly.
• I have procedures in place in the event of a fire and carry out regular fire drills.
• I keep my kitchen clean and follow hygiene guidelines on the storing of food, keeping the fridge at the correct temperature etc.
• I ensure that the children do not have access to any waste, the bins are emptied regularly and any used nappies are placed in the outdoor rubbish bin.
• I do not permit smoking in my home or garden whilst there are minded children on the premises.
• Children must stay with me when we are away from the home. Younger children will be strapped in a pushchair, be on a harness or wrist strap, or holding my hand or the pushchair.
• Outside of the home I will ensure younger children are within a safe distance and can be seen and heard at all times.
• I will ensure that children are in a safe and secure environment at all times.
• I will assess risk in terms of any hazards, and the general public.
• I carry emergency contact details with me at all times should I need to contact parents.
• I will work with you to teach your child about safety issues like crossing the road and stranger danger, and this will be interwoven into our everyday life.
• I will do regular training on assessing risk.
• Sleeping children will be regularly monitored, I also use a live stream camera in all sleeping areas.
• I discourage children from keeping ‘secrets’.
• I will restrain a child if they are putting themselves or others in danger, for example running into a road.

Anyone who willingly and consistently puts themselves or others in danger will be removed from the setting and I reserve the right to refuse further care without notice.

You will be asked to drop off and collect your child at a mutually agreed designated time, and to stand in the agreed area outside the front door.

Parents will not be invited into the setting unless there is a specific need. However, if you need to speak to me, we can arrange a mutually suitable time. Please contact me directly to arrange this.

I promote good oral health by providing only water to drink (excepting baby milk), encouraging fruit and vegetable snacks over sugary or processed ones, supporting children to be aware of what good oral health means – and helping them and their parents to understand the importance of cleaning their teeth with toothpaste and eating healthily.

I ensure good air circulation by opening windows and/or using fans. I regularly disinfect all surfaces.

Personal protective equipment will be used in the following situations such as sudden onset of illness which involving vomit and diarrhea, and if a child becomes unwell with symptoms of COVID 19 while in the setting. 

If you have any concerns regarding the health and safety of your child please discuss them with me.