Admission Policy
I am happy to take on any baby/child within my registered numbers and will not discriminate against children or their families for reasons such as race, religion, sex or ability. However I would like to make the following statements:
I offer pick and drop off services from Abbotsbury Primary School/nursery and therefore am unable to collect children from any other school.
I prefer the children come to visit me at least 3 times before the childcare commences, once with the parents and twice left for a short time alone, giving the child a chance to meet myself and the other children properly. If the child does not settle I will phone the parents.
All parents/carers are required to complete all contract forms and read the policies. Permission forms will be brought to your attention also when required. Parents/Carers should expect this process to take at least one hour. Some parents may think this process is excessive, but childminding has moved on considerably and all must follow strict guidelines and have appropriate qualifications and training as well as being adequately insured and regularly inspected.
At present I am registered to care for:
In total six children up to the age of eight.
Of these, a maximum of three can be under fives and
Only one child under one year old.
I am happy to take on children with special needs providing I feel I can provide them with the care they need. (For example I will not be able to provide one to one care or look after a child in a wheelchair, as my home is not suitable) If your child has additional needs please discuss them with me first as I would not want to raise your expectations.
Positive Behaviour Policy
I operate a non-smacking or physical punishment policy. No child in my care will suffer any pain or humiliation, as I believe in positive discipline as a more effective way of managing behaviour.
Positive discipline means:
· Rewarding good behaviour. Because rewards are constructive, they encourage further effort. Punishment is destructive – it humiliates children and makes them feel powerless.
· Encouraging self-discipline and respect for others. Because children need to grow into people who behave well even when there’s no one to tell them what to do.
· Setting realistic limits according to age and stage of development. Because as children grow and develop our expectations of their change.
· Setting a good example. Because young children take more notice than we might think of how we behave and what we say.
· Encouragement, not orders and instructions. Because “Do as you’re told” teaches nothing for next time. Positive discipline involves explaining why.
· Being consistent – saying no and meaning no. Because children need to know where they stand and it helps if they know that we mean what we say.
· Praise, appreciation and attention. Because when children are used to getting attention with good behaviour, they won't seek it by misbehaving.
· Building children's self-esteem. Shaming, scolding, hurting and humiliating children can lead to even worse behaviour. Attention, approval and praise can build self-esteem and a child who feels valued is more likely to behave well.
I encourage appropriate behaviour by:
· Setting a good example, I aim to be a positive role model as children copy what they see. Children learn values and behaviour from adults.
· I readily praise, approve and reward wanted behaviour, such as sharing, to encourage it to be repeated. Using praise helps to show that I value the child and it helps to build their self-esteem.
· I praise children to their parents and other people when they have behaved as expected.
· I try to be consistent when saying “no” and explain reasons why it is not appropriate and considered unwanted behaviour.
· My expectations are flexible and realistic and are adjusted to the age, level of understanding, maturity and stage of development of the child.
· I try to involving children in setting and agreeing house rules.
Enrolment and Settling in Policy
I understand how difficult it is for parents to leave their child with a childminder and return to work. I will therefore work with you to ensure your child is settled and that you are happy with the care that I am to provide.
I like to organise settling in sessions for the parents and child. This gives you the opportunity to provide me with lots of information about your child, their likes and dislikes, routines, favourite activities, how to comfort them if they become upset and how they have reacted when left before. It gives me the opportunity to start to build a relationship with you and your child and to understand both your needs and wishes.
I am happy for you to stay until you feel that your child is settled. Some children do take longer than others to settle and some settle quickly and then become distressed a few weeks into the placement. I will work with you to support your child through this transition period and make it as easy as possible. It is important that you and your child are relaxed and happy in my home and with the care I provide.
Some parents find it helpful to call me during the day to find out how their child is. I am happy to take your calls, but I am sometimes not able to talk for long, or even to answer the telephone if I am attending to a child’s personal needs, for example changing a nappy. So please do not panic if you call and there is no answer.
I shall ask parents to complete an individual needs form to ensure I continue the child s routine to the best of my ability.
Fees Policy
Payment
Fees are to be paid monthly in advance (Usually first Friday of the month). All contracted hours must be paid for in full regardless of attendance.
As I am Ofsted registered, I can be paid using Tax Credits or Childcare Vouchers. I accept payment by online banking, standing order or cash.
Deposit
If there is a period between signing the contract and the date the first payment is due I may ask for a deposit which will be £100. This is to reserve your space and will be deducted from your first payment. If you decide not to take the place after signing the contract the deposit will not be returned.
Retainer Fees
I normally charge a retainer fee to reserve a place for future use by a child. The retainer fee is a proportion of the normal fee (usually 50%) and is to be paid on the same basis as the service to be provided. The purpose of the retainer is to recompense me for potential loss of earning during the retained period. This is not a credit against future fees. The full childminding fee is payable for any such period. Without a retainer fee I will not guarantee a place for your child at any time in the future.
Please note that where a retained place is not taken up by the parent the retainer fees are not refundable.
HOLIDAYS AND SICKNESS
Full fee
Bank Holidays
Parent/child sickness
Occasional day off parent/child
Parent/child holidayunder two weeks.
Over two weeks Holidays half fee.
No Fee
Childminder sickness
Childminder holiday
Training Days
Late Collection
If you are 15 minutes late collecting your child, you will be charged for an hour which will be £10
Healthy Eating Policy
It is my policy that when children are provided with meals, snacks and drinks, in my setting these must be healthy, balanced and nutritious. Those responsible for the preparation and handling of food must be competent to do so.
Parents are advised if their child is not eating well. Children who have special diet requirements can usually be accommodated.
I sit with the children whilst eating round the table and encourage good table manners. I try to make meal times an enjoyable experience.
· I will obtain record and act on information from parents about a child’s dietary requirements.
· Where parents provide meals for their children to eat in my setting I will provide chilled storage for packed lunches and appropriate storage areas for other foodstuffs.
· I will also provide clean and age appropriate crockery and cutlery to enable the children to eat a packed lunch.
· Children will be provided with healthy meals and other healthy snacks and drinks.
· Fresh drinking water/milk /juice will be available at all times.
· Baby changing facilities will not be near food preparation areas.
· I will ensure I use suitable sterilisation equipment for baby’s food and bottles
Food Poisoning
If there is an outbreak of food poisoning affecting two or more children looked after on my premises I will notify Ofsted as soon as possible but in any case within 14 days of the incident occurring in order to comply with regulations
Health and Safety Policy & Procedure
General Safety
The Health and Safety of your child is very important to me these are some of the
Procedures that I have to support this:
· All unused electrical sockets which are accessible to young children have
· appropriate safety covers fitted
· All toys are checked and cleaned regularly to ensure they are safe to use
· Cleaning products and materials are kept in a cupboard with a childproof lock or out of reach of small children
· Medicines are kept out of reach of small children
· I use appropriate car seats for the age and size of each child
· My car has an MOT when required, and has appropriate insurance for business use.
· I use safety equipment appropriate for the children in my care, for example cupboard locks, stair gates
· I have an emergency plan, including a house evacuation plan
· I keep my kitchen very clean, following hygiene guidelines on the storage of food, e.g. keeping the fridge at the correct temperature
· Waste bins are emptied regularly
· I encourage good hygiene skills with the children and myself, for example washing hands after going to the toilet, before touching food and after touching animals
· I teach children safety skills, such as how to cross the road safely
· I encourage the children to make healthy food choices and to take physical exercise
· I have a fire blanket and smoke detectors which are routinely tested to be in working order
· I remove any toys or equipment found to be faulty from areas where children can access.
Risk Assessments
I identify potential hazards through undertaking risk assessments for all areas where children in my care will be allowed access. These will be reviewed each time I accept a new child into my care to take into account any specific issues relating to that child. I also undertake an observational risk assessment each morning before the children arrive.
Illness Policy
I appreciate that as a working parent you need to be able to go to work, however if your child is unwell then they will be bettered cared for in their own home with a parent. I am happy to care for children with minor coughs and colds but will not care for children who are very unwell, infectious or running a high temperature. I have to go out each day to do school and pre-school runs and need to consider the welfare of all the children in my care.
If you child has had diarrhoea or sickness in the last twenty-four hours please do not bring them, but call and let me know.
Children who have shown signs of diarrhoea and/or vomiting will excluded for 48 hours after the last occurrence in line with Department of Health advice.
If your child becomes ill whilst in my care, I will make them as comfortable as possible, isolate them from the other children if necessary and reassure them. I will contact you immediately and continue to care for your child until you arrive.
I am happy to administer medication, therefore Parents will be required to complete and sign a Medication Consent Form prior to me administering any medication to their child.
I have a duty to advise Ofsted of any episodes of food poisoning affecting two or more children I care for. As far as practicable I will advise parents prior to notifying Ofsted, but may not be able to do so in all cases.
I have a duty to advise Health Protection Agency of any infectious diseases of the Notifiable Disease list (See Appendix) contracted by children in my care. As far as practicable I will advise parents prior to notifying Health Protection Agency, but may not be able to do so in all cases. This Policy supports the requirements and standards of the Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding and Welfare requirements 2014.
Notifiable Diseases
· Acute encephalitis
· Acute infectious hepatitis
· Acute meningitis
· Acute poliomyelitis
· Anthrax
· Botulism
· Brucellosis
· Cholera
· Diphtheria
· Enteric fever (typhoid or paratyphoid fever)
· Food poisoning
· Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)
· Infectious bloody diarrhoea
· Invasive group A streptococcal disease
· Legionnaire’s Disease
· Leprosy
· Malaria
· Measles
· Meningococcal septicaemia
· Mumps
· Plague
· Rabies
· Rubella
· SARS
· Scarlet fever
· Smallpox
· Tetanus
· Tuberculosis
· Typhus
· Viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF)
· Whooping cough
· Yellow fever
Reference: Health Protection Agency website – Diseases Notifiable under the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010