The Health and Safety of all the children in my care is very important to me and I have therefore documented the following procedures that I have in place to support this.
- I do a quick risk assessment of my home every morning before the children arrive to ensure that it is a safe environment for minded children.
- 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.
- All equipment (highchairs, booster chairs, potty, toilet training seat, changing mat) will be cleaned after every use and checked regularly for defaults.
- All necessary equipment is fitted with the correct safety harnesses to prevent accidents, for example highchair and pushchairs.
- Car seats are checked regularly to ensure they are correctly fitted and that they are age/stage appropriate for your child. I will never use a second hand car seat, as I do not know its history.
- My car is regularly serviced and MOT. I keep the safety locks on the back doors working. My car insurance is for Business use.
- I use safety equipment appropriate for the children in my care, i.e. stair gates, cupboard locks etc. These are checked regularly.
- I keep a fire blanket in my kitchen in the event of emergencies.
- I will keep my front door locked with the keys on a hook up high to prevent the children opening the door to either strangers or to allow them- selves outside unsupervised.
- I have procedures in place in the event of a fire (see my emergency evacuation policy)
- I keep my kitchen very clean, following hygiene guidelines on the storing of food, keeping the fridge at the correct temperature etc. Ensuring dishcloths & tea towels are clean each morning.
- I ensure that the children do not have access to any waste, the bins are emptied daily and any used nappies are double wrapped and placed in the outdoor rubbish bin.
- I do not permit smoking in my home.
- I follow strict hygiene guidelines to prevent contamination.
- I have strict Child protection guidelines in place.
- Children must stay with me or one of my registered assistants when we are away from the home. Younger child will be strapped in a pushchair and older children will either be on a harness or wrist strap, or holding onto my hand/pushchair.
- I have emergency contact details with me at all times should I need to contact the parents.
- I teach the children about safety issues like crossing the road and stranger danger and where appropriate encourage these at all times.
- I teach the children about the importance of making a healthy food
Choice and physical exercise and encourage these at all times.
- If your child has a regular sleep routine I will, where possible, adhere to it at all time and your child will be regularly monitored and I will use a baby monitor as well.
- I discourage the children from keeping ‘secrets’ and where necessary (making of Christmas presents, birthday cards etc) will encourage them that these are ‘surprises’
- I will only ever restrain a child if they are putting themselves or others in danger, for example running into a road.
- I have a medicine policy in place.
- I am First Aid trained and have a valid certificate, and I require any staff to be too. A full first aid kit is available at all times and is checked and refilled regularly. My car is also equipped with a first aid kit.
- I have an illness policy in place.
- I have public liability insurance.
- Strangers and visitors have to sign in a ‘visitors’ book by the front door and any visitors that I am unsure of will not be allowed to enter the premises.