The EYFS requires that:

• 3.55. Providers must ensure that their premises, including overall floor space and outdoor spaces, are fit for purpose and suitable for the age of children cared for and the activities provided on the premises. Providers must comply with requirements of health and safety legislation (including fire safety and hygiene requirements).

 

Rose Buddies Childcare believes that the health and safety of children is of paramount importance. We make our settings a safe and healthy place for children, parents, staff and volunteers.

 

• We aim to make children, parents and staff aware of health and safety issues and to minimise the hazards and risks to enable the children to thrive in a healthy safe environment.

• We display the necessary health and safety poster in the main entry way.

• Our competent & trained members of staff responsible for health and safety are:

 

Name of Health & Safety Officer: Miss Amy Rice & Miss Caitlin Rice

 

Insurance cover

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Our Insurance is provided through Tower Gate Insurance. We have public liability insurance and employers’ liability insurance. The certificate for public liability insurance is displayed in the front entrance.

 

Awareness raising

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• Our induction training for staff and volunteers includes a clear explanation of health and safety issues so that all adults are able to adhere to our policy and procedures as they understand their shared responsibility for health and safety. The induction training covers matters of employee well-being, including safe lifting (Manual Handling) and the storage of potentially dangerous substances (COSHH regulations).

• Records are kept of these induction training sessions and new staff and volunteers are asked to sign the records to confirm that they have taken part.

• Health and safety issues are explained to the parents of new children so that they understand the part played by these issues in the daily life of the setting.

• As necessary, health and safety training is included in the annual training plans of staff, and health and safety is discussed regularly at staff meetings.

• We operate a no smoking policy.

• Children are made aware of health and safety issues through discussions, planned activities and routines.

 

Safety of adults

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• Adults are provided with guidance about the safe storage, movement, lifting and construction of large pieces of equipment.

• When adults need to reach up to store equipment or to change light bulbs they are provided with safe equipment to do so.

• All warning signs are clear and in appropriate languages.

• Adults do not remain in the building on their own or leave on their own after dark.

• The sickness of staff and their involvement in accidents is recorded. The records are reviewed termly to identify any issues that need to be addressed.

• We keep a record of all substances that may be hazardous to health – such as cleaning chemicals, or gardening chemicals if used. This states what the risks are and what to do if they have contact with eyes or skin or are ingested. It also states where they are stored.

• We keep all cleaning chemicals in their original containers.

 

Windows

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• Low level windows are made from materials that prevent accidental breakage or are made safe.

• Windows are protected from accidental breakage or vandalism from people outside the building.

• Windows abound the ground floor are secured so that children cannot climb through them.

 

Doors

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• We take precautions to prevent children’s fingers from being trapped in doors.

• Internal and external doors are Locked to prevent entry by anyone other than authorised staff where required.

 

Floors

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• All floor surfaces are checked daily to ensure they are clean and not uneven, wet or damaged.

 

Electrical/gas equipment

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• All electrical/gas equipment conforms to safety requirements and is checked regularly by Thurrock Council.

• Our boiler/electrical switch gear/meter cupboard is not accessible to the children.

• Radiators, electrical sockets, wires and leads are properly guarded and the children are taught not to touch them.

• Radiators are checked daily to make sure they are not covered.

• There are sufficient sockets to prevent overloading.

• The temperature of hot water is controlled to prevent scalds.

• Lighting and ventilation is adequate in all areas including storage areas.

 

Storage

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• All resources and materials from which children select are stored safely.

• All equipment and resources are stored or stacked safely to prevent them accidentally falling or collapsing.

• Resources that need to be closely monitored are stored out of the reach of children.

 

Outdoor area

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• Our outdoor area is securely fenced.

• Our outdoor area is checked for safety and cleared of rubbish before it is used.

• Adults and children are alerted to the dangers of poisonous plants, herbicides and pesticides.

• Where water can form a pool on equipment, it is emptied before children start playing outside.

• Our outdoor sand pit is covered when not in use and is cleaned regularly.

• All outdoor activities are supervised at all times.

• Water is changed daily to prevent becoming stagnant.

 

Hygiene

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• We regularly seek information from the Environmental Health Department and the Health Authority to ensure that we keep up-to-date with the latest recommendations.

• Our daily routines encourage the children to learn about personal hygiene.

• We have a daily cleaning routine for the setting which includes play room(s), kitchen, rest area, toilets and nappy changing area.

• We have a schedule for cleaning resources and equipment, dressing-up clothes and furnishings.

• Hygiene standards are promoted in our toilet areas, including hand washing and drying facilities and the disposal of nappies.

• We implement good hygiene practices by:

1. Cleaning tables between activities.

2. Cleaning toilets regularly.

3. Wearing protective clothing – such as, aprons and disposable gloves – as appropriate.

4. Providing sets of clean clothes

5. Providing tissues and wipes.

 

Activities and resources

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• Before purchase or loan, equipment and resources are checked to ensure that they are safe for the ages and stages of the children currently attending the setting.

• Baby Room toys are checked using the choking tube to ensure that all pieces of equipment are age appropriate. A risk assessment is carried out on all toys and a sheet accompanies the resources.

• The layout of play equipment allows adults and children to move safely and freely between activities.

• All equipment is regularly checked for cleanliness and safety and any dangerous items are repaired or discarded.

• All materials, including paint and glue, are non-toxic.

• Sand is clean and suitable for children’s play.

• Physical play is constantly supervised.

• Children are taught to handle and store tools safely.

• Children who are sleeping are checked regularly and are recorded on a sleeping chart in each room, which is initialled by supervisory staff every fifteen minutes.

• Children learn about health, safety and personal hygiene through the activities we provide and the routines we follow.

• Any faulty equipment is removed from use and is repaired. If it cannot be repaired it is discarded.

• Large pieces of equipment are discarded only with the consent of the manager and the chairperson or owner.

 

Maintenance & Repairs

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We have a duty to ensure that our premises are well maintained and kept in a serviceable condition. Services such as water, lighting, heating and air conditioning will be maintained to ensure that the building is safe and comfortable to use and we will work closely with our landlords/owners/committee to ensure we meet all health and safety requirements.

 

We have a reporting system in place so that staff can alert the manager/H&S officer to any concerns about the building, equipment or resources. The Manage/H&S officer will ensure that the faulty equipment is removed/replaced and that any concerns are reported to maintenance services.

 

COSHH

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COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. We will prevent or reduce workers exposure to hazardous substances by:

• finding out what the health hazards are

• deciding how to prevent harm to health (risk assessment)

• providing control measures to reduce harm to health

• making sure they are used appropriately

• keeping all control measures in good working order

• providing information, instruction and training for employees and others

• providing monitoring and health surveillance in appropriate cases

• planning for emergencies.

 

Any substances that fall under COSHH regulations are kept in the cleaning store within the Kitchen to which children have no access. Staff are trained in the control of these cleaning products and ensure gloves and PPE are worn when in use. Substances are not used when children are in the building

 

RIDDOR

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We follow the guidelines of the Reporting Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), for the reporting of accidents and incidents.  Child protection matters or behavioural incidents between children are NOT regarded as incidents, and there are separate procedures for this.

 

Procedures

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Accident reporting:

·    Accident forms are accessible on our tablets.
·    All staff have access to the tablets at all times and are trained to complete the accident forms.
·    Is reviewed at least half-termly to identify any potential or actual hazards and complied in an audit that looks for patterns.

• Ofsted is notified of any injury requiring treatment by a general practitioner or hospital doctor, or the death of a child or adult.

 

When there is an injury requiring general practitioner or hospital treatment to a child, parent, volunteer or visitor, or where there is a death of a child or adult on the premises, we make a report to the Health and Safety Executive using the format for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences.

 

Dealing with incidents

We meet our legal requirements for the safety of our employees by complying with RIDDOR). We report to the Health and Safety Executive:

• Any accident to a member of staff requiring treatment by a general practitioner or hospital

• Any dangerous occurrences.  This may be an event that causes injury or fatalities or an event that does not cause an accident but could have done, such as a gas leak

• Any dangerous occurrence is recorded in our incident book. 

• Any serious accident or incident will also be reported to the Local Authority 

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