As a registered childminder, I have to have a list of policy statements to share with parents; such statements lay some ground rules and help parents understand my views and practices concerning childcare. Please click on the following titles to read policies.
Child Protection Policy
Confidentiality Policy
Equal Opportunities Policy
Hygiene Policy
Health Policy
Smoking Policy
Safety Policy
Medicines Policy
Fire Safety Policy
Emergency Care Policy
Lost Child Policy
Illness Policy
Behaviour Management Policy
Risk Assesment Policy
Outings Policy
Complaints Procedure Policy
As a childminder, I am required to have a child protection policy in place, which outlines the action I must take where I may have concerns about the welfare or safety of a child in my care.All parents who wish to place their child in my care must read and sign this document to indicate they are aware of my responsibilities in caring for their child..
Where I have concerns about a child’s general welfare and well-being, or if there is any accident or incident which occurs while any child is in my care, I will make a note of these and discuss with parents. Parents are welcome to see these notes and have copies.
If I feel particularly worried about the welfare or safety of the child, I will encourage parents, or seek their permission, to contact other agencies that may be able to help. In exceptional circumstances, where I am very worried about a child and this concern is not, or cannot be, shared with parents, I will contact Social Services for advice and possible action on their part.
In all circumstances relating to the well-being and safety of a child, I will keep records, which may be passed onto other agencies in the interest of the child. At all times, endeavor to keep the parents informed of any concerns I may have. Ensure that I keep up with issues around the care and protection of children. Ensure that I care for your children in a way that respects their dignity, keeps them safe and encourages their general development. And ensure that any adults who work with me work to these principles and procedures.
Working with children and families will sometimes bring me into contact with confidential
information. To ensure that those using my services can do so with confidence, I will respect confidentiality in the following ways: Parents will only have access to any records of their own children and will not be given any information about any other children. Information given by parents/carers to will not be passed on to other adults without permission. Details requested on the registration form, including address and telephone number, are also deemed confidential and will be used for childminding management purposes only.Information will not be passed on to other organisations. Any discussions with parents about their children will take place privately and, if appropriate, may be arranged outside of hours at a time suitable to parents.The undertakings above may be over-ridden if information is requested as evidence in cases of suspected Child Abuse
All children are given the same opportunity to play, experience and achieve with due regard for their age, race, religion, gender, culture, disability or special educational needs, social background or composition of the family. Racist/sexist behaviour or language is actively discouraged and always appropriately challenged if it should occur.
Positive images of people often discriminated against are given/shown through activities, experiences and conversation. I feel that it is important for a child’s self esteem and confidence to have a positive image of the racial/cultural/social group that they and their family belong to, and to respect the differences in others. All children are encouraged to take responsibility for the environment and to care for one another.
To promote good hygiene I ensure all surfaces, equipment, toys and utensils are kept clean and any dangerous items repaired or discarded. Ensure all meals and snacks provided are nutritious and washed, prepared and stored correctly. Ensure all matters of personal hygiene are attended to in the appropriate manner.
To prevent accidents and promote good health I ask parents to keep their children away if they are ill or have an infection. (see Illness policy)
Ensure my first aid equipment is kept clean, current and replenished, with sterile items kept sealed in their packages until needed.
Ensure my First Aid Certificate is kept up-to-date.
Record any incidents or accidents, pre-existing injuries and details of any medication.
I have a strict no smoking policy and try not to take the children to places where they might be subject to smoking
To maintain a safe environment, I ensure children are supervised at all times and safety checks are made regularly, both indoors and out. That all dangerous materials and items are kept out of reach from children or placed in cupboards with safety catches.That appropriate safety devices are in place, e.g. Fire blankets and guards, socket covers, smoke detectors and safety gates.
Ensure safety restraints in pushchairs, highchairs and the car are appropriate.
Ensure the MOT and Insurance for the car and the Professional Indemnity Insurance details are suitable and up-to-date.
I can only administer medicines and other treatments with the prior written permission of parents. I have a medication record book, which must be completed for each medication and signed by parents, I will sign each time to indicate the treatment has been carried out according to the parents instructions. All medications supplied by parents must be clearly labelled and in the original packaging.
I check my home daily for fire safety and suitability as a childminding facility, Smoke detectors are fitted to all levels of the house and they are regularly tested and maintained. I have access to a telephone and have a fire blanket located in the kitchen.
If a smoke detector sounds, or a fire is detected, the priority is to evacuate the building. The children will be gathered together and we will exit the house together by the nearest available exit, carrying infants who cannot walk. We would assemble on the grass in front of the house, at a safe distance and check that everyone is accounted for. I carry a mobile phone on me at all times and as soon as I know all the children are safe they will be rung
Older children are all trained and drilled regularly.Parents or their emergency contacts would be called as soon as practicable to arrange collection of the children. I always keep child records and contact numbers in a folder by the door and if these have been inaccessible my daughter who is my designated carer has a sealed copy of them at her house.
In a medical emergency such as an accident or sudden illness that requires immediate medical attention, I will provide First Aid in accordance with my training, and will then ring 999. Parents will then be telephoned to meet the ambulance either at my house or the hospital, whichever is most practical.
I might not be able to travel to the hospital in the ambulance because of the other children who would still need to be cared for. So I do have an emergency carer in place. My daughter who is a qualified carer has agreed to “step in” in my absence and contact parents to collect children. Children must be collected at the earliest possible time. As she is not a registered childminders, I can and will only leave children in her care in an emergency. My Public Liability Insurance covers me in these circumstances and my daughter has a Criminal Records check.
If the medical emergency is myself my daughter will again be called in to care for the children until parents can be contacted and children collected.
The care of your child is paramount and I will always try to ensure that they remain with me and are safe. However sometimes children can become ‘lost’ in busy places and therefore as a responsible childminder I have written a procedure that will be followed in the unlikely event of this happening I will immediately raise the alarm to all around me that I have lost a child and enlist the help of everyone to look for them If it is a secure area such as a shopping centre, I will quickly alert the security staff so they can seal off exits and monitor the situation on any CCTV.I will provide everyone involved in the search with a description of the child. I will reassure the other children with me, as they may be distressed I will then alert the police and provide a full description I will then alert the parents of the situation. I take precautions to avoid situations like this happening by implementing the following measures: Ensuring the children hold my hand or the pushchair whilst we are out. Avoid going to places that are overcrowded. On outings the children wear wristbands with my mobile number on them. I teach the children about the dangers of wandering off and of talking to strangers
Sick children should not in general attend the childminding setting. Although mild snuffles need not necessarily prevent a child from being minded. However an infectious disease, diarrhea illness etc. is a reason for a child to stay at home. I would expect parents to make this judgment, however the final decision is at my discretion.
Bringing an infectious child into my home places my children, other people’s children and myself at risk. If I am ill, I am unable to care for any children. Parents should be aware that I may, occasionally be unable to care for your child due to illness in myself or my own children, it would therefore be useful to have alternative emergency arrangements in place
I recognize the need to ensure all children are protected against sickness and infectious illnesses whilst in my care and I will ensure that all parents know and accept the procedures below should their child become unwell, sick or infectious
If a child becomes unwell, or I suspect a child is ill or infectious whilst in my care I will contact the parents, or if necessary, the designated emergency contacts, to advise the condition of their child and to arrange immediate collection. I will, if necessary obtain their permission for administration of medicine. I will keep the parents informed of the condition of their child until collection
Advise other parents if necessary
A child with an infectious disease will not be able to return to my care until fully recovered.
It is against the law (as of May 2003) for a childminder to smack a child in their care, with or without the parents’ permission.
I do not and will not administer any form of physical punishment or humiliation to any child in my care. Shouting, name-calling, food or sleep deprivation will never be used as a form of discipline.
Good behavior is rewarded with suitable praise and attention. Encouraging positive social behaviour shows children they do not need to misbehave to gain attention.
Children are taught the few basic house rules and boundaries and are expected to comply. Realistic, age appropriate boundaries are consistently maintained.
I will set a good example with regards to manners and safety. Children will do as we do rather than as we say.
A child who is upsetting others or misbehaving will be taken aside and spoken to about the problem. In extreme cases the child may be asked to take “time out”, in the same room, for 1-2 minutes to allow the situation to cool off.
If a child upsets another child or misbehaves on a regular basis, the parents will be informed and asked to speak to their child.
In this way we should be able to deal with any problem that may arise quickly and with little fuss.
The Early Years Foundation Stage requires me to conduct risk assessments and review them regularly.
I check my home and garden every morning before the minded children arrive to ensure that it is a safe environment for the children to play in. I also risk assess any environment that I take the children into, for example walking to school, the shops, library and toddler groups etc. If I am planning to take the children into environments that are unknown to me I try to do a risk assessment in advance so I am aware of any potential hazards, although this may not always be possible. I record my assessments on sheets and these are stored in a file. These documents are available for any parent to see on request as well as Ofsted.
If travelling by car I will ensure all car seats/boosters/seat belts are appropriate for the age and stage of the children. That they all conforms to safety standards and are correctly fitted. If walking children will be strictly supervised, on age appropriate reigns etc.etc.visiting shops/supermarkets and will be strictly supervised in the car park, carried in age appropriate supermarket trolleys with restraints, the children will be made aware of the dangers of talking to strangers, and will be taught road safety and the dangers of running of and not holding my hand or push chair.
As your Childminder, I take my responsibility to you and your child very seriously. I enjoy caring for children and hope that I meet your needs for childcare. However there may be occasions when you disagree with or wish to clarify or discuss an aspect of my service.If you wish to discuss the care of your child, the contract document, my policies or handbook or if you have any comments or concerns with my services as a childminder, please feel free to discuss the issue with me at an early stage so that any difficulties do not become obstacles to a good relationship. I am happy to make an evening or weekend appointment if it is not possible to speak privately when you collect your child.If a parent makes a complaint about my service I will make a record of the complaint (and give parents a copy) and endeavour to resolve the issue by consultation with parents. I will seek guidance from the NCMA and I will advise parents to contact the NCMA for support and guidance.
If you feel that you are unable to talk to me or that after talking the matter remains unresolved then you can talk in confidence to:
NCMA, (National Childminding Association)
8 Masons Hill,
Bromley,
Kent
BR2 9EY
Tel: 0208 464 6164
www.ncma.org.uk
Or
The Early Years Childminding Team on 0208 464 9037
If you wish to make a formal complaint then you can contact the Ofsted Complaints and Investigation quoting my registration number as stated on your Contract Document. It is a requirement by Ofsted that all complaints are logged along with the outcome and any action taken. These records must be available to show an Ofsted Childcare Inspector if required.
Ofsted
Royal Exchange Buildings
St Ann’s Square
Manchester
M2 7LA
08456 404040
www.ofsted.gov.uk
