Policies and Procedures

Not the most exciting of subjects, but its vitally important to ensure the smooth running of the nursery and to assure you that your little one is being looked after in a professional manner..

This website touches on aspects of the following policies of which full details must be read by you prior to your child commencing nursery and which are always available for you to consult at any time. The nursery copies should be treated as the official and accurate policies.

Main policies and procedures:

Childcare philosophy
Equal opportunities
Practice of working with children (behaviour management)
Partnership with parent and staff
Guidelines for staff
Health, nutrition and food services
Special needs
Child protection
Health and safety
Missing Child
Uncollected child
Complaints.

We are registered with Ofsted Early Years: Registration number EY261050
For further information, Ofsted can be contacted at:

Ofsted Early Years,
3rd Floor
Royal Exchange Buildings,
St Anns Square,
Manchester
M2 7LA

Tel 0845 601 4771

Illness
In the interests of your child and others, please do not bring your child to nursery if they are suffering form any of the following:

High temperature, sore throat, Cold, Cough, suspicious rash, eye infection, sickness and/or diarrhoea or any other infectious illness or disease.

We reserve the right to refuse entry of an ill child until such time as we are satisfied that he or she is not ill or infectious. We appreciate that this would be inconvenient but, please don't be offended, we are considering the well being of everybody in the nursery. Look at it the other way, you wouldn't want to have an infection knowingly passed to your child by someone else.

Please notify us prior to 9am if your child is going to be absent.

All staff have valid first aid certificates and will administer first aid as necessary. You will be notified and asked to sign the accident book. If emergency aid is deemed necessary the manager reserves the right to remove the child to the doctor or hospital and parents will be notified as soon as possible.

Parents or carers MUST inform the nursery of all known allergies and relevant medical history.

Medication:
Nursery staff can administer medication. This can only be done following completion of a daily medication form. Medication can only be given if prescribed to the child if the child has been taking the medicine for at least 48 hours before returning to nursery.

We do not provide Calpol™ and other Paracetamol or Ibuprofen based medicines. In the event of your child needing relief for teething pain etc, we recommend that you provide the appropriate medication clearly labelled with your child's name for their own personal use.

All medicine is administered under strict controls and is stored safely and appropriately away from children.

Clothing and belongings.
When you are a little person and there are so many exciting things to do, its easy to forget your jumper, coat, wellies etc and being a busy parent, its easy to overlook these things too! Children should wear easily washable and labelled clothing so that we can reunite you with your little one's belongings!

Nursery isn't a fashion parade so best/expensive clothing should be avoided in case of it getting messy. Please supply a full set of spare labelled clothing in a NON-PLASTIC bag, just in case. This is generally well used during toilet training.

Where necessary we will need to supply 'emergency pants' from our stock. Please wash and return within 3 days.

Because we like to explore our countryside, labelled wellingtons and raincoats should also be supplied. During summer labelled sunhats and bottled sunscreen should be supplied. We recommend 'foreign legion' type sunhats as they protect the back of your child's neck.

Babies may be brought to nursery in their night wear up to 8:30 am and staff will change them into their day clothes.


Behaviour management
Politeness, good manners and courtesy are encouraged, praised and rewarded. We understand that children have to learn to get on with those around them, this may not always go smoothly as life doesn't come with an instruction book. Children are never punished for toilet accidents and are never denied food as a form of punishment. Should discipline be needed, age is taken into account.

We have clear guidelines on what is considered unacceptable behaviour. Staff are made aware so that they are consistent and fair in dealing with any issues.

Continued unacceptable behaviour may result in sanctions (time out) This method is usually an effective way of getting the child to reflect on their actions. If this fails to resolve the issue and the behaviour continues, then an Incident form may be completed and shared with parents/carers. Any behaviour that cannot be dealt with in the setting, may result in specialist advice being sought.

Equal opportunities
All children, parents/carers and staff are treated as equals at Apples and Pears, regardless of race, culture, religion, sex or ability. A diversity of backgrounds of staff is seen as a positive influence in the nursery for the enrichment that this brings.. Food, equipment, activities and resources used reflect positive, anti-stereotypical images of all the above mentioned.

Child protection
The welfare of the child is of paramount importance.

If any member of staff directly observes or suspects any form of physical or mental abuse, it will be noted and brought immediately to the managers attention. The staff observations will be fully investigated internally. Reports will then be passed onto and advice sought from Cheshire County Council Social Services.

Parents/carers will be notified of any incident and any incidents will be treated sensitively and confidentially.

Three P's summary

All policies must be read prior to commencing.

Special children receive the support they need.

Registered with Ofsted
Reg No. EY261050

Help us keep the nursery infection free.

Clothing:
Label everything!
Please supply a spare set of clothes in a non plastic bag. ~also~ wellies and raincoats, sunhats and sunscreen.

Babies can be dropped off in night wear until 8:30am

Medication
Strictly controlled.
We don't supply Calpol and similar medicines, but you can-labelled please.

Prescription medication:
Child has to be using for 48 hours prior to returning.

Behaviour management:
Escalation procedure for unacceptable behaviour.

Age related discipline procedure. Toilet accidents not punished.

Equal opportunities. Everyone is treated equally. Diversity is encouraged. Toys, food etc anti-stereotypical.

Child protection
The welfare of the child is paramount. Thorough non-reactionary procedures.