Health and Safety Policy

Health and Safety Policy for Cygnets Childcare Redhill

1. Introduction

Purpose: To ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all children, staff, and visitors at Cygnets Childcare.
Scope: This policy applies to all staff, children, parents, and visitors.

2. Legislation and Guidelines

EYFS Framework: Compliance with the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 2021.
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: Ensuring a safe working environment for staff and children.
Children Act 1989 and 2004: Prioritizing the welfare of children.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002: Managing hazardous substances.

3. Health and Safety Procedures

Risk Assessments: Regularly conducted to identify and mitigate potential hazards.
Safe Equipment and Environment: Ensuring all equipment and the environment are safe and suitable for children.
Accident Reporting: Procedures for reporting and recording accidents and incidents.
Medicine Management: Safe storage and administration of medicines.

4. Safeguarding and Welfare

Safeguarding Policies: Procedures to protect children from harm and abuse.
Staff Training: Regular training for staff on health and safety, safeguarding, and first aid.
Emergency Procedures: Clear procedures for emergencies, including fire drills and evacuation plans.

5. Hygiene and Infection Control

Cleaning Protocols: Regular cleaning schedules to maintain a hygienic environment.
Handwashing: Promoting regular handwashing among children and staff.
Illness Policy: Guidelines for managing illness and preventing the spread of infections.

6. Parental Involvement

Communication: Keeping parents informed about health and safety policies and procedures.
Feedback: Encouraging feedback from parents to improve health and safety practices.

7. Monitoring and Review

Regular Reviews: Periodic reviews of health and safety policies to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
Incident Analysis: Analyzing incidents to prevent future occurrences.

Additional Specific Procedures

Toy Cleaning:
- Regular cleaning and sanitizing of toys to prevent the spread of germs. Toys are cleaned daily and more frequently if they are mouthed by children.
Car Seats and MOT:
- Ensuring all car seats are properly installed and regularly cleaned. Vehicles used for outings must have a valid MOT and be regularly maintained.
Front Door Security:
- Secure entry systems to ensure only authorized individuals can enter the premises. The front door is monitored at all times.
Fire Safety:
- Regular fire drills and maintenance of fire safety equipment. Clear evacuation procedures are in place and practiced regularly ¹ ².
- Fire Safety Equipment: Installation and maintenance of fire alarms, extinguishers, and fire blankets.
- Fire Exits: Ensuring all fire exits are clearly marked and unobstructed ³.
- Fire Training: Regular fire safety training for all staff, including the use of fire extinguishers, evacuation procedures, and fire prevention measures ¹.
Waste Management:
- Proper disposal of waste, including body waste, in designated bins. Regular emptying and cleaning of waste bins to maintain hygiene.
Outings:
- Risk assessments conducted for all outings. Adequate staff-to-child ratios maintained, and emergency contact information carried at all times.
Emergency Contact Information:
- Up-to-date emergency contact information for all children and staff. Easily accessible in case of emergencies.
Food Hygiene:
- Adherence to food hygiene standards. Safe preparation, storage, and serving of food to prevent contamination.
- Fridge Temperature: Ensuring fridges are set between 0 and 5°C to keep food safe ⁴.
Child Sleep:
- Safe sleep practices followed, including regular checks on sleeping children and ensuring a safe sleep environment.
Behavior Management:
- Positive behavior management strategies in place. Staff trained to handle challenging behavior in a supportive and constructive manner.
Plug Sockets:
- Ensuring all plug sockets are covered and out of reach of children to prevent electrical hazards.
Age-Appropriate Activities:
- Providing activities and equipment that are suitable for the age and development stage of each child.
Road Safety:
- Teaching children road safety rules and ensuring safe practices during outings.
- Road Crossing: Supervised road crossings during outings to ensure children’s safety ⁴.
Stair Gates:
- Installing stair gates to prevent falls and ensure the safety of children.
Back Door Fire Exit:
- Ensuring the back door is always accessible as a fire exit and kept clear of obstructions.
Car Insurance:
- Ensuring all vehicles used for childcare purposes are fully insured.
Cupboard Locks:
- Installing locks on cupboards containing hazardous materials to prevent access by children.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH):
- Proper storage and handling of hazardous substances to prevent exposure and ensure safety.
Smoking Policy:
- A strict no-smoking policy on the premises to ensure a healthy environment for children.
Child Protection:
- Clear procedures for reporting and dealing with child protection concerns. Staff trained to recognize and respond to signs of abuse ⁵.
Stranger Safety:
- Teaching children about stranger safety and how to respond if approached by someone they do not know.
Restraining Children:
- Guidelines for safely restraining children if necessary to prevent harm to themselves or others.
Safety of Others:
- Ensuring the safety of all children and staff by maintaining a secure and supervised environment.
Child Hurting Other Children:
- Procedures for managing incidents where a child hurts another child, including immediate intervention and follow-up actions.
First Aid:
- Ensuring that trained first aiders are available at all times. First aid kits are regularly checked and restocked ⁶.
- First Aid Training: Regular training for staff to maintain certification and competence in first aid ⁶.
Food Safety:

Manual Handling:

Continuing Professional Development (CPD):

Manual Handlin

Academic Research References

To be completed - this document is under construction

By following this comprehensive health and safety policy, Cygnets Childcare ensures a safe, nurturing environment for all children, staff, and visitors.

Would you like more details about the policy or wish to add comments or further resources to improve the policy? Please contact Cygnets.

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