Safeguarding

My successful relationships with families in my career have been based on trust and transparency in how I work with the children when they are in my care. I have outlined my safeguarding methods below for your reference. Please feel free to ask me if you need any more information.

How I will keep your children safe in my care

Before your children enter my Homebase Childcare setting, I will do a check list of my setting, firstly making sure the register is out ready for you the parents to sign your child in for their fun filled days

Check List

Accident book is out
Fire exits are clear
Plug sockets are covered and secure
Cupboard and door catches, baby gates are secure
First aid box checked and restocked for indoor and outdoor use
All surfaces are clear, clean, and sanitised
Flooring is vacuumed and mopped
Toys are checked for loose bits, washed and sanitised
Bathroom area is clean and sanitised, restock toilet roll and antibacterial hand soap
Baby changing unit is clean and sanitised and a restock of nappies, wipes, cream and nappy sacks also nappy bin is empty
Named or colour coded water drinking beakers are clean and ready to use
Healthy snacks and fruit are prepared
For summer, fresh air is flowing
For winter, heating is on

Outdoor Area

Boundaries are secure, gate bolted
Walk up and down garden checking for objects that could be harmful and discard them
Set up age-appropriate outdoor toys and check them over for wear and tear.
Check sandpit
Look up weather for that day and have ready Sunscreen/hats Wellington boots/waterproof outer clothing
Set up a shade corner have a jug of cold water and beakers standing by

Outing Bag

Pack nappy bag: - Nappies, wipes, cream, nappy bags, spare clothes, water beakers, water, bottle’s, dummy, snacks, sun cream, sun hat’s, Calpol, first aid kit with parent’s numbers, spare door keys, rain and sun pushchair cover.

Principles of safety supervision

I will ensure your child’s safety at all times both in my homebased childcare setting and off-site
I will be alert and responsive
Know where your child is at all times
Be able to see or hear your child
Be near enough to render immediate assistance
Provide supervision appropriate to the individual age, need’s, capabilities, activities and location of your child

A general supervision would be when I am aware of what your child is doing and checking on them regularly. This may be interpreted as keeping an attentive eye on them from a distance, when your child is playing on the carpet or sleeping.

I will always make sure toys and equipment are checked on a regular basis for wear and tear (loose buttons, zips, beads, stuffing, vehicle wheels, sharp edges, cracks) and replace them as soon as I see fault and before any potential accident occurs.
I will have age-appropriate toys set out for your children
I will make sure they have the safety standard approval
I will make sure my setting is secure and your child is safe before I go to the toilet

Current guidance on health and safety risk assessment in my home childcare setting

I will have an up-to-date risk assessment in place for when you child attends my setting
This will include the following procedures:

Identifying hazards
Assess the risks
Control and eliminate the risks
Record my findings
Review the controls

Health and Safety Work Act 1974
Everyone working in an Early Years Childcare setting is responsible for maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all.
Ensuring that the children and childminders remain protected from any hazards

The guidance assists me in maintaining a safe premises to deliver childcare.
It is a requirement of my registration that I provide a safe and healthy environment for your child in my care

How I will ensure my home is safe and ready for your children

When your children enter my setting a risk assessment by Ofsted would have taken place beforehand to ensure your children come to no harm.
Register will be taken and a short chat will take place to ensure your child is in good health to start their fun filled day with me.
I will have a plan of activity for the day set out and ready to rock and roll.
Once you (parent/guardian) leave the gate will be bolted and we can start our day.
I will have my own fully self-sustained summerhouse/nursery/play area fully equipped, and safety regulated to safety standards.
I have hive cameras both back and front of the house, inside the main house and summerhouse and at the fire exits.
I have a ring doorbell so will not answer the door while the children are in my care unless it’s a parent/guardian or Ofsted inspector in that case they will need to show me their identification before entering.
Regarding delivery of post or packages there will be a box outside my front door and I will retrieve them once the children have been collected and gone home.

How I will ensure your children are healthy whilst at my home

When your child arrives at my homebased childcare setting, I will ask you the parent about your child’s general wellbeing, if your child is happy with no temperature and no signs of concerning ill health their fun filled day will go ahead.
We start with hanging coats and ruck sacks on named and photo assigned pegs, going for a wee-wee if not in nappies, washing hands and asking if they are hungry or thirsty depending on what time you will arrive your child will have a healthy breakfast, lunch and supper with healthy snacks in between. I will always have a jug of fresh water and snacks standing by
The menu will have a change over every two weeks always consisting of fresh vegetables, meat, fish, pasta and rice according to your child’s dietary requirements or allergies and you the parent will have access to a menu and a day routine of your child’s appetite.

Fresh air

Your child will have a choice of indoor and outdoor activities at any time of the day (weather permitting, thunder storms/hail/extreme heat)
Light rainy days they will have raincoats and wellies and hot days they will be monitored how long they stay out and will always wear a sunhat and their own approved (by you the parent) suncream.
On our days out to the local park I will carry the essential nappy bag with plenty of water and snacks, wrist straps, reins, first aid kit, Calpol with parents’ info, spare clothes, nappies, wipes, rash cream sun cream, hat’s rain coat, wellies, rain cover, sun cover and a spare set of door keys.
I will always ensure your child is protected at all times in my care inside and outside my homebased childcare setting.

Promoting health and wellbeing

In my care your child will stay active. I will promote emotional wellbeing (ask how they are, what they are thinking and feeling), create a safe place for children to share, ensure quiet time, encourage creativity and expression and make sure that they take regular breaks (snacks and water)

Outdoor fun
Your child will have a calm, warm and supportive response from me to help them understand their feelings, emotions and behaviour.
I will create an environment where you child is encouraged to express their feelings and where they know I will respond and listen to them.
I will work out with each parent nap time routines for their child during the day that will co-exist with my routine so each child has the right balance of energy and mind set.
They will have access to all outdoor age-appropriate equipment and toys, they will not be restricted or told to stop their play unless absolutely necessary.

How I will store and administer medicine

I will store your child’s medication (for instance Calpol) in a secure box out of child’s reach labelled with your child’s name and dosage on the bottle and outer box.
Your child will have their own measuring device (spoon/syringe) stored with their medicine
I will have you the parent’s written permission to administer their medication at the noted time.
I will have a medicine book stored with the medicine to write down the day, time and reason for administering medication and will get you the parent to sign when collecting your child.
If the child becomes unwell while at my setting, I will check their temperature and if it’s over 38 degrees Celsius, I will, with the parent’s permission administer dosage depending on the child’s age.
CALPOL

3-6 months-2.5ml
6-24 months-5ml
2-4 years 7.5ml
4-6 years 10ml

Administering medication

I will follow the following steps to administer medication to the children where required:

Start by washing my hands then read the medication box to see the dosage the child needs.
Check the measurements on the syringe to make sure the ml is marked clearly.
Make sure the child is sitting upright then shake the bottle if stated, insert the syringe into the bottle adapter, turn the bottle upside down and pull the plunger until the medicine reaches the volume required.
Gently remove the syringe from the bottle adapter and screw the lid back on and make sure it is child locked
I will put the tip of the syringe inside the child’s mouth between the gums and the inside surface of the cheek then gently push the plunger to squirt small amounts of medicine into the side of the child’s mouth
Allow the child to swallow before I carry on pushing the plunger slowly so the child does not choke.
Offer the child a drink to wash down the medicine.
Take the syringe apart and wash it in warm soapy water and allow to dry and put the bottle of medicine back in the cabinet.
Finally, I will write in the medical book the name of the child, the date, time and how much was given and why it was given, sign the book and get the parent to sign once they have arrived to collect their child.