👨‍⚕️Health and Safety Policy

This policy was adopted on the 21 August 2020 and will be reviewed annually.
Policy Statement 
It is the policy of the nursery to comply fully with the requirements of European Community Law, the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, and all other relevant statutory provisions. 
The nursery has a responsibility to provide a safe environment for your child and the Manager is responsible for health and safety matters concerning the premises. 
All staff are aware of potential hazards within the nursery and the surrounding environment, and actively protect children from hazards. We aim to provide all staff with first aid training. 
All accidents and any incidents are recorded. 
All accidents are accurately notified to the parent/carer as soon as possible. 
Hygiene rules relating to bodily fluids are followed with particular care and all staff are aware of how infections can be transmitted. 
We aim to: 
Involve and motivate nursery staff in all matters concerning Health & Safety. 

Prevent accidents, injuries and ill health and to identify and eliminate hazardous situations. 

Achieve a high standard of occupational health, safety, welfare and hygiene. 

Control situations likely to be hazardous to health and safety or cause damage to persons or equipment. 

Provide a safe and healthy environment. 
Natural Nurture Nursery recognises that: 
A systematic approach to health and safety, based on systematic risk assessment procedures (see Risk Assessment Policy for more information) will minimise injury to, or ill health of, staff and children. 
Natural Nurture Nursery is committed to: 
Developing the appropriate setting structure and culture that supports the concept of risk management by all members of the staff team. 

Adequately resourcing health and safety measures including planning and implementation of health and safety requirements. 

Developing, in all members of the staff team, an understanding of health and safety through training in health and safety requirements and risk assessment implementation. 

Continual monitoring and evaluation of health and safety requirements in line with current legislation, including the review of all policies and practices to ensure that Natural Nurture Nursery continues to improve standards of performance. 
Who is Responsible? 
It is the responsibility of all members of staff to ensure that health and safety regulations are adhered to and that the health and safety of the children and other members of staff are not compromised in any way. It is the responsibility of the Manager to ensure that the health and safety of the setting as a whole remains within legislative requirements and that the health and safety of all setting users, including children, staff and parents/carers is not compromised in any way. 
Supervision Requirements 
Children are to be supervised at all times whilst in the setting, Natural Nurture Nursery uses three levels of supervision dependent upon the activities that are taking place: 
Constant Supervision: being with the children at all times, actively supporting them using a physical presence or playing with them directly. This level of supervision is essential when children are playing high-risk games or using equipment or materials that have a high-risk assessment. 

General Supervision: being in vicinity of the children but not having an active part in their play, being on hand to support if the children require help or guidance. Being on hand to respond to play cues and observant of the behaviour of the children. This allows for an overview of the play setting, and can be used with play activities that have a medium level of risk. 

Low Supervision: keeping a watchful eye on the children from a distance and making sure that they are playing safely but freely. Keeping an overview of what the children are doing whilst not interfering. This can be used with low risk activities. 
Safeguarding 
All members of staff will receive training in safeguarding as part of their induction training. 

All members of staff are instructed in our specific procedures as regards to disclosures and suspicions of child abuse. (See Safeguarding Policy for further information). 
Accidents and Incidents 
We aim to ensure that all staff members are trained in first aid following their probationary period; in addition all members of staff are instructed in the correct procedures for dealing with accidents and incidents including completion of documentation. 

The setting uses accident and incident forms found in FAMLY app, which are used to document any accident or incident that takes place in the setting (See Accident and Incident Policy for further information). 
Emergency Procedure 
All members of staff are trained in the emergency procedure and fire drill evacuations take place at regular intervals throughout the year and particularly promptly after new staff and children arrive at the setting. 
Administration of Medications 
All medications are strictly controlled and administered in accordance with the Medication Policy. 
Illnesses 
In accordance with our Admission and Booking policy, children will not be admitted if they are showing signs of an illness or ailment, which may be contagious. The nursery uses guidance from NHS and the HPA to determine the exclusion guidance for contagious illnesses. (See Illness and Infection Control Policy). 

If a child becomes unwell during the course of the session, members of staff will ensure that the child is comfortable but does not pose any risk to the other children in the setting. The member of staff will contact the child's parent/carer and observe the child closely until they are collected. 
Risk Assessment of Activities, Trips and Outings 
All activities that take place in the nursery (and outside of the premises when required) have been assessed for risk, and controls have been put in place to ensure that any hazards have been minimised. (See Risk Assessment Policy and Setting Safety File for further information). 
Personal Hygiene 
All members of staff and children are encouraged to maintain a good level of personal hygiene, through washing hands before and after meal times and after using the lavatory. 
Maintenance and Storage of Equipment 
Natural Nurture Nursery has a wide variety of equipment and materials that are used by the children at the setting. 
All equipment is bought from approved suppliers and is checked to ensure compliance with the British Safety Standards. 

All equipment is well maintained and checked on a regular basis to ensure that it presents no risk to the health and safety of the children. 

Equipment and materials, which do pose a hazard (such as containers for water play) but have evidenced benefits for learning and development are used under constant supervision and stored securely after use. 
The Premises 
Members of staff check the premises each day to ensure that there are no risks or hazards that would compromise the health and safety of the children, parents/carers or staff. At the end of the session members of staff ensure that the premises are left clean, safe and tidy. 

Gas/electricity supplies and all insurances are the responsibility of the owner.
 
Cleaning materials and any substances used in farming which are kept in areas accessible by children are securely locked away in accordance with COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), 

Only under very close supervision of adults, are children able to access ponds and streams. 
Safety and Security 
Natural Nurture Nursery feels that the safety and security of the children, parents/carers and staff are paramount to the running of the setting. 
A secure entry procedure is in place to ensure that only persons with a legitimate reason for being on the premises have access. (See Safeguarding Policy/Arrivals and Departures Policy). 

CCTV carefully monitors any visitors to the public footpath, and staff are notified when they arrive and leave. 

Visitors, other than parents/carers collecting their children must be pre-arranged by the parent/carer and a password given to ensure that the person collecting is the person arranged. 

All visitors must make themselves known to a member of staff upon entry, stating their name and reason for visiting. Visitors are required to sign themselves in and out of the building and must be accompanied by a member of staff at all times. 
Smoking 
The nursery operates a strict no smoking policy; this means that there is no smoking on the setting premises: 
During preparation or clear up time 

At staff training days or staff meetings 

At any gathering organised by the setting (unless it is a social gathering outside nursery hours). 

All staff members are entitled to a 30 minute break for more than 6 hours of work. If a member of staff wishes to smoke during these times, they are required to leave the premises and the grounds of the setting and remain out of sight of the children. The no smoking policy also applies to parents/carers and visitors to the setting. 