+ Parents/Carers will be welcomed at all times
+ Parents/Carers will be kept informed of all aspects of their children’s activities
+ The role of the parent in the child’s life will be respected in all professional liaisons
+ Parents/Carers will be actively encouraged to participate in their child’s learning
+ All parents/Carers will be made aware of all the systems and policies
+ Ensure that parents/Carers are informed on a regular basis about their child’s progress
+ Make known to all parents/carers the system for registering queries, complaints or suggestions
+ Provide opportunities for parents/carers to learn about the curriculum and about young children’s learning with both ourselves and with their parents.

We identify that parents/carers have the most knowledge and understanding of their children. Sharing this knowledge with ourselves enables us to build experience in planning for the child’s future development. Children are more likely to feel secure and settled if it is clear that there are good channels of communication between the parents/carers and our selves. An exchange of information between our selves to home and vice versa will consolidate learning wherever it takes place. If parents/carers become involved early on in the child’s education they are likely to maintain this involvement, with many benefits to the child.

CARE, LEARNING AND PLAY POLICY

+ Children will be encouraged to be confident, independent and develop their self-esteem
+ Time is spent interacting with the children at frequent intervals throughout the day
+ All children will be given the opportunity to participate in play opportunities and first-hand experiences, allowing children to build on their natural curiosity as learners
+ Activities will be provided in order to develop and promote their language and mathematical thinking, use their imagination and develop social relationships.
+ All children will be listened to and what they say will be valued. Encouragement will be given to talk about what they are doing and have high expectations of what they can achieve
+ In order to support children’s play and learning we will endeavour to organise resources so they are readily accessible to all children of all ages and stages of development.
+ Children will be encouraged to ask questions in order to build upon their existing knowledge
+ Help will be given in order to teach children to learn about what is right and wrong.
+ Feeding and nappy changing takes place in accordance with the child’s individual needs and not as part of the daily routine
+ Babies are held whilst being bottle feed
+ Children’s individual sleeping routines are discussed and planned with the parents and respected.

SELECTING EQUIPMENT/TOYS –POLICES AND PRACTICE
The toys and equipment provide opportunities for children to develop new skills and concepts in the course of their play and exploration. The equipment we provide:

+ Is appropriate for the ages and stages of the children
+ Is sufficient for both indoor and outdoor play
+ Offers challenges to developing physical, social, personal and intellectual skills
+ Features positive images of people, both male and female, from a range of ethnic and cultural groups, with and without disabilities
+ Includes a range of raw materials, which can be used in a variety of ways and encourages an open-ended approach to creativity and problem solving
+ Will enable children, with support, to develop individual potential and move towards required learning outcomes
+ Conforms to all relevant safety regulations and is sound and well made
+ Is appropriate in order for children to sleep or rest
+ Is sufficiently available for the needs of children attending e.g. high chairs, safety gates, cots, bottle sterilizer, cups etc

SAFETY POLICY

+ No hot drinks in any rooms occupied by a child/children
+ No inappropriate jewellery to be worn by staff
+ No running inside the premises
+ Children will be encouraged to run outside in a safe environment
+ All electric sockets are fitted with safety plugs, no trailing wires
+ All cleaning materials/toilet cleaner is placed out of reach of children
+ Scissors or any other potentially dangerous objects are not left lying around within reach of children
+ All accidents are recorded in the accident book
+ Sleeping babies are frequently checked and recorded
+ Toys and equipment are appropriate for the child’s age and care is taken at all times ensuring babies and toddlers do not have access to toys or other articles which may cause them harm
+ We constantly take reasonable steps to ensure that hazards to children on the premises both inside and outside are minimized at all times

Security
+ The premises, including the outside play area are secure at all times and children are not able to leave them unsupervised at any time
+ All children are under direct supervision of the qualified person or assistant at all times. Supervision will be sufficient to ensure that the children are safe at all times

Outside Play Area
+ The outside play area is supervised at all times and is maintained to high level at all times
+ All outdoor water activities are closely supervised at all times
+ No hazardous plants are kept indoor or outdoor at any time

Kitchen Area
+ Children do not have access to the kitchen at any time
+ Gas, electrical and other appliances and fittings conform to safety requirements and do not pose a hazard to children Fire Safety
+ The nursery will conform to recommendations laid down by the fire prevention officer Outings and Transport
Proper arrangements such as car seats, pushchairs etc are made available in order for children to be safely escorted to local parks, playgrounds and other venues on a regular basis
+ A first aid kit is carried on all outings along with all emergency telephone numbers for each child
+ We ensure the safe control of the children whilst out walking and keep a vigilant watch at all times
+ Children are never left unattended on outings at any time
+ It is the responsibility of the parents/Carers to ensure the safe arrival and collection of their children respecting other road users at all times
+ Where public playgrounds are used, we ensure that the children do not use faulty equipment

Insurance
+ We carry public liability insurance at all times

HEALTH POLICY

+ There is no smoking on the premises in the presence of children at any time
+ The premises and equipment is kept clean and levels of hygiene are maintained to a high standard at all times
+ Each child has their own bed linen which is washed weekly
+ Baby wipes are used in order to clean the children and are disposed immediately in order to prevent cross infection
+ All the children are encouraged to learn about personal hygiene through the daily routine e.g. washing hands after using the toilet, playing with animals etc

Food Handling
+ All food is hygienically stored, prepared, cooked and served
+ There is adequate provision for the sterilisation of feeding bottles and utensils and the preparation of baby food
+ All staff handling food will hold all relevant health & safety and food & hygiene certificates

Illness
+ No medicine will be administered unless the parent/Carer has discussed its use and given prior written permission
+ Parents/Carers are asked to keep their children at home if they have any infection, and to inform us as to the nature of the infection. This is so we can alert other parents, and make careful observations of any child who seems unwell
+ Children who arrive unwell will not be accepted as this is unfair on the child who is ill, other children and ourselves
+ Parents/Carers are asked not to bring any child who has been vomiting or had diarrhoea until at least 48 hours has elapsed since the last occurrence
+ If medicine is to be given we ensure that;
1) Medicine is stored in it’s original container, clearly labelled and inaccessible to children
2) Medicine which has not been prescribed by a doctor for the child will not be administered
3) Where a child has a specific long term condition we will endeavour to understand the medical condition thoroughly and the medication (if any) that they are required to have
4) Written records are kept of medicines administered to children and the parent/carer must sign the record book each day before the child is left in our care
5) No prescribed medicine will be administered to any child without prior checks by two qualified persons and will be signed and countersigned by both qualified persons
6) If the administration of any prescribed medication requires technical/medical knowledge then individual training must be provided for the qualified staff from a qualified health professional. Training must be specific to the individual child concerned

First Aid
+ There is a first aid box, the contents of which is determined by the current first aid training course, and are checked frequently and replaced as necessary. These are located in the kitchen and the play rooms in an easily accessible place out of reach of children
+ Written permission is requested, at the time of the placement to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future
+ A record is maintained, signed by the parent/carer, of any accidents
+ A minimum of two staff on the premises hold current first aid certificates specifically aimed for children, and are approved by
OFSTED. All first aid certificates will be updated and refresher courses attended by staff when they are required

Diet Policy and Practices
The sharing of refreshments can play an important part in the social life of children as well as reinforcing children’s understanding of the importance of healthy eating. We ensure that;
+ All snacks and meals provided are nutritious avoiding large quantities of fat, sugar, salt, additives, preservatives and colourings.
+ Children’s medical and personal dietary requirements are respected
+ The milk provided for children is whole and pasteurised and is available at all times
+ An agreement is made with parents/carers as to which meals and snacks are to be provided by us and the kinds of food to be provided
+ Fresh drinking water is available to children at all times
+ In the event a child requires specially prepared foods to meet cultural needs the parents/carers are requested to supply those meals
+ We require information from parents/carers about special dietary requirements, preferences and food allergies the child may have. Where these exist, we make a record and take heed of the information provided

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
We believe that good childcare is, by definition, non-sexist and non-racist and that the elimination of both will benefit the children.

+ We encourage the children to join in all activities, i.e. dressing up, shop, home corner, dolls, climbing on large apparatus, bikes etc
+ All children and adults for whom we provide a service are treated with equal concern and we have regard to relevant anti-discriminatory good practice. S/he ensures that all children have equal access to the appropriate range of activities and facilities available
+ We liase with parents/carers to ensure that children’s records contain information which enables appropriate care to be given
+ We encourage positive role models, displayed through toys, imaginary play etc., that promote non-stereotyped images. Books are also selected to promote such images of both men and women, boys and girls
+ We regularly review the child care practices to remove any of those which discriminate unfairly on the grounds of gender
+ We acknowledge that pre-conceptions relating to gender and sexism are abundant within language and will challenge such language where appropriate
+ No child will be refused admission on grounds of race or religion

SPECIAL NEEDS POLICY

+ If we identify a child in our care as possibly having special needs, or a disability, we will undertake to discuss our observations with the parent/carer and we are proactive in ensuring that they are welcomed appropriately.
+ Children with special needs are provided with relevant activities and play opportunities that promote their welfare and development
+ We will consult with parents/carers about the need for any special services and equipment for the children in our care
+ The privacy of any child with special needs when intimate care is being provided will be kept at all times

BEHAVIOUR POLICY

+ We believe in promoting positive behaviour
+ We aim to encourage self-discipline
+ By praising children and acknowledging their positive actions and attitudes we hope to ensure that children see that we value and respect them
+ The rules are concerned with safety and care and respect for each other. Children who behave inappropriately, whether by physically abusing another child or adult, e.g. kicking, biting or verbal bullying will be removed from the group for a period of ‘time out’. The child who has been upset will be comforted and the adult will confirm that the other child’s behaviour is not acceptable. It is important to acknowledge that a child is feeling angry or upset and that it is behaviour we are rejecting not the child.
+ How a particular type of behaviour is handled will depend on the child and the circumstances. It may involve the child being asked to talk and think about what he or she has done. The child will also be asked to see if the person who they upset is all right and, if they mean it, to say or show they are sorry.
+ In extreme cases the child will be removed from the situation until he or she has calmed down and had time to reflect on his or her behaviour.
+ We feel it is important to give children non-aggressive strategies to enable them to stand up for themselves so that adults and children listen to them. They are given opportunities to release their feelings more creatively
+ The expectations about acceptable behaviour are consistent
+ Parents/Carers will be informed if their child is persistently unkind to others or if their child has been upset. In all cases inappropriate behaviour will be dealt with at the time. Parents/carers may be asked to meet with us to discuss their child’s behaviour, so that if there are any difficulties we can work together to ensure consistency between home and nursery. In some cases we may request additional advice and support from other professionals such as the Educational Psychologist or Child Guidance Counselor.
+ Children do need their own time and space. It is not always appropriate to expect a child to share and it is important to acknowledge children’s feelings and help them to understand how others might be feeling.
+ Children are encouraged to recognise bullying, fighting, hurting, and racist comments are not acceptable behaviour. We want children to recognise that certain actions are right and that others are wrong.
+ At no time will raised voices or shouting in a threatening manner be used. Children are never shaken or any type of physical punishment used
+ In order to provide the children at nursery with consistent discipline the parents/carers are asked to enforce the behaviour policy when bringing and collecting their children
+ No physical intervention of any form e.g. holding, (unless it is necessary to prevent personal injury to the child, other children or an adult or serious damage to property) will be used. Any incident will be recorded and the parent/carer informed of the incident on the day
+ We believe in the handling of behaviour must be developmentally appropriate, respecting individual’s level of understanding and maturity
+ By positively promoting good behaviour, valuing co-operation and a caring attitude we hope to ensure that children will develop as responsible members of society

POLICY STATEMENT ON PARENTAL PARTICIPATION

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS

+ It is our policy to ensure that parents/carers have the opportunity to actively participate in the planning and delivery of services to their children. Through this we aim to enable parents/carers to feel comfortable at all times.
+ Jumping Jacks aims to achieve this by:
1) Ensuring consultation with and seek guidance from parents/carers when planning and implementing child care practices
2) Ensuring that parents/carers have the opportunity to work with their children alongside ourselves
3) Ensuring parents/carers have the opportunity to review their children’s progress on a regular basis with ourselves
4) Ensuring parents/carers are informed about policies, procedures and guidelines and copies are available at all times
5) Offering parents/carers the opportunity to participate in curriculum festivals and all daily events
6) Ensure that parents/carers can meet with ourselves to discuss relevant issues and concerns should they arise

+ There is a written agreement with the parents/carers which sets out the expectations from both parties as to the care of the child, activities provided and business arrangements
+ We respect ‘parents/carers’ views about their child’s preferences and aptitudes and any other information which is required in order to provide good quality care for their child and takes heed of the information provided
+ Parents/carers are fully informed about Jumping Jacks daily routine and childcare practices. Parents/Carers have opportunities to exchange information about their child on a daily basis. Prompt action is taken on any concerns raised and a record of complaints is maintained
+ Records of parents/carers and/or emergency contact details, G.P contact details and appropriate signed consent forms are kept
+ Children are only released from our care to individuals named by the parent/carer
+ If a child is identified as a child in need (section 17 of the Children’s Act 1989) we, normally with parents/carers permission, give appropriate information to referring agencies

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
We have a duty to be aware that abuse does occur in our society. This statement lays out the procedure that will be taken if we have any reason to believe that a child in our care is subject to either emotional, physical or sexual abuse or neglect. Our prime responsibility is the welfare and well being of the children in our care. As such we believe we have a duty to the children, parents/carers to act quickly and responsibly in any instance that may come to our attention. We have a duty to report suspicions around abuse to the Local Authority. The children Act 1989(Section47 (1) places a duty on the Local Authority to investigate such matters. We will follow the procedures set down by the Government and as such will seek their advice on all steps taken subsequently.
In the event we suspect any type of abuse we will carry out the following;

+ The protection of the child is our first priority
+ We are able to recognise possible signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect and we use the Government booklet ‘What To Do If You’re Worried A Child Is Being Abused’ (or any national guidance booklet which replaces this publication.
+ Any concerns are recorded and reported to social services or the police in accordance with local Area Child Protection Committee procedures, and to OFSTED without delay
+ We ensure that any concerns are kept confidential at all times
+ We ensure that children are never placed at risk while they are in our care
+ We revise awareness to Child Protection issues and procedures
+ Ensure we are familiar with the Local Child Protection Policy
+ Regularly review and update this policy

CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY
Because we work with children and families which sometimes brings us into contact with confidential information
To ensure that all those using Jumping Jacks do so with confidence, we will respect confidentiality in the following ways;

+ We will not discuss individual children, other than for the purpose of curriculum planning/group management, with people other than parents/carers of that child.
+ Information given by parents/carers to ourselves will not be passed on to other adults without permission
+ Any anxieties/ evidence relating to a child’s personal safety will be kept in a confidential file and will not be shared with any other person except professional bodies where appropriate.

All the undertaking above is subject to the paramount commitment of us which is to the safety, and well being of the child.

SETTLING IN POLICY
It is important that children feel safe and happy in the absence of their parents/carers, to recognise other adults as a source of authority, help and friendship and to be able to share with their parents/carers afterwards the new learning experience whilst in our care.
In order to accomplish this we will;

+ Encourage parents/carers to visit us with their children during the weeks before admission is planned
+ Introduce flexible admission procedures, if appropriate, to meet the needs of each individual family and child
+ Make clear to families from the outset that they will be supported by us for as long as it takes to settle their child in
+ Reassure parents/carers whose children seem to be taking a long time settling in
+ Introduce new families into the group on a staggered basis
+ Encourage parents/carers, where appropriate to separate from their children for brief periods of time at first, gradually building up to longer absences

Children cannot play or learn successfully if they are anxious or unhappy. The settling procedures aim to help parent/carers to help their children to feel comfortable in our care to benefit from what it has to offer, and to be confident that their parents/carers will return at the end of the session

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
We intend to provide the highest quality education and care for all the children. We aim to welcome each individual child and family and to provide a warm and caring environment in which all children can learn and develop as they play.
We believe children and parents/carers are entitled to expect courtesy and prompt, careful attention to their needs and wishes. Our intention is to work in partnership with parents.
Any parent/carer who is uneasy about any aspect of the childcare provision should feel free to talk over any worries and anxieties with ourselves.