NURSERY HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT

Statement of Intent

The Board of Directors acknowledges its responsibilities as a Community Company, as laid down by the Companies Act 2004 section 35

The Board of Directors notes the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (Section 3(1), which states that it is the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons who are not in his or her employment but who may be affected by it are not exposed to risks to their health and safety. The Board of Directors accepts that it has the responsibility to take all reasonably practicable steps to secure the health and safety of children, staff and others using the centre premises or participating in centre-sponsored activities. The Board of Directors believes that the prevention of accidents, injury or loss is essential to the efficient operation of the centre.

The Board of Directors is committed to:

a) Providing a safe and healthy working and learning environment for staff, children and visitors.

b) Providing adequate resources for the Nursery to meet its health and safety responsibilities.

c) Providing adequate and competent supervision of all centre activities.

d) Providing suitable and sufficient health and safety training for personnel to carry out their health and safety responsibilities as assigned in the organisation section of this policy.

e) Achieving continuous health and safety improvement through effective;

Policies
Organisation
Planning and implementation
Measuring and monitoring
Reviewing on a regular basis
Auditing

Of the centre’s health and safety management systems and performance.

f) Responding to internal and external changes that may affect the centre’s health and safety arrangements.

The Board of Directors believes that only the adoption of safe methods of work and good practice by every individual can ensure everyone’s personal health and safety. The Board of Directors will take all reasonable steps to identify and reduce hazards to a minimum but all staff and children must appreciate that their own safety and that of others also depends on their individual conduct and vigilance.

Health and Safety Responsibilities.

The Board of Directors has strategic responsibilities for health and safety within all areas of the centre’s undertakings, the company is responsible for its actions. The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that advice from competent health and safety advisors is available on health and safety matters in order to comply with regulatory controls.

The Nursery Manager has responsibility for the day-to-day operation of health and safety and welfare policies and practices, as delegated by the Board of Directors, within all areas of the centre’s undertakings. The Nursery Manager is responsible for ensuring that advice from competent health and safety advisors is sought on health and safety matters in order to comply with regulatory controls. The nursery manger will have completed relevant health and safety training and is competent to undertake the role.

The nursery manager will undertake regular risk assessments, and will support staff in undertaking risk assessments, these will be presented to the health and safety sub committee, who will advise and sought relevant action.

The nursery manager is responsible for ensuring that all staff receives health and safety induction training.

Employees are responsible for their own health and safety, that of their colleagues and members of the public who may be affected by their work activities.

The arrangements and procedures to support this policy statement combine to form the company’s Health & Safety Policy.

The Board of Directors will review this Policy Statement if there is any significant change or at least annually and update, modify or amend it, as it considers necessary, to ensure the health, safety and welfare of staff and children.

Staff with Special Responsibility

The Nursery manager takes special responsibility for:

· The local arrangements to ensure the effective control of risks within the specific areas under their control.

· The local arrangements for the purchase, inspection and maintenance of equipment and its specification.

· The co-ordination of the Nursery’s health and safety policy, the application of the health and safety procedures and arrangements.

· Establishing and maintaining safe working practices including arrangements for ensuring, as far as is reasonably practicable, the absence of risks to health and safety in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances e.g. Chemicals, hot water, sharp tools, etc.

· Resolving health, safety and welfare problems referred to them by members of staff or referring to the health and safety sub group any problems they are unable to resolve within the resources available to them.

· Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out when necessary, and on a regular basis within the overall programme for the Nursery, on the activities and equipment for which they are responsible.

· Ensuring, as far as is reasonably practicable, that sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision is provided to enable employees and children to avoid hazards and to contribute positively to their own health and safety.

· Obtaining relevant advice and guidance on health and safety matters.

· Ensuring that OFSTED are informed of any structural changes to the building, also informing and seeking advice from Torbay early years partnership.

Special Obligations of Senior Staff

In addition to the general responsibilities of employees, outlined above, staffs are expected to:

Raise any health and safety concerns outside their control related to their working area with their immediate line manager.
Exercise effective supervision of children and know the emergency procedures in respect of fire, first aid and other emergencies, and to carry them out.
Know the particular health and safety measures to be adopted in their own working areas and to ensure that they are applied.
Give clear instructions and warnings to children as appropriate.
Follow safe working procedures personally.
To role model the use of protective clothing and guards where necessary.
Avoid introducing any personal items of equipment or substances that may cause a physical risk in their use.
To risk asses any new activities before carrying them out with the children
To advise and monitor other staff in regards to their health and safety practices

Nursery/ Centre’s Health and Safety Representative

At present there is no representative appointed by recognised Trade Unions. All matters relating to Health and Safety issues should be raised with the Health and Safety co-ordinator Nursery/ Centre Manager’s and the health and safety sub group

Contractors

Contractors must abide by the Nursery’s health and safety policy and not endanger children, staff or other visitors to the site.
The Nursery Manager will be responsible for the co-ordination of contractors' activities on site, bearing in mind the guidance given in the aide memoire on small building works.
The Nursery Manager must ensure that any temporary rules, such as exclusion from parts of the premises, are made known to all staff, children and students and visitors to the premises. This might be achieved by the posting of suitable notices by the Nursery Manager or by the Contractor, in consultation with the Health and Safety Co-ordinator
The contractors will consult the Area Education Officer, and, if necessary, the Area Maintenance Manager at Property and Estates or Client Support, for any additional guidance on these matters.
All Contractors must report to the Nursery Manager before any work takes place and prior to each working session. The Nursery Manager should then inform the Contractor of any conditions which may affect his safety and that of others.

Visitors and Other Users of the Premises

Visitors and other users of the premises should be required to observe the health, safety and welfare rules of the Nursery In particular, parents and other volunteers helping out in the centre including those associated in self-help schemes, should be made aware of the health and safety policy applicable to them by the staff member to whom they are assigned.

Maintenance:

The following areas are subject to regular maintenance inspections by the nursery manager to ensure safety.

· Fire extinguishers

· Electrical equipment

· Play equipment (indoor and outdoor)

· Burglar alarms

· Fire alarms

· Fire exits

· Emergency Lighting

· Updating fire procedures

The nursery manager or Watcombe primary school will source repertable companies to carry out inspections on:

· Fire alarm

· Mains gas system

· Mains electrical system

· Mains water system

· Boiler system

· Fire extinguishers

The nursery has a Fire log, emergency lighting log, Coshh log, invitatory of electrical equipment, health and safety folder and risk assessments files all of which are kept as a reference to ensure all necessary checks are made (held in the Main Office).

Accidents

a) Staff should fill in a children’s accident form for any incident resulting in more than minor cuts, bruises and abrasions. These are held in the main nursery. Any accident involving a bang to the head must be reported and parents should be notified using a standard form on the day of the accident; (these forms are held in the main nursery) Refer also to the Centre’s First Aid Policy.

b) Accidents to staff should be reported to the Nursery Manager and an accident form will be given to the person to complete. (These are kept in the health and safety file in the office)

c) Assaults, verbal or physical, should be reported to the Nursery Manager and incident form completed.

d) Reports of dangerous occurrences, such as a gas leak, need to be made on the emergency form held in the Main Office.

Asthma

The centre has its own Asthma Policy (which is supplemented by the Administration of Medicines which should be filled in by parents). Parents should inform the key worker at the home visit about their Childs needs regarding the use of their inhalers; the key worker will ensure all staff is made aware of the Childs needs.

Electrical Safety

All electrical equipment is checked regularly to ensure safety; PAT testing will be carried out on a yearly basis.

Fire

The centre holds termly Fire Practises. Procedures for Fire Drills are prominently displayed in all rooms and work areas. There is a policy for Fire Safety which includes a map showing location and type of fire extinguisher. Fire extinguishers are regularly inspected. A Fire Precautions Guide and Log are held in the Main Office.

Bomb Warnings

The centre has a Critical Incident File. Evacuation is in line with Fire Drill, except it may be necessary to go further afield – an arrangement is in place with Combe Pafford School to go to their grounds.

First Aid

The centre has a First Aid Policy. A copy of recommended contents of First Aid Boxes is included in the appendix. See also procedures for Accidents, Safety on Outdoor Activities and Visits

Food Safety

The centre gives clear instructions to staff and others about the need for good hygiene and practice when handling food, and cooking with children. See also Food hygiene policy.

Gas Supply

This is regularly monitored.

Glazing

Safety glazing: areas where pupils/children could come into contact with glass have had additional protective coverings added to avoid splintering.

Maintenance

Any Maintenance should be carried out when children and staff will not be out at risk.

Medicines

Medicines are administered by senior staff, but with an appropriate documentation being filled in by parents/ carers (see separate Medicines policies).

Offsite Activities

All offsite activities are risk assessed prior to the trip/ activity taking place. (See individual outings policy.)

Risk Assessment

Regular inspection of the property by the Health and Safety Co-ordinator and delegated staff, and representatives from Watcombe primary school help to ensure that the site and building are in good repair.

Smoking

The nursey operates a non-smoking Policy on the Site and Premises. This is supported by the Board of Directors and is in line with recommendations made by Torbay Council.

Water Supply

This is regularly monitored.

Work Experience

We believe in supporting students who wish to pursue a career in child care. We therefore have students aged between 16 and 18. A specific young person’s risk assessment is completed and revised annually. All young persons completing work experience will receive a health and safety induction.

Critical Incidents

Critical incident files are set up and monthly checked, main office in the Fire proof safe.

Activities

All activities and toys are risk assessed and the assessment recorded.

These risk assessments are review every six months, unless an accident or incident occurs.

A new risk assessment is completed when new toys are purchased or new activities are carried out.

Daily and weekly checks

A daily check is made of the garden, and a list of opening and closing duties are displayed and checked each day.

There is a separate daily check for the foundation unit, which must be completed each day.

Daily and weekly healthy and safety checks are carried out to ensure that the nursery is safe for both adults and children.

Conclusion:

This is a Statement of the organisation and arrangements for WPS Children’s Centre Nursery to provide Health, Safety and Welfare. Copies of the above documents, along with other information on health, safety and welfare matters will be found in the centre.

It deals with those aspects over which the Board of Directors has local control and covers safety associated with the nursery and the services for which it offers. It describes how these responsibilities are discharged in respect of employees, children visitors and other users of the premises

List of References:

First Aid Policy

Asthma Policy

Adults in Centre Policy

Forms referred to:

1. Accident Forms:

2 Children’s Injury to Head

4. Administration of Medicines:

5 Incident / assaults

Additional information held separately:

Fire Log

Emergency Procedure for Mains Gas Leak

Maintenance and Inspection of Mechanical and Electrical Systems and

Equipment

Health and Safety Issues for Pregnant Women

Testing of Portable Electrical Equipment in Offices and other low-risk

COSHH Risk Assessment File