Health and Hygiene Policy

Our setting promotes a healthy lifestyle and a high standard of hygiene in its day-to-day work with children and adults.  We have a duty of care to protect everyone that comes into the setting, by reducing the risk of germs spreading. Children are often playing in proximity with one another meaning that germs can spread quickly. If you think your child is ill please consider keeping them at home. Should your child attend the setting while ill, we will contact you to collect them or refuse entry on the day. 

Health

  • The setting has a No Smoking or Vaping Policy.
  • All meals and snacks provided will be nutritious and pay due attention to children’s particular dietary requirements.
  • When cooking with children as an activity, the adults will provide healthy, wholesome food, promoting and extending the children’s understanding of a healthy diet.
  • Children will have the opportunity to play in the fresh air throughout the year (either in the setting’s own outside play area, the nature area in the junior field or on outings to parks or other community play spaces).
  • Parents are asked to keep their children at home if they have any infection, and to inform the setting as to the nature of the infection so that the setting can alert other parents and make careful observations of any child who seems unwell.
  • Head Lice 
  • If you discover your child has head lice they should be kept at home until treated correctly.
  • If a staff member discovers that your child has head lice during a session, we will contact you to collect your child immediately. Children must not return to the setting until they have been treated.  
  • Sickness and Diarrhoea 
  • Parents are asked not to bring into the setting any child who has been vomiting or had diarrhoea until at least 48 hours has elapsed since the last attack.
  • If the children of setting staff are unwell, the children will not accompany their parents/carers to work in the setting.
  • Cuts or open sores, whether on adults or children, will be covered with sticking plaster or other dressing.
  • If your child has had any medication for pain or temperature, eg. Calpol, your child should be kept home for 48 hours after their last dose.

If a child is on prescribed medication the following procedures will be followed:

  • If possible, the child’s parents will administer medicine.  If not, then medication must be clearly labelled with child’s name, dosage and any instructions – the medicine must be prescribed by a doctor and display the dispensing pharmacist’s label.  Where local regulations require it, guidance will be sought from social services before people other than parents agree to administer medicines.
  • Children should have been on prescription medication for a minimum of 24 hours before they can be administered by the setting. 
  • Written information will be obtained from the parent, giving clear instructions about the dosage, administration of the medication and permission for a member of staff to follow the instructions.
  • All medications will be kept in a lockable cupboard.
  • A medication record will be available to log in: name of child receiving medication; times that the medication should be administered; date and time when medication is administered; together with the signatures of the person who has administered each dose and a witness.
  • The setting will ensure that the first aid equipment is kept clean, replenished, and replaced as necessary. 
  • Sterile items will be kept sealed in their packages until needed.
  • The medication will be administered by a first aid trained member of staff.

Accidents

Minor Accidents – Cuts and Grazes

  • Treat the area appropriately and comfort and reassure the child
  • Dispose of all the materials hygienically and clean the area
  • Maybe suggest quieter activities for a while
  • Restock the first aid kit or report any items that need to be replaced
  • Complete an accident form on Famly or ask a manager to do so. If this not able to be completed during the session then parents will be informed at collection and the form should be completed on Famly at the earliest possible convenience.

More Serious Accidents – Broken Bones or Heavy Bleeding

  • Treat the injury appropriately, then contact the emergency services by ringing 999 or 112 from a mobile.  Try to give as much information as possible
  • Comfort and reassure the child
  • Contact the parents or nominated emergency contact person.  Arrange for them to travel with the child to hospital or meet them there
  • If the parents or emergency contact are unavailable, then a familiar adult will travel with the child and stay with the child until the parents of emergency contact person arrive.
  • Complete and accident report form via Family after parents have been spoken to. 
  • Restock the first aid kit or report any items that need to be replaced
  • If it was a traumatic accident then seek support

Incidents

If the incident requires for the setting to be closed for the day or longer then the parents or emergency contact person will be contacted to come and collect their children.  Children will be kept safe from harm and given reassurance.  Incidents will be recorded with full details and how the incident was managed.

Emergencies

  • Evacuation of the building is practiced regularly
  • A safe meeting point has been decided: the assembly point on the main school playground. In the event of a full evacuation of the site then the children are escorted through the back of the school ground to the public meadows. 
  • A record of the practice and real evacuations are recorded
  • Plans are reviewed and updated if necessary

We have regular fire practices so as not to panic the children should there be a real emergency.

Information Sources

  • Parents will have the opportunity to discuss health issues with the setting staff and will have access to information available to the setting.
  • The setting will share information and events from external agencies with parents.
  • The setting will maintain links with health visitors and gather health information and advice from the local health authority information services and/or other health agencies.
  • Parents will be contacted if staff feel it necessary for their child to be taken home.

Allergies (including reporting notifiable diseases)

We provide care for healthy children and promote health through identifying allergies and preventing contact with the allergenic substance and through preventing cross infection of viruses and bacterial infections.

Procedures for children with allergies:

  • When parents start their children at the setting they are asked if their child suffers from any known allergies.  This is recorded on the registration form.
  • If a child has an allergy, a risk assessment form is completed to detail the following:
  • The allergen (i.e. the substance, material or living creature the child is allergic to such as nuts, eggs, bee stings, cats etc).
  • The nature of the allergic reactions e.g. anaphylactic shock reaction, including rash, reddening of the skin, swelling, breathing problems etc.
  • What to do in case of allergic reactions, any medication used and how it is to be used (e.g. Epipen)
  • Control measures – such as how the child can be prevented from contact with the allergen.
  • Review
  •  This form is kept in the child’s personal file.
  • Parents train staff in how to administer special medication in the event of an allergic reaction.
  • The Emmbrook Primary site operates a ‘no nut policy’ therefore nuts or nut products are used within the setting.
  • Parents are made aware so that no nut or nut products are accidentally brought in, for example at lunch time.

Life Saving Medication and Invasive Treatments

Adrenaline injections (Epipen or Jext pen) for anaphylactic shock reactions (caused by allergies to nuts, eggs etc.) or invasive treatments such as rectal administration of Diazepam (for epilepsy) the setting must have:

  • A letter from the child’s GP/consultant stating the child’s condition and what medication if any is to be administered.
  • Written consent from the parent or guardian allowing staff to administer medication.

Animals in the Setting

Children learn about the natural world, its animals and other living creatures, as part of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.  This may include contact with animals, or other living creatures, either in the setting or in visits.  We aim to ensure that this is in accordance with sensible hygiene and safety controls.

  • We carry out a risk assessment with a knowledgeable person accounting for any hygiene or safety risks posed by the animal or creature.
  • We provide suitable housing for the animal or creature and ensure this is cleaned out regularly and is kept safely.
  • We ensure the correct food is offered at the right times.
  • Children are taught correct handling and care of the animal or creature and are supervised.
  • Children wash their hands after handling the animal or creature and do not have contact with animal soil or soiled bedding.
  • Staff wear disposable gloves when cleaning housing or handling soiled bedding.
  • If animals or creatures are brought in by visitors to show the children, they are the responsibility of the owner.
  • The owner carries out a risk assessment, detailing how the animal or creature is to be handled and how any safety or hygiene issues will be addressed.

Poisonous Plants

The following is a list of some of England’s most readily available, commonly grown plants, which are very poisonous.  The list is not comprehensive.

Latin Name (Common Name)

Aconitum (Monkshood)

Arum (Arum Lily, Lords and Ladies)

Atropa belladonna (Belladonna, Deadly Nightshade)

Brugmansia, Datura (Datura, Angels Trumpets)

Colchium (Autumn Crocus)

Convallaria (Lily of the Valley)

Daphne (Daphne)

Dieffenbachia (a houseplant) (Leopard Lily, Dumb Cane)

Digitalis (Foxglove)

Euphorbia (Spurge)

Gloriosa  superba (a conservatory/indoor plant) (Glory Lily)

Hedera (Ivy)

Helleborus (Hellebore, Lenten Roses)

Laburnum (Laburnum, Golden Rain)

Lantana (Lantana)

Nerium (Oleander)

Primula obconica (The Poisonous Primula)

Prunus laurocerasus (Cherry Laurel)

Ricinus Communic (Castor Oil Plant)

Ruta (Rue)

Taxus (Yew)

Hygiene

To prevent the spread of all infections, adults in the group will ensure that the following good practices are observed. This section should be read in conjunction with our COVID 19 policy.

Personal Hygiene

  • Hands washed after using the toilet
  • Children with pierced ears not allowed to try on or share each other’s earrings.
  • Boxes of tissues are placed around the setting and children encouraged to blow and wipe their noses 

      when necessary.  Soiled tissues disposed of hygienically.

  • Children encouraged to shield their mouths in their elbow when coughing.
  • Paper towels used and disposed of appropriately.
  • Hygiene rules related to bodily fluids followed with particular care and all staff and volunteers aware of how infections can be transmitted.

Nappy Changing

  • Take children discretely to the changing area and use the curtain to protect their modesty
  • Use the antibacterial wipes to clean the mat
  • Wear a disposable apron and gloves
  • If the nappy is going to be extremely messy use some of the blue paper roll on the mat.
  • Lay child on change mat
  • Remove the child’s nappy and any soiled clothes and place in a plastic bag
  • Clean the child’s bottom with the supplied wipes
  • Remove gloves and apron and place in bag
  • Place clean nappy on the child
  • Dress child
  • Child and adult wash hands
  • Return child to room
  • Dispose of bag
  • Clean change mat
  • Wash hands
  • Complete record of change in the book.

Cleaning and Clearing

  • Any spills of blood, vomit or excrement wiped up and flushed away down the toilet.  Rubber gloves always used when cleaning up spills of body fluids.  Floors and other affected surfaces disinfected using chlorine or iodine bleach diluted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.  Fabrics contaminated with body fluids thoroughly washed in hot water.
  • Spare laundered pants, and other clothing, available in case of accidents and polythene bags available in which to wrap soiled garments.
  • All surfaces cleaned daily with an appropriate cleaner.

Food

The setting will observe current legislation regarding food hygiene, registration, and training.

In particular, each adult will:

  • Always wash hands under running water before handling food and after using the toilet.
  • Not to be involved with the preparation of food if suffering from any infectious/contagious illness or skin     

      trouble.

  • Never smoke in the kitchen or any room storing food.
  • Never cough or sneeze over food.
  • Use different cleaning cloths for kitchen and toilet areas.
  • Prepare raw and cooked food in separate areas.
  • Keep food covered and either refrigerated or piping hot.
  • Ensure waste is disposed of properly and out of reach of the children.  Keep a lid on the dustbin and wash hands after using it.
  • Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly before use.

Any food or drink that requires heating will be heated immediately prior to serving and not left standing.  No food or drink will be reheated.

Tea towels will be kept scrupulously clean and washed between each session.

All utensils will be kept clean and stored out of the reach of children.