Butterflies Pre-school & Priory Kids Club Health & Safety Policy & Procedures

The Butterflies Pre-school and Priory kids Club promotes a healthy lifestyle and a high standard of hygiene in its day to day work with children and adults. This is achieved in the following ways:

Food

All meals and snacks provided will be nutritious and pay due attention to children’s particular dietary requirements.

When cooking with the children as an activity, the adults will provide healthy wholesome food, promoting and extending the children’s understanding of a healthy diet.

We 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 and ensuring they are dried properly.
• Not be involved with the preparation of food if suffering from any infectious/contagious illness or skin trouble
• Never cough or sneeze over food.
• Use different cleaning cloths for kitchen and toilet areas.
• Prepare raw and cooked food in different areas
• Keep food covered and either refrigerated or piping hot.

Health & Illness – Also see Administration of Medication & reporting Illness policy

• Parents are asked to keep their children at home if they have any infection and to inform the pre-school/club as to the nature of the infection. This will allow staff to alert other parents as necessary and to make careful observations of any child who seems unwell.
• Parents are asked not to bring to pre-school/club any child who has been vomiting or had diarrhoea, until at least 48 hours has elapsed since the last attack.
• If children of staff are unwell, the child will not accompany their parent/carer to work.
• Cuts and open sores, whether on adults or children, will be covered with plasters or other dressings.
• We will ensure the first aid equipment is clean, replenished and replaced as necessary. Sterile items will be kept in their sealed packages until needed.
• The First Aid box is kept in the kitchen.
• There will always be on the premises at least one qualified first aider trained to administer first aid to children. All first aiders are trained to act as the appointed person when required. Usually this would be the manager/supervisor of the session.
• Staff will follow procedures to administer medication. In line with their policies and any other specifications set by qualified persons to administer the medication.
• All major injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences will be reported in line with RIDDOR 1995.
• We will maintain links with health visitors and gather health information and advice from the local authority information services and/or other health agencies.

Cleaning and Clearing

• Disposable aprons and gloves are supplied and should be worn when changing children’s nappies and soiled clothing.
• Any spills of blood, vomit or excrement wiped up and flushed down the toilet. Rubber gloves to be always worn when cleaning up spills of body fluids. Floors and other surfaces will be disinfected.
• Fabrics contaminated with bodily 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 appropriate cleaner.
• Hazardous chemicals will not be kept on the premises. All cleaning substances will be kept out of reach and secured from children.

Personal Hygiene

• Hands to be washed after using the toilet and before handling food and then dried properly.
• Children with pierced ears are not allowed to share each others earrings.
• Children are encouraged to blow and wipe their noses when necessary and to dispose of soiled tissues hygienically.
• Paper towels are used and disposed of appropriately.
• Hygiene rules related to bodily fluids are followed with particular care and all staff and volunteers are aware of how infections including HIV infection can be transmitted.

General Safety

• The setting will always have up to date employers liability insurance and display certificate.
• We will carry out regular practices of the fire procedures with all staff and children.
• Fire fighting equipment will be checked annually by appropriate professional.
• Staff will not smoke on the premises, school grounds or in front of the children.
• Staff will carry out regular checks of equipment used and dispose and repair as necessary.
• Checks will be carried out annually on all portable electrical appliances.
• Manual handling training will be carried out by all staff to ensure their safety.

Regulations to which this policy refers:

• The management of Health & Safety at work regulations 1999
• Personal Protective Equipment at work regulations 1992
• Provision & use of work equipment regulations 1998
• Electricity at work regulations 1989
• H&S (First Aid) regulations 1981
• H&S (information for employees) regulations 1989
• Employers Liability (compulsory insurance) Act 1969 (as amended 1998)
• Manual Handling operations regulations 1992 (as amended)
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations (2002) (COSHH)
• RIDDOR regulations 1995