Children's Welfare Policies
Safeguarding Children Policy
Si-lwli Child Protection Co-ordinators: Theresa Ellen Kane (Whitchurch), Rachael Knight (Canton)
We intend to create in our nursery an environment in which children are safe and free from harm or abuse. Any suspicion of abuse or mistreatment will be dealt with promptly, appropriately and seriously. In order to ensure this action we will:
Exclude Known Abusers
__Staff must pass an in-depth formal and practical interview procedure
__Two references will be sought, one of which will be verbal
__Staff will have an induction session where the Child Protection procedure and information booklet will be revised
__A Self Declaration form will be completed before commencing any work with the children
__A CRB Enhanced Disclosure will be obtained
__Until the disclosure is returned staff will not be left unsupervised with children at any time
Once the disclosure is returned and is clear the staff will be contracted with a 3 month probationary period
__If any convictions/cautions against children are shown on the disclosure the staff member will be dismissed immediately
Seek and Supply Training
__We will seek County Child Protection training for all staff during their employment with Si-lwli to enable them to recognise and respond to signs and symptoms of abuse, this will be updated every 3 years
__We have purchased a NSPCC training pack which will be used by the Child Protection Co-ordinator as refresher training for staff and also whilst staff await their formal training
__All staff will have access to the booklet ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’ by the DFES and will receive a copy of the booklet ‘Worried about a child? – how to protect children from abuse’ by the NSPCC
__We recognise that those staff involved in Child Protection issues may find it distressing and will offer support accordingly
Keep Records
__Whenever worrying changes are observed in a child’s behaviour, physical condition or appearance, specific and confidential records will be kept – detailed incident forms will be completed
__These records will be separate from the usual on-going records of children’s progress and development
__All records must be detailed without comment or interpretation and kept strictly confidential
__A body map may also be used
__All concerns must be reported to a senior member of staff or the Child Protection Co-ordinator immediately, who will take appropriate, steps in dealing with the concerns by following guidelines outlined in ‘All Wales Child Protection Procedures 2008’.
__The layout of the playrooms will permit constant supervision and observation of all children
The following procedures will proceed in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff or volunteer:
__Whistle-blowing Procedure
__Complaints Procedure
__Disciplinary Procedure
__Confidentiality Procedure
We will ensure that any allegation made is recorded as an incident form and followed up in the appropriate manner, we will take the allegation seriously and investigate it promptly, we will contact CSSIW or the Child Protection Team for advice on how to proceed.
The responsible people for such procedures are:
__Nia Bowen – Proprietior
__Theresa Kane – Manager & Child Protection Co-ordinator
__Meinir Hughes – Deputy Manager
Immediate Action and Referrals:
__Duty Team: Social Care and Health, PO Box 97 CF11 1BP
__Intake and assessment team: 02920 536 400
__Emergency team: 02920 444 360
__Police: 999
Special Needs policy
This policy includes information on Special Educational Needs, Special Dietary Needs and Special Medical Needs or Disabilities.
‘All children have the right to be included in every aspect of society. Disabled children should not have to ask or fight to be included in the things that other children do. Inclusion is a right in UK law (the Disability Discrimination Acts) and international law (UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).’
At Si-lwli we provide a positive environment in which all children, whatever their needs will be given a variety of opportunities to develop new skills and concepts, with the full support and participation of parents, staff and child.
Aims
__Meithrinfa Si-lwli Nursery has regard to the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice for Wales 2002
__We will work in partnership with parents maintaining confidentiality at all times.
__Parents are informed at all stages of the assessment, planning, provision and review of their children’s care.
__Parents will be encouraged to contribute their knowledge and understanding of their child, and raise any concerns they may have about their child’s needs and the provision that will be made for them.
__We ensure that the provision for children with additional needs is the responsibility of all staff, our staffs are trained to help support parents and children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) / disabilities- we offer in house training and staff support for this.
__From the onset we will provide parents with a list of agencies and support networks in their area, such as SNAP Cymru.
__We will ensure that children and their families are treated equally.
Objectives
A member of staff has been designated as the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO). Sioned Thomas is a qualified Nursery Nurse with over 8 years experience in the Early Years, she has a personal interest in special needs and has previous experience of working in this field. The needs and progress of children who have Special Educational Needs are monitored by the SENCO; all necessary training will be completed by the SENCO.
Children with identified Special Educational Needs are admitted to the nursery after consultation between parents, management, key worker and the Special Needs Co-ordinator – any additional resources will be sought with advice.
We identify and support the specific needs of children with SEN by using a range of strategies, implemented by the Code of Practice
__Early Years Action
__Early Years Action Plus
__Statutory Assessment
__Statement of SEN
__Whenever necessary we will adapt and revise the curriculum to meet the individual needs and abilities of the children.
__We ensure privacy of children with special needs when intimate care is being provided.
__We will assess each child’s specific needs and adapt our facilities as appropriate.
__We will liase with other agencies, including the Health and Education authorities and seek advice, support and training.
__We monitor and review our practice and provision and, if necessary make adjustments.
__We will endeavour to listen to the opinion of the child during the planning and decision making process.
__All children will be given a full settling in period when joining the nursery according to their needs.
__If it is felt that a child’s needs cannot be met in Si-lwli without additional personnel and/or equipment, funding will be sought to ensure that provision is appropriate to the child’s needs.
__We will complete and manage developmental reports and targets for each child for the duration of their time at Si-lwli.
Assessment and Monitoring
If a child is identified as requiring any additional support we would use a system of planning, implementing and monitoring. We would seek initial advice from the Early Years SENCO (LEA).
An Individual Educational Plan will be completed with the full support of the parents and these would be reviewed regularly. Guidelines for the Early Years Action process are attached.
Making Referrals
__Additional needs are identified by a key worker or by the SENCO
__Discussion meetings held by SENCO, management, team leaders and key-workers. A plan of action will be devised.
__The Early Years SENCO (LEA) will be contacted for additional advice and a meeting arranged if necessary __Contact will be made with parents and a meeting arranged if necessary
Behaviour Policy
Si-lwli prides itself in promoting a calm, friendly atmosphere, which allows children to develop naturally without fear of threat or hindrance. The promotion of mutual respect for one another is displayed as you enter the nursery. Staffs are trained to understand the realistic behaviour arising at various stages of age and development enabling them to guide and promote the children’s welfare through a supportive daily routine. Children learn from example and this is why staff, visitors, parents and children are encouraged to display good mannerisms to one another and follow our Nursery Values.
Children need to have set boundaries of behaviour for their own safety and for the safety and respect of others. Within Si-lwli we aim to set boundaries that promote self discipline, self esteem and a sense of the significance of their own behaviour, both on their own environment and those around them.
Physical punishment or threat of is not accepted in Si-lwli. Children are never shaken, smacked, humiliated, shouted at, intimidated or shamed. However under the terms of the 1989 Children Act, it may be necessary to use restraining action in an emergency to prevent personal injury to the child, other children or an adult or serious damage to property. Any incidences are recorded and the parent/carer informed of the incident on the day.
Promoting Positive Behaviour
All staff are aware that they are a valuable role model for the children and therefore their behaviour and management must reflect the following:
__By promoting, praising and acknowledging positive behaviour and attitudes. Positive attention will be given to good behaviour. All children have a sticker chart and at the end of the day during a discussion session a sticker is placed on individuals charts whom have behaved well. Once a child has acquired 10 stickers they will receive a treat such as choosing their favourite activity or toy to play with.
__Staff will endeavour to be positive role models for the children by behaving as we expect the children to behave.
__We ensure the children’s opinion counts
__We LISTEN to the children.
__Positive language is used during the day. We do not use the term naughty child or any negative labels. __Restrictions on the child’s natural desire to explore and develop their own ideas and concepts are kept to a minimum within our daily routine.
__Staff will take responsibility for organising the environment so that it is easier for children to be patient and take turns, we will also allow children freedom of choice when possible encouraging independence
__During the day sharing is encouraged, but it is not always appropriate to expect a child to share and it is important to acknowledge children’s feelings and to help them understand how others might be feeling.
__We would often use the phrase “We take turns when there is not enough for everyone”. In order to take turns fairly an egg timer may be used, as children can comprehend time clearly by observing the sand movement.
When emotions have run high staff will follow these simple rules
__Stay calm and controlled- focus on the behaviour as negative not the child
__Listen and be understanding of the child’s explanation
__Reflect on the disagreement or behaviour displayed
__Always get down to the child’s level when dealing with difficult behaviour- make eye contact and use a calm tone, be reassuring. Explain what they have done is unacceptable and why
__Suggest other ways they should behave instead
__The child will also be asked to see if the child/person who was hurt is all right and to demonstrate that they are sorry.
When the sanctions have been unsuccessful a time out policy is used. In Si-lwli children have to sit in the quiet corner on a specific chair the staff will adhere to the following guidance during the time out period
__Keep the time brief by using an egg timer (1 min, 3 min, 5 min)
__Always stay with the child or close by.
Guiding hand..
Parents will be informed if their child is persistently unkind to others, if their child has been upset or if they continue to disrupt the daily routine causing an unstable learning environment. Parents may be asked to meet with the Manager and Key worker to discuss their child’s behaviour.
If parents do not respond, or comply with the advice and recommendations given, and the child continues to disrupt the environment for others, then the Manager or Proprietor reserve the right to remove a child from our care.
In some cases, with the consent of the parent/carer, we may request additional advice and support from other professionals such as educational psychologists or guidance