Mobile Phone and internet Policy 

Rum Tum Tugger’s Nursery has a no mobile phone policy within the setting. Mobile phones should be switched off during working hours and left in lockers or hand bags. Any member of staff that is caught with their phone switched on, on their person or in use will be subject to disciplinary action. Staff may use their phones during their lunch breaks. The management team may have their mobile phones switched on for use within business purposes only. 

There are no circumstances under which any member of staff may use their mobile phones to take photographs within the setting and any such event will result in disciplinary action which could lead to dismissal. 

Staff may use the Office computers to access the internet for reasons relating to the nursery, to find materials and to access reports and government legislation. Staff may not access personal emails without permission from the management and under no circumstances are they allowed access to social networking sites either via the computer or their mobile phones. Any staff found to be accessing social networking sites or other websites not relating to work will be subject to disciplinary action.

 Review by Jil Pascale April 2010

All Parents and Carers                                                  Our ref: HMB0501

                                                                                    Your ref:

                                                                                    1^st May 2009    

Dear Parents/Carers,

As you may have seen in the press there is risk of the world experiencing an Influenza Pandemic. The UK Government have been planning for this occurrence and we are currently at UK Alert Level 2. This means that there are isolated cases of Pandemic Flu within the UK. We have been working closely with Essex County Council in planning for the local impact of Pandemic Influenza in our area.

If the Pandemic reaches the county of Essex it may be necessary to close establishments. This may be a county wide closure of all establishments to try and stop the virus spreading amongst children, young persons or individual establishments if staffing levels reach critical mass due to staff being off work ill with the virus themselves.

Rum Tum Tugger’s Nursery has pre-planned for this event and this is the first in a series of communications to keep you informed of the situation. Attached is a document from the Department for Children, Establishments and Families which details important information that you should make yourself familiar with.

Within the Establishment we will be increasing cleaning regimes and practising infection control measures. We will continue to teach and encourage the children to:

• Wash their hands using soap and water on a regular basis throughout the day
• Cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing using tissues provided around the establishment
• Throw away dirty tissues quickly into bins provided around the establishment

We would strongly recommend that you consider this advice and continue these practices with the children when they are at home. We would also ask you to adhere to our guidelines on Exclusions for Communicable Diseases. (Copies can be collected from nursery or viewed on the blog, entry dated 5^th June 2008)

Using the form overleaf, can you please ensure that we have up to date contact details so that we can pass on advice if the pandemic arrives and can contact you if we have to close the establishment.

We will communicate with you again in the near future should the situation within Essex change.

Your sincerely,

Hayley Martin-Burns

Director, Rum Tum Tugger’s Nurseries

If you have any concerns regarding pandemic influenza please see below for available resources:

• Department of Health:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/PandemicFlu/index.htm

• Essex County Council
  • http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/gui.jsp?channelOid=17176&guideOid=70442
• SureStart

http://www.surestart.gov.uk/surestartservices/healthrelated/healthandfamilysupport/pandemicflu/

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

CHILDS NAME______________________________CLASS_________

ADDRESS____________________________________

                 ____________________________________

HOME TELEPHONE No.  _______________________________

1st CONTACT

NAME_____________________________________________________

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE No. _______________________________

EMAIL. ___________________________________________________

2nd CONTACT

NAME_____________________________________________________

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE No. _______________________________

EMAIL. ___________________________________________________

It is essential that children are given a variety of opportunities to access a range of activities. These include television, media, talking books and IT opportunities.

The guidelines for using such equipment are:

• The children will not have more than 15 minutes access to television or other media activities per day.
• The staff will vet the product before the children view it, to ensure that they are suitable both in content and in length for the age of children that they are working with.
• Where a DVD is shown it will be of educational content that ties in with or leads into previous learning opportunities for the children.
• Only children over the age of 2 will have access to the equipment.

Reviewed February 2009

Safeguarding Children Policy

Rum Tum Tugger’s Nursery are determined to make sure that all necessary steps are taken to protect children and young people from harm both while  in our care and those we have association with.

We are committed to ensuring that every child and young person who participates in the organisation’s activities should be able to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from harm. This is the responsibility of every adult involved in the nursery. The Nursery recognises that abuse can be an emotive subject. We understand the feelings involved and will not allow them to interfere with any judgement or action that needs to be taken.

The directors of Rum Tum Tugger’s Nurseries Ltd recognise the Nurseries responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect or bullying.

The Children Act 1989 defines a child or young person as anyone who has not reached their 18^th birthday. The fact that a child has reached 16 year of age, is living independently or is in further education, is a member of the armed forces, is in hospital, in prison or in a young Offenders’ institution does not change his or her status or entitlement to services or protection.

Rum Tum Tugger’s will ensure that;

·         The Welfare of the children is paramount.

·         All children whatever their age, race, gender, disability, culture, racial origin, religious belief, and or sexual identity have the right to be protected from harm.

·         All suspicions or allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

·         All staff and volunteers working in the nursery have a responsibility to report concerns to. Hayley Martin-Burns

·         All staff and volunteers working in the nursery have been recruited in line with the Safer recruitment policy and have had the appropriate checks carried out.

The vast majority of adults that work with children act professionally and responsibly. Some individuals will actively seek employment with children and young people in order to harm them. All concerns regarding individual’s practice should be reported to Hayley Martin Burns.

Reviewed January 2009 by Jil Pascale

Safe Recruitment Policy

Recruitment, selection and vetting checks

Recruitment

Staff are recruited through Job agencies and adverts through appropriate publications. Current staff can apply for positions within the setting.

Interview

All suitable candidates will be invited to an initial office interview. All candidates will be provided, at interview, with a Job description that includes reference to the responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the setting. The Job description will include a person specification with a specific reference to working with children. All candidates will be expected to provide an up to date C.V. and where relevant a National Record of Achievement along with evidence of training and qualifications. They will be asked about previous employment history and any disciplinary action, allegation or concerns about their suitability for employment. Gaps in employment will need to be explained and verified.

Al l candidates will be expected to provide contact details of two independent professional and character references to obtain confirmation of the applicant’s suitability to work including any disciplinary action, allegation or concerns. These should include at least one previous employer.

Selection

All candidates will be assessed on set questions relevant to the position they are applying for including EYFS. Their responses will be marked against pre recorded answers. Unsuccessful candidates will be informed in writing.

Successful candidates will be asked to attend a second interview where they will spend time with the children and where appropriate provide and carry out a lesson plan suitable for a group of children of a nominated age group. They will also be asked to evaluate their performance.

Candidates will be marked against predetermined criteria to help determine the best candidate for the position. Unsuccessful candidates will be informed in writing.

Successful candidates will be asked to provide proof of identification and residence including photographic evidence, a copy of which will be held in their personnel file.  (Driving license, Passport, utility bill etc)

Successful candidates will be required to complete and update as necessary a health questionnaire which includes physical capability for the job.

Successful candidates will be required to complete a successful Criminal Records Bureau enhanced disclosure. The number and date of this will be kept in the candidates personnel file. If necessary the setting will request a List 99 from Capita while the CRB clearance is being processed.

If the Candidate is not a UK resident they will be required to provide proof that they are entitled to reside and work in the UK.

A record showing that all checks have been carried out will be held on the single central record (register) and updated as necessary.

Revised December 2008 by Jil Pascale