Please see below the new doses we will be allowed to administer at nursery.

The biggest change in the new regulations is the split between the ages one year to 6 years where previously they were under the same dosage bracket. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Rum Tum Tugger’s Day Nursery- Harlow

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

                                                                                    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. ___________________________________________________

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

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

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

Rum Tum Tugger’s Nurseries are community based facilities that provide the highest standard of childcare for children in the age range of 0 to 5 years. We aim to ensure that the social, emotional and educational needs of each child is met and provided for with the best possible care and attention. Our objective is to provide a nursery that is a parent’s first choice and that this choice is the result of their child’s enjoyment of the early years experience. We recognise that, above all else, a child’s individual needs and safety are paramount and these must override all other considerations.

Reviewed February 2009

At present, children move on to their next rooms in their birth month. Whilst this seems the most obvious way to undertake this exercise, it presents certain draw backs. Firstly, from a business point of view, there are constant changes in our admission sheets and invoicing. Secondly, from a child’s perspective, this can mean that they makes this transition without the emotional anchor of a friend. Thirdly, each month there are children needing additional adult support as the transition takes place.

Jil and I have been in discussion with the room leaders about ways to improve these crucial stages of nursery development. The suggestion has been made that children should move up as a group with those children whose birthdays fall within the same academic term. This is best explained in the table below.

In making this change, we have improved on the transition experience for the child by allowing them the increased emotional security of being with their friends. It enables easier administration of admissions and is a more effective use of human resources. It does pose one problem whereby, some parents/carers may feel that their child is ready to move on but is being held back by waiting for the next block transition. Jil and I have always promoted the individuality of our service and this still remains crucial to the way children develop at Rum Tum Tugger’s. As a result, if a child’s developmental needs were no longer being met, then they would move on accordingly.

Fees would still change with birth month and funding would still work in line with our existing policy.

In the event of somebody unfamiliar coming to the nursery to collect a child or visit a member of the staff team, you should always follow this procedure:

DO NOT LET A STRANGER INTO THE BUILDING UNTIL THEIR IDENTITY HAS BEEN CONFIRMED.

• Ask the full name of the child that wish to collect or to fully state the nature of their visit.
• Most official visitors carry identification cards. Ask to see this.
• Check the messages board for parental consent
• Check the office diary for confirmation of an appointment
• Check with other staff members in case they are aware of a different collector or a planned visit
• Where appropriate, ask for a pre-arranged password
• If you still unsure contact the child’s parents or ask a visitor to re-schedule their appointment.

IF YOU ARE EVER IN ANY DOUBT OF SOMEONES CREDIBILTY, POLITELY ASK THEM TO REMAIN OUTSIDE WHILE YOU CONSULT WITH A MEMBER OF THE MANAGEMENT TEAM.

Forced Entry

In the event that an intruder should force entry into the building, it is important to gain help as quickly as possible. Never risk your own safety but try to alert other team members as quickly as possible by shouting for help.

The situation will be managed by the most senior member of staff available and will begin by simply asking the intruder to leave the building. Upon refusal, suggest moving the intruder into a safe space such as the office or staff room to continue discussion. The agreed code word will be used to alert other staff to call the police.

In the event that the intruder poses an immediate threat to the welfare of staff or children, break a fire glass to sound the fire alarm and as far as possible, carry out the emergency evacuation procedure. Notify the police and the landlords (the school office) as quickly as possible of the situation.

Reviewed November 2008

At Rum Tum Tugger’s Nursery, we are committed to providing children in our care with healthy snacks and meals; catering for children with special dietary requirements, parental preferences and for those with allergies and intolerances. Our menus are designed to be low in salt and sugar and to have low allergens.

Reviewed September 2008, Jil Pascale, Director