Develop Health and Safety

The basis of the British Health and Safety Law is The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. This act sets out duties which employers have towards employees and members of the public e.g. volunteers, students, visitors, other professionals etc. This also sets out duties for employees to have towards each other. This setting believes that the health and safety of the children is paramount. We aim to make sure the setting is safe for children, parents, employees and visitors. We aim to make children, staff and parents aware of health and safety policies and to minimize hazards and risks, so the children are able to thrive in a healthy and safe environment. There is a Health and safety Officer on site at all times. There is a health and safety poster up in the setting outlining roles and responsibilities of all members of staff who work within the setting. There is a health and safety policy in place which is available to staff and parents, this policy outlines that main objectives.

These objectives are implemented into the everyday running of the setting. All staff are aware of health and safety and do regular checks on the environment and activities that are taking place. There are also other policies in place which cover, food and drink, arrival and departure, non-collection of children, nappy changing, outings, administering medication, missing children, safeguarding, behaviour, fire procedures. These policies give a clear outline of what policies are in place and how they are followed. These policies also work alongside the EYFS framework which considers all aspects of children’s welfare including, safeguarding, suitable persons, suitable premises and equipment. Many products which are use every day carry the British Standards Institution kite mark, which means that they have been tested and comply with the relevant standards of safety.

All Risk assessments in place are reviewed annually and if there are any changes made to them they are sent around for staff to read and sign. But is a significant accident they have to be updated immediately. . Risk assessments are carried out regularly including, room/environment checks, signing in and out sheets, opening and closing checks, and equipment checks. These checks are signed and dated in the morning. Our induction training (4,8,12 week reviews) for all staff includes a clear explanation of health and safety issues so that all adults are able to adhere to our policies and procedures, and that they understand their shared responsibly to health and safety. The induction training covers matters of employee well-being, including safe lifting and the storage of potentially dangerous substances. Records of all induction trainings (4,8,12 week reviews) are kept and all staff are asked to sign these once they have completed them, along with a managers signature and the date of review.

During the 12 weeks the staff must read all policies and procedures/risk assessments and sign and date them when they have read them. Health and safety policies are read out to the parent during their child’s induction week. This is so the parents can get a clearer view of how we, as a setting deal with health and safety and ways in which we do so. The parents are asked to sign a register once they have read through these policies and then this is stored in the children case note file. All staff are expected to go on health and safety training and Health and safety is regularly discussed in staff meetings. Staff are also expected to feedback any information they have gathered on training in the staff meeting to. Health and Safety is monitored and maintained in a variety of ways. There is a health and safety policy, which is shared with all staff outlining the main areas. Staff training is kept up to date. Any health and safety or risks identified should be directed to the manager of the nursery setting and she will deal with it how she feels appropriate.