HEALTH & HYGIENE POLICY

Transcription

1 HEALTH & HYGIENE POLICY Policy: Aim: Responsible Officers: Information Included: Supporting Documentation: Other Related Policies: Health and Hygiene To promote a healthy lifestyle with a high standard of hygiene in all day-to-day work with children and adults Designated first aiders are: Maggie Myers, Debbie Atlay,Delphine Greenwood and Heather Essex Health - food, water, outdoor play, sick children, a child who becomes unwell, administration of medication and smoking. Hygiene - general, sand-pit, personal hygiene, cleaning and clearing, food, tea towels, utensils and china. Medication Book. Records relating to intolerances/allergies (e.g. plasters). HEALTH All snacks and drinks provided will pay due attention to the children s specific dietary requirements. At enrolment parents are asked to state any specific dietary requirements for their child. When cooking with children as an activity staff will aim to provide healthy, wholesome food promoting and extending the children s understanding of a healthy diet. Sutton on the Forest Preschool Health and Hygiene Policy Page 1

2 Preschool operates an optional lunch club (11.45 to 13.00) for which parents provide a packed lunch. Parents are encouraged, through the welcome letter, to provide nutritional food. Sweets are discouraged. No fizzy drinks are allowed. Preschool has a fridge in which we store perishable foods and milk. Lunch boxes are stored on top of the kitchen work top and parents encouraged, to put a cool pack inside. A self access snack was introduced in June 2005 which mostly offers fruit with milk or water to drink. Intolerances/Allergies Records are kept of all intolerances/allergies and all staff notified. Before admission to preschool any child with an allergy will have a healthcare plan put in place before they start. No nuts or sweets are allowed at preschool. Water Preschool ensures that children have free access to drinking water throughout the session. Parents are asked to bring in a water bottle for their child each day and staff will fill it with fresh drinking water. (If a parent forgets then a cup will be provided). The bottles are then placed on a low table accessible by the children Outdoor play Children will have the opportunity to play in the fresh air, weather permitting, in our own outside play area. Sick Children Parents are asked to keep their children at home if they have any infection and to inform the preschool as to the nature of the infection so that preschool can alert other parents, and make careful observations of any child who seems unwell. Staff will notify all parents if there has been an active viral infection or illness (for instance chicken pox or head lice). Parents are asked not to bring into preschool any child who has been vomiting or had diarrhoea until at least 48 hours has elapsed since the last attack. Cuts or open sores, whether on adults or children, will be covered with sticking plaster or other dressing. Staff must have a list of those children allergic to plasters. Sutton on the Forest Preschool Health and Hygiene Policy Page 2

3 Any bruises or bumps that happen in the carer s care to be recorded in the bruises and bumps book. We must notify OFSTED of any communicable diseases as defined by the Health Protection Agency. OFSTED should be notified of any food poisoning affecting two or more children looked after on the premises or any child having a serious disease on the premises (Children Act Regulations). If a child needs to attend hospital OFSTED should be informed and also the incident contact centre A child who becomes unwell If a child becomes unwell a Preschool, a staff member will take the child aside to a quiet corner whilst the parent/carer is contacted to collect the child. The staff member will stay with that child and monitor any changes in condition until the parent arrives. Administration of Medication When enrolling for preschool, parents will be asked to sign a consent form giving preschool staff permission to administer hyper allergenic plasters. A list is kept with the First Aid box of those hyper allergenic plasters. If a child needs to take medication during the preschool session, then parents will be asked to bring in the medication in its original container clearly labelled with the child s name. Any medicines brought to preschool, for children or for staff, will be stored safely in the kitchen and refrigerated if necessary. Parents may be required to show staff how to administer the medication, such as inhalers. Some medication may require training from the health care professional in order to administer it e.g. epi pen. In accordance with the Children Act, records will be kept of all prescribed medicines that are administered to the children. Non- prescribed drugs will not be administered at preschool, unless stated in an individual health care plan The Medication Book will be used to record type of medication, date and time and the dosage given along with the parent s signature. If the child does not require the medication or it is not administered this will be recorded. The child s records obtained on enrolment and checked annually, contain the name, address and telephone number of the child s doctor and a list of any allergies the child has. This record book and its contents will be kept confidential. If any child required individual emergency medication, such as for allergies, then such Sutton on the Forest Preschool Health and Hygiene Policy Page 3

4 medication will be available at all times and all staff made aware. Training to administer the medication (such as epi pen) will be sought as needed Smoking Preschool operates a no smoking policy HYGIENE To prevent the spread of all infection, adults in the group will ensure that the following good practices are observed; General Checking that the setting is clean A rota for cleaning toys Liaison with the Village Hall Committee (employer of the cleaner) about cleaning arrangements Respecting cultural and religious practices such as food preparation and practices such as washing. Children s hands will be washed before snacks and meals. A daily Visual risk assessment will be made as well as a written annual one Sandpit Only sand appropriate for children s use is used in the sandpits Spilt sand is disposed of in the bin when it becomes unusable for play. Both sandpits are covered with a fitted lid when not in use. Personal Hygiene Hands are washed after using the toilet Disposable gloves are worn for nappy changing and bottom wiping Children with pierced ears are not allowed to try on or share each other s earrings. Paper towels are available and disposed of appropriately. Particular care is taken with bodily fluids to prevent the transmission of infections, including HIV infection. A separate bin is provided for nappies. A lid covers the bin and hands are washed after using it. Animals When topic related, preschool may bring in animals such as chicks, garden mini beasts and pets. Sutton on the Forest Preschool Health and Hygiene Policy Page 4

5 Children will be seated and kept at a safe distance. Before such a visit parents will be made aware and a note displayed to check for any possible allergies to the animals. If children handle animals they will be taken to wash their hands afterwards. Cleaning and clearing Any spills of blood, vomit or excrement are wiped up and flushed away down the toilet. Rubber gloves are always used when cleaning up spills of bodily fluids. Floors and other affected surfaces are disinfected. Children s clothes affected are bagged and sent home with the child. Spare laundered pants and other clothing is available in case of accidents and polythene bags available in which to wrap soiled garments. All surfaces are cleaned appropriately. Food When children are involved in food preparation as an activity all children and adults with wash their hands before and after handling food, surfaces used are cleaned both before and after use and perishable foods will be appropriately stored (in the fridge where necessary). In practice this means: Hands should always be washed under running water before handling food and after using the toilet. Not preparing food if suffering from any infectious/contagious illness or skin trouble. Never cough or sneeze over food A large box of tissues is available and children are encouraged to blow and wipe their noses when necessary. Soiled tissues are disposed of hygienically. Using different cleaning cloths for washing up, cleaning surfaces and for activity (glue/paint) areas. Food is kept covered or refrigerated as necessary. Waste is disposed of properly and out of reach of the children. Fruit and vegetables are thoroughly washed before use. Tea towels, utensils and china Tea towels will be kept clean and washed regularly. The Supervisor will ensure that this happens. All utensils are kept clean and stored in a kitchen drawer. Cracked or chipped china will not be used Sutton on the Forest Preschool Health and Hygiene Policy Page 5

6 Plastic cups will be stored in the cupboard and stacked if and when entirely dry Sutton on the Forest Preschool Health and Hygiene Policy Page 6