Sample policies for members

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Listed below are the sample policies available to NCMA members. They are available to download and use as reference when writing your own policies and procedures.

 

Accident and emergency

What you will do in the event of accidents and emergencies. The procedures you will take to ensure the safety of the children in your care when accidents occur. Includes procedures for taking children to hospital and contacting responsible adults. 

 

Alcohol

How you will protect the children in your care from harm caused by alcohol and other drugs.

 

Behaviour

How you manage the behaviour of children in your care. Your policy on setting limits for acceptable behaviour in your home, and your procedures for creating a safe and happy environment that encourages positive behaviour. Includes statements on working in partnership with parents to agree boundaries for their children and the steps you will take to manage challenging behaviour.

 

Complaints

How you deal with complaints from parents about your provision. Includes the procedures you will take to ensure detailed records of all complaints are kept and made available to Ofsted if required.

 

Confidentiality

How you protect and manage personal information about the families you work for. How information will be stored and shared safely, including records of incidents that may lead to insurance claims.

 

Food and drink

Your policy for the provision and handling of food in your childcare service. Includes procedures for preparing and serving food, ensuring good hygiene and dealing with outbreaks of food poisoning.

 

Illness and infectious diseases

Managing instances of sickness, and the hygiene procedures that help to prevent them. How you will deal with an outbreak of an infectious disease in you home, including procedures for contacting parents of all children in your care. Includes procedures for ensuring good hygiene in the home. 

 

Inclusion

Ensuring that diversity is respected, and an inclusive attitude is shown by and to all adults and children in contact with your childcare service. Challenging discriminatory behaviour and providing toys and books that promote positive images of diversity.

 

Lost child policy

What will you do if a child goes missing while in your care? Your policy should outline the procedures you will take should this happen.

 

Medicines

Managing, storing and administering medicines to children in your care. Ensuring parental permission to administer medicines is given, and that all information about the use of medicines is recorded properly.    

 

Outings

Ensuring trips and outings are safe and properly managed. Includes procedures for ensuring that  risk assessments and trial runs are undertaken, parental permission is obtained and details of all vehicles involved are recorded.

 

Safeguarding children

Your policy for ensuring that children in your care are kept safe from harm. Your knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance, including details of your local Safeguarding Children Board. Procedures for raising concerns about safeguarding issues with parents, and what you should look out for. How you will act if you suspect that a child in your care is suffering abuse.

 

Smoking

Your policy on keeping the childcare environment smoke-free and protecting children form the harmful effects of smoke.

 

Uncollected child policy

What will you do if one of the children in your care is not collected? Your policy should outline the procedures you will take to ensure their safety and how you will get in touch with emergency contacts.

 

Use of crèches

Your policy for using crèches for children in your care. The situations when this might be necessary, and how you will ensure that the crèche is a safe and appropriate environment.

 

Working with parents

Ensuring positive relationships with the parents whose children you care for. Procedures for contracts and record-keeping; maintaining good communication with parents and resolving disagreements; sharing Ofsted reports and incident records.