Kaleidoscope Nurseries Policies and Procedures

Policies and Procedures

Introduction:
As a Company, we are fully aware of our responsibilities to the Children in our care, the staff we employ and the public we serve. We understand how important it is to have workable Policies and Procedures that are regularly reviewed to ensure that all individuals and situations are treated in a uniform manner.

Documentation is stored in line with the data protection act and we retain the services of a specialist firm to ensure that all our policies and procedures comply with current Ofsted guidelines and employment law. Please ask to see a copy of our compliance manual at any Kaleidoscope Site, for individual policies.

Health and safety Policy

The safety of children is paramount at all times. The awareness of children's constantly developing abilities helps to ensure appropriate safety measures are applied to avoid dangerous situations.

All health and safety requirements are met by our Health and safety policy with procedures for identifying, reporting and dealing with accidents, hazards and faulty equipment.

Safety responsibilities monitored

Health and safety recommendations;
Fire safety recommendations;
Risk assessment;
Record of visitors;
Operational procedures of outings;
Records for any vehicles and drivers;
Fire log book;
Public liability insurance certificate.

Special Educational Needs Policy

We are well aware that all children are different and some have special needs over and above the average. Kaleidoscope operates inclusive care at all its sites and will endeavour to accommodate any special needs wherever possible. We believe there is a balance needed to ensure the best care for every child so we have a special needs policy to reflect that philosophy.

To assist all staff in this area a current copy of the DFES Special Educational Needs Code of Practice is maintained in the office for references purposes. It is Kaleidoscope policy to comply with this code at all times.

Each site has a named special needs co-ordinator and it is their responsibility to see that this policy is implemented at all times.

Records to show the policy is implemented are commenced as soon as a child is accepted into Kaleidoscope or KOOSH Clubs - See below for policy statement.

Special Educational Needs Policy

The method of assessing any special educational needs of a child commences the day they first attend Kaleidoscope's facilities.

Every child is allocated to a specific member of staff who becomes their key worker who is then responsible for monitoring and recording the progress of that child.

Should the initial assessment indicate any special needs, whether educational or care, then the key worker will inform the special needs co-ordinator.

Should any child be assessed as having special needs then the co-ordinator will ensure appropriate support for that child in liaison with the child's parent/carer, nurses, doctors, educational authorities and other specialists as appropriate.

It is also the co-ordinator's responsibility to ensure adequate records are maintained of the child's progress and to ensure that when the child leaves the club that the records are passed to the school or the appropriate authority.

A record will be kept on the personal file of attendance of staff at special needs training courses and seminars and the co-ordinator will also keep a dairy record of all meetings they attend in respect of special needs matters.

Compliments and complaints in respect to all special needs matters should first be taken up with the special needs co-ordinator and if not satisfactorily handled then progressed through the Company complaints procedure under national standard 12.