Stepping Stones of Scawby Health & Safety Policy
Health and Safety Policy Our Pre-School and Out Of School Club take the maintenance of health and safety extremely seriously as a matter of both legal and moral importance. All staff will be familiarised with the provisions contained in this policy as part of their induction and be expected to act in accordance with them at all times. The Pre-School and Out of School Club aims to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all staff, children, visitors and others who may be affected by the setting s activities and existence. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and their associated Approved Code of Practice will be complied with at all times. We will always strive to go beyond the minimum statutory standards to ensure that health and safety remains the first priority. The steps below will be actioned as a matter of course: 1. Create an environment that is safe and without risk to health. 2. Prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health. 3. Use, maintain and store equipment safely. 4. Ensure that all staff are competent in the work in which they are engaged. Responsibilities of the Board of Directors of Stepping Stones of Scawby, Manager and Staff. The identification, assessment and control of hazards within the Pre-School and Out of School Club are vital in reducing accidents and incidents. The Pre-School Manager and the Out of School Club Supervisor will have one other designated member of staff from each area responsible for assessing risks to health and safety arising out of the activities in Stepping Stones of Scawby and introducing suitable steps to eliminate or control any such risk identified. It is vital to ensure that health and safety matters are taken seriously by all members of staff and other persons who are affected by the Pre-School and Out of School Club activities. Staff who have been found to have blatantly disregarded safety instructions or recognised safe practices will be subject to the procedures laid out in the Staff Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures. The Board of Directors of Stepping Stones of Scawby holds ultimate responsibility and liability for ensuring that the Pre-School and Out Of School Club operate in a safe and hazard free manner. The Board of Directors, along with the Manager and Anne Bontoft - Health and Safety Co-ordinator, is responsible for ensuring that staff both
understand and accept their responsibilities in relation to health and safety procedures. The Board of Directors and the Manager will ensure that adequate arrangements exist for the following: 1. Monitoring the effectiveness of the Health and Safety policy and authorising any necessary revisions to its provisions. 2. Providing adequate resources, including financial, as is necessary to meet the Pre- School and Out of School Clubs health and safety responsibilities. 3. Providing adequate health and safety training for all staff. 4. Ensuring that all accidents, incidents and dangerous occurrences are adequately reported and recorded (including informing the Health and Safety Executive, and Ofsted, where appropriate). 5. Reviewing all reported accidents, incidents and dangerous occurrences, and the Management s response, to enable corrective measures to be implemented. 6. Ensuring that all staff, students, volunteers and any other adult who come into unsupervised contact with children at the Pre-School/Out of School Club have appropriate and up to date Disclosure and Barring Service checks. Only persons who have an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and are registered with Ofsted as child carers have unsupervised access to the children, including helping them with toileting. The Manager is responsible for the day to day implementation, management and monitoring of the Health and Safety Policy. The Manager is required to report any matter of concern regarding the Health and Safety Policy to the Executive Head of Scawby Academy. The Manager will ensure that: 1. An additional designated member of staff is made jointly responsible with them for the health and safety and risk assessment provisions at Pre-School and Out of School Club, as set out in this and other policies. 2. Regular safety inspections are carried out and the reports accurately logged. 3. Any action required as a result of a health and safety inspection is taken as rapidly as possible. 4. Information received on health and safety matters is distributed to the all members of staff, the Executive Head of Scawby Academy and the Board of Directors. 5. An investigation is carried out on all reported accidents, incidents and dangerous occurrences. 6. Staff are adequately trained to fulfil their role within the Health and Safety policy.
Staff are responsible for ensuring that the provisions of the Health and Safety policy are adhered to at all times. As such, they are required to: 1. Have regard for the Health and Safety policy and their responsibilities under it. 2. Have regard for any health and safety guidance issued by the Manager/Health & Safety Co-ordinator or the designated member of staff, and act upon it whenever appropriate. 3. Take reasonable care for their own health and safety as well as of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. 4. Take all reasonable care to see that the equipment and premises that are used by children, and the activities that are carried out at Pre-School and Out of School Club, are safe. 5. Report any accidents, incidents or dangerous occurrences that have led to, or may in the future be likely to lead to, injury or damage, and assist in the investigation of any such events. 6. Undergo relevant health and safety training when instructed to do so by the Management team. Strategy for reporting Accidents to Government Agencies. Anything that is dangerous must be made safe as soon as is possible. However, care should be taken to avoid disturbing the accident scene as far as possible (in case of subsequent criminal investigation). Also you need to check whether the accident needs to be reported. See Appendix A - North Lincolnshire Council-accidents in the workplace for guidance and contact information. 1. Under the reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations 1995. If the accident is reportable, then the report must be made without delay to either the incident contact centre (http://www.riddor.gov.uk) or the environmental health department North Lincolnshire council. 2. To Ofsted- if the accident is serious as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event, within 14 days 3. Details of the accident must be recorded in the accident book (on the day of the incident) at Stepping Stones of Scawby and the parents of any injured child asked to sign the entry. The names of any witnesses to the accident should be taken. 4. Stepping Stones Insurance Company (Pre-School Learning Alliance) to be informed immediately, in case of a personal injury claim is made. 5. In the days following a serious accident, an internal investigation should be undertaken and statements taken from members of staff involved followed by:
Review Stepping Stones risk assessments and working procedures and revise if necessary. Communicate any changes to staff Review training and provide additional training if needed Consider whether disciplinary action is warranted. Insurance The Children Act 1989 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, place a number of legal responsibilities on Stepping Stones of Scawby. Therefore, Pre-School and Out Of School Club have insurance cover appropriate to its duties under this legislation, including Employer Liability Insurance. Responsibility will, in most cases, rest with Stepping Stones of Scawby, but staff will take reasonable care, both for themselves and other people who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. If Stepping Stones of Scawby is held responsible for any incident that may occur, public liability insurance will cover compensation. Specific tasks will be undertaken and regulations adhered to in order to ensure the Health and Safety of all staff, visitors and children in Pre-School and the Out of School Club. These are as follows; Setting Protocol 1. There are always at least 2 adults present whenever children are on the premises. All children are supervised by adults at all times and will always be within sight of an adult. There will always be sufficient adults to maintain appropriate ratios for staff and children. (1 adult : 8 children aged 3+ and 1 adult : 4 children aged under 3 on Pre-School premises and 1 adult : 3 children on outings) 2. A register of both adults and children is completed as people arrive and leave, as per the Arrivals and Departures Policy to ensure an accurate and complete record of all those present is available in case of any emergency. 3. The accident and incident books are available at all sessions for the reporting of any incidents and accidents. All entries will be signed by parents as appropriate. This book will be checked on a regular basis (at least fortnightly) by the Manager. Where appropriate and particularly if action needs to be taken these incidents will be reported to the Executive Head of Scawby Academy. 4. Safety checks on premises, both indoor and outdoor, are made before every session. 5. The Lobby door will be locked at all times. 6. Children will be allowed to leave the group only with an authorized adult, as per the Arrivals and Departures Policy. A member of staff will be at the door during arrival and departure times. 7. The premises are checked before locking up at the end of the day/ session. 8. A full Risk Assessment of Pre-School will take place annually, or if a child with Special Needs joins the group.
9. Outdoor space, when available, needs to be secure. 10. Heaters/electrical points/wires and leads are adequately guarded. 11. Low level glass will be covered with protective film, or replaced by safety glass. 12. Fire doors are never obstructed. 13. Fire drills are held at least once each term. 14. Children are not allowed into the kitchen unless involved in a cooking activity under staff supervision for which a Risk Assessment has been completed. 15. All dangerous materials are stored out of the reach of children. 16. Adults must not wander around with hot drinks, and must ensure that they are placed out of the reach of children. 17. Adults must not eat foods containing allergens that affect children within the setting. 18. There is no smoking in the building/premises. 19. The first aid box is checked weekly and restocked as appropriate. 20. Equipment is checked regularly and any dangerous items are repaired or discarded. Equipment offered will be developmentally appropriate, recognising that equipment suitable for older children may pose a risk to younger/less mature children. Stepping Stones of Scawby s full responsibilities and procedures in respect of Health and Safety are contained in this policy, alongside relevant section of the following policies: 1. Health and Hygiene Policy 2. Equipment and Toys Policy 3. Emergency Procedures 4. Manual handling and safe lifting Policy 5. Electrical Appliance Safety Policy 6. Site Security Policy 7. Risk Assessment Policy 8. Fire Safety Policy The last review of this policy was held on: July 2014 The latest review of this policy was held on: June 2015 The latest review of this policy was held on: 31 st May 2016 And was attended by: Management and staff members