🛡️ Safeguarding

As a nursery we have a duty to protect your children from harm and neglect. We have policies in place that set out exactly what we do if we suspect a child is being abused. We follow these protocols by observing and monitoring the child, and if we feel there is a danger we will refer our concerns to the Local Authority Safeguarding Team.

If it comes to light that a child may have been abused by a member of staff, we will report this to the Local Authority Designated Officer and Ofsted, and follow any procedures they put in place.

💬 Information & Complaints

We will share all the information you need about your child's day when you collect them at the end of each session — verbally for all children, and also recorded in a daily diary for younger children. You can speak to your child's key person at any time, and we send regular newsletters and maintain a notice board to keep families up to date.

If you have a complaint, please come and speak with a member of management at any time. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact Ofsted directly:

Written complaints forms are available from our parent/carer notice board and can be submitted anonymously if you wish.

🔒 Premises & Security

Our nursery rooms are designed so children can move around freely and safely. All external doors are fitted with locks and/or security devices so only staff and authorised parents/carers can gain access.

At enrolment we ask you to provide a password for your child's file. If someone else needs to collect your child, they must provide this password and match the physical description you have given us. Health and safety checks are carried out at the start of every session to ensure all areas are free from hazards.

🚌 Outings

To enhance your child's learning we arrange trips into the local community and further afield whenever possible, taking staffing ratios into account. Written consent from parents/carers is required before any child is taken out.

On all outings, staff carry a first aid box, emergency contact numbers, a phone, and any other relevant items (nappies, drinking water, etc.). A full risk assessment of the venue and route is completed beforehand, and an outings log is completed on the day.

🌈 Equality of Opportunities

At Tiny Toez we recognise that everyone is an individual. We have clear admissions and employment policies to ensure we do not discriminate against anyone for any reason. Where necessary, we work closely with families and outside agencies to support children with additional needs.

💊 Medicines

We are happy to administer medication to your child if it is for pain relief (e.g. Calpol, teething gel) or has been prescribed by a medical professional. Please note:

• Medication must be in its original bottle with all labels intact.
• Prescribed medication must have a label showing your child's name.
• Staff will check that all medications are within their expiry date.
• You will be asked to sign a consent form — verbal consent is not accepted.

🩹 Illness & Injuries

All staff are trained in Paediatric First Aid. Any accident is dealt with quickly and calmly to minimise distress. If we feel a child needs hospital treatment, an ambulance will be called and parents/carers contacted — permission for this is given during the registration process.

All accidents and injuries are recorded and require a signature from both parents/carers and management. If a child becomes unwell during the session, we will monitor them and contact you when we feel they need to be collected.

🍽️ Food & Drink

Fresh drinking water is available to all children throughout the day, with beakers or jugs accessible as freely as possible. Children are also given a choice of drinks at mealtimes. All meals are designed to provide a healthy, balanced diet, with alternative meals prepared for dietary requirements and allergies. Menus are displayed throughout the nursery so you can always see what your child will be eating.

🚭 Smoking

Tiny Toez operates a no smoking policy across all of our premises. We ask all staff, parents, and carers to refrain from smoking anywhere on the nursery site. Staff, students, and volunteers are also not permitted to smoke within 20 minutes of starting their shift, due to the risks of passive smoking.

🌟 Behaviour Management

All of our staff are trained to manage a wide range of children's behaviour in ways that promote their welfare and development. Staff take a consistent approach and follow agreed procedures for responding to changes in behaviour. Your child's key person will always be involved in any behaviour management work.

Staff encourage positive behaviour at all times using a variety of methods. If ordinary approaches are not effective for a particular child, we have access to expert advice and will seek your permission before liaising with any outside agencies — always in the strictest confidence.

👥 Safe Recruitment

All Tiny Toez staff go through a thorough recruitment process, including a formal interview, a minimum of two references, qualification and training certificates, and three forms of identification. No one is offered a post until all of this is complete.

After an offer is made, we apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to confirm the applicant's suitability to work with children. Induction takes place in three stages across the new employee's first month. All new staff hold a Level 3 qualification or above.

🚫 Alcohol & Other Substances

Any member of staff found to be under the influence of alcohol or any other substance will be immediately escorted off the premises and subject to formal disciplinary proceedings.

📊 Staffing Ratios

We maintain the staff-to-child ratios required by Ofsted at all times. All staff sign in and out of rooms so that ratios can be verified by management and Ofsted at any point.

📋 Risk Assessments

Every room has its own risk assessments, staff checklists, and health and safety checks. Additional risk assessments for a wide range of activities and situations are kept in a risk assessment folder in the office. All risk assessments are reviewed every 12 months, or sooner if an incident occurs.

📁 Documentation

All child and family details are kept in a locked cupboard or room on the nursery premises at all times. Enrolment forms are completed during your child's induction visit. Staff records — including DBS numbers, issue dates, and copies of qualifications — are also kept securely on site.

🔐 Information Sharing

All information we hold and share is managed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Human Rights Act 1998. We recognise your right to know that information you share with us will be treated as confidential, and we will always inform you of the circumstances and reasons if we are ever required to share it.

⏰ Late Collection

We will always remain with any uncollected child until they are safely collected. If you have not arrived within 15 minutes of the agreed collection time, we will contact you and any other emergency contacts provided.

Two members of staff (one being the manager) will remain with the child for up to one hour after the due collection time. If there is still no contact after one hour, we have no alternative but to contact the Local Safeguarding Children's Team.

🔍 Missing / Lost Child

In the unlikely event that a child goes missing within or from the nursery, an immediate procedure is implemented. This includes a thorough search of the nursery and surrounding area, the police being contacted if the child is not found, parents and carers being informed, and Ofsted being notified. All remaining children stay fully supervised throughout. All incidents are recorded in writing.