The Nursery’s Policies have been reviewed and updated in line with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, which came into force in September 2008. The Policy File is available to read in Nursery. A brief summary of the Policies is given below:

Child Protection Policy
(Please click on this link to view the full St Peter’s Nursery School Child Protection Policy).

The concept of caring and protecting the children at St Peters Nursery School is fundamental to the ethos of the Nursery. The aims of the Child Protection Policy are:

• Sharing with parents our commitment to the principles of safeguarding the children whilst at Nursery.

• Helping the children to value themselves so that they can establish and sustain good relationships in their families, in the Nursery and the world outside

• Creating an environment at Nursery that encourages children to develop a positive self image, which includes their heritage arising from their colour and ethnicity, their languages spoken at home, their religious beliefs, cultural traditions and home background.

• Encouraging children to begin to develop a sense of autonomy and independence.

• Supporting children to have the self-confidence and the vocabulary to resist inappropriate approaches.

Uncollected Child Policy
This Policy sets out the information that the Nursery requires from parents with regard to contact details and explains the procedure that will be followed if children are not collected at the right time.

Missing Child Policy
Whilst the Nursery’s highest priority is the safety of the children, in the unlikely event of a child going missing the Policy sets out the Nursery’s procedures.

Visits and Outings Policy
The Nursery has a long tradition of taking the children out on local visits and this Policy sets out the procedure with regard to Consent Forms, Risk Assessment, Adult to Child Ratio, Equipment to be taken and Transport.

Statement with Regard to Looked After Children
The Nursery will follow the Pre-School Alliance model Policy if a Looked After Child attends Nursery and this is set out in the Policy File. (Children and young people become ‘looked after’ if they have either been taken into care by the local authority, or have been accommodated by the local authority (a voluntary care arrangement). Most LAC will be living in foster homes, but a smaller number may be in a children’s home, living with a relative or even placed back home with their natural parent(s)).

Confidentiality Policy
The Nursery aims to ensure that all parents and carers can share their information in the confidence that it will only be used to enhance the welfare of their children. This policy sets out the general procedures for keeping records at Nursery.

Complaints Policy
The relationship that St Peter’s Nursery School has with parents/carers is of great importance and the Nursery will do everything to ensure that a parent/carer has no reason for concern or complaint. However, should this be the case the Policy sets out the Nursery’s procedures including the Ofsted helpline telephone number.

Equal Opportunity including Special Needs
Ensuring equal opportunities in all its contexts has been a corner stone of this Nursery School since its foundation in 1974. It is a particular requisite of Rudolph Steiner’s principles essential for any Steiner organisation and was a condition of the foundation of his first school. It is therefore fundamental to the commitment of this Nursery School and its staff that parents/carers and children will be respected and welcomed equally regardless of any difference of culture, religion, physical or mental ability, race, financial status or any other perceived difference.

The majority of children with special needs provide few problems for our experienced staff, particularly with the help, advice and support from Health Visitors and the co-operation and partnership with parents and carers.

Health and Safety Policy
This detailed policy covers all aspects of Health and Safety at the Nursery and covers:

Risk Assessment  - Awareness Raising - Children’s Safety
Adults’ Safety - Security - Electrical/Gas Equipment
Storage - Outdoor Area - Hygiene
Activities - Food and Drink - Fire Safety
First Aid - Accident Forms - Dealing with incidents
Sickness - Animals - Records

Administering of Medicines
While it is not our policy to care for sick children, who should be at home until they are well enough to return to the Nursery, we will agree to administer medication as part of maintaining their health and well-being or when they are recovering from an illness. This Policy explains the responsibilities of staff and parents/carers and the Parental Permission Form to be completed.

Policy for Managing Children with Allergies and Asthma and Other Medical Issues
This Policy covers the responsibilities of parents/carers to provide the relevant information with regard to managing allergies, asthma etc. together with a copy of the Risk Assessment Form to be completed. The Policy also sets out the responsibilities of staff to be trained as necessary.

Statement on Good Behaviour
This is not a policy but a statement of best practice. The Nursery views the teaching of young children to respect their friends, teachers and parents/carers as one of its fundamental responsibilities. How good behaviour and discipline is achieved is complex and variable. Every child with a behaviour problem, great or small, long or short term must be treated in the right way for that particular child. This involves close co-operation and discussion with parents/carers.

February 2010

home                                                                               back to top