Hilltop House Childcare - Health and Safety Policy

Health and Safety Policy

The Health and Safety of your child is very important to us and we have therefore documented the following procedures that we have in place to support this.

• All toys will be checked and cleaned regularly to ensure they are safe for your child to use. Any broken or hazardous toys will be removed immediately. Children will only be offered toys and resources that are suitable for their age/stage of development
• We do a quick risk assessment of our home every morning before the minded children arrive to ensure that it is a safe environment for them.
• All mains electrical sockets not in use have socket covers
• All equipment is checked and cleaned regularly. All equipment is fitted with the correct safety harnesses to prevent accidents, e.g. highchairs and pushchairs.
• Car seats are checked regularly to ensure they are correctly fitted. We will never use a second hand car seat, as we do not know its history.
• Our car is regularly serviced and MOT tested. We keep the child locks on the back doors working. Our car insurance is for Business use.
• We use safety equipment appropriate for the children in our care, i.e. stair gates, cupboard locks etc. These are checked regularly.
• We keep our front door locked with the keys on a hook up high to prevent the children opening the door.
• Sleeping children will be regularly monitored.
• We do not permit smoking in our home.
• Children must stay with us when we are away from the home. Younger children will be strapped in a pushchair, older children will either be on a harness or wrist strap, or holding onto our hand/pushchair.
• We have emergency contact details with us at all times should we need to contact the parents.
• We will work with you to teach the children about safety issues like crossing the road and stranger danger.
• We will work with you to teach the children about making healthy food choices and taking physical exercise.
• We will restrain a child if they are putting themselves or others in danger, for example running into a road.

If you have any concerns regarding the health and safety of your child please discuss them with us.