Health & Safety Policy at Mulberry Garden

Mulberry Garden provides and maintains safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work for our employees, and a safe early learning environment in which children learn and are cared for. To develop and promote a strong health and safety culture within Mulberry Garden for the benefit of staff, children, parents and visitors, we provide information, training and supervision. We accept our responsibility for the health and safety of other people who may be affected by our activities.

Legal framework

Mulberry Garden follows relevant legislation and associated guidance relating to health and safety within our nursery:

●  The requirements of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 2021.

●  The regulations of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and any other relevant legislation such as Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation (COSHH).

●  Any guidance provided by Public Health England, the local health protection unit, the local authority environmental health department, fire authority or the Health and Safety Executive.

Aims and objectives

Mulberry Garden takes reasonable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of everyone on site:

●  A safe and healthy environment exists throughout the nursery, including outdoor spaces.

●  Safe working practices are in place amongst staff and children.

●  Safety is ensured and risks to health minimised in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of hazardous articles and substances.

●  Information, instruction and supervision is provided to enable people working at Mulberry Garden to avoid hazards and contribute positively to their own health and safety, and to ensure that staff have access to regular health and safety training.

●  A healthy and safe nursery is maintained with safe entry and exit routes.

●  Procedures are in place for emergency evacuation. Staff and children practice these procedures on a monthly basis to enable safe and speedy evacuation.

●  A safe working environment is maintained, and risk assessments undertaken, for pregnant staff or staff who have recently given birth.

●  A safe environment exists for those with special educational needs and disabilities to ensure the Mulberry Garden premises, wherever practicable, are accessible.

●  Staff, visitors and parents are encouraged to report unsafe working practices so that immediate action can be taken.

In order to maintain a safe environment for children, staff and parents Mulberry Garden ensures that:
● Entrances and exits from the building, including fire exits are clearly identifiable, free from obstruction and easily opened from the inside.

●  The premises is regularly checked for structural defects, worn electrical equipment, fixtures and fittings and takes the necessary remedial action.

●  Fire detection and control equipment is checked regularly.

●  Staff understand how to follow the accident procedure for staff, visitors and children, in terms of treatment, recording and reporting.

●  Staff take reasonable action to control the spread of infectious diseases and wear protective gloves and clothing where appropriate.

●  There are suitable hygienic changing facilities.

●  The premises is a smoking/vaping free environment.

●  Children are encouraged to manage risks safely and avoid running inside the building.

●  Electrical sockets are risk assessed, trailing wires are avoided and measures are taken to reduce risks.

●  Cleaning materials are kept out of reach of children and stored in their original containers.

●  Staff wear protective clothing when cooking or serving food.

●  High risk foods that may relate to children’s allergies are not used. Mulberry Garden is nut-free.

●  The EU Food Information for Food Consumers Regulations (EUFIC) is followed, by identifying the 14 allergens listed by EU Law that might be used as ingredients in our dishes.

●  Risk assessments are undertaken for the storage and preparation of food.

●  Staff are familiar with the location of first aid boxes and know who the appointed first aiders are.

●  First aid boxes are appropriately stocked and their contents checked every 3 months.

●  Children are supervised at all times.

●  Reasonable steps are taken to prevent unauthorised persons entering the premises and an agreed procedure is in place for checking the identity of visitors.

●  Students or volunteers are not left unsupervised at any time.

●  Staff paediatric first aiders are on display.

Responsibilities
The designated Health and Safety Officer in the nursery is Niamh Moyna.

Lucy Purnell has overall responsibility for this policy being carried out at:

Mulberry Garden Nursery & Preschool
Mulberry House, High Street

Bathampton BA2 6SY
The deputy nursery manager will be responsible in her absence.

All employees have the responsibility to cooperate with senior staff and the manager to achieve a healthy and safe nursery and to take reasonable care of themselves and others. Neglect of health and safety regulations/duties will be regarded as a disciplinary matter.

Whenever a member of staff notices a health or safety issue or problem which they are not able to rectify, they must report it immediately to the appropriate person named above. Parents and visitors are requested to report any concerns they may have to the manager.

Daily contact and regular staff meetings, including health and safety matters, provide consultation between the staff.

Health and safety training
Person responsible for monitoring staff training is Lucy Purnell. Health and safety is covered in all induction training for new staff.

Area Training required Who

Paediatric First aid

Dealing with blood

Safeguarding/Child protection

Care of babies

Risk assessment

Fire safety procedures

Use of fire extinguisher

Food hygiene

Allergy awareness

Manual handling

Stress awareness

Nappy changing

Fire warden duties

EpiPen training

SENCO

Supervision and appraisal

At least one member of staff with paediatric first aid (PFA) must be on the premises and available at times when children are present, including accompanying children on outings. The PFA course must be consistent with the criteria set out in Annex A of the EYFS, 2021 and renewed every three years. The emergency PFA course must be face to face.

Newly qualified entrants to the Early Years workforce who have completed a level 2 and/or level 3 qualification on or after 30 June 2016, must have a full PFA or emergency PFA certificate within three months of starting work, in order to be included in the required staff: child ratios at level 2 or level 3 in an early years setting.

Health and safety arrangements

● All staff are responsible for general health and safety at Mulberry Garden.
● Risk assessments are conducted on all areas: rooms, activities, outdoor areas, resources, cleaning equipment, legionella and lone working.

●  Risk assessments are reviewed at regular intervals and when circumstances change.

●  A risk assessment is completed for each off-site visit and reviewed.

●  Equipment, rooms and outdoor areas are checked by staff before children have access. Unsafe areas are made safe wherever possible or the area is fenced off until it has been made safe. The manager will be notified immediately.

●  Appropriate facilities for children, staff, parents and visitors are provided for their basic care needs, e.g. accessible toilet area and fresh drinking water.

●  COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations are followed at all times.

●  Water sources are assessed for risk of legionella, and risks managed, e.g. avoiding stagnant water.

●  Staff and students receive training in all areas of health and safety which includes risk assessments, manual handling, fire safety and emergency evacuation procedures. Mulberry Garden may also use benefit risk assessments for particular activities and resources for children.

●  Mulberry Garden has the following policies in place to supplement this Health & Safety policy: Accident & First Aid, Fire Safety & Emergency Evacuation, Critical Incident & Lockdown.

●  Accident and incident records are reviewed in order to identify any patterns/hazardous areas.

●  Health and safety matters are reviewed informally on an ongoing basis and formally every six months or after a change/incident. Staff and parents are informed of any policy amendments.