The Rainbow Pre-School promotes a healthy lifestyle and a high standard of hygiene in its day work with children and adults.  This is achieved in the following ways:

 HEALTH

 Food

  • All meals and snack provided will be nutritious and pay due to attention to children’s particular dietary requirements.
  • When cooking with children as an activity, the adults will provide healthy, wholesome food, promoting and extending the children’s understanding of a healthy diet.

Outdoor Play

  • Children will have the opportunity to play in fresh air throughout the year (either in the pre-school’s own outside play area or on outings to parks or other community play spaces).

Illness

  • Parents are asked to keep their children at home if they have any infection, and to inform the Rainbow Pre-School as to the nature of the infection so that we can alert other parents and make careful observations of any child who seems unwell.
  • Parents are asked not to bring into Rainbow Pre-School any child who has been vomiting or had diarrhoea until at least 48 hours has elapsed since the last attack.
  • Any cuts or sores, whether on adults or children, will be covered with sticking plaster or other dressing but only following parental consent.  This will be sought on entry to the Rainbow Pre-School.
  • If a child is on prescribed medication the following procedures will be followed:
    • If possible the child’s parent will administer medicine.  If not, then medication must be clearly labelled with child’s name, dosage and any instructions.  Where local regulations require it, guidance will be sought from social services before people other than parents agree to administer medicines.
    • Written information will be obtained from the parent, giving clear instructions about the dosage, administration of the medication and permission for a member of staff to follow the instructions.
    • All medications will be kept in a lockable cupboard
  • A medication book will be available to log in: name of child receiving medication; time that the medication should be administered; date and time when medication is administered; together with the signature of the person who has administered each dose and signature of a witness.
  • If the administration of the prescription medicines require technical/medical knowledge, then individual training will be provided for staff by a qualified health professional.  Training is specific to the individual child concerned.
  • With regard to the administration of life saving medication such as insulin/adrenalin injections or the use of nebulisers, the position will be clarified by reference to the Rainbow’s insurance company.  (In the case of pre-schools insured with Sun Alliance, this will be through the Insurance Officer at Pre-School Learning Alliance National Centre.)
  • Rainbow Pre-School will ensure that the first aid equipment is kept clean, replenished and replaced as necessary.  Sterile items will be kept sealed in their packages until needed.

Information Sources

  • Parents will have the opportunity to discuss health issues with Rainbow Pre-school staff and will have access to information available to the pre-school.
  • Rainbow Pre-school will maintain links with health visitors and gather health information and advice from the local health authority information services and/or other health agencies.

 

HYGIENE

 To prevent the spread of all infection, adults in the group will ensure that the following good practices are observed:

 Personal Hygiene

  • Hands washed after using the toilet
  • Toothbrushes not shared
  • Children with pierced ears are not allowed to try on or share each other’s earrings.
  • A large box of tissues available and children encouraged to blow and wipe their nose when necessary.  Solid tissues disposed of hygienically.
  • Children encouraged to shield their mouths when coughing.
  • Individual towels available or paper towels used and disposed of appropriately.
  • Hygiene rules related to bodily fluids followed with particular care and all staff and volunteers aware of how infections, including HIV infections, can be transmitted.

Cleaning and Clearing

  • Any spills of blood, vomit or excrement wiped up and flushed away down the toilet.  Rubber gloves always used when cleaning up spills of body fluids.  Floors and other affected surfaces disinfected using chlorine or iodine bleach diluted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.  Fabrics contaminated with body fluids thoroughly washed in hot water.
  • Spare laundered pants, and other clothing, available in case of accidents and polythene bags available in which to wrap soiled garments.
  • All surfaces cleaned daily with an appropriate cleaner.

 Food

Rainbow Pre-School will observe current legislation regarding food hygiene, registration and training.

In particular, each adult will:

  • Always wash hands under running water before handing food and after using the toilet.
  • Always wear apron when preparing food.
  • Not be involved with the preparation of food if suffering from any infectious/contagious illness or skin trouble.
  • Never smoke in the kitchen or any room storing food.
  • Never cough or sneeze over food.
  • Use different cleaning cloths for kitchen and toilet areas.
  • Prepare raw and cooked food in separate areas.
  • Keep food covered and either refrigerated or piping hot.
  • Ensure waste is disposed of properly and out of reach of the children.  Keep a lid on the dustbin and wash hands after using it.
  • Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly before use.
  • Any high risk food will be stored at 8o or colder.

Any food or drink that requires heating will be heated immediately prior to serving and not left standing.  No food or drink will be reheated.

 Tea towels will be kept scrupulously clean and washed between each session.

 All utensils will be kept clean and stored in a dust free place, eg closed cupboard or drawer.

 Cracked or chipped china will not be used.

 Play sand to be cleaned regularly and kept free from contamination.

 

HEALTH & HYGIENE POLICY

Disability/Discrimination Act

 HYGIENE

In case of a child accidentally wetting or soiling him/herself whilst on the premises.

  • Staff will reassure the child if unduly distressed by the experience.
  • Child to be changed in an area where privacy and dignity can be maintained.
  • Staff to wear disposable gloves.
  • Wet/soiled clothes to be wrapped in a plastic, sealed bag.
  • Child to be cleaned with wipes or water (to be disposed of in a plastic bag, then bin, out of children’s reach)
  • Changing area to be cleaned after use, if necessary with anti-bacterial fluid.
  • Students and “unchecked” adults will not change the children.

 

PROCEDURE / PRECAUTIONS FOR INCONTINENT CHILDREN

In the event of a parent / carer being unable to return to change the child’s soiled nappy, this procedure will be followed.

  • Staff to wear disposable clothes when changing a nappy or incontinence pad.
  • Child’s nappy or incontinence pad will be changed in an area where privacy and dignity can be maintained i.e. the disabled toilet facility.
  • Nappies/pad to be provided by parents.
  • Cleansing agent’s and creams used should be provided by the parents, to minimise allergies and cross infection.  Written parental consent will be obtained.
  • Nappy/pad will be disposed of by double wrapping in plastic bags and binned out of the reach of children.
  • Changing area will be changed after use by the same adult, with anti-bacterial fluid.
  • Staff to reassure child if unduly distressed by the experience.
  • Staff will report any marks/injuries to the supervisor.  Then Child Protection procedure will be followed.

 

WHEN A CHILD FALLS ILL DUING A SESSION

  • Parent/carer to be contacted to come and collect them.  If they can not be contacted then use Emergency contact number on child’s registration form.
  • Adult to sit with the child whenever possible, in a quiet area until parent or emergency contact arrives.  (make a note on the register as to the time the child left the premises).
  • If a child needs hospital treatment and no parent or emergency contact can be found, one qualified member of staff is to go with the child.
  • Report to RIDDOR, fatal injuries or if child/person is taken to hospital.
  • Staff to record event/accident in Accident/Incident Book, logging date, time and place of event, personal details of those involved and a brief description of the nature of the event/illness or disease.
  • Certain diseases have to be reported to RIDDOR please refer to the booklet ‘reporting school accidents’

 

PROCEDURE FOR ADULT/STAFF MEMBER ACCIDENTS

 

  • Non major events and accidents to be logged in the Accident/Incident Book with details of time, place, brief account of the event / incident and personal details of those involved.
  • Report to RIDDOR any accidents which result in major injury (see sheet RIDDOR booklet ‘reporting school accidents’)
  • Also report to RIDDOR accidents which the injured person from continuing at his/her normal work for more than 3 days.