HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

This is the Health and Safety Policy statement of intent:

 

Introduction

Truly Scrumptious Early Years Nursery is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and supportive environment for all children, staff, visitors, and contractors in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

We recognise our legal and moral responsibility to prevent injury and ill health and to ensure all setting practices meet or exceed current health and safety standards. We take all reasonably practicable steps to identify and mitigate risks, promote a culture of safety, and embed robust safety procedures across the nursery.

Our Commitment

We are dedicated to:

  • Providing and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all children, staff, and visitors.

  • Ensuring all staff are trained to recognise hazards and actively protect children from risk.

  • Equipping all staff, where possible, with paediatric first aid training.

  • Recording and communicating all accidents and incidents accurately and promptly.

  • Following strict hygiene protocols, especially regarding bodily fluids and infection prevention.

  • Maintaining a culture of safety awareness and continuous improvement through regular risk assessments and reviews.

Legal Framework

This policy aligns with the following legislation and guidance:

  • Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

  • Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

  • Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

  • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations

  • Guidance from:

    • UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England)

    • Local Authority Environmental Health Departments

    • Local Fire Authority

    • Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Health and Safety Responsibilities

Overall Responsibility

The Owners and Managers listed below have overall accountability for health and safety:

  • Patricia

  • Kim (Ongar)

  • Brittany

  • Hayley (Ongar)

Day-to-Day Implementation

The responsibility for daily implementation lies with:

  • Caroline (Deputy Manager)

  • Room Seniors

Risk Assessment

  • Risk assessments are carried out by Room Seniors.

  • Findings are reported to Patricia.

  • Actions required to mitigate risk are approved and implemented by Patricia and Brittany.

  • They also verify the effectiveness of control measures.

  • Assessments are reviewed monthly or when there is a change in activity or environment.

Types of Risk Assessment Covered Include:

  • Falls from heights

  • COSHH (chemicals and substances)

  • Outdoor play areas

  • Food preparation (cross-contamination, food handling, stock rotation)

  • Infection control

  • Manual handling

  • Use of equipment and play resources

Information, Instruction & Supervision

  • The “Health and Safety Law: What You Need to Know” poster is displayed at reception.

  • Health and safety advice is available from Supervision of trainees and young workers is arranged and monitored by the same individuals.

    • Patricia

    • Brittany

    • Hayley

    • Kim

    • Lauren

  • Employees working off-site (e.g., training or home visits) are briefed by Patricia or Brittany.

Employee Responsibilities

All employees must:

  • Comply with health and safety procedures and policies.

  • Cooperate with supervisors and managers on health and safety matters.

  • Not interfere with anything provided in the interests of safety.

  • Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others.

  • Report hazards, near misses, or incidents promptly.

Training and Competency

  • Induction training is provided to all new staff by senior management.

  • Job-specific training is delivered by Patricia or Brittany.

Roles Requiring Additional Training:

  • Paediatric first aiders

  • Staff working with babies

  • Kitchen/food preparation staff

  • SEN and safeguarding leads

  • Training records are stored securely in the nursery office.

  • Patricia and Brittany are responsible for arranging and tracking training.

First Aid and Emergency Procedures

  • A fully stocked first aid kit is kept in each room, with additional mobile kits for outings.

  • Emergency evacuation procedures are practised regularly and recorded.

  • Accidents and incidents are recorded, monitored, and reported to parents/carers without delay.

Health and Hygiene Practices

We maintain strict hygiene and safety practices, including:

  • Regular cleaning and inspection of indoor and outdoor toys.

  • Age-appropriate toys (no small parts for younger children).

  • Secure storage of all medicines and hazardous substances.

  • Use of safety equipment (stair gates, harnesses, highchairs, reins).

  • High hygiene standards to prevent cross-infection.

  • Safe transport of children (car seats, walking ropes, pushchair harnesses).

  • Outdoor play areas are checked daily for hazards (glass, animal waste, etc.).

  • No smoking on nursery premises or during off-site activities.

Culture of Safety

We aim to embed this policy into daily practice by:

  • Encouraging open communication about health and safety concerns.

  • Promoting a team-wide commitment to “thinking safely”.

  • Allocating sufficient funding to address safety issues.

  • Constantly reviewing risk assessments and improving safety measures.

Policy Review

This policy is reviewed at least annually or more frequently if there are changes in legislation, guidance, or nursery operations.

Reviewed By: Brittany V – Manager – 27/05/2025

 

 

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