We provide a high staffing ratio to ensure that
children have sufficient individual attention and to guarantee care and
education of a high quality. Our staff
are appropriately qualified and are checked for criminal records through the Disclosure
and Barring Service (DBS) in accordance with Ofsted's requirements.
To ensure that children and their parents are
offered high quality pre-school care and education.
·
To meet this aim we use the following
ratios of adult to child:
- children
aged two years of age: 1
adult : 4 children
- children
aged three - seven years of age: 1
adult : 8 children
·
A minimum of two staff/adults are on
duty at any one time. Where practical a minimum of 3 staff will be on duty.
·
We ensure each child and each family has
a key member of staff for discussion and consultation.
·
We hold regular staff meetings to
undertake curriculum planning and to discuss children's progress, their
achievements and any difficulties which may arise from time to time.
·
We ensure we are offering equality of
opportunity by using non-discriminatory procedures for staff recruitment and
selection.
·
All staff have job descriptions which
set out their roles and responsibilities.
·
We welcome applications from all
sections of the community. Applicants
will be considered on the basis of their suitability for the post, regardless
of marital status, age, gender, culture, religious belief, ethnic origin or
sexual orientation. Applicants will not
be placed at a disadvantage by us imposing conditions or requirements which are
not justifiable.
·
Our pre-school leader and deputies hold
the CACHE level 3 Diploma in Pre-school Practice or an equivalent qualification.
·
We provide regular in-service training to
all staff - whether paid staff or volunteers
- through the Pre-school Learning Alliance, Babcock Prime and The Early
Years and Childcare service.
·
All employed staff will hold a current
Paediatric First Aid certification.
·
Our pre-school budget allocates
resources to training.
·
We provide staff induction training in
the first week of employment. This
induction includes our Health and Safety Policy and Procedures, Safeguarding
requirements and practices, and Child Protection Policy and Procedures. Other policies and procedures will be
introduced within an induction plan.
·
We support the work of our staff by
holding regular half-tern supervision meetings and yearly appraisals. Also,
staff will be asked to sign a Conviction Declaration and Health Declaration annually.
·
We are committed to recruiting,
appointing and employing staff in accordance with all relevant legislation and
best practice.
·
We use Ofsted guidance on obtaining
references and criminal record checks through the Disclosure and Barring
Service (DBS) for staff and volunteers who will have significant access to
children.
·
When recruiting staff we will ask for 2
references. We will make follow up calls to candidates last employer. We
reserve the right to contact any previous employers at our discretion.
·
We will look for gaps in any candidates
employment record and seek a good explanation for the gap.
This
policy was adopted at a meeting of
19/05/11
Held on
(date)
Julie Skipp
Signed
on behalf of the pre-school