At A B C Private Nursery in Livingston, we are dedicated to providing exceptional care and educational experiences for your child. For enquiries or to arrange a visit, please contact us via phone or email or fill out the form given below to share your requirements. We accept payments by cheque, BACS, and cash, as well as nursery grants and childcare vouchers. Our nursery school is open all year round, offering continuous care and learning opportunities. For more information about our services, rooms and how we can meet your child's needs, please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!
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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
A folio of the nursery's policies and procedures is on display in the entrance vestibule for parents to browse at their leisure. Each parent will be provided with a policy each month until all policies have been revised. Parents’ comments and suggestions are welcome during this process. A copy of A B C Private Nursery’s policy on Child Protection is provided with this information booklet.
RELATIONSHIPS
Relationships are considered to be one of the most important factors at A B C Private Nursery. We want to have positive, supporting, nurturing and sensitive relationships with the children in our care. The relationships focus on care and attention to ensure we know each individual child and we can support their needs.
To ensure we have effective partnerships with parents, we will ensure that we have:
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A welcoming and warm environment
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Joint working approaches
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Consultation with parents
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Be a meaningful part of our self-evaluation process
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Give support when required
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Full involvement with any transitions
POLICY ON PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO
Upon having a child accepted at A B C Private Nursery, the contracted parent/carer is asked to agree to have the child photographed/videoed on occasion by a practitioner or individual validated by A B C Private Nursery. This enables A B C Private Nursery to proceed with the taking of photography/videos at special occasions such as Christmas/graduation and to record the child’s development within their individual profiles.
While images of children will be taken, images of children will only be displayed on the A B C Private Nursery website/Facebook, and they will be made available to anyone in a digital form after first seeking permission from a parent/carer. However, with the implementation of children’s Electronic Learning Journals on 1 October 2014, and only for this purpose, there will be shots taken of children participating in group activities. These photos could then potentially be loaded onto the Learning Journals of each individual child within the shot, resulting in the image being shared amongst the parents of the other children within the scene, albeit within the strict, secure confines of the A B C Private Nursery system.
Every parent has the right to refuse this request, in which case the child must not be photographed/videoed by any member of staff, by a parent, or by any outsider without the express permission of the parent with whom A B C Private Nursery has a contract for that occasion.
Where images are taken of the whole setting (for example, on the day of Father Christmas's visit), the parents of children who have opted out of having their children photographed will be contacted to allow them to rescind their decision.
All parents/carers are made aware of A B C Private Nursery's CCTV surveillance, which is held for 10 weeks. At that point, the system clears and reallocates the storage space for subsequent recordings.
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
In line with the 8 indicators of SHANARRI introduced by GIRFEC (getting it right for every child) resulting from the Children and Young People Bill 2014, “It is everyone’s job to make sure I’m alright”. The Scottish Executive reinforces that everyone in Scottish society has an important part to play in preventing the abuse and neglect of children and young people and in responding to any situation where they think that a child may be at risk of abuse or harm. Our child protection procedures are provided by Edinburgh and Lothian’s Inter-Agency Child Protection Office, which supplies support for families whose children are in need of safeguarding to promote their welfare and upbringing.
All staff members should be aware of the possible indications of abuse or neglect and of the procedures they use to deal with suspected cases. It is the manager’s responsibility to keep staff informed and updated on child protection policies and procedures.
ROLE OF STAFF MEMBERS – SUSPICION OF ABUSE
If, through conversation or other contact with the child, you have cause to suspect physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect of a child in your care.
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Listen to what the child says. Be comforting and sympathetic. Ensure that the child feels as little responsibility as possible.
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It is particularly important not to make any suggestions to the child regarding how the incident may have happened; therefore, do not question the child except to clarify what he/she is saying; you would do this by only asking enough questions to gain basic information, by avoiding leading questions, and by using open-ended questions, e.g. what, where, who and when.
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Write down exactly what the child says, or what actions concern you, and what you have said in response. Sign and date it.
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Do not make assumptions about whom the allegation might concern. If a member of staff may be involved, appropriate steps must be taken to ensure the safety of the child and other children.
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Inform/relate your concerns to the designated member of staff in charge of your suspicions.
ROLE OF THE MANAGER – A DESIGNATED MEMBER OF STAFF
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If a child arrives with injuries, the staff should:
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Ensure immediate medical attention, if necessary.
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If possible, ask the parent/carer how the injuries occurred upon arrival.
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Explanations, however puzzling, should be accepted, and accusations should not be made. Make a written record, including diagrams, of observations and explanations given. Have a witness wherever possible. This recording of information is to ensure that reasonably full and clear information is obtained in order to be able to make an appropriate referral to the Social Services Department if necessary.
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Suppose you suspect or a member of staff has expressed concerns that the injuries have been caused by assault or by failure to protect the child. In that case, you must contact, without delay, the Local Social Work manager, a senior police officer in the Family Protection Unit, or Emergency Social Work Services.
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In some cases, you may feel that the child or children’s parents should be informed of any suspicions. However, before doing so, advice should be sought from social work, police, or health organisations (core agencies) to prevent additional risk to the child or compromise investigations.
MAKING A CHILD PROTECTION REFERRAL
A child protection referral is the process by which anyone who knows or suspects that a child has suffered, is suffering, or is at risk of abuse notifies one or more of the core agencies. These agencies assess the situation, investigate where necessary, and ensure that the help the child needs is provided when it is needed.
SUBSEQUENT ACTION
Following such a referral, enquiries will be undertaken by Social Services and possibly the Police. Staff may be required to provide statements and attend an Initial Child Protection Case Conference.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Where there is reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a child may be at risk of harm, this will always override a professional or agency requirement to keep information confidential. Therefore, the nursery has the right to share any information regarding child protection with other childcare professionals.
CHILD PROTECTION CO-ORDINATOR
DONNA SHARP & JACQUELINE STEEL
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Important Telephone Numbers
(West Lothian)
Below are the centres and telephone numbers:
BROXBURN CHILDREN & FAMILIES TEAM, STRATHBROCK
SOCIAL WORK HOSPITAL TEAM
SOCIAL CARE EMERGENCY TEAM (SCET)
POLICE
ACCIDENTS
All accidents and injuries to children, which occur whilst at nursery, will be recorded in the children’s individual logbooks. Dependent on the severity of the injuries these will also be logged within the nursery accident book. These will be fully recorded, stating injuries received and/or action taken to deal with hazards. All accidents are to be reported to a senior member of staff and parents. The accident book must be signed by both staff and parents.
COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
A complaints book is available for parents or staff to record any formal complaint on any matter pertaining to or to be associated with the smooth functioning of A B C Private Nursery. All matters of complaint shall be dealt with immediately, and if appropriate, an independent arbiter will be brought into advice on the matter. If parents or staff feel that the matter has not been dealt with, they can then contact the Care Inspectorate. Care Inspectorate is our regulatory body and can be contacted at any time on the national telephone number 0845 600 9527 or at the following address: - at the following address: -
CARE INSPECTORATE, Compass House, Dundee DD1 4NY
Every effort will be made to communicate with parents and staff on all matters of complaint. Parents have the opportunity to leave additional comments of any nature through the suggestion box or comment slips within the children’s logbooks.
If your complaint is in regard to the education provided at A B C Private Nursery, you can also contact West Lothian Council using the information below -
Care and Control
All staff shall comply with A B C Private Nursery's guidelines regarding child discipline. Children are encouraged to develop a sense of what is right and wrong.
Under no circumstances is physical punishment allowed.
RECORD KEEPING
A daily register of children’s attendance is recorded, filed and archived as part of our company policy. Other records that are kept within the building include
Accident forms
Registration forms
Children’s update forms
Care plans
All records are kept securely and are bound by GDPR regulations.
SAFE ACCESS
A car park is formed within the property's boundary, providing parking. Access to the nursery is via a vestibule area with a permanently locked door. There is a fully enclosed garden ground to the rear of the building, which is fenced off for the children to play safely.
If a parent or guardian cannot pick up their child at the end of his/her session, the nursery must be contacted and informed that someone else will pick up their child. Full identification of the alternative individual is required.
SAFETY OF THE PLAYROOMS
The Environmental Health and Care Inspectorate has discussed all aspects of safety, and their recommendations have been fully considered. A first aid box is readily available and accessible to staff only. All staff will be given first aid training every three years during their employment with the nursery.
Risk assessments are carried out daily, along with a risk-benefit form. Parents can access these forms at any point by speaking to a member of the team.
A B C Private Nursery benefits from all areas within the setting – which includes our playroom having CCTV installed.
FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT OUR NURSERY SCHOOL, CALL US ON 01506 413500.