General Policies cover areas such as admission, complaints, confidentiality, equality and other administration policies, as well as addressing how we communicate with parents.
Admissions Policy: It is our intention to make our setting accessible to children and families from all sections of the local community through open, fair and clearly communicated procedures. Review due October 2024.
Complaints Policy: We believe that children and parents are entitled to expect courtesy and attention to their needs and wishes. We welcome suggestions on how to improve our pre-school and will give prompt and serious attention to any concerns about its running. We anticipate most concerns will be dealt with by an informal approach to the appropriate member of staff. However, we have a set of procedures for dealing with concerns. Review due October 2024.
Parental Involvement Policy: We believe that children benefit most from early years education and care when parents and settings work together in partnership. Our aim is to support parents as their children’s first and most important educators by involving them in their children’s education and in the full life of the setting. Review due October 2024.
Valuing Diversity and Promoting Equality Policy: We are committed to ensuring that our service is fully inclusive in meeting the needs of all children. We recognise children and their families come from diverse backgrounds with individual needs, beliefs and values. We are committed to anti-discriminatory practice to promote equality of opportunity and valuing diversity for all children and families using our setting. Review due October 2024.
Financial
Fees Policy: As a community resource, which is committed to childcare, we aim to keep our fees affordable and competitive. As a registered childcare provider we receive funding for all children from the term following their third birthday. Each funded child is entitled to fifteen hours funded education a week; when a child’s hours exceed fifteen hours at the setting then fees will be payable, with the exception of some eligible families who are entitled to 30 hours funding, subject to certain criteria. We also receive funding for some children from their second birthday depending on their circumstances. Review due October 2024.
Reserves Policy: Triangle Pre-school has in a Reserve Account over three months running costs and redundancy provision for all staff. This amount is recommended by the Preschool Learning Alliance and is the amount thought needed to cover emergencies. Review due October 2024.
Media and communication
E-Safety Policy: We recognise that technology is playing an increasing role in many tasks performed by our staff. This policy is in addition to our policies regarding mobile phone use and social networking. Review due October 2024.
Mobile Phone Policy: Our setting does not allow staff to use their mobile phones during session hours to make or take personal calls. We have a dedicated Pre School mobile phone (without internet access or a camera) which is kept on the piano during session. Review due October 2024.
Social Networking Policy: Triangle Pre-School has a good reputation to maintain and comments made on Facebook or other social networking sites could have an impact on how parents using the Pre-School view staff. Review due October 2024.
Record-keeping and security
Confidentiality and Client Access to Records Policy: In our setting, staff can be said to have a ‘confidential relationship’ with families. It is our intention to respect the privacy of children and their parents and carers, while ensuring that they access high quality early years care and education in our setting. We aim to ensure that all parents and carers can share their information in the confidence that it will only be used to enhance the welfare of their children. Review due October 2024.
Record Keeping Policy (Children’s records): We have record keeping systems in place that meet legal requirements; the means we use to store and share that information takes place within the framework of the General Data Protection Act (GDPR) (2018) and the Human Rights Act (1998). We keep both developmental and personal records on children attending our setting. Review due October 2024.
Record Keeping Policy (Provider records): We keep records and documentation for the purpose of maintaining our business. These include records retaining to our registration, contractual documentation, financial records, risk assessments and employment records of staff. Review due October 2024.
Retention of Records Policy: It is our policy to keep our records for the maximum amount of years required by Ofsted, the Pre-school Learning Alliance, and by the national standards for daycare. When the amount of time required is different, we will always adopt the highest. Review due October 2024.
Learning Journals Policy: We take steps to ensure that there are procedures in place to ensure information about children is kept in a secure locked environment. Review due October 2024.
Staff
Apprenticeships: Staff working as apprentices may be included in the ratios if the setting manager is satisfied that they are competent and responsible. Review due October 2025.
Employment Policy: We meet the Safeguarding and Welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage ensuring that our staff are appropriately qualified and we carry out checks for criminal and other records through the Disclosure and Barring Service in accordance with statutory requirements. Review due October 2024.
Role of Keyperson: We believe that children settle best when they have a key person to relate to who knows them and their parents well and who can meet their individual needs. Our procedures set out a model for developing a key person approach that promotes effective and positive relationships for children who are in our setting. Review due October 2024.
Staff Children: Where it is agreed that a member of staff’s child attends the setting, it is subject to the listed criteria. Review due October 2024.
Staff Deployment: Members of staff are deployed to meet the care and learning needs of children and to ensure their safety and well-being at all times. Review due October 2024.
Student Placement Policy: Triangle Pre-School recognises that qualifications and training make an important contribution to the quality of the care and education provided by Early Years settings. As part of our commitment to quality, we offer placements to students undertaking early years qualifications and training. We also offer placements for school pupils on work experience. Review due October 2024.
Volunteers: We recognise that the help of volunteers can be invaluable to the running of the preschool in the providing of extra support to trained members of staff. Review due October 2025.