Privacy Policy
Aim Sky High
Parents’ Handbook
ABOUT THE CLUB
Aim Sky High is registered with Ofsted (Registration Number 2700033) and is based on the Second Floor, 19B School Road, Sale, Cheshire, M33 7XX. The club is open from 5.00 pm until 9.00 pm on weekdays (subject to change), during term time. We also offer holiday care from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.
We are based on the Second Floor, 19b School Road. During holiday clubs or the summer season, we take a walk to our nearest outdoor space, Worthington Park.
Aims
At Aim Sky High, we aim to provide a safe and secure and relaxed environment, offering a range of activities to reflect the interests of the children in our care.
What we offer
Our Club offers dance and performing arts provision and during holiday club weeks, we offer alternative activities such as arts and crafts, sports, and generic play activities at our discretion.
What we provide
Drinking water is always available. We recognise the importance of healthy nutrition for children delivered in a calm, friendly setting, so we encourage parents to ensure children bring healthy packed lunches.
Staffing
Our Club is staffed by owner Christina Taylor, manager Natalie Robinson, head of street dance Aaliyah Harriett and Sarah Moore.
In addition, we have contracted specialist staff. Our aim is to provide a differentiation of childcare by offering dance and performing arts tuition until 9:00 pm for parents who may work late shifts.
All our staff have significant experience of working with children and undertake professional development training. All staff members have appropriate DBS checks.
We maintain a staff/child ratio of a minimum of 1:8 for children aged 3-8 years, 1:20 aged 9-12 years, and a ratio of 1:30 for children over the age of 13 on all trips outside the premises. During class sessions in the studio, we have a staff ratio of 1:30.
Staff also have designated roles:
Christina Taylor: Child Protection Officer, Health and Safety Officer, Fire Safety Officer
Natalie Robinson: First Aid Co-ordinator, Deputy Child Protection Officer, Deputy Fire Safety Officer, Equalities and Inclusion Co-ordinator,
Sarah Moore: Child Protection Officer, Special Education Needs Co-ordinator, Data Protection Officer
Aaliyah Harriett: First Aid Co-ordinator, Child Protection Officer
If you have a query or concern at any time, please speak to a member of staff at the club when you collect your child. If you prefer to arrange a more convenient time for a meeting, please contact the manager (contact details are at the back of this Handbook).
Policies and procedures
The Club has clearly defined policies and procedures. Key points of the main policies are included in this Handbook. Copies of the full policies are kept at the Club and are available for parents to view on request by emailing [email protected]
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Admission
Our Club aims to be accessible to children and families from all sections of our local community. Admission to the club is organised by Sarah Moore and we use a waiting list system when the need arises. The waiting list will be operated on a first-come-first-served basis, with the exception of siblings who will have priority for the same days as a sibling already attending. See Appendix 1 below for the Admission and Fees Policy for more details.
We require a completed set of registration forms for your child before they can attend the club. This information will be treated as confidential and will be stored appropriately.
Re-enrolment for September is required at the end of the summer term. We cannot keep a place open for your child unless you complete a new registration form.
Payment of Fees
The current fees are available on our website or on request by email. Fees are payable in advance on a monthly basis by GoCardless, Tax-Free Childcare or childcare vouchers.
We accept vouchers from childcare voucher schemes, please check with administrator Sarah Moore for more information.
Fees are payable for all booked sessions including when your child is sick, isolating or on holiday (regardless of the amount of notice given).
Please ensure that fees are paid promptly. Non-payment for more than one month will result in your place being suspended until the balance is cleared. If you are having difficulty paying fees, please speak in confidence to the Administrator.
Changes to Days and Cancelling Your Place
You must give us one month’s notice of termination, or of changes in attendance. If you need to change the days that your child attends, please contact the Administrator. We try to accommodate such changes wherever possible.
Temporary Changes
Please remember that we need to know if your child will not be attending the Club for any reason. In cases of illness or emergency when notice cannot be given, please call as soon as you can. Contact details can be found at the end of this Handbook.
Induction
You and your child are welcome to visit the Club before your child's first day, to familiarise yourselves with the setting. Please contact Sarah Moore to arrange this.
Another child will usually be allocated to act as your child's buddy for the first few sessions. See Appendix 2 below for the Child Induction Policy for more details.
Arrivals and Departures
A register is taken when children arrive in our care. Staff will ensure children go home with a parent/guardian unless they are aged 8 and over with prior parental consent.
When Holiday Club is in session, parents must personally sign their children out, unless they are aged 8 and over and can leave alone with prior parental consent.
We expect that your child will normally be collected by the people you have named for us. If you need a different person to collect your child on a particular day, you must notify us in advance. We will not release your child into the care of a person unknown to us without your authorisation.
See Appendix 3 below for the Arrivals and Departures Policy for more details.
The club finishes at 9.00 pm Monday – Friday and 4 pm on Saturday, if you are delayed for any reason, please telephone the Club to let us know. A late payment fee will be charged if you collect your child after the Club has closed. You may also be asked to contribute towards any extra staff wages and transport costs incurred.
If your child remains uncollected after 30 minutes of the class end time and you have not warned us that you will be delayed, and we have been unable to reach you or any of your emergency contacts, we will follow our Uncollected Children Policy and contact the Social Care team. See Appendix 4 below for the Uncollected Children Policy.
Child Protection
We are committed to building a ‘culture of safety' in which the children in our care are protected from abuse and harm. Any suspicion of abuse is promptly and appropriately responded to. We comply with local and national child protection procedures and ensure that all staff are appropriately trained. See Appendix 5 for the Safeguarding Policy.
Equal Opportunities
Our Club provides a safe and caring environment, free from discrimination, for everyone in our community including children with additional needs.
· We respect the different racial origins, religions, cultures and languages in a multi-ethnic society so that each child is valued as an individual without racial or gender stereotyping.
· We will challenge inappropriate attitudes and practices.
· We will not tolerate any form of racial harassment.
Special Needs
We make every effort to accommodate and welcome any child with special needs. We will work in liaison with parents or carers and relevant professionals to fully understand your child’s specific requirements. We will endeavour to accommodate all children of all abilities, whilst working within the Club’s limitations. Each case will be considered individually and risk-assessed to ensure everyone’s safety.
Our staff training programme includes specific elements relating to children with special needs. For more details on equal opportunities and special needs, See Appendix 6 for the Equalities Policy.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Uniform
All Street Dance classes, Acro, Flips and Tricks, Mini Movers and Afrobeat’s/Dance Hall:
ASH logo t-shirt and ASH logo or plain black leggings/ jogger bottoms
Ballet Grade 2 or above
Blue ISTD leotard, skin-coloured tights & matching ballet shoes. Those who wish to have pink tights are more than welcome to do so.
Ballet for Boys
White leotard, black or navy tight-fitted short & black ballet shoes.
Tap for all Grades
Black leotard, black tights and black tap shoes. Please note that tap uniform in classes is compulsory if a child does not do ballet. If a child does ballet, then the child can wear black tap shoes with their ballet uniform.
An ASH logo tight fitted long sleeve t-shirt can be worn over the ballet and tap uniform when it is cold weather. No hoodies or jumpers are allowed to be worn in class after the warmup.
Development School
Ash logo t-shirt, ASH logo or plain black leggings/ jogger bottoms. Pink leotard underneath with skin-coloured tights and matching ballet shoes. Those who wish to use pink tights and ballet shoes are more than welcome to do so.
Contemporary &TS Technique
Black leotard and black tights. Black leg warmers, jazz shoes, technique socks and an ASH logo t-shirt or black jumper for warm-up are optional. Hair must be in a bun.
Stretch
Black leotard, black tights, ASH logo t-shirt or jumpers, ASH logo or plain black joggers.
Loaned Clothing Policy
Here at Aim Sky High, our mission is to provide children with opportunities that will positively influence a brighter future in all of our pupils. In addition to providing opportunities, we aim to help ease the financial burden on parents that may arise with such opportunities.
One key element in helping ease the financial burden is outsourcing clothing for the children to wear during competitions and events. If clothing is loaned out to a pupil they must return them back to their original condition, clean, without damage, failure to do so will result in Aim Sky High finding a suitable alternative and the cost of the new item will be payable by the parent.
All parents must sign a declaration at the time of taking out the clothing to participate.
Behaviour (Children)
Children and staff have created rules for acceptable behaviour whilst at the Club.
We have a clear Behaviour Management Policy, See Appendix 7.
The Club promotes an atmosphere of care, consideration and respect for everyone attending - children, staff and visitors.
We encourage appropriate behaviour through praise for good behaviour; emphasis on cooperative teamwork and sharing; talking to children with the courtesy that we expect from them and engaging children in activities
The Club has procedures for dealing with unacceptable behaviour. We recognise that poor behaviour can occur from time to time for reasons that are not always evident, or as a result of special needs. We will try to be flexible in order to accommodate such cases.
However, if your child is violent, or if their behaviour poses an immediate danger to themselves or others, we will require you to collect them from the Club immediately. In exceptional circumstances, and only when all other attempts at behaviour management have failed, we reserve the right to permanently exclude a child from the Club. See Appendix 8 for our Suspensions and Exclusions Policy for full details.
Behaviour (adults)
We will not tolerate from any person, whether a parent, carer or visitor: bullying; aggressive, confrontational or threatening behaviour; or behaviour intended to result in conflict. Our Club is a place of safety and security for the children who attend and the staff who work here, and we reserve the right to ban anyone exhibiting inappropriate behaviour from our premises. See Appendix 9 for our Aggressive Behaviour Policy for more details.
Illness
We are unable to care for children who are unwell. If your child becomes unwell whilst at the Club, we will contact you and ask you to make arrangements for them to be collected.
Please inform the Manager of any infectious illness your child contracts. If your child has had sickness or diarrhoea, please do not send him or her to the Club for 48 hours after the illness has ceased. See Appendix 10 for our Illness and Accidents Policy for more details.
Accidents and First Aid
Every precaution is taken to always ensure the safety of the children, and the Club is fully insured. All key staff members have Level 3 Paediatric First Aid Training and we have at least one key staff member on at all times.
If your child has an accident whilst in our care, you will be informed when you collect your child. For full details see Appendix 10 for our Illness and Accidents Policy.
Medication
Please let the Manager know if your child is taking the prescribed medicine. If your child needs to take medicine whilst at the Club, you will need to complete a Permission to Administer Medication Form in advance. Permission to administer Inhalors may be given on your child’s permission sheet. See Appendix 11 for our Administering Medication Policy for more details.
Complaint’s Procedure
If you have any queries, or comments or need to discuss any matters concerning your child, please feel free to speak to your child’s teacher, the Manager, or any other member of staff.
Verbal complaints will be brought to the next staff meeting for discussion and action.
All written complaints will be acknowledged within five working days of receipt and a full written response will be given within 28 days.
See Appendix 12 for our Complaints Policy.
Privacy Notice
At Aim Sky High, we respect the privacy of the children attending the Club and the privacy of their parents or carers. The personal information that we collect about you and your child is used only to provide appropriate care for them, maintain our service to you, and communicate with you effectively. Our legal basis for processing the personal information relating to you and your child is so that we can fulfil our contract with you.
Any information that you provide is kept secure. Data that is no longer required* is erased after your child has ceased attending our Club.
We will use the contact details you give us to contact you via phone, email, social media and post so that we can send you information about your child, our Club and other relevant news, and also so that we can communicate with you regarding payment of our fees.
We will only share personal information about you or your child with another organisation if we:
· have a safeguarding concern about your child
- are required by government bodies or law enforcement agencies
- engage a supplier to process data on our behalf (eg to take online bookings, or to issue invoices, competition bookings)
- have obtained your prior permission via Terms of Engagement, written or verbal warnings
You have the right to ask to see the data that we have about yourself or your child and to ask for any errors to be corrected. We will respond to all such requests within one month. You can also ask for the data to be deleted, but note that:
· we will not be able to continue to care for your child if we do not have sufficient information about them
· even after your child has left our care, we have a statutory duty to retain some types of data for specific periods of time* therefore we can’t delete everything immediately.
If you have a complaint about how we have kept your information secure, or how we have responded to a request to access, update or erase your data, you can refer us to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
· We do need to retain certain types of data (such as records of complaints, accidents, and attendance) for set periods of time after your child ceases to be in our care, but we delete as much personal data as we can as soon as possible.
Healthy Eating
We operate snack times for all classes 2 hours and over and a full lunch break is implemented in all our 3-hour classes and over. Children will need to bring in healthy well-balanced food. Please do not send your child in with any nuts, chocolate or sweets. We have a strict no-nuts policy in place for all our classes. Examples of a good balance lunch can include:
· A sandwich, wrap, rice or pasta
· Fruit
· Yoghurts
· A small snack-sized treat bar/pack
We operate a water-only policy in the studios, please ensure your child brings a drink of water in every session. Water bottles can be refilled on-site in the kitchen.
For more information on healthy please see https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/the-eatwell-guide-and-resources for more information.
Pledge to Parents
We value our relationship with parents/carers and are committed to working in partnership with you to provide top quality dancers, and performing arts and care for your children. We will:
· Welcome you to discuss our work, have a chat or take part in our activities.
· Keep you informed of opening times, fees and charges, programmes of activities and procedures.
· Be consistent and reliable to enable you to plan with confidence and peace of mind.
· Share and discuss your child's achievements, experiences, progress, and friendships.
· Ask your permission for outings and special events.
· Listen to your views and concerns to ensure that we continue to meet your needs.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Aim Sky High
Second Floor
19B School Road
Sale
Cheshire
M33 7XX
Club mobile number: 07495727864 (Please leave a voice message if there is no reply.)
Club landline number: 0161 637 9330
Ofsted Registration No: EY563123 – New Ofsted number pending.
Correspondence Address:
Aim Sky High
Second Floor
19B School Road
Sale
Cheshire
M33 7XX
Tel (Manager): 07949234179
Club Staff
Manager: Christina Taylor
Deputy: Natalie Robinson
Key Staff: Aaliyah Harriett & Sarah Moore
Family Information Service
2nd Floor Waterside House
Sale
M33 7ZF
Tel: 0161 912 1053
Ofsted
Piccadilly Gate
Store Street
Manchester
M1 2WD
Tel: 0300 123 1231
Appendix
1. Admissions and Fees Policy
Aim Sky High is registered on the voluntary part of Ofsted’s register; our registration number is RP563122.
Places are offered on a first-come-first-served basis. When all places have been filled a waiting list will be established, with the following order of priority:
1. Siblings of children already attending the Club
2. Those requiring the greatest number of sessions/hours per week
3. Children living in the area attending other schools
4. Siblings of children who live in the area attending other schools
Registration
When an enquiry regarding places is made, parents or carers will be given all the relevant information, including:
· Information regarding the availability of places
· Details of the Admissions and Fees policy (Please see terms and conditions booklet for evening and weekend provision)
· Directed to our website where there is more information or sent information by email
· Copy of policies and procedures is available on request
If a place is available, the child will be able to attend the Club as soon as they have provided the information needed for a trial. For ongoing evening and weekend provision, a trial is offered and if children and parents are satisfied, they register for ongoing classes. Payment for fees will be due on the first lesson after the trial, payment will be required for the trial date to the rest of the current, month. If no places are available, the parent will be informed, and the child’s name added to the waiting list. As soon as suitable places become available parents will be informed.
Booking procedure
All bookings must be confirmed via email. All payments must be made by Go Cardless, Childcare vouchers, direct debit or tax-free childcare. If paying with childcare vouchers, the childcare voucher provider must be contacted on the day of booking and payment arranged. Payment must be made in full a minimum of 7 days prior to any holiday club date booked. Cash will not be accepted for Holiday clubs.
Once booked, If you wish to cancel the place altogether, this can be done so up to 1 week prior to the official start date of the holiday club (please check dates as they may change). After this time payment for the place will be required in full.
All weekday and Weekend provision prices are available on the Aim Sky High website.
Weekday and Weekend provision
Fees for our weekday and weekend classes will vary depending on individual classes. Confirmation of the class price will be given at the time of enquiry.
Late Pick-up Fees: All parent receives 10 minutes grace period for unexpected late reasons, we bring all classes down 5 minutes before classes finish. The late period will run to 5 past the class finish time. After this, we reserve the right to charge a flat rate of £5 for every 15 Minutes late will be charged. We will keep a log of children who are picked up late. Children who are picked up late on a regular occurrence may have their space withdrawn.
This charge is to cover the additional costs of staff time for staying beyond their contracted hours.
The Club recognises that childcare can be costly, so we encourage eligible parents or carers to claim the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit. We are also registered to accept a number of childcare vouchers (please speak to the head office to confirm which ones we accept).
Payment of fees
Fees are reviewed annually by the registered person. The Club will consider requests for variation to payment terms on an individual basis. Anyone making these requests should contact the manager at the earliest opportunity. Any queries regarding fees should be directed to the manager.
All late payments on fees will result in a £10 charge unless the late payment was agreed upon with management before the due date of fees.
If fees are not paid, the Club will write to the parent or carer, requesting payment. If the parents or carers are having difficulty making the payment on time, we recommend that they arrange a meeting with the manager as soon as possible.
If fees are late more than 3 times and the parents have a payment date of their choice management will contact the parent or carer and inform them their fees will now be due on the 1st or the 15th of each month depending on the classes their child takes.
Where there is no explanation for repeated late payment, head office will contact the parents or carers to discuss payment options. Head Office may issue a formal warning to the parent or carer informing them that continued late payment will result in their child’s place at the Club being withdrawn.
If the fees remain unpaid after all the above options have been explored, the Club may have to cancel the child’s place. In the case of no communication, we may make the decision to pass the debt onto a debt collection agency.
In the event a parent fails to keep up with fee payments, the child’s place will be placed on hold once two months’ worth of fees is missed. The place will be on continuous hold until the balance is cleared.
2. Child Induction Policy
When children first join Aim Sky High they will be allowed to settle in at their own pace.
We offer all children who are looking to attend our weekly clubs to come down for a no-obligation trial on any classes of their choice. After the trial, payment for the rest of the month is due before or on their next return. This is payable either in cash, bank transfer or any childcare vouchers. We will only accept cash for the first month, after this date it is our Company policy is all fees are payable by direct debit system Go Cardless. Please see our fee policy.
If necessary, parents or carers may stay with their children during the first session for 10 minutes in the waiting room to help them settle in.
Induction for new children
· The new child will be introduced to all members of staff whom they will need to be familiar with and informed about any other regular visitors to the club.
· The Club’s activities, rules and routines, such as snacks, signing in and signing out, will be explained.
· The child will be shown around the Club and told where they can and cannot go.
· The fire evacuation procedure and the locations of all fire exits will be explained.
· The child will be introduced to the other children at the Club and allocated a ‘buddy’ who will assist them with finding their way around and involving them in activities.
· Staff will keep a close eye on the new child and will ensure that they are happy, engaged and feel secure in the Club environment.
If a child seems to be taking an unusually long time to settle in, this will be discussed with their parents or carers to see what can be done to make the transition easier.
3. Arrivals and Departures Policy
Aim Sky High recognises the importance of having robust systems in place to ensure the safe arrival and departure of the children in our care.
The manager will ensure that an accurate record is kept of all children in the Club and that any arrivals or departures are recorded in the register. The register is always kept in an accessible location on the premises. In addition, we conduct regular headcounts during the session.
Arrivals
Our staff will greet each child warmly on their arrival at the Club and will record the child’s attendance in the daily register straight away, including the time of arrival. The doors to the building will not be open until 10 minutes before the commencement of any classes or holiday club. We will not permit any parent, guardian or child to be on the premises before this time
Staff will greet the children on the top floor on arrival, teachers will collect the children and take them into class from the waiting room. If the children are under the age of 8 parents must bring their child upstairs. Children over the age of 8 will be allowed to go upstairs to the waiting room by themselves where a member of staff will be waiting.
Departures
· Staff will bring all pupils to the waiting room when class finishes.
· Children are collected by an adult who has been authorised to do so either verbally or written. All children aged 8 and over with parental permission may leave the premises by themselves. Anyone under the age of 8 years of age must be collected from the waiting room by a parent.
· In exceptional circumstances, if the parent requires another person who is not given previous notice to collect their child, the child’s parents or carers must inform the Club in advance and provide a description of the person. If the manager has any concerns regarding the person collecting, he/she will contact the main parent or carer for confirmation.
· The parent or carer must notify the Club if they will be late collecting their child. If the Club is not informed, the Uncollected Children policy will be followed.
· Children over the age of eight will only be allowed to leave the Club alone at the end of the session if the Club has discussed this with the child’s parents and they
have given consent. If a child is going to be absent from a session, parents must notify the Club in advance.
· During holiday clubs if a child is absent without explanation, staff will contact the parents and check where the child should be. If staff still have concerns about the child’s whereabouts after attempts to contact the parents, they will contact the police.
The Club will try to discover the causes of prolonged and unexplained absences. Regular absences could indicate that a child or their family might need additional support.
4. Uncollected Children Policy
Aim Sky High endeavours to ensure that all children are collected by a parent or carer at the end of each session. If a child is not collected, and the parent or carer has not notified us that they will be delayed, we will follow the procedure set out below:
Up to 10 minutes late
· When the parent or carer arrives, they will be reminded that they must call the Club to notify us if they are delayed.
· The parent or carer will be informed that penalty fees will have to be charged (unless the delay was genuinely unavoidable).
Over 15 minutes late
· If a parent or carer is more than 15 minutes late in collecting their child, the manager will try to contact them using the contact details on file.
· If there is no response from the parent or carer, messages will be left requesting that they contact the Club immediately. The manager will then try to contact the emergency contacts listed on the child’s registration form.
· While waiting to be collected, the child will be supervised by a member of staff.
· When the parent or carer arrives, they will be reminded that they must call the Club to notify us if they are delayed and that the penalty fee will have to be charged (except in exceptional circumstances).
Over 30 minutes late
· If the manager has been unable to contact the child’s parents or carers after 30 minutes, the manager will contact the local Social Care team for advice.
· The child will remain in the care of the Club’s staff, on the Club’s premises, if possible, until collected by the parent or carer, or until placed in the care of the Social Care team.
· If it is not possible for the child to remain at the Club’s premises, a note will be left on the door of the Club informing the child’s parent or carer where the child has been taken (e.g. to the home of a staff member or into the care of a safeguarding agency) and leaving a contact number. A further message will be left on the parent or carer’s telephone explaining the events.
Managing persistent lateness
The manager will record incidents of late collection and will discuss them with the child’s parents or carers. Parents and carers will be reminded that if they persistently collect their child late, they may lose their place at the Club.
5. Safeguarding Policy
Aim Sky High is committed to building a ‘culture of safety in which the children in our care are protected from abuse, harm and radicalisation. Safeguarding at Aim Sky High is considered everyone’s responsibility and as such the club aims to create the safest environment within which every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Aim Sky High recognises the contribution it can make in ensuring that all children attending the club feel that they will be listened to and appropriate action is taken. We will do this by working in partnership with other agencies in accordance with Working Together to Safeguard Children March 2013, and we will seek to establish effective working relationships with parents/carers.
The Club will respond promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns regarding the safety of a child that may occur. The Club’s child protection procedures comply with all relevant legislation and with guidance issued by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).
There is a Child Protection Officer (CPO) available at all times while the Club is in session. The CPO coordinates child protection issues and liaises with external agencies (e.g. Social Care, LSCB and Ofsted). The Club’s designated CPO is Christina Taylor. The Deputy / on-call CPO is Natalie Robinson.
The CPO has responsibility for:
· Ensuring that all safeguarding issues raised in the club are effectively responded to, recorded and referred to the appropriate agency
· Ensuring attendance at safeguarding training for all staff and volunteers, at least every three years
· Ensuring that visiting activity providers comply with the Safeguarding Policy
· Ensuring the acceptable, safe use and storage of all camera technology, images, and mobile phones through the implementation, monitoring and reviewing of the appropriate policies and procedures.
· The CPO is required to attend or ensure that a senior member of staff who has the relevant training and access to appropriate supervision, attends where appropriate, all child protection case conferences, reviews, core groups or meetings where it concerns a child at Aim Sky High and to contribute to multi-agency discussions to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare.
Child abuse and neglect
Child abuse is any form of physical, emotional or sexual mistreatment or lack of care that leads to injury or harm. An individual may abuse or neglect a child directly, or by failing to protect them from harm. Some forms of child abuse and neglect are listed below.
· Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child so as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve making the child feel that they are worthless, unloved, or inadequate. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.
· Physical abuse can involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may be also caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes, ill health to a child.
· Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. This can involve physical contact or non-contact activities such as showing children sexual activities or encouraging them to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
· Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and emotional needs. It can involve a failure to provide adequate food, clothing and shelter, to protect a child from physical and emotional harm, to ensure adequate supervision or to allow access to medical treatment.
Signs of child abuse and neglect
Signs of possible abuse and neglect may include:
· significant changes in a child's behaviour
· deterioration in a child’s general well-being
· unexplained bruising or marks
· comments made by a child which give cause for concern
· reasons to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting, e.g. in the child’s home, or that a girl may have been subjected to (or is at risk of) female genital mutilation, or that the child may have witnessed domestic abuse
· inappropriate behaviour displayed by a member of staff, or any other person. For example, inappropriate sexual comments, excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their role, or inappropriate sharing of images.
If abuse is suspected or disclosed
When a child makes a disclosure to a member of staff, that member of staff will:
- reassure the child that they were not to blame and were right to speak out
- listen to the child but not investigate or ask leading questions
- give reassurance that the staff member will take action
- Inform the Child Protection Officer as soon as possible to record the incident as soon as possible (see Logging an incident below).
If a member of staff witnesses or suspects abuse, they will record the matter straightaway using the Logging a concern form. If a third party expresses concern that a child is being abused, we will encourage them to contact Social Care directly. If they do not do so, we will explain that the Club is obliged to, and the incident will be logged accordingly.
Peer-on-peer abuse
Children are vulnerable to abuse by their peers. Peer-on-peer abuse is taken seriously by staff and will be subject to the same child protection procedures as other forms of abuse. Staff are aware of the potential uses of information technology for bullying and abusive behaviour between young people.
Staff will not dismiss abusive behaviour as normal between young people. The presence of one or more of the following in relationships between children should always trigger concern about the possibility of peer-on-peer abuse:
· Sexual activity (in primary school-aged children) of any kind, including sexting
· One of the children is significantly more dominant than the other (e.g. much older)
· One of the children is significantly more vulnerable than the other (e.g. in terms of disability, confidence, physical strength)
· There has been some use of threats, bribes or coercion to ensure compliance or secrecy.
If peer-on-peer abuse is suspected or disclosed
We will follow the same procedures as set out above for responding to child abuse.
Extremism and radicalisation
All childcare settings have a legal duty to protect children from the risk of radicalisation and being drawn into extremism. There are many reasons why a child might be vulnerable to radicalisation, e.g.:
· feeling alienated or alone
· seeking a sense of identity or individuality
· suffering from mental health issues such as depression
· desire for adventure or wanting to be part of a larger cause
· associating with others who hold extremist beliefs
Signs of radicalisation
Signs that a child might be at risk of radicalisation include:
· changes in behaviour, for example becoming withdrawn or aggressive
· claiming that terrorist attacks and violence are justified
· viewing violent extremist material online
· possessing or sharing violent extremist material
If a member of staff suspects that a child is at risk of becoming radicalised, they will record any relevant information or observations on a Logging a concern form and refer the matter to the CPO.
Logging a concern
All information about the suspected abuse or disclosure, or concern about radicalisation, will be recorded on the Logging a concern form as soon as possible after the event. The record should include:
· date of the disclosure, the incident, or the observation causing concern
· date and time at which the record was made
· name and date of birth of the child involved
· a factual report of what happened. If recording a disclosure, you must use the child’s own words
· name, signature and job title of the person making the record.
The record will be given to the Club’s CPO who will decide on the appropriate course of action.
For concerns about child abuse, the CPO will contact Social Care. The CPO will follow up on all referrals to Social Care in writing within 48 hours. If a member of staff thinks that the incident has not been dealt with properly, they may contact Social Care directly.
For minor concerns regarding radicalisation, the CPO will contact the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) or Local Authority Prevent Co-ordinator. For more serious concerns the CPO will contact the Police on the non-emergency number (101), or the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321. For urgent concerns, the CPO will contact the Police using 999.
Allegations against staff
We are aware of the possibility of allegations being made against members of staff or volunteers that are working or may come into contact with children and young people whilst at the club. Allegations will usually be that some kind of abuse has taken place. This could include inappropriate behaviour displayed by members of staff or other persons working with the children such as inappropriate sexual comments, excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their role and responsibilities, and inappropriate sharing of images. They can be made by children and young people or other concerned adults. Allegations are made for a variety of reasons:
· Abuse has actually taken place
· Something has happened to the child that reminds them of a past event – the child is unable to recognize that the situation and people are different: children can misinterpret language or actions.
· Some children recognize that allegations can be powerful and if they are angry about something, they can make an allegation as a way of hitting out
· Making an allegation is a way of seeking attention.
If an allegation is made against an adult in a position of trust, whether they are members of staff, visiting activity providers or volunteers, this should be brought to the immediate attention of the CPO. In the case of the allegation being made against the CPO this will be brought to the immediate attention of Loraine Thompson, Christina Taylor’s external supervisor. The CPO/ Loraine Thompson will need to discuss with the Local Authority Designated Officer
(LADO) the nature of the allegations in order for the appropriate action to be taken. This may constitute an initial evaluation meeting or strategy discussion depending on the allegation being made. The CPO/ Loraine Thompson, will need to:
· Refer to Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) immediately and follow up in writing within 48 hours
· Consider safeguarding arrangements of the child or young person to ensure they are away from the alleged abuser
· Contact the parents/carers of the child/young person if advised to do so by the LADO
· Consider the rights of the staff member for a fair and equal process of investigation
If anyone makes an allegation of child abuse against a member of staff:
· The allegation will be recorded on an Incident record form. Any witnesses to the incident should sign and date the entry to confirm it.
· The allegation must be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and to Ofsted. The LADO will advise if other agencies (e.g. police) should be informed, and the Club will act upon their advice. Any telephone reports to the LADO will be followed up in writing within 48 hours.
· Following advice from the LADO, it may be necessary to suspend the member of staff pending a full investigation of the allegation.
· If appropriate, the Club will make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Promoting awareness among staff
The Club promotes awareness of child abuse and the risk of radicalisation through its staff training. The Club ensures that:
· The designated CPO has relevant experience and receives appropriate training in safeguarding and the Prevent Duty, and is aware of the Channel Programme and how to access it
· Designated person training is refreshed every two years
· Safe recruitment practices are followed for all new staff
· All staff have a copy of this Safeguarding policy, understand its contents and are vigilant to signs of abuse, neglect or radicalisation
· All staff are aware of their statutory duties with regard to the disclosure or discovery of child abuse, and concerns about radicalisation
· All staff receive basic safeguarding training, and safeguarding is a permanent agenda item at all staff meetings
· All staff receive basic training in the Prevent Duty
· Staff are familiar with the Safeguarding File which is kept in the lockable filing cabinet in the office.
· The Club’s procedures are in line with the guidance in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)’ and staff are familiar with ‘What to Do If You’re Worried A Child Is Being Abused (2015)’.
Protecting yourself
Part of safeguarding is also to protect yourself from allegations and to ensure your actions are not misinterpreted by anyone. Do this by observing the following:
· Avoid being alone with a child where there are no cameras.
· Take a register of which children are with you for each session, noting the time of the session when there is no admin on site.
· If you take a child somewhere e.g. an empty room, do not enter with them, wait outside. If you have to enter the room, it’s vital you keep all doors open where there are no cameras.
· Do not play-fight
· Children should not be encouraged to sit on your lap
· Challenge any child using ‘bad’ language
· Never let children touch themselves or others inappropriately in any form
· Never let a child’s allegation go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted on
· Never do personal things for children that they are capable of doing themselves. Encourage children to help each other.
· Do not build ‘special’ relationships with individual children
· You must not, before, during or after your employment make or accept any contact with a child or a friend of a child you know through your work with Aim Sky High or through social networking websites.
· Any images of children taken on-site must only be of those children whose parents allow photos to be taken. Staff should not take any photos off-site.
· Any images taken must be appropriate.
· It is each individual staff’s personal responsibility to delete any images from cameras, phones and recording devices.
· Images must not be published elsewhere without the authorisation of a company director.
Whistle Blowing
Aim Sky High will not accept or condone any behaviour by Staff or other adults associated with the Club that is contrary to our Aims and Objectives, Policies and Procedures. We will actively encourage and fully support the reporting of such behaviour. We will do this by:
· Promoting an environment of mutual respect, trust and open communication.
· Promoting an environment that is free from bullying, harassment and discrimination.
· Treating everyone equally and fairly, with dignity and respect and by valuing individual differences.
· Ensuring that the quality of the work of each staff member/volunteer is effectively monitored as well as the work of the club as a whole.
· Ensure that procedures are in place for reporting unacceptable behaviours/practices.
· Provide staff with a number of ways to report including a confidential form on our website.
· Actively supporting staff/volunteers that ‘blow the whistle’ both during the investigation and after, and in line with the relevant legislation (see our whistleblowing policy for more details)
Practices never to be sanctioned
The following should never be sanctioned. You should never:
· Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay
· Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching
· Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged
· Make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun
· Reduce a child to tears as a form of control
· Fail to act upon and record any allegations made by a child
· Do things of a personal nature for children or disabled adults, that they can do for themselves
Incidents that must be reported/recorded
If any of the following occur, you should report this immediately to the appropriate officer and record the incident. You should also ensure the parents of the child are informed:
· If you accidentally hurt a child
· If he/she seems distressed in any manner
· If a player appears to be sexually aroused by your actions
· If a player misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done.
Toilet Supervision
Under 5’s – Children will be escorted to the toilets if possible and staff will remain outside the door to assist if help is requested.
Over 5’s – All children will ask to use the toilet facilities. We have 1 person from each class policy for the toilet. This is to help monitor child numbers.
Use of mobile phones and cameras
Photographs will only be taken of children with their parent’s permission. Only the club camera will be used to take photographs of children at the Club, except with the express permission of the manager. Neither staff nor children nor visitors may use their mobile phones to take photographs at the Club. For more details see our Mobile Phone Policy.
Contact numbers
Out-of-hours contact: Emergency Duty Team 0161-912-2020 04.30 pm – 08.30 am
LADO (Local Authority Designated Officers):
Trafford: Anita Hopkins/
0161-912-5024
Email: [email protected]
LSCB (Local Safeguarding Children Board):
Trafford Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB) 0161-912-5125
Children and young people vulnerable to violent extremism: Trafford
Liz Baxter
Email: [email protected]
Local Authority Prevent Co-ordinator: Kim Parkinson – 07900709270,
Police: 101 (non-emergency) or 999 (emergency)
Anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789 321
NSPCC: 0808 800 500
Ofsted: 0300 123 1231
6. Equalities Policy
At Aim Sky High we will ensure that we provide a safe and caring environment, free from discrimination, for everyone in our community including children with additional needs.
To achieve the Club’s objective of creating an environment free from discrimination and welcoming to all, the Club will:
· Respect the different racial origins, religions, cultures and languages in a multi-ethnic society so that each child is valued as an individual without racial or gender stereotyping.
· Not discriminate against children on the grounds of disability, sexual orientation, class, family status or HIV/Aids status.
· Help all children to celebrate and express their cultural and religious identity by providing a wide range of appropriate resources and activities.
· Strive to ensure that children feel good about themselves and others, by celebrating the differences which make us all unique individuals.
· Ensure that its services are available to all parents/carers and children in the local community.
· Ensure that the Club’s recruitment policies and procedures are open, fair and non-discriminatory.
· Work to fulfil all the legal requirements of the Equality Act 2010.
· We will monitor and review the effectiveness of our inclusive practice by conducting an Inclusion Audit on an annual basis.
Challenging inappropriate attitudes and practices
We will challenge inappropriate attitudes and practices by engaging children and adults in the discussion, by displaying positive images of race and disability, and through our staff modelling anti-discriminatory behaviour at all times.
Racial harassment
The Club will not tolerate any form of racial harassment. The Club will challenge racist and discriminatory remarks, attitudes and behaviour from the children at the Club, from staff and from any other adults on Club premises (e.g. parents/carers collecting children).
Promoting equal opportunities
The Club’s Equal Opportunities Named Coordinator (ENCO) is Christina Taylor. The ENCO is responsible for ensuring that:
· Staff receive relevant and appropriate training
· The Equalities policy is consistent with current legislation and guidance
· Appropriate action is taken wherever discriminatory behaviour, language or attitudes occur.
Children with additional needs
Our Club recognises that some children have additional needs or physical disabilities that require particular support and assistance. We will assess the individual needs of each child in consultation with their parents prior to their attending the Club and will make reasonable adjustments to ensure that children can access our services and are made to feel welcome.
Where one-to-one support is required, we will assist parents in accessing the funding required to provide the additional care.
Special Educational Needs Coordinator
The Club’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is Sarah Moore. The SENCO will:
· Manage the provision for children with special educational needs or physical disabilities.
· Be fully trained and experienced in the care and assessment of such children.
All members of staff will assist the SENCO in caring for children with additional needs or physical disabilities.
7. Behaviour Management Policy
Aim Sky High uses effective behaviour management strategies to promote the welfare and enjoyment of children attending the Club. Working in partnership with parents, we aim to manage behaviour using clear, consistent and positive strategies. The Club rules are clearly displayed at every session and are discussed regularly.
Whilst at Aim Sky High we expect children to:
· Use socially acceptable behaviour
· Comply with the Club rules, which are compiled by the children attending the club
· Respect one another, accepting differences of race, gender, ability, age and religion
· Develop their independence by maintaining self-discipline
· Choose and participate in a variety of activities
· Ask for help if needed
· Enjoy their time at the Club.
Encouraging positive behaviour
At Aim Sky High positive behaviour is encouraged by:
· Staff acting as positive role models
· Praising appropriate behaviour
· Sticker rewards
· Informing parents about individual achievements
· Offering a variety of play opportunities to meet the needs of children attending the Club.
It is inevitable that as children develop and learn, there are times when they need support and guidance to understand that their behaviour is not acceptable. Staff at the Club will try to determine the cause or triggers of the inappropriate behaviour to prevent the situation from recurring.
Dealing with inappropriate behaviour
· Challenging behaviour will be addressed in a calm, firm and positive manner.
· In the first instance, the child will be temporarily removed from the activity.
· Staff will discuss why the behaviour displayed is deemed inappropriate.
· Staff will give the child an opportunity to explain their behaviour, to help prevent a recurrence.
· Staff will encourage and facilitate mediation between children to try to resolve conflicts through discussion and negotiation.
· If the inappropriate behaviour appears to be as a result of boredom, staff will consult with the child to find activities that more fully engage them.
· Staff will consult with parents to formulate clear strategies for dealing with persistent inappropriate behaviour.
· We will not threaten any punishment that could adversely affect a child’s well-being (e.g. withdrawal of food or drink).
If after consultation with parents and the implementation of behaviour management strategies, a child continues to display inappropriate behaviour, the Club may decide to exclude the child in accordance with our Suspensions and Exclusions policy. The reasons and processes involved will be clearly explained to the child.
Physical intervention
The physical intervention will only be used as a last resort when staff believe that action is necessary to prevent injury to the child or others, or to prevent significant damage to equipment or property. If a member of staff has to physically restrain a child, the manager will be notified, and an Incident record will be completed. The incident will be discussed with the parent or carer as soon as possible.
If staff are not confident about their ability to contain a situation, they should call the manager or, in extreme cases, the police.
All serious incidents will be recorded on an Incident record and kept in the child’s file. This may be used to build a pattern of behaviour, which may indicate an underlying cause. If a pattern of incidents indicates possible abuse, we will implement child protection procedures in accordance with our Safeguarding policy.
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment or the threat of corporal punishment will never be used at the Club.
We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that no child who attends our Club receives corporal punishment from any person who cares for or is in regular contact with the child, or from any other person on our premises.
8. Suspension and Exclusion Policy
Aim Sky High will deal with negative and inappropriate behaviour by using constructive behaviour management techniques. We will involve staff, parents and children to tackle disruptive and challenging behaviour collectively.
We acknowledge that some children will require additional support in order to achieve acceptable levels of behaviour. Where we identify a child with these needs, we will work closely with the parents or carers to deal with the inappropriate behaviour in accordance with our Behaviour Management policy.
Where a child persistently behaves inappropriately, we will implement the following procedure:
1. Give the child a formal warning; staff will explain why the behaviour is unacceptable along with the consequences of further incidents.
2. Staff will encourage the child to discuss their behaviour, to explain their actions and to identify strategies for avoiding such incidents in the future.
3. Details of formal warnings, suspensions and exclusions will be recorded on an Incident record and kept on record.
4. The formal warning will be discussed with the child’s parents, and all staff will be notified.
Staff will inform the manager if a child’s behaviour warrants suspension or exclusion.
We will only suspend or exclude a child from the Club as a last resort, when all other behaviour management strategies have failed or if we feel that children or staff are at risk.
Suspensions and exclusions will be fair, consistent and appropriate to the behaviour concerned, and will take account of the child’s age and maturity as well as any other factors relevant to the child’s situation. If appropriate, we will seek advice from other agencies; this may include accessing funding for additional support.
Temporary suspensions
Temporary suspensions will be applied in the following situations:
· Where formal warnings have failed to improve a child’s persistent, challenging and unacceptable behaviour.
· In the event of an extremely serious or dangerous incident, we will suspend a child with immediate effect. We will contact the parents and ask that the child be collected immediately. Immediate suspensions require the manager’s agreement.
· In the event of an unresolved dispute between a parent and the club that potentially puts a staff member or child in a vulnerable position and there is no other option but to temporarily suspend the child until the issue is resolved.
The Club may temporarily suspend the child for a period of up to 15 consecutive days. If the Club takes this step, we will discuss our concerns with the parents/carers in order to work together to promote a more desirable pattern of behaviour.
At the end of the suspension period, the manager will meet with the parents/carers and the child, in order to agree on any conditions relating to the child’s return to the Club.
Permanent exclusion
In exceptional circumstances, and only when all other attempts at behaviour management have failed, it may be necessary to permanently exclude a child from the setting. This may be a result of the child’s behaviour or the parent’s behaviour as deemed warranted by management at the club.
If a child is excluded from the Club, the parents/carers will be given a verbal and written explanation of the issues and subsequent actions. They have the right to appeal to the manager against the exclusion within 14 days of receiving written notification of the exclusion.
9. Aggressive Behaviour Policy
Aim Sky High does not tolerate from any person, whether a parent, carer or visitor: bullying; aggressive, confrontational or threatening behaviour; or behaviour intended to result in conflict. Our Club is a place of safety and security for the children who attend and for the staff who work here.
Unacceptable Behaviour
Unacceptable behaviour includes, but is not limited to, the following:
· Shouting at members of staff, whether in person or over the telephone
· Physically intimidating a member of staff, e.g. standing too close or blocking their exit
· Using aggressive or abusive hand gestures, e.g. shaking a fist towards another person
· Any other threatening behaviour, both physical and verbal
· Swearing
· Physical violence: pushing, hitting, slapping, punching or kicking
· Spitting
· Racist or sexist or otherwise abusive comments
At Aim Sky High we do not tolerate such behaviour whether it is directed at the staff or at any of the children in our care.
Procedure
If a parent, carer or member of the public behaves in an unacceptable way towards a member of staff or a child attending the Club, we will take the following steps:
· In order to ensure the safety of the children and to limit possible distress, we will remove them from the vicinity of the incident
· The manager or senior member of staff will seek to resolve the situation through calm discussion.
· If the individual wishes to make a complaint we will encourage them to follow the Club’s Complaints procedure or to complain directly to Ofsted if they so choose
· If the individual continues to behave in an aggressive and intimidating manner, we will insist that they calm down or leave the premises immediately
· If the individual refuses to calm down or leave the premises, the manager will contact the police without delay
· When the immediate incident has been resolved, the manager and staff will reflect on the incident, and decide whether it is appropriate to ban the individual from the premises for a period of time. The decision will take into account both the seriousness of the incident and whether the individual has behaved aggressively before.
· If we decide that a ban is appropriate, we will write to the individual concerned to inform them of the reasons for the ban and its duration.
· Depending on the individual situation, we may tell a parent/guardian themselves or the child cannot return to the premises until a meeting has taken place and a resolution has been achieved.
10. Illnesses and Accidents Policy
At Aim Sky High we will deal promptly and effectively with any illnesses or injuries that occur while children are in our care. We take all practical steps to keep staff and children safe from communicable diseases.
All parents or carers must complete the medical declaration when their child joins the Club, requesting permission for emergency medical treatment for their child in the event of a serious accident or illness.
We will record any accidents or illnesses, together with any treatment given, on an Incident Record or Accident Record sheet as appropriate, which the parent or carer will be asked to sign when they collect the child.
Aim Sky High cannot accept children who are ill. If any children are ill when they first arrive at the Club, we will immediately notify their parents or carers to come and collect them. Any children who have been ill should not return to the Club until they have fully recovered, or until after the minimum exclusion, period has expired (see table at the end of this policy).
First aid
The Club’s designated First Aider is Natalie Robinson. The designated First Aider has a current first aid certificate and has attended a 12-hour paediatric first aid course. First aid training will be renewed every three years. To ensure that there is a qualified first aider present and available at all times when the Club is running, other members of staff will also receive first aid training. We will take into account the number of children and layout of the premises to ensure that first aiders are able to respond quickly to any incident.
The location of the first aid box and a list of qualified first aiders are clearly displayed at the Club. The designated First Aider regularly checks the contents of the first aid box to ensure that they are up to date, appropriate for children and comply with the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.
The manager will ensure that a first aid kit is taken on all outings and that at least one member of staff on the outing holds a current paediatric first aid certificate.
Procedure for a minor injury or illness
The first aider at the session will decide upon the appropriate action to take if a child becomes ill or suffers a minor injury.
· If a child becomes ill during a session, the parent or carer will be asked to collect the child as soon as possible. The child will be kept comfortable and will be closely supervised while awaiting collection.
· If a child complains of illness which does not impair their overall well-being, the child will be monitored for the rest of the session and the parent or carer will be notified when the child is collected.
· If a child suffers a minor injury, first aid will be administered, and the child will be monitored for the remainder of the session. If necessary, the child’s parent will be asked to collect the child as soon as possible.
·
Procedure for a major injury or serious illness
In the event of a child becoming seriously ill or suffering a major injury, the first aider at the session will decide whether the child needs to go straight to the hospital or whether it is safe to wait for their parent or carer to arrive.
· If the child needs to go straight to the hospital, we will call an ambulance and a member of staff will go to the hospital with the child. The staff member will take the child’s Medical Form with them and will consent to any necessary treatment (as approved by the parents on the Medical Form).
· We will contact the child’s parents or carers with all urgency, and if they are unavailable, we will call the other emergency contacts that we have on file for the child.
· After a major incident the manager and staff will review the events and consider whether any changes need to be made to the Club’s policies or procedures.
· We will notify Ofsted and child protection agencies in the event of any serious accident or injury to a child in our care as soon as reasonably possible and within 14 days at the latest.
· We will notify HSE under RIDDOR in the case of a death or major injury on the premises (e.g. broken limb, amputation, dislocation, etc – see the HSE website for a full list of reportable injuries).
Communicable diseases and conditions
If a case of head lice is found at the Club, the child’s parents or carers will be discreetly informed when they collect the child. Other parents will be warned to check their own children for head lice, but care will be taken not to identify the child affected.
If an infectious or communicable disease is detected on the Club’s premises, we will inform parents and carers as soon as possible.
If there is an incident of food poisoning affecting two or more children looked after at the Club the Manager will inform Ofsted as soon as possible and within 14 days at the latest.
If there is an outbreak of a notifiable disease at the Club, we will inform the local health protection unit, HSE under RIDDOR (if appropriate), and Ofsted.
Useful contacts
Health Protection Unit: 0845 225 1295
Ofsted: 0300 123 1231
RIDDOR Incident Contact Unit: 0845 300 99 23
11. Administrating Medicine Policy
If a child attending Aim Sky High requires prescription medication of any kind, their parent or carer must complete a Permission to administer medicine form in advance or send written consent via email or text message. Staff at the Club will not administer any medication without such prior written consent.
Ideally, children should take their medication before arriving at the Club. If this is not possible, children will be encouraged to take personal responsibility for their medication, if appropriate. If children carry their own medication (e.g. asthma inhalers), the Club staff will offer to keep the medication safe until it is required. Inhalers must be labelled with the child’s name.
Aim Sky High can only administer medication that has been prescribed by a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist. However, if a medicine contains aspirin, we can only administer it if it has been prescribed by a doctor. All medication provided must have the prescription sticker attached which includes the child’s name, the date, the type of medicine and the dosage. A designated staff member will be responsible for administering medication or for witnessing self-administration by the child. The designated person will record receipt of the medication on a Medication Log, will check that the medication is properly labelled, and will ensure that it is stored securely during the session.
Before any medication is given, the designated person will:
· Check that the Club has received written consent
· Ask another member of staff to witness that the correct dosage is given
When the medication has been administered, the designated person must:
· Record all relevant details on the Record of Medication Given form
· Ask the child’s parent or carer to sign the form to acknowledge that the medication has been given
When the medication is returned to the child’s parent or carer, the designated person will record this on the Medication Log. If a child refuses to take their medication, staff will not force them to do so. The manager and the child’s parent or carer will be notified, and the incident recorded on the Record of Medication Given.
Certain medications require specialist training before use, e.g. Epi-Pens. If a child requires such medication the manager will arrange appropriate training as soon as possible. It may be necessary to absent the child until such training has been undertaken. Where specialist training is required, only appropriately trained staff may administer the medication.
A child’s parent or carer must complete a new Permission to Administer Medication form if there are any changes to a child’s medication (including a change of dosage or frequency).
If a child suffers from a long-term medical condition the Club will ask the child's parents to provide a medical care plan from their doctor, to clarify exactly what the symptoms and treatment are so that the Club has a clear statement of the child's medical requirements.
12. Complaints Policy
At Aim Sky High we aim to work in partnership with parents to deliver a high-quality childcare service for everyone. If for any reason we fall short of this goal, we would like to be informed in order to amend our practices for the future. Our complaints policy is available on the premises at all times. Records of all complaints are kept for at least three years. A summary of complaints is available for parents on request.
The manager is usually responsible for dealing with complaints. If the complaint is about the manager, the registered person or another senior member of staff will investigate the matter. Any complaints received about staff members will be recorded on an Incident log and a Complaints log will be completed. Any complaints made will be dealt with in the following manner
Stage one
Complaints about aspects of Club activity:
· The manager will discuss the matter informally with the parent or carer concerned and aim to reach a satisfactory resolution.
Complaints about an individual staff member:
· If appropriate the parent will be encouraged to discuss the matter with the staff concerned.
· If the parent feels that this is not appropriate, the matter will be discussed with the manager, who will then discuss the complaint with the staff member and try to reach a satisfactory resolution.
Stage two
If it is impossible to reach a satisfactory resolution to the complaint through informal discussion, the parent or carer should put their complaint in writing to the manager. The manager will:
· Acknowledge receipt of the letter within 7 days.
· Investigate the matter and notify the complainant of the outcome within 28 days.
· Send a full response in writing, to all relevant parties, including details of any recommended changes to be made to the Club’s practices or policies as a result of the complaint.
· Meet relevant parties to discuss the Club’s response to the complaint, either together or on an individual basis.
If child protection issues are raised, the manager will refer the situation to the Club’s Child Protection Officer, who will then contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and follow the procedures of the Safeguarding Children Policy. If a criminal act may have been committed, the manager will contact the police.
Making a complaint to Ofsted
Any parent or carer can submit a complaint to Ofsted about Aim Sky High at any time. Ofsted will consider and investigate all complaints. Ofsted’s address is: Ofsted, Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester M1 2WD
Telephone: 0300 123 1231 (general enquiries)
0300 123 4666 (complaints)