At Barnabees Preschool we are committed to providing a workplace which supports and encourages a healthy staff team through staff training, health and safety awareness and supervisions.
Dress code
Staff must follow our dress code at all times.
Staff breaks
It is the responsibility of the nursery manager to ensure that all staff working six hours or more take a break of 20 minutes, 30 minutes or 60 minutes dependant on hours worked and ensuring that staff: child ratios are maintained.
Staff under 18 require a break of 30 minutes in circumstances where they work 4.5 hours a day.
All breaks are taken away from an employee’s normal work area (where possible).
Personal hygiene
Staff must follow the personal hygiene code at all times and encourage children to adopt the same good personal hygiene code themselves.
Hands must be washed before handling food, after using the toilet or toileting children, after playing outside, wiping noses, messy play activities and after contact with animals.
After noses have been wiped the tissue must be disposed of hygienically and hands should be washed.
Cleaning
The nursery is committed to providing a safe, happy and healthy environment for children to play, grow and learn. Cleanliness is an essential element of this practice.
The nursery is cleaned daily and regular checks are made to the bathrooms. These are cleaned at least daily (more if necessary i.e. at lunch time).
The nappy changing facility and potties are cleaned and disinfected after every use.
Any mess caused throughout the day is cleaned up as necessary to ensure that a hygienic environment is provided for staff and the children in our care.
Kitchen
Staff are made aware of the basic food hygiene standards through appropriate training and this is updated every three years. In addition, we ensure:
- Fridges are cleaned out weekly
- Toasters are cleaned after every use
- Freezers are cleaned out every three months and details recorded
- Plates, utensils etc. are rinsed before putting in the dishwasher and the dishwasher is cleaned out regularly and details recorded
- Fridge and freezer temperatures are recorded first thing in the morning by the staff member on café.
- All food is covered at all times in and out of the fridge and dated to show when each product was opened and then used in date order
- Care is taken to ensure that food is correctly stored in fridges
- All opened packets are dated when opened and placed in an airtight container, e.g., cereal etc.
- Surfaces are cleaned with anti-bacterial spray
- Children do NOT enter the kitchen except for supervised cooking activities
- All bins are emptied when full and at the end of each day.
Preschool
- Staff are trained to be aware of general hygiene in the setting and ensure that high standards are kept at all times
- Regular toy washing. Toys are washed with sanitising fluid
- Floors are cleaned during the day when necessary. Vacuum cleaner bags (where used) are changed frequently
- Staff are requested to use the appropriate mop for the area
- Low and highchairs are cleaned thoroughly after every use. Straps and reins are washed weekly or as required
- All surfaces are kept clean and clutter free
- Children are always reminded to wash their hands after using the bathroom and before meals. Staff always encourage good hygiene standards, for example, not eating food that has fallen on the floor
- Staff are positive role models and talk to the children about good hygiene routines and why they need to wash their hands, wipe their noses and cover their mouths when coughing.