Staff Deployment Policy

At Whytebeams 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. We follow a number of procedures to ensure this. Deploying Staff To ensure that there is safe and adequate staffing at the setting, the following procedures are followed: At least two members of staff are always on the premises before children are admitted to nursery in the morning and while there are still children on site at the end of the day; one of which should be the manager or deputy. Only those staff aged 17 or over are included in ratios. Staff working as apprentices or on long term placements and volunteer (aged 16 or over) may be included in the ratios if the setting manager is satisfied that they are competent and responsible. Staff under 17 should be supervised at all times. At least one Paediatric First Aider must be on site at all times when children are present and must accompany children on outings at all times. All newly qualified entrants to the early years workforce who have completed a level 2 and/or level 3 qualification on or after 20 June 2016, must also have either a full PFA or an emergency PFA certificate within 3 months of starting work in order to be included in the required staff:child ratios at Level 2 and Level 3 in the early years setting. The setting manager and/or deputy deploys staff to give adequate supervision of indoor and outdoor areas, ensuring that children are usually within sight and hearing of staff, and always within sight or hearing of staff. All staff are deployed according to the needs of the setting and the children attending. The manager must hold an approved Level 3 qualification or above and at least half of all other staff must hold at least an approved Level 2 qualification. Our manager holds NVQ level 3 and both deputies NNEB. The manager should have at least two years experience of working in an early years setting or two years suitable experience. Our manager has 17 years experience in the early years sector. Settings must have a named deputy who in their judgement is capable and qualified to take charge in the managers absence. We have 2 deputy managers. In open plan provision, staff are positioned in areas of the room and outdoors to supervise children and to support their learning. Staff are responsible for ensuring that equipment in their area is safe to use, is used appropriately and that the area is tidy at the end of the session. Staff will engage/interact and play with the children, supporting and encouraging the child’s next steps. Adults will carefully plan activities/play experiences to support their learning and development. Staff inform colleagues if they have to leave the room for any reason. 89 WHYTEBEAMS NURSERY Outdoor areas will be supervised at the correct ratio. There are generally two members of staff outside in the garden when it is being used, one of whom supervises any climbing equipment that has been put out. The setting manager, deputy or other staff may direct other members of staff to join those outside, if the numbers of children warrant additional staff. Staff focus their attention on the children at all times whilst having a wider awareness of what is happening around them. Staff allow time for colleagues to engage in ‘sustained shared interaction’ with children and should not interrupt activities led by colleagues. Sufficient staff are available at story times to engage children. Key persons spend time with key groups daily; these times are not for focussed activities but for promoting shared times and friendship. Staff Children Where members of staff have their own child attending the setting, the age of the child must fall within the stipulated ages of the setting’s Ofsted registration. Where members of staff are likely to be working directly with their own children, this is subject to discussion with the setting manager before commencement. Where it is agreed that a member of staff’s child attends the setting, it is subject to the following: The child is treated by the parent and all staff as any other child would be. The child will not be in the parent’s key group of children. The key person and parent will work towards helping the child to make a comfortable separation from the parent to allow the parent to fully undertake their role as a staff member of the setting. The key person will take responsibility for the child’s needs throughout the day, unless the child is sick or severely distressed. The situation is reviewed as required, to ensure that the needs of the child are being met, and that the parent is able to fulfil their role as a member of staff. If it is the setting manager’s child, then their line manager ensures the criteria above is met.