At Ladybird Nursery we care for children under the age of three and have adapted our practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children in this age group. We ensure their health, safety and wellbeing through the following:

• Children under the age of two will have a separate base room (Buttercups) and will not be cared for in groups larger than twelve, and toddlers aged 24 to 36 months also have their own room (Bluebells).
• Care will be taken to ensure that babies and toddlers do not have access to activities containing small pieces, which could be swallowed or injure the child.
• All equipment will be checked daily before the children access the area. This will include checking the stability of the cots, mealtime and me-do-it chairs and ensuring restraints on the mealtime chairs, pushchairs and prams are intact and working.

• All doors are fitted with viewing panels and door finger guards to ensure the safety of children.
• The staff member administrating the intimate care will log all actions online in our Famly app. E.g. wiping bottom, applying cream, helping with potty/toilet training or changing clothes/nappies etc. These records are kept in line with the recommended retention period and subject to Data Protection. Please refer to Intimate Care and Toileting Policy.
• Where a child is embarking on potty/toilet training a Personal Toilet Plan will be drawn up in conjunction with parents/carers wishes to include language spoken and toileting aids used.
• Potties will be washed and disinfected after every use. Changing mats are wiped with antibacterial cleanser before and after each nappy change. Staff are expected to wear PPE (disposable gloves and aprons) and wash hands afterwards.
• The dignity and privacy of the child during potty/toilet training must be respected

• Each baby and toddler must have his/her own bedding, which will be washed at least weekly. Toddler bedding (Bluebells) will be kept in individual named drawers.
• Cot mattresses must meet safety standards, as will toddler beds.
• No children will be given pillows, cot bumpers or any soft furnishings in order to prevent the risk of suffocation. We follow all cot death guidelines and advise parents of this information.
• Cots will be checked before use to ensure no items are within reach i.e. hanging over or beside the cot (e.g. fly nets, cables.)
• The mealtime chairs are fitted with seatbelts and used at all times. Children will never be left unattended in chairs. Seat belts will be removed and washed monthly or as needed.
• Babies will never be left propped up with bottles, as it is both dangerous and inappropriate. It is expected that staff will cradle a bottle fed child giving them one to one attention, and where appropriate, allow a child to hold his or her own bottle.
• Babies sleeping outside will only have cat/fly nets over their prams, NEVER blankets, muslins or any other form of covering that may restrict airflow and allow excessive heat build up.
• Checks on sleeping babies and toddlers will be completed every 10 minutes and logged on Famly app. This will be done in conjunction with the use of a baby monitor and cameras.
• Staff should not change nappies whilst pregnant. Students will not change nappies.
• Where food/milk is prepared for babies there is a separate area within the kitchen that is specifically designated for this preparation.
• Bottles of formula milk will only be made up as and when the child needs them. These should be cooled to below 21°C and tested with a sterilised thermometer to ensure they are an appropriate temperature for the child to drink safely.
• Formula milk is stored in a dry cool area away from any form of water or steam

• Following the Department of Health guidelines we will only use recently boiled water to make formula bottles (left for no longer than 30 minutes to cool). We will not use cooled boiled water and reheat.
• Bottles and teats are washed in the dishwasher and sterilised after use.

• Used bottles will be disposed of after two hours.
• Labelled mother’s breast milk will be stored in the fridge in the kitchen. The Breastfeeding Association guidelines are followed in relation to the storage and preparation of breast milk.

• If dummies are used they will be cleaned and sterilised.  This also applies to dummies that have been dropped.
• All dummies will be stored in separate labelled containers to ensure no cross-contamination occurs.
• Steriliser will be washed out daily when in use.