Staffing and employment policy

Statement of intent

We provide a staffing ratio in line with requirements of the National Standards for Day care to ensure that children have sufficient attention and to guarantee care and education of a high quality. Our staff are appropriately qualified and we carry out checks for criminal and other records through the Criminal Records Bureau in accordance with statutory requirements.

Aim

To ensure that children below school age and their parents are offered high quality early years care and education.

Methods

• To meet this aim we use the following adult:child ratio
  • Children aged two years of age 1:4
  • Children aged three-seven years of age 1:8
  • A minimum of two staff/adults are on duty at any one time.
  • We will aim to keep to 1:4 at all times.
• We use a key person system to ensure that each child has a named member of staff with whom to form a relationship and who plans with parents for the child’s well-being and development in the setting. The key person meets regularly with the family for discussion and consultation on their child's progress.
• We hold regular staff meetings to undertake curriculum planning and to discuss children’s progress, their achievements and any difficulties that may arise from time to time.
• We work towards offering equality of opportunities by using non-discriminatory procedures for staff recruitment and selection.
• All staff have job descriptions which set out their staff roles and responsibilities.
• We welcome applications from all selections of the community. Applicants will be considered on the basis of their suitability for the post, regardless of marital status, age, gender, culture, religious beliefs, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. Applicants will not be placed at a disadvantage by our imposing conditions or requirements that are not justifiable.
• Our manager and deputy hold relevant qualification and a minimum of half our staff hold level 2 or higher.
• We provide regular in-service training to all staff – whether paid or volunteers- through the PLA and other agencies.
• Our setting budget allocates resources to training.
• We provide induction training in the first week of employment. This induction includes heath and safety policy and our child protection policy. Other policies and procedures will be introduced with in an induction plan
• We support the work of our staff by holding regular supervision meetings and appraisals.
• We use Ofsted guidance on obtaining references and criminal record checks through the Criminal records Bureau for staff and volunteers who will have substantial access to children.