Health & Hygiene

Our pre-school promotes a healthy lifestyle and a high standard of hygiene in its day-to-day work with children and adults. This is achieved in the following ways:

Health

• All meals and snacks provided will be nutritious and pay due attention to children's particular requirements.
• When cooking with children as an activity, the adults will provide healthy, wholesome food, promoting and extending the children's understanding of a healthy diet.

Illness

• Parents are asked to keep their children at home if they have any infection, and to inform the pre-school as to the nature of the infection, so that the pre-school can alert other parents, and make careful observations of any child who seems unwell.
• Parents are asked not to bring into the pre-school any child who has been vomiting or had diarrhoea until at least 48 hours has elapsed since the last attack.
• If the children of pre-school staff are unwell, the children will not accompany their parents/carers to work in the pre-school.
• Cuts or open sores, whether on adults or children, will be covered with sticking plaster or other dressings.
• If a child is on prescribed medication the child's parents will administer medicine. Any child needing medication whilst at pre-school will need to discuss requirements with the pre-school leader.
• The pre-school will ensure that the first aid equipment is kept clean, replenished and replaced as necessary. Sterile items will be kept sealed in their packages until needed.

Information Sources

• Parents will have the opportunity to discuss health issues with pre-school staff and will have access to information available to pre-school.
• The pre-school will maintain links with health visitors and gather health information and advice from the local health authority information services and/or other health agencies.

Hygiene

To prevent the spread of all infection, adults in the group will ensure that the following good practices are observed:

• Hands washed after using the toilet.
• Children with pierced ears will not be allowed to try on or share each other's earrings. Studs are advisable for pre-school.
• A box of tissues available and children encouraged to blow and wipe their noses when necessary. Soiled tissues disposed of hygienically.
• Children encouraged shielding their mouths when coughing.
• Individual paper towels used and disposed of appropriately.
• Hygiene rules relating to bodily fluids followed with particular care and all staff and volunteers aware of how infections, including HIV infection, can be transmitted.

Cleaning and Clearing

• Any spills of blood, vomit, urine or excrement wiped up and flushed away down the toilet. Rubber gloves are always used when cleaning up spills of body fluids. Floor and other affected surfaces are disinfected using chlorine or iodine bleach, diluted accordingly to the manufacturer's instructions. Fabrics contaminated with body fluids thoroughly washed in hot water.
• Spare laundered pants, and other clothing, are available in case of accidents and polythene bags are available in which to wrap soiled garments.
• All surfaces cleaned daily with an appropriate cleaner.

Food

The pre-school will observe the current legislation regarding food hygiene, registration and training. In particular, each adult will:

1. Always wash their hands under running water before handling food and after using the toilet.
2. Not be involved with the preparation of food if suffering from any infectious/contagious illness or skin trouble.
3. Never smoke in the kitchen or any room storing food.
4. Never cough or sneeze over food.
5. Use different cloths for kitchen and toilet areas.
6. Prepare raw and cooked food in separate areas.
7. Keep food covered and either refrigerated or piping hot.
8. Ensure waste is disposed of properly and out of reach of the children.
9. Keep the lid on the dustbin and wash hands after using it.
10. Wash fresh fruit and vegetables thoroughly before use.
11. Any food or drink that requires heating will be heated immediately prior to serving and not left standing.
12. Tea towels will be kept clean and washed between each session.
13. All utensils will be kept clean and stored in a dust-free place, e.g. closed cupboard or drawer.
14. Cracked or chipped china will not be used.