Mossley After School Club Policies

Mask (Mossley After School Club) Covid-19 Policy

‍Mask recognises that careful planning is essential in order to keep the children and our staff safe, and to limit the spread of coronavirus/Covid-19, within our setting. Accordingly, we have conducted a thorough Covid-19 risk assessment and will review it on a monthly basis and whenever Government guidance changes.

‍Covid-19 symptoms
‍Covid-19 is a viral, respiratory disease, which is spread from person to person by close contact. It typically causes fever and a dry cough, and in some cases may progress to viral pneumonia which cannot be treated by antibiotics.

Symptoms of Covid-19 can include:
Dry cough
Sore throat
Fever (high temperature)
Tiredness
Difficulty breathing
Loss of taste and smell

The initial symptoms are similar to colds and flu-type illnesses, but the combination of a recent onset of fever and a new continuous cough seem to be present in many cases of Covid-19. However, it is important to be aware that in some cases the symptoms may be very mild or even non-existent, especially in children.

‍Procedure for infection or suspected infection
‍Any child who becomes ill with symptoms which could be Covid-19 while at the Club will be isolated from the other children until the child can be collected by his or her parents. If the child becomes seriously ill, we will call 999.If a child or member of staff has suspected symptoms of Covid-19, they will be sent home and must follow the Government guidance for households with possible Covid-19 infection. This includes self-isolation and taking a Covid-19 test. See:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

‍Most suspected cases of Covid-19 turn out to be negative, so the Club will remain open unless or until advised otherwise by the local Health Protection Team, but parents and staff will be informed, especially those in high risk groups.If children or staff experience any symptoms of Covid-19 they must not attend the Club until all symptoms have passed and they feel well.

‍Infection control
‍Like the common cold and flu viruses, Covid-19 is spread by:Infected people passing the virus to others through large droplets when coughing, sneezing, or even talking within a close distance.Direct contact with an infected person: for example, if you shake or hold their hand, and then touch your own mouth, eyes or nose without first washing your hands.Touching objects (eg door handles, light switches) that have previously been touched by an infected person, then touching your own mouth, eyes or nose without first washing your hands. Viruses can survive longer on hard surfaces than on soft or absorbent surfaces. We will take the following steps to reduce the risk of catching or spreading Covid-19 at the Club:

‍Hygiene:
‍Staff and children will wash their hands as soon as they arrive at the Club, and will be reminded to wash their hands regularly throughout the session, especially after using the toilet, before eating food and after coughing or sneezing.All staff and children will have their temperature taken upon arrival using our non contact infrared thermometer. Should anyone have a high temperature they will be asked to not attend the setting.Hand sanitiser will be available in convenient locations throughout the club.We will have tissues readily available for use when sneezing and coughing, and these will be disposed of, in a lidded bin, immediately after use.If they don’t have a tissue to hand, children will be instructed to cough or sneeze into the crook of their arm.We will discourage children from touching their faces.We will discourage children from touching each other.Children will not be allowed to bring toys or games from home, and we ask that they bring only essential items with them to the Club.

‍Cleaning:
‍We will ensure that frequently-touched surfaces, such as handles, door plates, light switches, table tops and toys are regularly cleaned with anti-bacterial spray or wipes, before, during and after each session.We will remove toys that are difficult to clean.We will remove soft toys and soft furnishings, such as cushions and rugs.We will restrict the sharing of toys and equipment between groups as much as possible. Any toys or equipment that need to be shared will be thoroughly cleaned before being used by the next group.Toilets and sinks will be cleaned before and after each session, and at specified intervals while the club is in operation.

‍Arrivals and departures:
‍We have amended our collection procedure, so parents will now collect their children from outside the Club. We ask parents to hand sanitise before ringing the doorbell or please knock.Upon collecting your child we ask you wait at a safe distance/or in the car should another parent be at the main door collecting their child.Children will be registered in and out by the Supervisor.

‍Premises
‍Visitors, eg delivery drivers will not be allowed to enter the premises.Doors and windows will be kept open where safe to do so, to keep the premises well ventilated.

‍Movement around the club:
When indoors the children will be able to play in small groups.When outdoors they will be able to mix more freelyAs far as possible, only one person will be allowed in the toilets at a time.

‍Activity planning:
‍We will plan activities that minimise contact between children.Whenever possible, activities will take place outside.

‍Food:
‍A member of staff will prepare and serve breakfast and snack to each child, to reduce the risk any contamination of food or serving implements.

Promoting good practice
‍We will promote infection control through the methods above, and in addition we will:Ensure that all staff have received training in, and understand, our new proceduresDisplay posters and information to promote infection control Ensure that adequate supplies of cleaning materials are available within the ClubDispose of waste promptly and hygienicallyProvide tissues and suitable facilities for their disposal.

‍Closure
‍We may need to temporarily close the Club if we have insufficient staff due to illness to run sessions safely. If this occurs the manager will contact Cheshire East Early Years Team for further support and guidance. In the event that we have a number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 associated with the Club, we may need to close if advised to do so by the local Health Protection Team in order to limit the spread of the virus.If the Club needs to close, the manager will notify parents or carers as soon as possible. The manager will also inform Cheshire East Early Years Team as well as other relevant parties, eg other users of shared premises, etc. The manager will also notify Ofsted of the closure.

‍Useful contacts
‍Early Years or Childcare Service: 0300 123 5012
Ofsted: 0300 123 1231
Health Protection Team (HPT): 0300 123 5500
This policy was adopted by: Mask (Mossley After School Club)
‍
Date: 18/07/22
To be reviewed: 15/08/23
Signed: K Hartles

Written in accordance with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2017): Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Health [3.44].

MASK is committed to building a ‘culture of safety’ in which the children in our care are protected from abuse, harm and radicalisation. The Club will respond promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns regarding the safety of a child that may occur. The Club’s Child Protection procedures comply with all relevant legislation and with guidance issued by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).

There will be a Child Protection Officer (CPO) available at all times while the Club is in session. The CPO coordinates child protection issues and liaises with external agencies (eg Social Services, the LSCB and Ofsted). The Club’s designated CPO is Karen Hartles. The Deputy / on-call CPO is Angela Eaton.

child abuse and neglect

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child so as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve making the child feel that they are worthless, unloved, or inadequate. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.
Physical abuse can involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may be also caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes, ill health to a child.
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. This can involve physical contact, or non-contact activities such as showing children sexual activities or encouraging them to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and emotional needs. It can involve a failure to provide adequate food, clothing and shelter, to protect a child from physical andemotional harm, to ensure adequate supervision or to allow access to medical treatment.

Signs of child abuse and neglect

Signs of possible abuse and neglect may include:

Significant changes in a child's behaviour
Deterioration in a child’s general well-being
Unexplained bruising or marks
Comments made by a child which give cause for concern
Inappropriate behaviour displayed by a member of staff, or any other person. For example, inappropriate sexual comments, excessive one-to-one attention beyond the requirements of their role, or inappropriate sharing of images.

If abuse is suspected or disclosed

When a child makes a disclosure to a member of staff, that member of staff will:

Reassure the child that they were not to blame and were right to speak out
Listen to the child but not question them
Give reassurance that the staff member will take action
Record the incident as soon as possible (see Logging an incident below). If a member of staff witnesses or suspects abuse, they will record the matter straightaway using the Logging a concern form. If a third party expresses concern that a child is being abused, we will encourage them to contact Social Care directly. If they will not do so, we will explain that the Club is obliged to and the incident will be logged accordingly.

Peer-on-peer abuse

Children are vulnerable to abuse by their peers. Peer-on-peer abuse is taken seriously by staff and will be subject to the same child protection procedures as other forms of abuse. Staff are aware of the potential uses of information technology for bullying and abusive behaviour between young people.

Staff will not dismiss abusive behaviour as normal between young people. The presence of one or more of the following in relationships between children should always trigger concern about the possibility of peer-on-peer abuse:

Sexual activity (in primary school-aged children) of any kind, including sexting.
One of the children is significantly more dominant than the other (eg much older)
One of the children is significantly more vulnerable than the other (eg in terms of disability, confidence, physical strength)
There has been some use of threats, bribes or coercion to ensure compliance or secrecy. If peer-on-peer abuse is suspected or disclosed .We will follow the same procedures as set out above for responding to child abuse.

Extremism and radicalisation

All childcare settings have a legal duty to protect children from the risk of radicalisation and being drawn into extremism. There are many reasons why a child might be vulnerable to radicalisation, eg:

Feeling alienated or alone.
Seeking a sense of identity or individuality.
Suffering from mental health issues such as depression.
Desire for adventure or wanting to be part of a larger cause.
Associating with others who hold extremist beliefs.

Signs of radicalisation

Signs that a child might be at risk of radicalisation include:

Changes in behaviour, for example becoming withdrawn or aggressive.
Claiming that terrorist attacks and violence are justified.
Viewing violent extremist material online.
Possessing or sharing violent extremist material.

If a member of staff suspects that a child is at risk of becoming radicalised, they will record any relevant information or observations on a Logging a concern form, and refer the matter to the CPO.

Logging a concern

All information about the suspected abuse or disclosure, or concern about radicalisation, will be recorded on the Logging a concern form as soon as possible after the event. The record should include:

Date of the disclosure, or the incident, or the observation causing concern.
Date and time at which the record was made.
Name and date of birth of the child involved.
A factual report of what happened. If recording a disclosure, you must use the child’s own words.
Name, signature and job title of the person making the record. The record will be given to the Club’s CPO who will decide on the appropriate course of action.

For concerns about child abuse, the CPO will contact Social Care. The CPO will follow up all referrals toSocial Care in writing within 48 hours. If a member of staff thinks that the incident has not been dealtwith properly, they may contact Social Care directly.

For minor concerns regarding radicalisation, the CPO will contact the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). For more serious concerns the CPO will contact the Police on the non-emergency number (101), or the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800789 321. For urgent concerns the CPO will contact the Police using 999.

Allegations against staff

If anyone makes an allegation of child abuse against a member of staff:

The allegation will be recorded on an Incident record form. Any witnesses to the incident should sign and date the entry to confirm it.
The allegation must be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and to Ofsted. The LADO will advise if other agencies (eg police) should be informed, and the Club will act upon their advice. Any telephone reports to the LADO will be followed up in writing within 48 hours.
Following advice from the LADO, it may be necessary to suspend the member of staff pending full investigation of the allegation
If appropriate the Club will make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Promoting awareness among staff

The Club promotes awareness of child abuse and the risk of radicalisation through its staff training. The Club ensures that:

The designated CPO has relevant experience and receives appropriate training in safeguarding and the Prevent Duty, and is aware of the Channel Programme and how to access it.
Designated person training is refreshed every 3 years.
Safe recruitment practices are followed for all new staff.
All staff have a copy of this Safeguarding (Child Protection) policy, understand its contents and are vigilant to signs of abuse, neglect or radicalisation.
All staff are aware of their statutory duties with regard to the disclosure or discovery of child abuse, and concerns about radicalisation.
All staff receive basic safeguarding training, and safeguarding is a permanent agenda item at all staff meetings.
All staff receive basic training in the Prevent Duty.
Staff are familiar with the Safeguarding File which is kept in main filing cabinet.
The Club’s procedures are in line with the guidance in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children (2015)’ and staff are familiar with the guidance in ‘What To Do If You’re Worried A Child Is Being Abused (2015)’.

Use of mobile phones and cameras

Use of mobile phones and cameras Photographs will only be taken of children with their parents’ permission. Only the club camera will be used to take photographs of children at the Club, except with the express permission of the manager.

Neither staff nor children nor visitors may use their mobile phones to take photographs at the Club. For more details see our E-Safety Policy.

CONTACT NUMBERS

Social Care: 0300 123 5010
Social Care out of hours contact: 0300 123 5022
LSCB (Local Safeguarding Children Board): 0300 123 5012/0300 123 5022
Police: 101 (non-emergency) or 999 (emergency)
Anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789 32
NSPCC: 0808 800 500
Ofsted: 0300 123 1231

Written in accordance with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2014): Safeguarding and Welfare requirements: Child Protection [3.4-3.8] and Suitable People [3.9-3.13].