Complaints Procedure
GMA1 Belonging Goal 2
Rationale
To have in place a procedure so staff and parents know that their issues and concerns will be listened to and acted on in a timely manner through a formal complaints procedure/process.
Objective
To inform parents/ teachers of a process to follow that should resolve a situation / event they may have found to any unsatisfactory in any way at the centre.
Strategies
Parents: A verbal or written complaint can be made with the supervisor or centre management. ( If the complaint is verbal then it will be documented).
The supervisor/ manager will research the issue and record the relevant data. A meeting may be held to discuss the issues at hand, support people will be welcome to attend and the centre may ask for a mediator to attend this meeting should it consider it necessary to do so.
Written feedback will be given.
If the parent with the concern/ complaint is still not happy the may request further meetings or raise the issue with the Ministry of Education. The local Branch is located at 93 Ingestre St Whanganui (06 3496300) Post Private Bag 3012 Wanganui 4500
Staff: A verbal or written complaint can be made with the supervisor or manager. After researching the issues the supervisor/ manager will hold a meeting with the staff member. Support people will be welcome to attend this meeting. A resolution to the problem will be sought and agreed to by both parties. Documentation will be kept on file in regard to all complaints.
Regulations
Any parent/ whanau member who wishes to complain about non-compliance with license conditions should contact the Licensee ( Kathy O’Donnell) by phoning or leaving a letter at the centre.
If a satisfactory conclusion is not met they may contact the Ministry of Education Ingester St Wanganui – or see website.
Policy written: August 2002
Reviewed: July 2010
Sickness Policy
HS 26
Rationale
To ensure a methodology occurs that we will follow if we suspect a child is becoming unwell and may require medical attention, or may need removing from the centre in order not to contaminate other children by spreading infection.
Definition
If a child complains of being unwell or the teachers observe a child displaying the following symptoms: High temperature- fever, complaints of headache, stomach ache, diarrhoea, persistent crying , persistent coughing, difficulty breathing, etc, or if illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in any activity at the centre, the child's parent/guardians shall be contacted – if they are not available the emergency contact may be called.
Guidelines
No child with diarrhoea should attend and they should have at least one normal bowel motion before returning.
No child with rash, a fever, or behaviour change, until a doctor has determined that the illness is not a communicable disease. No child shall attend if they have been vomiting two or more times in the previous 24 hours unless the vomiting is known to be caused by a non-communicable condition and the child is not in danger of dehydration.
A child prescribed antibiotics for any illness should not return until at least 24 hours after treatment has started.
Conjunctivitis – until either the infection clears or cleared by a doctor.
Impetigo – until 24 hours after treatment has started.
Strep throat – until 24 hours after treatment has started and until 24 hours after fever stops.
Head lice, or thread worm or ringworm – until treated and no more live lice – the treatment needs to be on-going to ensure all lice are gone in case reinfestation.
Scabies - until after treatment has been completed, and need sto be covered.
Chickenpox – until at least six days after onset of rash or earlier, and all the lesions have dried and crusted.
Whooping cough - until five days of appropriate antibiotic therapy (the total course of the casual treatment is 14 days).
Mumps - until nine days after glands started swelling.
Hand foot and mouth - to be treated as chicken box and spots must be gone before the child returns.
For some vaccine preventable diseases, there is a requirement to exclude unimmunised children who have had contact with a case the disease. This applies to Measles, Diphtheria, and whooping cough, and would be arranged on the advice of the Medical Officer of Health.
Public Health Service exclusion guidelines will be followed for any condition not listed above.
Immunisation
Children receiving their immunisation injections are not to be return to the centre until 12 hours after their immunisation.
We ask that if possible parents schedule immunisation appointments so they are able to spend the next day monitoring their child for any possible reactions to the immunisations.
Individual Health plans will be written in consultation with parents for children who suffer from asthma, epilepsy or specific allergies or other medical conditions.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUEST A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE FROM A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL BEFORE ALLOWING A CHILD TO RETURN FROM ILLNESS.
Policy written: May 2008
Reviewed: June 2009, March 2011
Right of Entry
HS33
Rationale
To ensure the safety of children while at the centre.
Objective
To put in place documentation and systems for arrivals and departures at the centre
Guidelines
- Visitors to enter by building entrance, visitors to be attended to immediately.
- Staff to identify the visitor and the nature of their visit.
- Ensure the visitor is not on our list of restricted visitors. Parents with custodial rights may be rung to confirm parents right of entry.
- Visitors are not to be left alone with children.
- No child is to leave the centre with a person who is not on their enrolment form. Parents are to give notice if some-one not normally picking up the child will be doing so.
There will be NO Entry if:
- It is forbidden by law contact with, or access to the child.
- It is by law entitled to have contact with, or access to the child subject to conditions that forbid contact with, or access to, the child while the child attends the centre,
- Is suffering from a contagious or infectious disease likely to have a detrimental effect on the children if it is passed on to them.
- In the opinion of the person responsible, is under the influence of a alcohol or any other substances that has a detrimental effect on the functioning behaviour of that person; is in the opinion of the person responsible, exhibiting behaviour that is likely to be disruptive to the effective operation of the centre, or may be of danger to the children.
If the parent/ caregiver arrives to pick up a child in any of these states, they will be refused entry to the centre. An alternative family member or an emergency contact given by the caregiver on enrolment will be called and notified to collect the child. The police will be called should the supervisor or teacher at the centre judge it necessary to do so.
Policy written:
Updated: April 2009
Excursions Policy
HS 17 HS18
Rationale
We recognise the importance of providing a variety of experiences. Planned or spontaneous excursions stimulate children’s understanding and awareness of our community. It is essential that these excursions are planned for and carried out in a manner that promotes safety for any teachers and children involved.
Regulations
Whenever children leave the premises on an outing or an excursion assessment and management or risk is undertaken, and adult: child ratios are determined accordingly. Ratios are not less than the required adult :child ratio. For children remaining at the centre the ratios must met all requirements and for first aid requirements.
Strategies
Spontaneous walks in the community will be part of the centre activities.
Procedure
For local walks general permission will be obtained on the enrolment form. Parents/caregivers will be informed children have been on a walk by written information on the day sheet and white board. All Ratio requirements will be adhered to.
Special Outings or excursions
Organised to support children’s interests or community events we will offer planned excursions
Strategies
For planned excursions a note to parents will be put out as early as possible to give parents as much notification as we can. Parents will have the opportunity to give consent for each trip or not as they decide. Care will be arranged separately should a parent not wish for their child to partake in a particular excursion.
Assessment and management of risk (potential risks) that may occur on a trip will be assessed and discussed by teachers undertaking the excursion. Before children leave on a special trip written approval of their child’s participation and approved ratio’s must be received from each parent.
Detailed documentation regarding each excursion, including risk assessment, is kept in the excursion folder.
Records include Names of adults and children involved, time and date of outing, location and method of travel, assessment and management plan, adult: child ratio.
A first aid kit, cell phone and all other necessary supplies are taken on all excursions.
Appropriate ratios will be maintained with children’s ages and abilities in mind and will not exceed government regulations.
Clear methods of communication will be established and maintained.
If trips involve a vehicle or a van, appropriate seat belts will need to be in place. The vehicle will be checked for current rego and wof. All drivers must have current full license.
Parents will be required to meet the cost of any special outings. This may mean cost of extra staff employed to cater for ratios involved or remaining at the centre.
In the event of a full centre trip ( i.e., no children or staff remaining at the centre) a notice shall be displayed on the centre door, explaining our whereabouts, the expected time of return and a phone number for emergency contact.
A minimum of two adults is (or at team leaders discretion) will children be permitted to leave the centre with. Parents, whanau, are always welcome to attend centre trips.
The centre reserves the right to cancel any planned trip if there are any safety concerns. No child will be taken on a trip involving transport without a car seat. An excursion book is kept in the over 2 room, this contains all permission slips and trip information. At the end of each calendar year this information is filed in storage with all other centre documentation.
Policy written: Aug 2002
Reviewed: July 2003, Feb 2005, Sept 2006, July 2009, Jan 2011