Healthy Workplace Policy

At Pitter Patter Play LTD we are committed to providing a workplace which supports and encourages a healthy staff team through staff training, health and safety awareness and supervisions. We follow the Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Childcare Settings (0-5 years) in Wales.

Dress code

Staff must follow our dress code at all times. Staff are provided with uniform that should be worn unless instructed otherwise.  The comfort of our staff during extremes of temperatures means that we may relax this dress code when necessary.  Staff should still wear clothing that is appropriate to their role and would not prevent them from carrying out their duties.  Footwear must still meet Health and Safety requirements.  No open toed shoes should be worn.

Staff breaks

It is the responsibility of the nursery manager to ensure that all staff working six hours or more take a break of 30 minutes and ensuring that staff: child ratios are maintained.

Staff under 18 require a break of 30 minutes in circumstances where they work 4.5 hours a day. All breaks are taken away from an employee’s normal work area (where possible).

Personal hygiene

Staff must follow the personal hygiene code at all times and encourage children to adopt the same good personal hygiene code themselves.

All hands must be washed before handling food, after using the toilet or toileting children, after playing outside, wiping noses, messy play activities and after contact with animals.

After noses have been wiped the tissue must be disposed of hygienically and hands should be washed.

Cleaning

The nursery is committed to providing a safe, happy and healthy environment for children to play, grow and learn. Cleanliness is an essential element of this practice. The nursery is cleaned daily and regular checks are made to the bathrooms. These are cleaned at least daily (more if necessary i.e. at lunch time). The nappy changing facility and potties are cleaned and disinfected after every use. Any mess caused throughout the day is cleaned up as necessary to ensure that a hygienic environment is provided for staff and the children in our care.

In addition to the regular and reactive cleaning undertaken by staff we also have a contracted cleaner via Newport Norse every morning that ensures that the setting is thoroughly cleaned.

Kitchen

Staff are made aware of the basic food hygiene standards through appropriate training and this is updated every three years. In addition, we ensure:

• Fridges are cleaned out weekly
• Microwaves are cleaned regularly
• Toasters are cleaned after every use
• The oven/air fryer is cleaned out regularly
• Freezers are cleaned out every three months and details recorded
• Plates/utensils etc. are washed in the dishwasher and the dishwasher filter and interior is cleaned out regularly
• All cupboards are cleaned out monthly
• Fridge and freezer temperatures are recorded first thing in the morning by the manager/deputy manager
• All food is covered at all times in and out of the fridge and dated to show when each product was opened and then used in date order
• Care is taken to ensure that food is correctly stored in fridges
• When re-heating food, the temperature is over 75°C, food is checked with the probe thermometer and recorded, then cooled down before serving. Food prepared on the premises is checked with the probe thermometer before serving
• Food served but not used immediately is appropriately covered and placed in the fridge/freezer within 60 minutes. If this is not followed, food is discarded immediately
• All opened packets are dated when opened and placed in an airtight container e.g. baby food, raisins, cereal etc.
• Blended food is placed in suitable airtight containers, named and dated
• Surfaces are cleaned with anti-bacterial spray
• Only appropriate coloured cloths are used (Kitchen cloths are green, Main area clothes are yellow and toilet area cloths are red)  All cloths are disposable.
• Where individual washcloths are used for hand drying or face/hands these are used once and placed in the basket in the hygiene room for washing.
• Washing of the individual washcloths and any other towels takes place at least once daily at 60 degrees or above
• Windows are opened as often as possible along with the vents
• All plugs are pulled out of their sockets at the end of each day and switches switched off where practicable (with the exception of the fridge and freezer)
• Children do NOT enter the kitchen except for supervised cooking activities
• Doors/gates to the kitchen are kept closed/locked at all times
• Kitchen bins are emptied when full and at the end of each day

Laundry

• Washing machines drawers etc. are cleaned regularly
• All staff are responsible for filling/emptying the washing machine and the folding of clean towels/cloths/blankets/clothing/other items.

Toilets

• All staff are responsible for making sure that a fresh supply of individual washcloths, disposable towels, toilet tissue and wipes are available for use in the child and staff toilets
• All staff are responsible for monitoring the toilets and maintaining a high level of hygiene and cleanliness

Nursery

• Staff are trained to be aware of general hygiene in the nursery and ensure that high standards are kept at all times
• Regular toy washing rotas are established  and items recorded. Toys are washed with sanitising fluid
• Floors are cleaned during the day when necessary.
• Staff are requested to use the appropriate coloured mop for the task or area (see chart on wall) and mop heads are washed in a separate wash at least weekly
• Face cloths are washed on a hot wash after every use and not shared between children
• Chairs are cleaned thoroughly after every use.
• All surfaces are kept clean and clutter free
• Children are always reminded to wash their hands after using the bathroom and before meals. Staff always encourage good hygiene standards, for example, not eating food that has fallen on the floor
• Staff are positive role models and talk to the children about good hygiene routines and why they need to wash their hands, wipe their noses and cover their mouths when coughing.

Staff rooms

• It is the responsibility of every member of staff to ensure that their staff room is kept clean and tidy
• All implements used for lunch or break are washed and tidied away.

This Policy was adopted on	Signed on Behalf of Pitter Patter Play Ltd	Date for review
15/01/2024		15/01/2025