Unit 4 – Keeping Children Safe

Task 1 – Explain how strategies to establish and maintain healthy, safe and secure environments in early year’s settings are supported by legislation.

E1/D1 – Identify 5 legislation which influences healthy, safe and secure environments for early year’s settings. – Explain how legislation can support strategies to establish and maintain healthy, safe and secure environments in early years settings.

Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 (Amended 1999) supports strategies to establish and maintain healthy, safe and secure environments in early years settings because “Fire Safety Officers must check all child care premises while they are in the registration process. They will advise on what is needed to make the workplace as safe as possible”(Meggit et al 2012 page 158). Evacuation procedures should be in place and checked regularly by doing practise fire drills, all employees, students, volunteers etc, must be aware of the procedures and meeting points, there should be a fire blanket in the kitchen and fire extinguishers throughout the setting and they should have regular checks. Some doors may be locked to ensure children are not able to roam but there must be allocated fire exits which are clear and accessible at all times.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 requires settings to keep risk assessments stating chemicals or solutions used within the setting, what they do/how they are hazardous to health and how to minimise the risk when using these chemicals/solutions around children, it is important for the employer to ensure this document is accessible for all staff all times in case it is need to check something. All chemicals or solutions used in the setting should be in a lockable cupboard that is lock at all times, the only time it is accessed is when cleaning resources are required. This legislation supports strategies to establish a healthy, safe and secure environment because all chemicals are locked away in a cupboard or store room, the only way they are accessed is through using a key or lock which is not within a child’s reach, the only way a child could get in would be if the door was left open/unlocked. Children should not be unsupervised at any time so this should not happen.
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 requires setting to keep an accident record book for any/all accidents/incidents that occur within the setting, including both employee’s and children. If an incident occurs within the workplace, concerning an employee, if the injury is serious enough for the individual to have three or more days off, the employer is required to fill in the relevant paperwork and send it off to the Healthy and Safety Executive. If incidents are serious, there is a possibility that the setting could be investigated and given advice on the improvements that could be made in the environment which will make it safer. The setting should have policies and procedures to support this. RIDDOR “requires that all accidents and incidents have to be reported in order to:
Make sure there is an accurate record of the event
Give detail of the reason for the accident or incident occurring
Check whether it can be prevented from happening again.”
Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981

Task 2 – Describe the environment and procedures necessary to keep children safe.

E2 - Describe the procedures which will keep a child safe for each accident, illness or emergency.
If a child receives a bump to the head the practitioner should follow the First Aid procedure. The practitioner should take the child to a quiet place; sit them down and put a cold compress on the bump. A first aider should be called just to check over the child and ensure everything is ok. An adult should be with the child at all times and it is important for the adult to reassure the child to help calm them down. All information regarding