To reduce the risk of cross infection provision must be made for each child to be allocated bedding (where required) for their use during attendance. There is an adequate supply of clean bedding, towels, spare clothes and any other necessary items. Bedding items will be stored in the nursery and cleaned on a weekly basis at the nursery setting. Across all settings, children’s privacy is considered and balanced with safeguarding and support needs when changing nappies and toileting.
A supply of clean tissues must be available for wiping noses and faces. Staff should use anti-bacterial hand cleanser after wiping noses if there is no easily accessible sink to wash hands.
No disposable materials must ever be re-used. It is not necessary to label face flannels if they are washed between each single use.
If required, i.e. as part of a Health Care Plan or similar health needs, toothbrushes might be used whilst at nursery. In such a scenario, they must be labelled and stored hygienically i.e., each in a separate container.
Staff should always make every effort to help the children to understand that good cleanliness helps to keep them healthy. This includes a focus on the importance of oral hygiene, which is a requirement of the EYFS.
When changing nappies, staff must wear a disposable apron and gloves (on each hand). Staff must ensure that the child is in a clean nappy when the parent is due to collect.
Changing mats must always be extensively sanitised and dried between use and replaced immediately if cracked/split or torn. New aprons must be worn by staff during nappy changing. The same apron must not be worn when undertaking cleaning or other tasks i.e. during meal times, play activities etc.
Nappies should only be disposed of in a specific clinical waste bin for nappies (or as advised by the relevant local authority) and other used items from the change only.
When changing a nappy, staff must ensure that all provisions are by the mat before placing the child on the mat.
The health and safety of child being changed must be maintained at all times. Children should not be left alone at any time. Staff will receive suitable manual handling training for tasks they carry out.
Where children’s clothing has become soiled by faeces during their time at the nursery, the faeces should be removed as much as possible whilst wearing protection clothing. The soiled clothing should be then double bagged and sealed using nappy bags and returned to the parents/carer of the child when the child is collected from the nursery.
At settles, Hopscotch will request parents to include a plastic or waterproof bag in their child’s daily nursery bag. This is to hold any wet soiled (i.e. urine) items of clothing and minimise the need for multiple nappy sacks. If no such bag is provided then nappy sacks will be used as per hygiene requirements.
A Nappy Changing Rota must be displayed in the changing area on which the member of staff will note whether the nappy was dry, wet or dirty. This information is for the benefit of both staff and parents.
Hopscotch will supply age-appropriate nappies and changing wipes or creams. Parents to provide their own creams should they have a specific requirement. Staff must at all times adhere to the instructions of the parent regarding the use of creams and lotions.
Staff who have worked for the company for less than 3 months should not change children’s nappies. As part of the decision to allow staff to change nappies, the Nursery Management Team must have assessed their ability and suitability to do so. This should be an ongoing process and one which the Nursery Manager is responsible for.
Staff are given correct training in how to change nappies prior to being allowed to do so. This involves supervision and assessment by a more senior member of staff.
For safeguarding reasons, any doors to nappy changing areas are always kept open and areas are fitted with windows to ensure staff are visible at all times when undertaking nappy changing duties. Where possible doors should be removed completely. Further information is available in the Hopscotch Safeguarding Policy.
For safeguarding reasons, mirrors should not be placed above nappy changing areas.
Hopscotch staff have great experience in helping children achieve their potty training goals. We will help them and their families every step of the way.
To achieve good hygiene, potties must be emptied down a toilet. They must then be washed out and cleaned with disinfectant spray after every use. Potties must never be cleaned at a sink associated with the provision of food and drink, including snacks. All potties are to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected daily. Staff should wear a disposable apron and gloves when cleaning potties.
Young children must be accompanied to the toilet and while assistance may be given in wiping bottoms, washing hands and so on. Staff should encourage and show children how to do as much as possible for themselves at the same time ensuring that good hygiene is practised. There is an adequate number of toilets and hand basins available, with separate toilet facilities for adults.
Three- and four-year-olds who are competent and confident may be able to go to the toilet on their own. Staff should be watchful and observant and particularly take care to ensure that hand washing is adequate in these cases. Staff should ensure that they set an example by also washing their hands if involved in assisting a child to visit the toilet.
Children should be given the opportunity to use the toilet before going out to play, in order to minimise movement into and out of the building and to ensure that supervision of the outside play area is maintained.
When used for cleaning purposes, sanitiser and other disinfectants should be diluted in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Refer to the COSHH Manual and Hopscotch Food Safety Management System for more information and guidance on this.
Sheets and blankets are to be washed after each use. Soiled items are to be removed immediately for washing.
Tables and chairs, including highchairs, are to be cleaned after every use using a suitable product and should be left in contact with the surface as per manufacturer instructions.
Small plastic toys such as plastic bricks etc can be put into pillowcases for cool machine wash.
Used nappies, wipes and gloves are to be disposed of in a yellow bag (or as required by the relevant authority).
Cleaning children’s hands and faces after meals must be carried out using one clean flannel or disposable cloth per child. Used flannels must then be sent for washing (60°C wash), as per the Hopscotch Food Safety Management System (FSMS).
Please refer to the Hopscotch FSMS for more information on food preparation and allergy management measures.
Dummies should not be kept at settings overnight and should be sent home with parents. It is the parents' responsibility to clean and sterilise dummies. However, staff will always check dummies are a suitable cleanliness before use and sterilised with an appropriate sterilising solution if deemed as necessary.