In a busy and dynamic Kids Club environment, ensuring the safety and well-being of babies and children is paramount.
With three dedicated staff members overseeing activities, it’s essential to establish clear guidelines for supervision and monitoring.
These guidelines aim to optimise care, safety, and engagement, providing a nurturing environment where children can learn and play freely.
STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES
- Dedicated Roles: Assign specific responsibilities to each staff member to ensure comprehensive supervision. For example, one staff member can be responsible for overseeing play areas, another for monitoring toddlers, and the third for engaging with babies.
- Rotation: Rotate staff members periodically to cover different areas and activities, ensuring all children are supervised adequately.
CHILD TO STAFF RATIO
- Maintain Adequate Ratios: Ensuring that the child-to-staff ratio is appropriate for the age group being supervised. For babies and toddlers, the ratio should be high to provide individual attention and care.
TOILET ACCOMPANIMENT
- Accompany Children to Toilet: Always have a staff member accompany children to the toilet to ensure their safety and security. This staff member should wait outside to toilet and if required provide assistance if needed. The disabled toilet is not to be used by children without a parent present.
COMMUNICATION
- Regular Check-ins: Staff members should communicate with each other regularly, updating on the status of babies and children under their supervision and any specific needs or concerns.
- Parent Communication: Keep parents informed of their child’s activities and any important information, especially regarding toileting, nappy changing, incidents and meals.
SAFETY MEASURES
- Childproofing: Ensure all play areas are childproofed to prevent accidents and injuries.
- Emergency Procedures: In the event of an emergency evacuation or incident, parents/guardians will be instructed by concierge staff to collect their babies or children and remove themselves from the facility until the emergency has been cleared and re-entry into the Kids Club is allowed. Staff are not to remove a baby or children from in an emergency evacuation situation – staff are to wait for the parents.
ENGAGEMENT AND INTERACTIONS
- Interactive Play: Staff are encouraged to engage children in age-appropriate activities that promote creativity, fun and social interaction.
- Individual Attention: Provide individual attention to babies and children but also, keep your eyes open to everything that is happening around you while making each child feel valued and cared for.
HYGIENE AND CLEANLINESS
- Play Equipment: Hygiene and cleanliness are vital aspects for maintaining a safe and happy environment for children. Staff members must ensure that all play equipment and surfaces are regularly cleaned and sanitised to prevent the spread of germs. Additionally, proper handwashing protocols should be emphasised for both staff and children to promote good hygiene practices. Regular checks should be conducted to ensure that tables, toys and changing areas are clean and stocked with necessary supplies. By prioritising hygiene and cleanliness, we create a space that promotes the well-being of all babies and children in our care.