Environmental policy
Links to Every Child Matters
- Helping children to be healthy
- Protecting children from harm and neglect and keeping them safe
- Helping children to achieve well and enjoy what they do
- Helping children make a positive contribution
- Organisation
Links to National Standards
- All of the National Standards
Links to legislation and key guidance
- Asylum & Immigration Act 1996
- Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006
- Children Act (CA) 1989 and 2004
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995
- Data Protection Act DPA 1998
- Every Child Matters - Change for Children (ECM) 2004
- Human Rights Act (HRA) 1998
- Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) 2000
- Employment Agencies Act 1973
- Employment Act 2002
- Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and 1986
- Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003
- Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003
- Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
- Race Relations Act (RRA) 1976
- Race Relations Amendment Act (RRAA) 2000
- Sex Discrimination Acts (SDA) 1975 and 1986
- Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977
- Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1992
- Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996
- Special Educational Needs Disability Discrimination Act (SENDA) 2001
FURTHER INFORMATION
- Children's Workforce Development Council: www.cwdcouncil.org.uk
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: www.defra.gov.uk
- Environment Agency: www.environment.gov.uk
- Health and Safety Executive: www.hse.gov.uk
- Envirowise: www.envirowise.gov.uk
A good policy includes:
- How you state that you are committed to environmental issues
- How you make environmental issues a priority
- The steps you take as a nursery to protect the environment (procedure)
- How you reduce and monitor waste within your setting (procedure)
- How you inform staff and parents about your setting's travel plan
- How children are involved in environmental issues
WHAT THIS MEANS IN PRACTICE:
The setting has a setting travel plan, which includes how staff, parents and users can make use of local public transport. Parents and children are encouraged to walk to the setting whenever possible, but one day a week the setting promotes a 'walking day', where parents, children and staff are encouraged to walk to the setting. If walking the full distance is not an option, they are encouraged to walk at least part of the way. Staff model good practice and ensure that they take part in the walk to setting day.
The setting, where possible, recycles all materials and waste, and parents are informed. The setting is aware of its local authority's plans and procedures for recyclable waste.
Where possible, equipment, resources and materials are purchased in line with the environmental policy.
The setting is committed to developing and sustaining the local community and where possible, will purchase what it needs from local suppliers.
Children take part in activities and experiences that link into environmental issues - for example, visits to recycling sites and making a compost from food waste. Older children are made aware of what can be recycled and know that there are 'special bins' to put paper waste into.
Record-keeping policy
Links to Every Child Matters
- Helping children to be healthy
- Protecting children from harm and neglect and keeping them safe
- Helping children to achieve well and enjoy what they do
- Helping children make a positive contribution
- Organisation
Links to National Standards
- All of the National Standards
Links to legislation and key guidance
- Asylum & Immigration Act 1996
- Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006
- Children Act (CA) 1989 and 2004
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995
- Data Protection Act DPA 1998
- Every Child Matters - Change for Children (ECM) 2004
- Human Rights Act (HRA) 1998
- Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) 2000
- Employment Agencies Act 1973
- Employment Act 2002
n Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and 1986
- Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003
- Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003
- Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
- Race Relations Act (RRA) 1976
- Race Relations Amendment Act (RRAA) 2000
- Sex Discrimination Acts (SDA) 1975 and 1986
- Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977
- Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1992
- Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996
- Special Educational Needs Disability Discrimination Act (SENDA) 2001
FURTHER INFORMATION
- Children's Workforce Development Council: www.cwdcouncil.org.uk
- Direct Government: www.direct.gov.uk
- Plain English Campaign: www.plainenglishguide.co.uk
A good policy includes:
- How you regularly update your information and documentation (procedure)
- How you share information with children, parents and staff
- How information and quality is standardised in terms of quality - especially if you have provision in different sites (procedure)
- How staff are made aware of what information and documentation is to be kept, and the purpose for it
- How you share with parents the information that you need from them regarding themselves and their families, in line with legislation and guidance
- How you inform staff of your quality standards when you produce information for parents and other professionals
- How your policy links into key legislation
- How you inform parents about any records you keep on them and their children
What this means in practice:
Documentation and information is kept up to date in line with legislation and guidance. A member of the senior management team has the responsibility to ensure that documentation is linked to the setting's quality assurance standards. Within meetings and one-to-one situations, recorded information is checked for compliance to the setting's standards. The senior management team have a transparent approach to documentation and they make known to parents and staff the information that is stored that relates to them.
In terms of legislation and guidance, there is a list of all documents that need to be in place. All staff are aware that any information they record is done with equality of opportunities in mind. Staff are informed that parents and other professionals can request to view certain documentation, as stated in your setting's policy. They also know that documentation may be used as evidence should a legal case arise.
FINALLY
- This is the last article in this series outlining policies and procedures that you need within your early years setting. The policies and procedures that have been covered are not exhaustive, but provide you with essential details of what is needed in your setting and how you can add to these to reflect your setting's individual situation.
- In essence, the monitoring and reviewing of your policies and procedures should be a priority. This includes how you make sure that you implement any new legislation and official guidance and the impact that this may have on your service.
- As a setting, you will need to keep abreast of any new legislation and official guidance. This will be especially apparent when the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) becomes a working document.
NEW SERIES
In October 2007 Nursery World will be launching a new series which will focus on the welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Articles will bring together the current National Standards, policies and procedures, and good practice.
ABOUT THIS SERIES
Registration requires settings to have certain key policies and procedures.
In addition to these, there are other documents that need to be in place that reflect good practice. This series aims to:
- Explain what needs to be included within these policies and procedures
- Show providers how to link their policies and procedures to the Every Child Matters outcomes and to relevant legislation and guidance
- Show how to include staff in the development of the policies and procedures
- Demonstrate the importance of sharing the policies and procedures with parents and stakeholders.
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
Policies and procedures should:
- reflect the practice on offer
- be reviewed and monitored on a regular basis
- be updated in accordance to legislation and guidance
- be accessible and available at all times.
