Accident and Emergency Policy

Including fire safety

It is our policy to keep children safe when they are in our care. The Early Years Foundation stage states that we must "take all necessary steps to keep children safe and well". We must also promote the good health of the children (including oral health), take necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection, and take appropriate action when children are ill.  This includes keeping records of and reporting bruising in children who are not independently mobile.

I regularly check premises to make sure they meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and adjust where necessary. I regularly review, update and practice fire evacuation procedures and record dates and times of fire drills (filed in the white folder on the kitchen island and on my computer).

I try to limit unknown visitors into our setting by arranging times when the children are not in attendance for boiler services or other repairs etc.  However, there may be times when visitors need to access our setting and when this happens, I check their identity by either looking at visible ID (such as ID badges with photographs) and by arranging visits by appointment so that I know they are expected (such as Ofsted inspections, speech and language therapists etc).  I make a note of their time of arrival and departure in my attendance records.  If for any reason I am not expecting or unsure of an unknown visitor at the front door I deny access and ask them to make an appointment to visit at a more convenient time.

As a registered childminder, I am legally required to have a valid 12 hour paediatric first-aid certificate before registration which must be renewed every 3 years. I can administer basic first-aid treatment, and the first-aid box is clearly labelled, easily accessible and contains appropriate equipment that meets the needs of the children (a list is attached). It is stored in the kitchen. Parent contact numbers are kept securely in my mobile phone which is always with me.

I hold written permission from parents/carers on a Children's Information Sheet to seek emergency treatment for their child if it is needed.

I have arrangements with two registered childminders to provide emergency back-up cover if necessary. Their details are: - Mrs Kate Ripley, Little Woodlands, Mayfield Avenue, New Haw, KT15 3AG Ofsted No 394080 Mob: 07976 442984 and Mrs Jayne Punter, 8 Kingston Rise Road, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3EY Ofsted No 121174, Tel: 01932-702906 Mob: 07813 446168.

Procedure if there is an accident to a minded child, myself or my familie

First, I reassure the injured child while making sure that the other children in my care are safe and calm.

Then, if the accident is a minor one and requires only basic first aid, I will deal with it myself whilst wearing protective clothing such as gloves and I will inform the injured child’s parents/carers immediately by text or telephone. Once treated, I will monitor the child to make sure there are no further symptoms.

If the incident is more serious, I will ring 999 or 112 for help.  I will then ring the relevant parent/carer and advise the situation asking them to meet us either at my house or at St Peters Hospital in Chertsey or whichever hospital the ambulance takes us to.  If time permits, I will then ring the other parents/carers to ask them to collect their children.  If there is not time to do this, one of my emergency contacts will come to my house and contact each family to arrange for their children to be collected.

If I must accompany a child to hospital, I call my emergency back-up cover.  I will never take a child with a major injury to hospital in my own car.  I will take all relevant documentation with me in the ambulance when I accompany a child.

If myself or my own daughter Zoe has an accident, I will get the nearest responsible adult to help, ask them to contact my emergency back-ups.  My emergency back-up cover will contact you and will expect you to collect your child straight away.

I will record all details in my accident book, sign and ask parents/carers to sign and then I will provide copies for parents to take home.  I will also record any injuries that children arrive with; in my accident book and ask parents to sign before they leave the child in my care.  If an injury is noticed once the parent/carer has left, I will notify the parent via WhatsApp or email and ask them to sign a ‘record of existing injury’ form when the child is collected.  As well as recording all injuries I will also include incidents where no wound is visible, as symptoms may become apparent only after the event e.g. concussion.  I review accident records regularly to identify any trends or recurring causes of injuries.

I have to report serious accidents, injury to or the death of a child whilst in my care to Surrey County Council’s Single Point of Access on 0300 4709100 or 01483 517898 (out of hours), Ofsted www.ofsted.gov.uk 0300 123 1231, RIDDOR (reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations 1995 www.hse.gov.uk/riddor) 0845 3009923 and my insurance company as soon as is reasonably possible and always within 14 days of the incident occurring. I will act on any advice given.

I also advise parents in person upon collection of any other incidents that happen at my home or whilst we are out.  For instance, if we happen to see an accident and the children are distressed or may want to talk about it later or if a child has an emotional reaction to a thunderstorm or flying insect etc.

Accidents away from my home

I carry parents/carers contact details together with a fully charged mobile phone when I am away from my home, to follow procedures above should an accident occur off site. I also carry a travel first aid kit whenever I am away from home which is regularly reviewed and replenished.

Please also see my Safety on Outings including lost or missing child Policy

Other emergencies

If any other emergency occurs (such as localised flooding, power failure, snow, fire, my sickness, no heating or water to my house, high levels of sickness amongst the children, pandemic, heatwave etc) I will contact parents/carers as soon as possible. If we need to evacuate my premises, I take the emergency bag (situated in the hallway) which contains a first aid kit, blankets, nappies, wipes, changes of clothes, water and snacks.  I may need to move to my emergency childminder’s address for the safety of the children.  I advise parents/carers as soon as it is safe to re-enter my house to resume childminding services.

I expect parents/carers to contact us in the event of any accident or emergency which may delay them. If it is not possible for them to contact us, I will keep the children safe until they can contact us, or I will make contact with the relevant child's emergency contact. 

Fire and emergency

I have appropriate fire detection equipment at my home including fire alarms, smoke detectors and fire blankets which are all in working order.

If there is a fire at my home, we have two main escape routes. The first one is via the front door onto the driveway at the front of the premises, congregating at the emergency point at the end of the driveway.  The second escape route is out of the French doors into the back garden. Both escape routes are always kept clear.

We will leave the premises by whichever is the safest route taking our emergency card and emergency bag with us.

I will check to make sure everyone is present, check for possible injuries and treat immediately.  Call 999 or 112 for the fire brigade or ambulance and then call parents/carers to collect their children.

This fire and emergency drill is practiced regularly. A record of our fire drills is kept in the white folder on the kitchen island, and I make notes of how the drill went with any improvements we could make. I also issue each child with a certificate to take home.

If the fire alarm sounds when a parent/carer is on the premises, please follow the procedure above.

Recording of incidents

All incidents are recorded in my accident book, and I ask parents/carers to sign these and then  I provide copies to be taken home.  These completed forms are stored in accordance with my data protection policy.  If there is a serious incident, I am required by law to inform Ofsted, the Health and Safety Executive and my insurance companies as soon as reasonably possible but in any event within 14 days of the incident occurring.

Policy Written by: Ilana Hill on 17 January 2011

Updated and reviewed:   10 July 2011                

Updated and reviewed:   20 December 2011    

Updated and reviewed:   21 September 2012   

Updated and reviewed:   3 February 2014         

Updated and reviewed:   2 February 2015         

Updated and reviewed:   28 May 2015                

Updated and reviewed:   29 May 2016                

Updated and reviewed:   9 May 2017                  

Updated and reviewed:   8 April 2018                 

Updated and reviewed:   9 May 2019                  

Updated and reviewed:   8 July 2020                  

Updated and reviewed:   9 July 2021                  

Updated and reviewed:   12 January 2023

Updated and reviewed:    19 January 2024

Updated and reviewed:   9 January 2025

First Aid Kit List

5x5 cm cotton gauze swabs (5)

Sanitizing hand gel

Cleansing wipes (6)

HSE dressings – medium and large

Waterproof plasters (20 assorted)

Resuscitation Face Shield

Scissors

Eye pad dressing (2) and eye bath

Microporous tape

Powder-free vinyl gloves (2 medium)

Triangular bandage (4)

thermometer

1 plastic finger applicator and dressing

Safety pins