Staffing and employment policy

Statement of intent

We provide a high staffing ratio to ensure that children have sufficient individual attention and to guarantee care and education of a high quality. Our staff are appropriately qualified and are checked for criminal records through the Criminal Records Bureau in accordance with Ofsted’s requirements.

Aims

To ensure that children and their parents are offered high quality pre-school care and education.

Methods

1. To meet this aim we use the following minimum ratios of adult to child:
   

2. children aged two years of age: 1 adult : 4 children
   

3. children aged three–five years of age: 1 adult : 8 children
   

4. we generally aim for a ratio of: 1 adult : 5 children
   

5. A minimum of two staff/adults are on duty at any one time.
   

6. We use a key worker system to ensure that each child and each family has a particular member of staff for discussion and consultation.
   

7. We hold regular staff meetings to undertake curriculum planning and to discuss children’s progress, their achievements and any difficulties which may arise from time to time.
   

8. We work towards offering equality of opportunity by using non-discriminatory procedures for staff recruitment and selection.
   

9. All staff have job descriptions which set out their roles and responsibilities.
   

10. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. Applicants will be considered on the basis of their suitability for the post, regardless of marital status, age, gender, culture, religious belief, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. Applicants will not be placed at a disadvantage by us imposing conditions or requirements which are not justifiable.
    

11. Our pre-school leader and deputy hold the minimum of CACHE level 3 DPP, NVQ level 3 or an equivalent qualification and other staff are attending courses leading to CACHE level 3 DPP and CACHE level 2 CPP, NVQ level 2 or an equivalent qualification. We encourage all staff to obtain qualifications, starting with CACHE level 1 IPP.
    

12. We provide regular in-service training to all staff — whether paid staff or volunteers — through the Pre-school Learning Alliance.
    

13. Our pre-school budget allocates resources to training.
    

14. We provide staff induction training in the first week of employment. This induction includes our Health and Safety Policy and Procedures and Child Protection Policy and Procedures. Other policies and procedures will be introduced within an induction plan.
    

15. We support the work of our staff by holding regular supervision meetings and appraisals.
    

16. We are committed to recruiting, appointing and employing staff in accordance with all relevant legislation and best practice.
    

17. We use Ofsted guidance on obtaining references and criminal record checks through the CRB for staff and volunteers who will have substantial access to children.
    

18. We offer a lunch club for children supervised by a minimum of two staff. Our staff are legally obliged to have a 15 minute break with no children present at the pre-school.