​Suitable People
 
2.1 Employment
Policy statement
Puddleduck Preschool meet the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, ensuring that our staff and volunteers are appropriately qualified, and we carry out checks for criminal and other records through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in accordance with statutory requirements.
Procedures
Vetting and staff selection

• We work towards offering equality of opportunity by using non-discriminatory procedures for staff recruitment and selection.
• All our staff have job descriptions, which set out their roles and responsibilities.
• We welcome applications from all sections of the community. Applicants will be considered on the basis of their suitability for the post, regardless of disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, age, marriage or civil partnership. Applicants will not be placed at a disadvantage by our imposing conditions or requirements that are not justifiable.
• We follow the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and Ofsted guidance on checking the suitability of all staff and volunteers who will have unsupervised access to children. This includes obtaining references and ensuring they have a satisfactory enhanced criminal records check with barred list(s) check through the DBS. This is in accordance with requirements under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006) and the Protection of Freedoms Act (2012) for the vetting and barring scheme.
• Where an individual is subscribed to the DBS Update Service we carry out a status check of their DBS certificate, after checking their identity and viewing their original enhanced DBS certificate to ensure that it does not reveal any information that would affect their suitability for the post.
• We keep all records relating to the employment of our staff and volunteers; in particular those demonstrating that suitability checks have been done, including the date of issue, name, type of DBS check and unique reference number from the DBS certificate, along with details of our suitability decision. 

• We require that all our staff and volunteers keep their DBS check up-to-date by subscribing to the DBS Update Service throughout the duration of their employment with us.
• Puddleduck Preschool staff are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings which may affect their suitability to work with children – whether received before, or at any time during, their employment with us.

• We obtain consent from our staff and volunteers to carry out on-going status checks of the Update Service to establish that their DBS certificate is up-to-date for the duration of their employment with us.

• Where we become aware of any relevant information which may lead to the disqualification of an employee, we will take appropriate action to ensure the safety of children. In the event of disqualification, that person’s employment with us will be terminated.

 
Notifying Ofsted of changes

•  We inform Ofsted of any changes to our Registered Person (trustees/director(s)/owner(s) our provision) and/or our manager.

 
Training and staff development

• Our manager (leader) and deputy hold the CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce or an equivalent qualification and at least half of our other staff members hold the CACHE Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce or an equivalent or higher qualification.
• We provide regular in-service training to all our staff - whether paid staff or volunteers - through the Pre-school Learning Alliance and external agencies.
• Our budget allocates resources to training.
• We provide our staff with induction training in the first week of their employment. This induction includes our Health and Safety Policy and Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy. Other policies and procedures are introduced within an induction plan.
• We support the work of our staff by holding regular supervision meetings and appraisals.
• Puddleduck Preschool are committed to recruiting, appointing and employing staff in accordance with all relevant legislation and best practice.

 
 
 
Staff taking medication/other substances

• If a member of staff is taking medication which may affect their ability to care for children, we ensure that they seek further medical advice. Our staff will only work directly with the children if medical advice confirms that the medication is unlikely to impair their ability to look after children properly.
• Staff medication on the premises will be stored securely and kept out of reach of the children at all times.
• If we have reason to believe that a member of our staff is under the influence of alcohol or any other substance that may affect their ability to care for children, they will not be allowed to work directly with the children and further action will be taken.

 
Managing staff absences and contingency plans for emergencies

• Puddleduck Preschool staff take their holiday breaks when the setting is closed. Where a staff member may need to take time off for any reason other than sick leave or training, this is agreed with our manager and/or director with sufficient notice.
• Where Puddleduck Preschool staff are unwell and take sick leave in accordance with their contract of employment, we organise cover to ensure ratios are maintained.
• Sick leave is monitored and action is taken where necessary, in accordance with the individual’s contract of employment.
• We have contingency plans to cover staff absences.  We hold a supply list with contact details of CRB/DBS checked staff members and volunteers who are available to cover for absence at short notice.

 
This policy was adopted by Puddleduck Preschool at a meeting held on:
 
Date    _________________________
 
Signed on behalf of the Preschool      __________________________________
 
Name of signatory       ___________________________________
 
Role of signatory         __________________________________
 
Review date __________________
2.2 Student placements
Policy statement
Puddleduck Preschool recognises that qualifications and training make an important contribution to the quality of the care and education we provide. As part of our commitment to quality, we offer placements to students undertaking early years qualifications and training. We also offer placements for school pupils on work experience.
Puddleduck Preschool aims to provide for students on placement with us, experiences that contribute to the successful completion of their studies and that provide examples of quality practice in early years care and education.
 
Procedures

• We require students on qualification courses to meet the Suitable Person requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and have a satisfactory enhanced DBS check with barred list check(s).
• We require students in our setting to have a sufficient understanding and use of English to contribute to the well-being of children in our care.
• We require schools, colleges or universities placing students under the age of 17 years with us to vouch for their good character.
• We supervise students under the age of 17 years at all times and do not allow them to have unsupervised access to children.
• Students undertaking qualification courses who are placed in our setting on a short term basis are not counted in our staffing ratios.
• Students and apprentices, over the age of 17, who are undertaking a level 3 qualification may be considered to be counted in the ratios if managerment deems them to be suitably qualified and experienced.
• We take out employers' liability insurance and public liability insurance, which covers both students and voluntary helpers.
• We require students to keep to our Confidentiality and Client Access to Records Policy.
• We co-operate with students' tutors in order to help students to fulfil the requirements of their course of study.
• We provide students, at the first session of their placement, with a short induction on how our setting is managed, how our sessions are organised and our policies and procedures.
• We communicate a positive message to students about the value of qualifications and training.
• We make the needs of the children paramount by not admitting students in numbers that hinder the essential work of the setting.
• We ensure that trainees and students placed with us are engaged in bona fide early years training, which provides the necessary background understanding of children's development and activities.

 
This policy was adopted by Puddleduck Preschool at a meeting held on:
 
Date    _________________________
 
Signed on behalf of the Preschool      __________________________________
 
Name of signatory       ___________________________________
 
Role of signatory         __________________________________
 
Review date _________________