Safe, Secure, and Surrounded by Care: Our Commitment to Your Child
More Than Just Policy: It’s Our Culture
Entrusting your child to someone else’s care is one of the biggest decisions a parent will ever make. We do not take that privilege lightly. At Thrive Childcare, safety is not just a checklist we tick off at the start of the day; it is the foundation of everything we do.
We operate a “Culture of Vigilance.” This means that every member of our team—from the Nursery Manager to the Chef—is empowered and trained to prioritise the wellbeing of the children above all else. Whether it is emotional security, physical safety, or healthy hygiene, we leave nothing to chance.
Here is exactly how we keep your little ones safe, every single day.
1. Our People: Safer Recruitment and Training
Safety starts with having the right people in the room. We don’t just hire based on qualifications; we hire based on character, and we vet rigorously.
We follow a robust Safer Recruitment Policy that exceeds statutory requirements. Before a staff member begins their journey with us, they undergo:
- Enhanced DBS Checks: A full Disclosure and Barring Service check to ensure they are suitable to work with children.
- Rigorous Reference Checks: We verify employment history to ensure there are no gaps or concerns.
- Suitability Interviews: assessing their attitude towards safeguarding and child protection.
Recruitment is just the beginning. Our teams receive regular, up-to-date training on Child Protection, Safeguarding, and Prevent Duty.
Safety is also emotional. A child cannot thrive if they feel anxious. As detailed in our guide to the role of the Key Person, every child is assigned a dedicated advocate who ensures they feel secure, loved, and understood. This emotional bond is the first line of defence in noticing if a child is unhappy or unwell.
2. Our Environment: Secure and Supervised
Our nurseries are designed to be sanctuaries—open and free-flowing for children, but strictly secure against the outside world.
Secure Entry Systems
Access to our nurseries is strictly controlled. We utilise secure door entry systems (such as fob access or video intercoms) to ensure that no unauthorised person can enter the building.
- Visitor ID Checks: All visitors are required to sign in, show identification, and are never left unsupervised with children.
- Collection Passwords: We will never release your child to someone we don’t know. If a relative or friend is picking up your child, we require prior authorisation and a pre-agreed security password.
Safe Sleep Guidelines
For our youngest babies, sleep safety is paramount. We adhere strictly to the Lullaby Trust safer sleep guidelines. We monitor sleeping babies at regular, recorded intervals to ensure they are comfortable and breathing easily. You can read more about how we manage sleep in our article on nursery safety and happiness.
Risk Assessments
Every morning, before the doors open, our rooms and gardens undergo a daily risk assessment. We check for everything from broken toys to slip hazards, ensuring the environment is ready for adventure.
3. Health, Hygiene, and Nutrition
A healthy child is a safe child. We have rigorous protocols in place to manage illness, allergies, and accidents.
Paediatric First Aid
We are proud to go above and beyond the industry standard for First Aid training. We aim for a high proportion of our staff—not just one or two per room—to be qualified in Paediatric First Aid. This means that whether your child is in the garden, at the lunch table, or in the art corner, there is a trained responder nearby.
Managing Allergies (Natasha’s Law)
We take dietary requirements incredibly seriously.
- Traffic Light System: We often use a placemat or colour-coded system to visually identify children with allergies during mealtimes.
- No Nuts Policy: To protect those with severe allergies, we are a nut-aware environment.
- Freshly Prepared: As highlighted in our healthy eating habits guide, our chefs prepare meals from scratch, giving us full control over ingredients.
Cleanliness and Infection Control
Toddlers share everything—including germs! To combat this, we have professional cleaning schedules and encourage regular handwashing. We follow UK Health Security Agency guidelines regarding exclusion periods for illnesses (such as Chickenpox or Norovirus) to prevent outbreaks and protect vulnerable children (and pregnant parents).
4. Digital Safety (E-Safety)
In the modern world, safeguarding extends to the digital realm.
- Device Policy: Personal mobile phones and cameras are strictly prohibited in the nursery rooms. Staff store their phones in secure lockers upon arrival.
- Secure Learning Journals: We use secure, encrypted platforms (like ParentZone) to share photos of your child. These images are accessible only to you and authorised staff.
Frequently Asked Questions About Safety
What happens if my child has an accident?
While we do everything to prevent them, bumps and scrapes are part of growing up. If an accident happens, we administer First Aid immediately, complete an accident form for you to sign, and—for anything involving the head or face—we call you straight away.
How do you ensure ratio safety?
We strictly adhere to (and often exceed) the staff-to-child ratios set by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework:
- 1:3 for babies (under 2s)
- 1:5 for toddlers (2-3 years)
- 1:8 for pre-schoolers (3+ years)
What if I have a safeguarding concern?
Every Thrive Childcare nursery has a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). If you have any concerns about a child’s welfare or a staff member’s conduct, you can speak to the DSL in complete confidence. We have a whistleblowing policy that encourages transparency and accountability.
See Our Safety in Action
The best way to feel reassured is to see it for yourself. When you book a tour, we encourage you to ask the tough questions. Ask to see our kitchen, ask about our fire drills, and meet the team who will be looking after your world.
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