National Minimum Standards for Regulated Day Care - Open Access Play for children aged 5 years to 12 years: statutory guidance - Audience and overview
Standards of care open access play providers must meet to look after children age 5 years to 12 years.
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Standard 7: Healthcare
Child’s Voice: If I feel unwell people help me and make sure I get the support I need.
Well-being Outcome: Children’s physical and emotional health needs are understood and supported in a way that promotes well-being and positive health habits and are addressed appropriately in collaboration with parents/carers.
The registered person is responsible for ensuring that:
Health
7.1 The good health of children is promoted, and positive steps are taken to prevent the spread of infection with appropriate measures taken in cases of illness.
7.2 No child is received if he/she appears to be ill. If children become unwell during their time in the setting, care is taken to prevent possible infection of other children and parents/carers are notified as soon as possible.
7.3 Other parents/carers are notified if a child attending the setting, or anyone else on the premises (e.g., a staff or family member), has been diagnosed as having a significant infectious disease (e.g., chicken pox, impetigo) maintaining individual confidentiality as appropriate.
7.4 Parents/carers know that they must inform the registered provider about their child’s healthcare needs. In consultation with the child’s parents/carers children’s individual health needs are addressed, considered and planned for, and the registered provider takes any action that is necessary.
7.5 Written parental permission is obtained in advance regarding any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment.
7.6 Staff are informed and aware of the importance of good hygiene practice and procedures to prevent the spread of infection.
7.7 Children are encouraged to learn about good personal hygiene, and practise it, through the daily routine.
7.8 Systems are in place to ensure that any animals are safe to be in the proximity of children and do not pose a health risk, as far as reasonably practicable.
7.9 Play environments are free from contamination and hazardous materials, as far as reasonably practicable. Sandpits are protected from contamination and the sand is clean.
Food Hygiene
7.10 Those staff responsible for the preparation and handling of food are fully aware of and comply with Regulations relating to food safety and hygiene.
Personal care
7.11 Where care is provided for children, there should be a personal care policy in place with which staff are familiar. The policy should cover both hygiene matters and good safeguarding practice.
Anti-Smoking and vaping
7.12 The indoor and outdoor areas of the premises in which day care is provided are required to be smoke-free. The outdoor areas are however only required to be smoke-free when the premises is being used for day care. Any smoking materials and vapes must be kept out of reach of children at all times. Smoking is not permitted in the presence of children being looked after in a day care setting. This applies to both the indoor and outdoor areas of the premises in which day care is provided. Guidance on the requirements is available on the Welsh Government website Smoke-free law: guidance on the changes from March 2021 [HTML] | GOV.WALES
7.13 ‘No Smoking’ signs are required in the indoor areas of the premises. There is no requirement for ‘’No Smoking’ signs to be displayed in outdoor premises as many are in areas that are used only intermittently or are shared with others. ‘No Smoking’ signs may be displayed in outdoor areas and a template ‘No Smoking’ sign is available on the Welsh Government website.
7.14 The person who controls or manages the day care setting, must for the purpose of smoke-free legislation take reasonable steps to stop anyone smoking in the premises. Guidance is available on the Welsh Government website on how to ensure compliance with the smoke-free legislation.
7.15 In relation to vapes, the smoke- free legislation currently in place only covers smoking tobacco and does not include e-cigarettes/ vapes. Therefore, an individual will not be committing an offence if they were to use an e-cigarette/vape in a setting that is required to be smoke-free. However, providers of registered day care settings are encouraged to restrict the use of e-cigarettes/vape in their setting.
First Aid
7.16 There is a first aid box complying with the relevant Regulations and the contents of the box are checked frequently and replaced as necessary. Where appropriate, a designated member of staff should be responsible for this. The first aid box should be accessible to staff, but out of the reach of children.
7.17 Open Access Play settings must comply with the general first aid at work training requirements set out by Health and Safety Executive in relation to their employees.
7.18 Persons trained in first aid have a “suitable” qualification. The content of Paediatric First Aid courses must be consistent with the criteria set out in National Minimum Standards – supplementary guidance for Paediatric First Aid Training at Annex A.
7.19 Open Access Play settings have at least one person present at all times with a first aid qualification (full paediatric first aid), with contingencies in place for more first aid trained staff, based on a risk assessment which reflects the circumstances of the setting and types of activities undertaken, location and number of children attending.
7.20 All first aid certificates should be kept up to date and renewed every 3 years.
To assist providers, the principal regulatory requirements underpinning this Standard are outlined below, followed by relevant guidance. Providers should note that neither list is exhaustive, and that providers must have regard to standards relevant to their service and the circumstances concerned.