During Covid-19 Restrictions the number of visitors to the Crèche
is strictly limited to essential business.
VISITORS
Policy Statement
Play Together Creche aims to ensure the safety of all at each crèche.
Central to this endeavour is to ensure that all visitors to the crèche are monitored, registered and accompanied. In so doing we also aim to provide a warm and welcoming experience for all visitors with legitimate business.
Procedures
• It is the policy of Play Together to give a warm welcome to visitors with legitimate business at the crèche, while ensuring that no unauthorised person gains access
• It is the responsibility of the Manager or Deputy Manger to approve entry of any visitor to the crèche.
• All visitors, please notify us before visiting Play Together Creche if you answer YES to any of the following:
• During Covid-19 Restrictions all visitors must wear a mask for the full duration of their time at the crèche. They must observe social distancing and should be advised by Management of the special regulations in place for the safety of all.
• Visitors must ring the doorbell at the main door to alert management/members of staff of their arrival. Only members of management are permitted to allow access to visitors. All visitors must sign in and identify the purpose of their visit, proof of identification must be provided by the visitor. The sign in book needs the following information: - date, name, time of entry to the crèche and signature.
During Covid-19 restrictions, a phone number is required for the purpose of Contact Tracing.
• All visitors to the crèche must be accompanied by a member of the Management Team or an Educarer at all times.
• At the conclusion of the visit, a member of Management should oversee the visitor signing out and should accompany him/her off the premises.
STUDENTS and VOLUNTEERS
Play Together Creche will offer students a variety of learning opportunities in the area of early education. All volunteers and students will be over the age of sixteen with the exception of transition year students.
• Validated References and Garda vetting will be obtained for all students by Play Together Creche.
• The duration and timing of placement will be agreed in advance of the placement with the Manager.
• Students/volunteers will be required to read all policies and procedures of the service as part of their induction.
• Students/volunteers will be required to ‘sign-off’ that they had read and understood the policies and procedures of the service.
• Students/volunteers will not work unsupervised with either individuals or groups of children.
• The Manager will be responsible for students.
• Students/volunteers should have a clear defined role, i.e. duties and responsibilities of the student. Students/volunteers should have a clear defined role, and will sign a declaration. (Student Agreement Form, Volunteer agreement Form)
• Students/volunteers will not deal with parents.
• Play Together Creche is aware of their responsibility to provide a ‘real and rich’ learning environment for the student.
Prior to Placement of Students
• Play Together Creche will ensure that there are appropriate links with colleges.
• Colleges should, in writing, introduce the student, giving the service a profile of the student, highlighting any additional needs and an outline of the course content.
• All students must attend an interview with the Manager and the placement supervisor from school or college as well.
• Play Together Creche will ensure that they receive confirmation (copy of insurance certificate) from the college confirming that students are insured by the college while on placement.
• All students must attend an induction programme to enable them to develop an awareness of the service.
• A file will be maintained on all students containing such information pertaining to the college placement, college, tutor etc.
• The Manager is responsible for assessing the training needs of students on placement and ensuring that they are given the opportunities to build on existing skills and to develop new skills.
• The Manager will monitor the student’s progress and liaise with the student’s assessor at regular intervals throughout the period of the placement.
• Students must adhere to the service’s policies and procedures.
• Students who are required to conduct child studies or work with children must obtain written permission from the parents of that child. Parents will have access to any written study. Students will consult with the Manager on all written records.
While on placement Play Together Creche will support students by:
• Providing ongoing support to make the placement as useful and beneficial as possible for students.
• Providing the information and support necessary for students to carry out any written assignments and prepare for assessment visits by the placement supervisor.
• Dress must be neat, clean and tidy. It must be non-revealing.
• Hair should be clean, washed, neat and tied back at all times. No heavy makeup.
• Nails should be short and clean at all times.
• Comfortable shoes should be worn at all times. High-heels, toe-less sandals (flip flops) or backless shoes should be avoided in light of the dangers these can present to staff and children.
• Chewing gum is not permitted.
Confidentiality
Working as a student/volunteer within the service may on occasion give rise to
students being aware of confidential information in relation to children and families
attending the service.
• Students/Volunteers must not disclose or permit to be disclosed any information which concerns any child/children and/or families to any other person or agency/organisation unless you are required to do so in the context of child protection procedures or as required under legislation.
• Students/Volunteers should not share any information about other students or staff colleagues with a third party.
• Students/Volunteers will be advised as to the setting of boundaries between the working relationship and friendship with parents. Do not engage them in unnecessary conversations of a personal nature. Conversations should be restricted to greetings. Parents requesting information from students should be directed to the senior staff member in the room. If parents have an issue/complaint they should be referred immediately to the Manager.
• Students/Volunteers may not use social networking sites to befriend parents whose children attend Play Together Creche or to exchange any information about the service or children attending the service.
• The hours that volunteers work will be arranged according to the hours the volunteer is available and the needs of the service in consultation with the Manager. There will be no minimum or maximum hours or any guarantee of voluntary work.
• Working as a Volunteer in Play Together Creche does not preclude you from employment elsewhere.
• All voluntary work is unpaid. Volunteers may be reimbursed for agreed expenses in consultation with the Manager.
• Volunteers should be present in the service and ready to commence their voluntary work at the arranged and agreed times. Volunteers unable to attend at the arranged and agreed times should inform the Manager by telephone as soon as possible in advance.
Reviewed June 2020 by Iwona Sawicka
reviewed March 2021
reviewed March 2022