Nutrition -
I have a valid Food Hygiene certificate which I will keep up to date.
I have completed 2 training sessions since my last inspection - Nutrition and a session during our Healthy and Active training with the dietician from Dr. Gray's.
I have had to familiarise myself with and provide a Dairy free diet with help from parent and dieticians due to a mindees needs.
Since my last inspection I have stopped providng freshly cooked meals for children. I request that parents bring their child a healthy lunchbox with them which is stored in the fridge. I am happy to accept frozen/chilled/plated meals to store safely and reheat.
I provide drinks and snacks to the children. My aim is to provide children with a filling, healthy, balanced and tasty diet using a variety of colours, textures, tastes and also foods from different cultures.
I have a copy of the Scottish Government's book "Nutritional Guidance for Early Years" which I have read and use to plan what snacks I offer and I also obtained an Adventures in Foodland pack which I use a lot in activites. I also have the FSA pack which again has been read and taken on board.
Children have filled in a questionnaire about what foods they like/would like to eat in my setting which was a huge success and I am in the process of reviewing the snacks I offer as outlined below.
I have in place a Nutrition policy which shows my commitment to healthy eating, a copy of which is discussed with and given to parents when they start, a copy also in my portfolio. I ask parents to respect my no junk ethos when providing their own lunchboxes.
When a new child starts I ask the parents what kind of foods they like, and then use this information to plan my snacks/drinks.
I use a wipeclean board in my hallway to write up the snacks being offered that day.
I write what the children have eaten during the day, and how much in their diaries to take home for the parent to see. (or however feedback has been decided)
When weaning starts I aim to work in partnership with parents wishes and encourage them to use real food and make sure they know I don't simply want to use purees and am quite happy for them to explore finger foods freely and I don't mind mess! I have visited the Health Visitor with one family to discuss weaning their son.
We all sit down to eat lunch together at the table, I have booster seats for the younger children and highchair for babies. All children have their own set of childsized cutlery to use, and I use plastic child sized plates and bowls. Everyone is encouraged to use good table manners, to help set out and clear up and to eat well.
Puddings are not withheld as "punishment" for not clearing their dinner plates.
We often do cooking activities, making sandwiches, cakes or biscuits together, to either eat for snacks or to take home. I have introduced a weekly activiy plan and we have a designated "Cooking Day" now.
I like to offer children choices about what they eat whenever I can. I encourage them to choose healthy snacks without demonising the less healthy.
At snack times we usually sit in the dining room and sometimes on the floor in the lounge.
For snacks I provide things like fruit, vegetable sticks, homemade cakes/flapjacks etc, cheese, rice cakes, toast, cereals.
We have a morning snack and an afternoon snack.
If we are going out and about we will often take lunch with us to eat outside which always goes down well and the children actually eat better.
We have attended a "Tropical Snacktime" that a fellow CM kindly invited us to and tried out lots of new foods. We are going to reciprocate when it is Diwali.
Water is available at all times to children and their own special cup/beaker, milk or diluted pure fruit juice is available at mealtimes.
I follow the current FSA guidelines for safe preparation of infant formula. The unused milk is then thrown away and not kept for later.
Health and Safety-
I have undertaken Healthy and Active training through the MCP including sessions with Health Visitors, SALT, dietetics, Library service and Sports Development.
I have also undertaken training in Risk Assessing with CALA and as a result have completely reviewed the way I carry out risk assessments. Risk Assesments are reviewed annually or whenever a new mindee enters the setting.
I carry out Fire Drills with the children, and maintain the smoke alarms/fire blankets regularly.
In May 2009, me and 3 mindees plus one Mum took part in Beep Beep! Day which the Moray Childminding Group organised - it's about road safety and we learnt how to cross the roads safely with the help of local police and road safety officer.
I have purchased Hi Vis baseball caps with my phone number on for the mindees to wear when we are out.
My home is Smoke Free.
I have a valid First Aid Certificate.
I have a valid Food Hygiene Certificate.
Regular risk assessments of my home and garden are carried out and recorded and reviewed.
I have public liability insurance.
I have a No smoking policy.
I have mains smoke alarms, a fire blanket and a Fire Evacuation Policy.
I keep an Accident/Incident record book.
I have a Child Protection policy.
I have trained in Child Protection and know my responsibilities.
I have a fully equipped First Aid box, and a travel pack.
I have emergency contact details in my purse at all times.
I operate a sickness exclusion policy to minimise infections spreading.
I have Infection Control procedures in place.
I provide hand washing and toileting facilities and encourage correct use.
Children have seperate towels/flannels to prevent infection spreading.
I operate a cleaning rota to ensure standards of cleanliness and hygiene are consistent.
My home and garden are secure.
Strangers (meter readers etc) will not be admitted to my home during minding hours.
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