20.OUTINGS POLICY

1.RATIONALE AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

Play Together Creche is committed to planning and undertaking appropriate supervised outings. Outings extend and enhance the learning opportunities provided within an Early Years setting for children.

The main purpose of this policy is to specify what to do to keep children safe and well when they are under the control of the service, but not on the premises.

It is important also to ensure that we provide an enjoyable, engaging and valuable experience that will extend the children's interests and knowledge beyond the early years setting.

Legislation and regulatory requirements

•           Child Care Act 1991(Early Years Services) Regulations 2016

•           Children First Act 2015

•           Health and Safety at Work Acts 2005 and 2010

Children need:

•           Well-planned, interesting and safe opportunities to explore the world outside their early years setting to enhance their interests and learning about the world.

•           Adequate, appropriate supervision so they can feel safe and secure.

•           Someone who can provide first aid in case of accidents.

•           Someone who knows what to do and how to keep everyone safe and well if a serious incident occurs.

Parents/guardians need to know that:

•           Their children will not be taken on outings unless they (parents or guardians) have given informed consent.

•           Their children will be safe and appropriately supervised.

•           Their children will have well-planned, purposeful opportunities for interesting and exciting learning experiences outside of their early years setting.

•           There will be clear information on the plans for any outings, including any risk assessments.

•           The adults who lead outings will be able to deal with any situations, such as medical or other emergencies, that occur while not on the service premises.

Staff members need:

•           To be clear on their roles and responsibilities in relation to ensuring the safety and well-being of the children when planning and going on outings.

•           To be clear on what the procedures are to make sure children stay safe and their wellbeing is assured on outings.

Management need:

•           To know that all staff members have the information and resources they need to provide quality learning opportunities for the children.

•           To make sure that staff members will inform them about any plans for outings.

•           To make sure that all necessary procedures and precautions needed for outings are clearly known to all staff members to ensure their full implementation.

•           These procedures and precautions include:

o          appropriate consents from parents or guardians;

o          risk assessments;

o          appropriate ratios and supervision arrangements;

o          appropriate and safe transportation;

o          communication with all other stakeholders about the outing;

o          first aid and medical considerations

National Quality Frameworks

•           Tusla: Quality and Regulatory Framework

•           Síolta: The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education

•           Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework

·         Early Years Education-focused Inspection (EYEI) Framework (Department of Education and Skills)

2. DEFINITIONS/GLOSSARY

 

Outings

Occasions when the children attending the service are under the control of the service but not on the service premises.

3. POLICY STATEMENT

Outings are planned to provide new, varied, exciting and interesting learning and development experiences for the children.

Thorough risk assessments are carried out prior to all outings/excursions and adequate for the outing, including transportation, is provided for. Adequate and appropriate precautions are taken to prevent accidents, incidents or infection.

The safety and welfare of the child will always be the first consideration if a child is injured or an accident or incident occurs, and parents and guardians will always be kept fully informed.

Part of our planning process involves ensuring that outings are appropriate for the age and level of development of participating children.

Parents/guardians will be provided with advance notice of each outing with details of the date, destination, leaving and return times, staffing and group size, cost and transport arrangements.

Written parent/guardian consent must be obtained for each child participating. Only a parent or legal guardian can give consent for their child. Signed consent forms will be retained in the Play Together service in accordance with data protection requirements. For a regular outing, the written consent will be obtained once at the beginning of term (See Appendix A).

All children will be safely and appropriately supervised while on the outing. The ratio of children to adults will be based on the risk assessment and adult child ratio for age group.

Different types of outings take place. Each may require slightly different preparations and staffing levels.

These include:

·         Trips on foot, for example - visits to the woods, the park, the library or the post office.

·         Trips requiring transport to places like museums, open farms, and so on.

When transport is needed, all necessary steps are taken to ensure that children will be transported safely with appropriate use of car seats and seat belts.

 

Parents and guardians can decline any offer for their children to be involved in any planned outings. If this happens, alternative arrangements are made for their child. Children who do not have parent or guardian consent to go on an outing will be supported to make sure they do not feel excluded.

4. PROCEDUrES AND PRACTICES

Consent

Parents or guardians must have given written authorisation for their child to be involved in an outing with full knowledge of the date, proposed destination and method of transport, planned activities and number of staff members and other adults accompanying/supervising children.

The consent form must include:

·         The child’s name

·         The reason for the outing

·         The date and the expected time of departure and return  

·         A description of the proposed destination

·         The method of transport that will be used

·         The proposed activities

·         The anticipated number of children likely to be going on the outing

·         The adult: child ratio on the outing

·         Any adults other than staff members who will accompany and supervise the children on the outing

·         Information about the risk assessment that has been carried out and is available at the service.

Parents or guardians must also be notified in advance about what type of clothing will be suitable for their child to wear, and also whether they will need to provide items such as spare clothing, sunscreen, rain coats, a packed lunch and drinks.

Staff can only plan outings with the knowledge and written consent of the Management.

Written plans of the outing, including the risk assessment, must be presented to the Management in advance of the proposed outing.

Insurance and ratios

Ratio of children to adults will be based on crèche age group ratio and risk assessment made before the outing.

Safety considerations and risk assessment

The person in charge of the outing must have the ability to implement safety procedures – this includes taking all appropriate steps to ensure that children are transported safely. 

Any staff member can organise outings with a supervisor (Iwona Sawicka, Lidia Glowka or Ela Grochowska). These outings include visits to farm, library, the woods, the park, the post office or museums. All outings must be notified to and approved by the Manager in advance of notifying parents or guardians.

In all cases, a risk assessment must be done to assess how many members of staff are needed to accompany children on outings:

·         An exploratory visit is to be carried out by appropriately qualified staff members, to assess the suitability of the destination/venue.

·         A risk assessment must be carried out before an outing takes place.

·         The risk assessment form must be completed and retained in the office.

The risk assessment must identify and assess the risks a particular outing may pose to the safety, health or wellbeing of any child being taken on the outing and specify how the identified risks will be managed and minimised.

It is important to be aware of any possible risks and any necessary precautions involved for a particular location and for particular types of weather.

Consider:

·         The route and destination

·         The type of activities

·         The weather forecast – consider the need for sunscreen and/or raingear and wellies, suitable footwear (not sandals)

·         The proposed duration

·         The transport to and from the proposed destination for the outing

·         The number of adults and children involved in the outing

·         The number of staff and other responsible adults needed to provide supervision and any specialised skills are required

·         The items that should be taken

·         Safety notices at the destination, such as signs and flags

·         Hand washing requirements

·         Children’s allergies, including food hypersensitivities

·         Additional needs of any child

 

·         Water hazards

·         Any risks associated with water-based activities.

Age-appropriate guidance and warnings will be given to the children.

Hygiene issues will be discussed with all children and volunteer helpers (especially on farm visits).

A list of all members of staff and children participating in the outing, along with relevant phone numbers, will be left with assigned person.

Supervision of children

·         A group photograph is to be taken before leaving the service to check against if required. This is to provide the most recent picture of the children and their clothes.

·         Each child must have a sticker with Play Together’s phone number and the name of the service, not the child’s name. Stickers must be placed on the children before leaving the service and only removed when children return to the service.

·         The children must, at all times, be appropriately supervised to ensure no child gets lost and that there is no unauthorized access to children.

Prior to any outing, staff members will decide who will help to search, how the search will be carried out and who will take charge of the rest of the group of children if a child goes missing.

It is essential to call or mark names in a roll call, with a name-to-face check rather than count heads. To ensure that all children are accounted for, this procedure should be followed:

·         On leaving the service

·         On arrival at the destination

·         At regular intervals while at the destination

·         When moving from area to area – including going indoors or outdoors

·         Leaving the destination

·         On return to the service.

Items to be taken, by the person in charge, on the outing:

·         Mobile phone:

 

o   A fully charged mobile phone (with easily accessible emergency contact numbers) must be taken by the person in charge of the outing on all outings (Iwona Sawicka, Lidia Glowka, Ela Grochowska).

o   If credit is needed, ensure that there is plenty of credit in the phone.

·         First Aid kit and medications

o   The First Aid Kit and medications for the children who need them on the day must be brought to the outing (see Medications Policy for more detail), including emergency medications or supplies as specified in any of the children’s Individual Care Plans.

o   All medications must be in their proper original container with pharmacist’s instructions included.

o   All medications must be in a sealed plastic box clearly labelled with child’s name and the name of the medication.

o   Copy of the consent form to record the administration of medication which must be inside the box.

o   On returning to the setting the card is stapled to the medicine record book with parent signature.

o   Medications that normally require refrigeration must be carried in a cool pack.

·         Record of Attendance

·         Children’s next of kin emergency contact information (i.e. parent(s)/guardian(s) home, work and mobile numbers).

·         Individual Care Plans for children who have them.

·         A list of emergency service contacts.

·         A Critical Incident Plan, where appropriate.

·         Some spare clothes.

·         Buggies:

o   Even if children are old enough to walk, it is important to have at least one buggy in case a child gets tired.

o   Note: Buggies are only used for outing purposes

·         Food and plenty of fresh water, especially if it is a hot day. These should be chilled before leaving.

There must be at least one holder of a current First Aid certificate present at all times.

If a child on medication, has to be taken to hospital, the child’s medication must be taken in a sealed plastic box clearly labelled with child’s name and the name of the medication. A copy of consent form that signed by parent is available in a sealed plastic box.

Food and drinks

·         Where food and drinks are brought on the outing, food safety guidelines must be followed.

·         Children must have their hands cleaned before eating.

·         Children must have access to drinking water and be kept well hydrated during all outings.

Transport

When transport is needed for any outing, the staff member in charge of the outing must ensure that:

·         Car seats are provided and are appropriate to the age and height of each child being transported, in line with S.I. No. 240 of 2006, European Communities.

·         Drivers are appropriately vetted by the National Vetting Bureau of An Garda Síochána where applicable.

·         There is safe supervision of children during transport, and getting in and out of vehicles.

·         Children are never left alone inside a vehicle, even when the engine is turned off.

·         Car keys are never left in the ignition when getting out of the car and car keys are kept in a safe place, out of reach of children.

·         Where required, a vehicle is equipped with a ramp or hydraulic lift to allow entry and exit.

·         Records are kept of the vehicles used to transport children, with named drivers and appropriate insurance cover in accordance with data protection requirements.

Accidents, incidents or injuries

If there is an accident involving a child, a member of staff, or an accompanying adult or a child goes missing on the outing or is left behind, the staff member in charge of the outing must make sure that:

 

·         The previously agreed search procedure is followed if necessary.

·         The pre-assigned members of staff take the other children back to the service.

·         The member of staff with up to date First Aid training administers First Aid if necessary. 

·         They take charge of all necessary communications with emergency services and with the parents/guardians of the child/children concerned.

·         The registered provider/manager Iwona Sawicka is contacted immediately.

·         On return the occurrence is recorded as an incident on the Incident Report Form.

5. Communication Plan for staff and families

All parents or guardians are to be informed of the policy and procedures regarding outings on enrolment. Staff members will check with parents/guardians that they have read and understood the policy and provide any assistance needed.

A summary of this policy will be included in the Parent Handbook. This policy will also be reviewed with staff members at induction and annual staff training.

A copy of all policies will be available during all hours of operation to all staff and to parents/guardians in the Policy Folder located on Play Together Creche’s website at www.playtogethergalway.com

Policies are shared with all parents/guardians via email.

Parents/guardians may receive a copy of the full policy at any time upon request. Parents/guardians and staff will receive notification of any updates through Play together Creche’s official communication panel.

6. Related Policies, Procedures and Forms

·         Accidents and Incidents Policy

·         Infection Control Policy

·         Recruitment Policy

·         Administration of Medication Policy

·         Child Protection Policy

·         Curriculum Policy

·         Partnership with Parents and Carers Policy

·         Health and Safety Policy

·         Students and Volunteers Policy

·         First Aid Policy

·         Parent/Guardian Consent for Outings/visiting Form (see Appendix A)

7.References/Supporting Documents/Related Legislation

·         Tusla: Quality and Regulatory Framework

·         Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016

·         Health and Safety in Childcare: A Guide for Centre-based Services, Barnardos and the Border Counties Childcare Network, 2006

·         Síolta: The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education

·         Developing a Child Safeguarding Statement: A Guide For Early Years Services in Ireland.

8. Who Must Observe This Policy

This policy must be observed by all managers and all staff members.

9. Actions to be Followed if the Policy is not Implemented

If the policy is not implemented, investigation will be taken by Manager/Owner (Iwona Sawicka).

If you, as a staff member or a parent, consider that this policy is not being implemented, you can follow the Complaints Policy and Procedure to make a complaint.

10. Contact Information

If you need more information about this policy, contact:

Name	Iwona Sawicka
Phone number or email	0833187143 091/458167 or 091/458999

11. Policy Created     

Date this policy was created

March 2016

 

12. Signatures

	Name and position	Signature
Approved by	Iwona Sawicka

13. Review Date

Reviewed	March 2017	Iwona Sawicka
Reviewed	March 2018	Iwona Sawicka
Reviewed	March 2019	Iwona Sawicka
Reviewed and updated	March 2020	Iwona Sawicka

Staff signatures

Date this policy was reviewed	March 2017	March 2018	March 2019	March 2020
Staff signature to confirm they had read this policy after revision/update

Next Review Date

Date this policy will be reviewed

March 2021