Stepping Stones

Our Policies and Procedures

Stepping Stones is committed to providing the safest and most appropriate learning environment possible. We have a full set of policies and guidelines in place to ensure this. These have been written with guidance from the Early Years Alliance and were revised and accepted in September 2025 in line with Government amendments.

Please click on the weblinks below to read each policy online, or ask at the setting if you'd like to read a hard copy of a policy. Thank you.

 

Contents: 

0     Contents

0     Introduction

0     Policy and procedures implementation and review policy

• 0.0 Implementation and review procedure

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01 Health and safety policy

• 1.1 Risk assessment

• 1.1a Risk assessment form

• 1.1b Access audit form

• 1.2 Group rooms and corridors

• 1.3 Kitchen

• 1.4 Children's bathrooms/changing areas

• 1.5 Short trips, outings and excursions

• 1.6 Outdoors

• 1.7 Staff cloakroom

• 1.8 Maintenance and repairs

• 1.9 Staff personal safety

• 1.10 Threats and abuse towards staff and volunteers

• 1.11 Entrances and approach to the building

• 1.12 Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH)

• 1.13 Manual handling

• 1.14 Festival (and other) decorations

• 1.15 Jewellery and hair accessories

• 1.16 Animals and pets

• 1.17 Face painting and mehndi

• 1.18 Notifiable incident, non-child protection

• ​1.19 Emergency attack and lock-down

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02 Fire safety policy

• 2.1 Fire safety

• 2.1a Fire safety risk assessment form

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03 Food safety and nutrition policy

• 3.1 Food preparation, storage and purchase

• 3.2 Food for play and cooking activities

• 3.3 Menu planning and nutrition

• 3.4 Meeting dietary requirements

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04 Health policy

• 4.1 Accident and emergency treatment

• 4.2 Administration of medicine

• 4.2a Health care plan form

• 4.3 Life-saving medication and invasive treatments

• 4.4 Allergies and food intolerance

• 4.5 Poorly children

• 4.5a Infection control

• 4.6 Oral health

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05 Promoting inclusion, equality and valuing diversity policy

• 5.1 Promoting inclusion, equality and valuing diversity

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06 Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults policy

• 6.1 Responding to safeguarding or child protection concerns

• 6.1a Child welfare and protection summary

• 6.1b Safeguarding incident reporting form

• 6.1c Confidential safeguarding incident reporting form

• 6.2 Low level concerns and allegations against staff, volunteers or agency staff

• 6.3 Visitor or intruder on the premises

• 6.4 Uncollected child

• 6.5 Missing child

• 6.6 Incapacitated parent

• 6.7 Death of a child on-site

• 6.8 Looked-after children

• 6.8a Care plan for looked-after children form

• 6.9 E-safety

• 6.9a E-safety audit

• 6.10 Key person supervision

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07 Record-keeping policy

• 7.1 Children's records and data protection

• 7.1a Privacy Notice

• 7.2 Confidentiality, recording and sharing information

• 7.3 Client access to records

• 7.4 Transfer of records

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08 Staff, volunteers and students policy

• 8.1 Recruitment Checks

• 8.2 Staff Deployment

• 8.3 Deployment of volunteers and parent helpers

• 8.4 Student placement

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09 Early Years practice policy

• 9.1 Waiting list and admissions

• 9.1a Childcare and Early Years Education Terms and Conditions

• 9.2 Attendance and absence

• 9.3 Prime times - The role of a key person

• 9.4 Prime times - Settling in and transitions

• 9.5 Establishing children's starting points

• 9.6 Prime times - Arrivals and departures

• 9.7 Prime times - Baby and toddler mealtimes

• 9.8 Prime times - Snack times and mealtimes (older children)

• 9.9 Prime times - Intimate care and nappy changing

• 9.10 Prime times - Sleep and rest time

• 9.11 Promoting positive behaviour

• 9.12 Identification, assessment and support for children with SEND

• 9.12a SEN support: Initial record of concern

• 9.12b SEN support: Action plan

• 9.13 Prime times - Transition to school

• 9.14 Progress check at age 2

• 9.14a Progress check at age 2 form

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10 Working in partnership with parents and other agencies policy

• 10.1 Working in partnership with parents and other agencies

• 10.2 Complaints procedure for parents and service users

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