08.2 Staff deployment
Members of staff, including assistants, bank staff and students (where eligible to be counted in ratios) are deployed to meet the care and learning needs of children and to always ensure their safety and well-being.
Two members of staff are on the premises before children are admitted in the morning and at the end of the day; one of which should be the manager or deputy.
Only those staff aged 17 or over are included in ratios. Staff working as apprentices (aged 16 or over) may be included in the ratios if the setting manager is satisfied that they are competent and responsible. Except in the cases of apprentices, only those aged 17 and over may be included in the ratios and only if the setting manager is satisfied they are suitable, (staff under 17 should be supervised at all times).
At least one Paediatric First Aider must always be on site when children are present, and at least one Paediatric First Aider must be present at children’s mealtimes.
The setting manager deploys staff to give adequate supervision of indoor and outdoor areas, ensuring that children are always within sight or hearing of staff. Whilst eating, children must be within sight and hearing of a member of staff.
All staff are deployed according to the needs of the setting and the children attending.
In open plan provision, staff are positioned in areas of the room and outdoors to supervise children and to support their learning.
Staff are responsible for ensuring that equipment in their area is used appropriately and that the area is tidy at the end of the session.
Staff plan their focus on activities.
Staff inform colleagues if they must leave the room for any reason.
Staff use walkie talkies to communicate when both outside and inside are open.
The setting manager may direct other members of staff to join those outside, if the numbers of children warrant additional staff.
Staff always focus their attention on the children whilst having a wider awareness of what is happening around them.
Staff do not spend working time in social conversation with colleagues.
Staff allow time for colleagues to engage in ‘sustained shared interaction’ with children and do not interrupt activities led by colleagues.
Sufficient staff are available at story times to engage children.
Key persons spend time with key groups daily; these times are not for focussed activities but for promoting shared times and friendship.
Staff children
Where members of staff have their own children with them at the setting, the age of the child must fall within the stipulated ages of the setting’s Ofsted registration.
Where members of staff are likely to be working directly with their own children, this is subject to discussion before commencement with the setting manager.
Where it is agreed that a member of staff’s child attends the setting, it is subject to the following:
the child is treated by the parent and all staff as any other child would be
the child will not be in the parent/carers key group of children
the key person and parent will work towards helping the child to make a comfortable separation from the parent to allow the parent to fully undertake their role as a staff member of the setting
the key person will take responsibility for the child’s needs throughout the day, unless the child is sick or severely distressed
time and space are made for the parent to breastfeed during the day, if that is their chosen method of feeding
the situation is reviewed as required, to ensure that the needs of the child are being met, and that the parent/carer can fulfil their role as a member of staff
If it is the setting manager’s child, then their line manager ensures the criteria above is met.