Awarded Setting: Cressington Manor

We operate a large childcare facility, employing over 40 staff members and accommodating approximately 140 children at full capacity. We opted to pursue the Millie's Mark accreditation because we prioritise children's safety above all else. Ensuring that our entire staff team is trained in paediatric first aid is invaluable to us. Our desired outcome was that through this reflective experience our staff team would become more confident and have a refreshed and in depth understanding with regards to paediatric first aid.  

 

We conducted a comprehensive review of our daily operational procedures concerning children's safety within the setting. This was achieved through the implementation of small group training sessions focused on Paediatric First Aid (PFA), which allowed us to identify areas where staff required additional support. Appropriate measures were subsequently introduced to address these needs. Additionally, we established a buddy system, pairing less experienced team members with more adept colleagues, which we believe significantly boosted overall confidence. 

 

Engaging each member of staff in reflecting on the safety measures for children within the nursery has proven to be highly advantageous on an individual level. Staff members have expressed that they now feel more knowledgeable and are able to apply this expertise and newfound confidence in their daily practice when addressing accidents, incidents, risk assessments, near misses, and similar situations. 

 

We have recently integrated first aid discussions into our regularly scheduled weekly meetings with room leaders. This topic is also addressed during supervisions, where specific questions are raised at the end of each session. Moreover, we have prominently displayed the details of our Paediatric First Aid (PFA) trained staff and First Aiders throughout the nursery and each first aid box is checked and restocked weekly.  

 

Staff confidence will be evaluated through PFA-related questions during supervision sessions. Furthermore, in-house training sessions will be held regularly in small groups. The management team will also perform regular checks during daily walkthroughs to ensure that knowledge is up-to-date and to address any uncertainties staff members might have. New employees will be inducted through a buddy system, pairing them with a knowledgeable colleague within their room who has a strong understanding of PFA. 

 

We have not yet informed our parents of our successful attainment of the Millies Mark award. However, I am certain that they will be delighted when we do so!