Over 100 nurseries sign up for Millie's Mark
A total of 111 nurseries have registered for Millie’s Mark since its launch in September with many more set to commit.
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is delivering Millie's Mark on behalf of the Department for Education and in partnership with Millie's Trust, pictured. NDNA has worked hard to make Millie’s Mark the ‘gold standard’ in early years first aid.
Interest has been very high and sign-ups have now reached 111 with the first 10 settings, who underwent a pilot scheme, already awarded the mark.
Purnima Tanuku OBE, NDNA’s Chief Executive said: “Millie’s Mark is a clear statement that you are doing absolutely everything you can to keep children safe and that you make first aid a top priority.
“I am delighted that more than 100 nurseries have signed up so far and look forward to many, many more making this life-saving investment in their business.”
HeadStart Nursery in Horsham, West Sussex, was one of the first to achieve Millie’s Mark, an achievement flagged up in its recent Ofsted inspection report, for which the setting received an excellent rating.
Nursery owner Clare French said: “I believe it is really important for staff to have knowledge of paediatric first aid so they are capable and able to support one another should an incident occur.
“The process was good and made us question our practice. We had a thorough inspection which covered all our policies on keeping children safe.”
Manager Sallyanne Kasey added: “Achieving the mark gives parents the confidence to place their child in our setting. It also gives every member of staff the confidence and support they need from one another in dealing with everyday incidents. We are delighted to be recognised in such a positive way.”
To qualify for Millie's Mark, nurseries must have all staff members trained in paediatric first aid and must have exemplary policies and procedures in place to keep children safe at all times. The six-month application process is rigorous and detailed, which is reflected in the cost of £230 to £330 plus VAT, depending on the size of the nursery.
A qualified specialist visits the nursery to check that first aid learning is kept at the forefront of practitioners’ minds and to mentor each setting towards accreditation. A dedicated team at NDNA is available and on hand to support settings through the process. Additionally each nursery is allocated a mentor who guides the nursery staff through the audit and improvement process.
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