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The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education







Sessional Services

Appendices

Appendix 1
Sample Policies and Procedures*

This is a sample list of policies and procedures to be used as a guide. It is, however, the responsibility of each setting to determine its own relevant policies and procedures.


Overarching Statements

  • Ethos/Philosophy
  • Mission Statement
  • Aims and Objectives
  • Principles
  • Constitution (for Community Groups)
  • Services Provided

Health and Safety

  • Child protection
  • Child protection reporting procedure
  • Anti-bullying
  • Equal opportunities
  • Illness
  • Immunisation
  • Medication
  • Exclusions
  • Food/nutrition
  • Resting
  • Outings
  • Child collection
  • Security
  • Areas to which the child/children have access
  • Sun protection
  • Accidents, incidents and injuries
  • Hygiene
  • Disaster/fire plan
  • First Aid
  • Manual handling
  • Non-smoking
  • Visits to setting by medical staff
  • Safe work environment
  • Spillages
  • Changing nappies/toilet time
  • Head lice
  • Food hygiene/health and safety/kitchen
  • Waste disposal
  • Furniture/fittings/equipment
  • Premises
  • Outside space
  • Violence
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Hepatitis

Child Welfare

  • Key person
  • Children's rights
  • Children's participation
  • Planning programmes
  • Admissions
  • Equal opportunities and social justice
  • Special needs
  • Language
  • Positive approaches to behaviour
  • Settling in/distressed children
  • Clothing
  • Items from home
  • Biting
  • Television/Video/DVD/Internet
  • Staff ratios
  • Childcare principles of good practice
  • Spiritual, cultural, moral and social values

Curriculum

  • Principles of curriculum quality
  • Planning programmes
  • Daily planning
  • Adult/child interaction
  • Greetings and departures
  • Transitions
  • Tidy up time
  • Small and large group time
  • Outside time
  • Planning for observation
  • Principles of assessment
  • Effective record keeping/report writing

Partnership with Families and Liaison

  • Home links/key person
  • Confidentiality
  • Parental/guardian involvement
  • Community links
  • Statutory links
  • Voluntary links
  • Consultation
  • Grievance procedure

Human Resources

  • Recruitment
  • Qualifications
  • Equal opportunities
  • Training
  • Staff illness
  • Staff meetings
  • Staff leave
  • Support and supervision
  • Appraisals
  • Induction procedure
  • Students'/volunteers' guidelines
  • Equal employment opportunity
  • Grievance and disciplinary procedure
  • Working hours
  • Accidents and injuries

Administration

  • Admissions
  • Attendance
  • Fees
  • Comments/complaints
  • Record keeping
  • Withdrawing children
  • Committee meetings
  • Advisory Committee composition
  • Advisory Committee Terms of Reference
  • Insurance
  • Financial procedures

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Appendix 2
Sample List of Legislation and Regulations

This is a sample list of legislation and regulation to be used as a guide. It is, however, the responsibility of each setting to determine its own relevant legislative and regulatory framework.


ECCE Legislation

  • Child Care Act (1991)
  • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1992)
  • Child Care (Pre-school Services) Regulations (1996 and 1997) and Explanatory Guide to Requirements and Procedures for Notification and Inspection
  • Children First - National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children (1999)
  • Our Duty to Care - The Principles of Good Practice for the Protection of Children and Young People (2002)
  • Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (2004)

Employment Laws

  • Companies Acts (1963-2003)
  • Income Tax (and Finances) Acts (1967)
  • Redundancy Payments Acts (1967-2003)
  • Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act (1973-2001)
  • Juries Act (1976)
  • Protection of Employment Act (1977) and EC (Protection of Employment) Regulations (2000)
  • Unfair Dismissals Acts (1977-2001)
  • Workers Participation (State Enterprises) Acts (1977-2001)
  • Protection of Employees (Employer's Insolvency) Acts (1984-1991)
  • Industrial Relations Acts (1990 and 2001)
  • Pensions Acts (1990 and 2002)
  • Payment of Wages Act (1991)
  • Terms of Employment (Information) Acts (1994 and 2001)
  • Maternity Protection Acts (1994 and 2004)
  • Adoptive Leave Act (1995)
  • Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act (1996)
  • Organisation of Working Time Act (1997) and Organisation of Working Time (Records) (Prescribed Form and Exemptions) Regulations (2001)
  • Parental Leave Act (1998)
  • Employment Equality Act (1998)
  • National Minimum Wage Act (2000)
  • European Communities (Parental Leave) Regulations (2000)
  • Carer's Leave Act (2001)
  • Protection of Employees (Part-time Work) Act (2001)
  • Protection of Employees (Fixed Term Work) Act (2003)
  • European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations (2003) Equality

Equality

  • Anti-discrimination (Pay) Act (1974)
  • Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004
  • Equality Acts (2004)

Health and Safety

  • Food Hygiene Regulations (1950-1989)
  • Infectious Diseases Regulations (1981-2003)
  • Fire Services Act (1981)
  • Fire Safety in Pre-schools (Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government) (1999)
  • EC (Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption) Regulations (1988 and 2003)
  • Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act (1989 and 2005)
  • Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations (1993-2005)
  • Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Miscellaneous Welfare Provisions) Regulations (1995)
  • Food Safety Authority Act (1998)
  • Protection for Persons reporting Child Abuse Act (1998)
  • EC (Official Control of Foodstuffs) Regulation (1998)
  • EC Hygiene of Foodstuffs Regulation (2000)
  • Public Health (Tobacco) Acts (2002 and 2004)
  • Department of Health and Children Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Preschool Services (2004)

Building and Planning

  • Building Control Act (1990)
  • Building Regulations Technical Guidance Documents (1997-2004)
  • Building Control Regulations (1997 and 2004)
  • Building Regulations (1997-2002)
  • Planning and Development Act (2000)
  • Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Childcare Facilities (2001)

Data Protection

  • Freedom of Information Act (1997) and Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act (2003)
  • Data Protection Act (1988 and 2003)

Appendix 3
National Framework of Qualifications - Grid of Level Indicators


*The CECDE wishes to gratefully acknowledge the contribution of Barnardos in the compilation of this list.



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