Policies

Behavior Modification Policy
CEIMC aims to present all children with a code of behavior. We promote the development of a sense of right and wrong behavior by teaching your child the appropriate way to act and discouraging unacceptable behavior.

Sometimes it is necessary to help children understand their own boundaries in certain situations, explaining why we do not accept certain behaviors and to exercise firm and consistent restraint.

At no time during disciplining your child would staff use physical punish-ment, e.g. smacking, shaking or slapping and it is our belief that using negative words like "bad boy/girl" and "naughty" are unhelpful and leave no room for movement.

Child Protection Policy
All staff at CEIMC is trained to be aware of behavioral and physical indica-tors that suggest the possibility of abuse. Staff is aware of the procedures to be taken if they believe a child has been child abused or is at risk of abuse.

Should any member of staff have any fears about a particular child, she/he will immediately take up the matter with the Director, who may decide that further advice is needed. We will consider discussion with parents and caregivers in the first instance and respect for confidentiality will be kept at all times.

If there is any suspicion of abuse it will be recorded and the Director will contact social services without un-due delay. All staff will co-operate with any investigation and will act in accordance with the wishes of the police and social services.

If a member of CEIMC staff is under suspicion, the Director will act in accordance with the wishes of police and social services investigators. This may mean suspending staff from duty.

Confidentiality Policy
Our work will bring us into contact with confidential information. To ensure that all those using and working in the center can do so with confidence, we will respect confidentiality in the following ways:

- Parents and caregivers will have ready access to files and records of their own child, but not any other child.
- Parents and caregivers are requested to refrain from entering therapy rooms while therapy is in session. If a parent would like to observe a therapy session, please advise management so that we can make arrangements to ensure confidentiality of other clients is maintained.
- CEIMC staff will not discuss individual children with people other than the parents and caregivers of that child.
- Information given by parents and caregivers to CEIMC staff will not be passed on to third parties.
- Personnel issues will remain confidential to the people involved. Any anxieties/evidence relating to a child's personal safety will be kept in a confidential file and will not be shared within CEIMC, except for the child's key therapist and Director.

Equal Opportunities Policy
CEIMC aims to ensure equality of opportunity by combating all forms of prejudice and eliminating all forms of unfair discrimination. At CEIMC we value and respect all racial origins, religions, cultures and languages. Each child is valued as an individual, without racial or gender stereotyping. We endeavor to provide access and facilities for children with special educational needs. All play equipment is selected to show positive images of all races, cultures and disabilities and to avoid racial or sexist stereotyping. Our good practice enables children to develop positive attitudes to differences in race, culture, language and gender.

Health and Safety Policy
CEIMC has a responsibility to provide a safe environment for your child at home and in the center. However, it is the parent’s responsibility to have safety measures at home at all times, and the Director is responsible for health and safety matters concerning the center premises. All staff is aware of potential hazards within the center and the surrounding environment and actively protect children from hazards. We aim to provide all staff with first aid training. All accidents and any incidents are recorded in the Accident Report Book. All accidents are accurately notified to the parent and caregiver as soon as possible. Hygiene rules relating to bodily fluids are followed with particular care and all staff is aware of how infections can be transmitted.

CEIMC aims to:
- Involve and motivate CEIMC staff in all matters concerning Health and Safety.
- Prevent accidents, injuries and ill-health and to identify and eliminate hazardous situations
- Achieve a high standard of occupational health, safety, welfare and hygiene.
- Provide a safe and healthy environment.
- Control situations likely to be hazardous to the health and safety in the nursery or cause damage to personal equipment.

Photographs Policy
From time-to-time we like to take photographs of our center in action and make displays inside the therapy rooms. Under no circumstances will these photographs be circulated outside the center, used for promotional pur-poses or posted on the website unless express permission is received in writing from parents and caregivers beforehand.

Placement Policy
If requests for admission exceed the number of places available, your child will be placed on a waiting list. During your time on the waiting list, you will be contacted from time-to-time to determine whether you are still interested in a place and also to give you some indication of when a place is likely to become available. However, you are also encouraged to contact the Director (to ascertain the latest position regarding occupancy). It is essential to the efficient running of the center and to other prospective parents and caregivers that you notify CEIMC immediately should you make alternative childcare arrangements and no longer require a place.

Once CEIMC is aware that a place is going to become available, the parents and caregivers at the top of the list with a child will be offered that place. Usually this will be some weeks or months in advance of the place becoming available. On most occasions the place is accepted, but in instances where the place is not taken up, it is offered to the next parent and caregiver on the list.

Once a child has been allocated a place on an agreed basis, it is expected that parents and caregivers will adhere to these arrangements. Failure to do so may result in termination of the contract. The allocation of a place must continue normally through the vacation on the same basis as during term time.

Anyone wishing to book out (not register) for the summer months of July and August will be required to pay a deposit of fees, if they wish to keep their place for the next session beginning the following September.

Termination of Registration Policy
This may occur when:
- The child has reached the age limit.
- Failure to register for 5 days without contact or prior notification.
- If, despite best efforts, a child fails to settle, the contract may be terminated with immediate effect at the sole discretion of the CEIMC Director.
- Parents/caregivers wishing to terminate their registration must give four weeks notice in writing to the CEIMC Director.

Smoking, Drugs and Alcohol Policy
CEIMC has a policy that smoking be prohibited in all areas of the center, unless otherwise designated. The center is a no smoking area. CEIMC staff support this policy and will ensure that it is observed at all times. This will apply to all staff, parents and caregivers, visitors and contractors entering the center premises.

Staff will not be permitted to work at CEIMC under the influence of alcohol or drugs.