Guidelines for Nursery Staff

Arrive at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start of any program or event (regular Sunday morning nursery duty, special 3-in-1 Sunday services or mid-week programs).  With few exceptions, a nursery volunteer is assigned to help out every Sunday.  The primary duty of volunteers is to help with play and snack time.

Prepare the room for use

·                    Turn on lights

·                    Turn on air conditioner or heat, if needed

·                    Put blank sign-in sheet on clipboard

·                    Make sure the room is neat and ready for play; make sure trash cans have plastic trash bags in them and that bathroom has toilet paper and paper towels

Greet parents and children

·                    Ask parents to sign in their child/ren

·                    Ask if there are any special instructions for the child/ren, such as food or drink allergies

·                    Although the nursery is for children through 4 years old, an older child may attend if he/she is able to play within nursery guidelines and not interfere with younger children’s needs.

Interact with the children

·                    Put out toys as needed

·                    Play, talk, and read with the children

·                    Use a video only as a last resort; a child who asks to watch a video can be redirected to play with books, toys, or other children; if a video is used, keep the volume low and do not play videos with inappropriate content such as frightening images or characters, violence, or hurtful language

Provide snacks

·                    15 minutes after the start of the service (currently 8:00 a.m., 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Sept-June; 8:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. July-Aug) go to the kitchen and bring back some apple juice and goldfish/animal crackers;  avoid sugary sweets such as donuts, cookies, and cupcakes

·                    Serve juice in small cups and food on a napkin; remember which children have special snack instructions such as food allergies

·                    Have all children wash or wipe their hands before snack time

·                    Make sure children are sitting at tables to eat and drink, and that an adult supervises snack time

Return children to their parents

·                    Ask parents to sign out their child

·                    Tell the parents how their child did, such as “she enjoyed playing with the blocks today”

·                    Tell the parents if their child had trouble, cried a lot, or was overly aggressive with others

·                    Tell the parent if their child was hurt by accident, another child, etc.

·                    Ask if they have collected all bags, toys, etc. which they brought with them

Prepare the room before you leave

·                    Put away all toys

·                    Wipe all toys and surfaces that got dirty or chewed on by children; disinfectant wipes are on shelf above diaper changing table

·                    Wipe diaper changing table if it was used

·                    Take any trash to dumpster if it contains dirty diapers or a lot of food items, or is full; put new bag in trash can

·                    Turn off lights and air conditioner or heat, if used

·                    Turn off TV and video/DVD player, if used

·                    Lock all doors (to courtyard and hallway)

·                    Leave a note for the office staff with your timecard if you have any questions or concerns

SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERACTING WITH CHILDREN

·                    If a child is afraid, ask parent if he brought a favorite toy or snuggly item from home; attempt to distract the child with toy or game on the floor; ask the child to help you with tasks in the nursery (such as getting snack items)

·                    If a child starts to cry for parent, hug or otherwise offer physical comfort; play peek-a-boo; attempt to distract the child as described above

·                    If children want to play with the same toy, try to find another similar toy so each can have one; set up taking turns

·                    If a child needs discipline, never hit, yell at, shake or grab the child; use time-out, take the child to another activity away from the other children, say “no” firmly;  if a child bites another child, remove the biter and explain why we do not bite (“it hurts our friends”)

·                    If a child is hit or otherwise hurt by another child, remove the child who did the hurting, then comfort the one who was hurt; return both children to play activities as soon as possible

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

If a child appears to be in a life and death situation (choking, seizure, serious accident, unconsciousness, etc.) call 911 immediately (there is a phone in Room 11, across the hall from the nursery) and have the nursery volunteer alert the child’s parent.  If a child develops an illness or high fever or has a significant accident, alert the parent.  If there is not another staff or volunteer in the nursery at the time, check in the hallways or nearby classrooms for adult assistance.

If you call 911, be prepared to provide the following information to direct the emergency personnel:

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

6800 Columbia Pike

Annandale

Room 12 ( Nursery)

(703) 256-2966 (phone number of phone in Room 11)

HEALTH and SAFETY REMINDERS

·                    Never leave children unattended

·                    Do not leave the nursery with children unless the parents or other staff know where you will be

·                    Check on children using the potty

·                    Use tissues (not handkerchief) to wipe noses; throw away used tissues; wash hands

·                    Wipe up spills immediately

·                    Assure that all chalk, crayons, and other small items are kept out of reach of children unless closely supervised

·                    FIRST AID:  There is a fully stocked first aid kit in the nursery.  If a child is bitten by another child, wash the bitten area with soap and warm water; apply ice or cold pack if a bruise appears.  If a child has a minor scrape or cut, wash area with soap and warm water and apply bandage if necessary.  Report all first aid incidents to the parent. 

·                    STAFF/CHILD RATIO:  Per Commonwealth of Virginia guidelines for licensed child day care centers (VR 175-08-01), it is best not to have more than 5 children for each staff or volunteer in the nursery.[1]  If a child arrives and it would be more than 5 children per staff or volunteer, ask if the parent can stay for a few minutes until another volunteer can be located.  It is fine if a parent offers to stay and help in the nursery.  All volunteers must be at least 14 years old.[2]

·                    ILLNESS POLICY:  If a child exhibits any of these symptoms while in the nursery, please locate the parents and ask them to remove the child immediately: 

                  He/she has a fever over 100° F.[3]

                  He/she has recurrent vomiting or diarrhea.[4]

                  He/she has severe, discolored discharge coming from the nose.

                  He/she has a bad cough requiring medication.