Safety and Risk Management--Nursery Policy
Nursery
Ministry and Events Policy
This document falls under the Children and Youth Protection Policy. Therefore, all workers and volunteers involved in children’s ministry within and outside the church are required to understand and abide by the Children and Youth Protection Policy.
Definitions of Ministry Personnel.
Ministry Lead and Hall Monitors - An individual age 17 or older who has successfully completed the recruitment and screening procedures of MPAC and is now deemed to be a person who can be put in a position of trust with children.
Ministry Assistant - A youth (age 12 to 16) who has successfully completed the recruitment and screening procedures of MPAC. They are now deemed to be a person who can be put in a position of trust with children under the direct supervision of a Ministry Lead. Ministry Assistants will wear name tags identifying them to parents/guardians and children.
Ministry Personnel to Child Ratio
One ministry lead or assistant for every 3 infants (birth up to 2 years) with a minimum of 2 ministry personnel at all times
1. For programs and event taking place during regular services at MPAC.
A. Minimums
We recognize the best practice of the “Two Unrelated Adult” rule. We also recognize and acknowledge that children ministries are a very important part MPAC vision and mandate. The following is a guide to ministry personnel minimums, in order of priority.
A minimum of two unrelated ministry leads or one ministry lead working with an unrelated ministry assistant, except in the event of an emergency, or,
Related ministry lead and assistant with clear lines of visibility in place and/or the door open, with a designated hall monitor circulating periodically from room to room or
B. Observers/Visitors
Occasional observers or visitors who join a class will have their attendance recorded and kept on file with the classroom attendance for that day. Observers and visitors will be clearly identified and if they have not been screened and approved, they will not be placed in a position of trust with children who are not their own
C. Receiving and Releasing Children
Children will only be released into the care of the child’s parent or designate utilizing a signature, security number or identification card.
Parents/guardians and visitors are not to enter the nursery when picking up their child unless invited to do so.
D. Attendance
Attendance of children is taken each time a classroom or program is in session. These attendance records are kept on file permanently.
A record will be kept of ministry personnel on duty in each classroom or program. This record will be maintained with the record of attendance and kept on file permanently.
E. Nursury Rules:
Nursery rules will be established to clearly communicate the expectations required of children. Some minimum rules are:
One voice talking at a time
Quiet hands get answered
Use inside voices
Use good manners
Keep your hands and feet to yourself
Respect each other
Be friendly
Visit the washroom before class begins
Remember – life isn’t fair, but God is good.
F. Washroom Guideline
Encourage parents/guardians to deal with their baby’s toileting needs and to take their children to the washroom prior to each class or event.
Diaper changing procedures are clearly posted in the nursery diaper changing area (see Appendix 5).
ii. Unless it is absolutely unavoidable, diaper changing must be done by the child’s parent/guardian.
iii. Diaper changing is to be done only by designated adult ministry personnel and must be conducted within view of other ministry personnel.
G. Health and Safety Guideline
All staff and ministry personnel will make themselves familiar with the Children and Youth Ministry Health and Safety Policy of MPAC.
2. Discipline Management
All discipline and classroom management will be conducted in a loving and caring environment. All attempts will be made to prevent discipline problems from arising and to avoid the need for remedial discipline. All attempts are to be taken to adhere to the following:
A. Preventative Discipline:
Create a loving, caring atmosphere,
To gain respect, you must grant respect,
Model self-discipline and structure in your own life,
Prepare exciting and interesting classes with short transitions between activities,
Arrange your environment for children and for learning,
Establish and communicate realistic expectations for the children,
Be sure the activities that you provide are meaningful and age-appropriate,
Be fair and consistent with all children,
Be sure your focus is on positive actions and reward positive behaviour,
Be aware of children with special needs and bring their needs to the attention of the ministry lead.
B. Remedial Discipline:
Every effort will be made to deal with problems individually,
Every effort will be made to explain to the child why the behaviour is unacceptable and instruct them in how to do it correctly,
Every effort will be made to redirect the child to positive action,
Every effort will be made to explain the consequences of unacceptable behaviour by defining the correct way to behave as well as the result of the wrong behaviour,
Every effort will be made to offer choices that are acceptable to both you and the child.
Uncooperative children will be returned to their parent/guardian.