Staffing

Staffing Considerations

Where wraparound provision is the only service offered the expectation is for the provider to determine how many staff are needed to ensure the safety and welfare of the children, taking into consideration the types of activity, the age and the needs of the children attending. We would expect there to be a minimum of two staff to protect both the children and the staff. In some circumstances, such as for small schools, the care may be offered by a single member of staff. There must be considerations around safer working practices if the provision runs with one member of staff.

You should consider the following:

• Will there always be other staff on site until the end of the session?
• How will staff communicate with other staff? (e.g. walkie talkies)
• In the event of an accident/incident for either staff or a child what procedures are in place?
• If the staff member is not a Designated Safeguarding Lead are arrangements in place to ensure one is available?
• How will parents and carers access the building at the beginning and end of the day if the office staff are not working?

Additional considerations include the type of building the provider operates in. The vicinity of the toilets, outdoor areas and where parents and carers drop off and collect from. The provider must ensure that staff deployment meets the needs of the children. It is highly likely that staffing will need regular review to ensure that the provider continues to offer a high quality play experience for all children.

Careful thought and consideration around staffing is needed to meet the needs of children with Special Educational Needs and/or a Disability (SEND). It is important to recognise the different needs of the children who will be accessing wraparound care and ensure that new and existing provision is accessible to all. This will rely heavily on staff understanding the needs of the children and having excellent transitions between the school, the wraparound provision, and the parents and carers. All providers are expected to make reasonable adjustments for children with SEND, in accordance with their duties under the Equality Act 2010.

Safer Recruitment

Safer recruitment processes are vital to ensure the suitability of practitioners and the safety of children. Please refer to the 'Safer Recruitment' section in the Safer Recruitment Toolkit developed by Norfolk County Council (NCC).

To recruit, providers can advertise their vacancies via NCC by using Education Job Finder and via the Norfolk Early Years and Childcare Jobs Facebook group

Providers must ensure that adults who look after children are suitable to do so. They must also ensure that people whose suitability has not been checked, do not have unsupervised contact with children who are in their care and that this has been risk assessed.

Providers must be able to evidence that they have considered all these aspects of practitioners' suitability before a new member of staff is allowed to start work:

• Date of DBS disclosure and reference number on file
• Minimum of two written references
• Full employment history
• Evidence of qualifications obtained
• Identity checks, including documentation to verify name changes
• Any other checks undertaken, for example medical suitability

Induction

It is important that all staff understand the responsibilities of their role. Induction training must include information about emergency evacuation procedures, risk assessments, safeguarding, health and safety issues. Providers must support staff to undertake appropriate training and professional development opportunities.

Supervision

Where supervisions take place, they should provide an opportunity for staff to:

• Discuss any issues - particularly concerning children's well-being and any safeguarding concerns
• Identify solutions to address issues as they arise
• Receive coaching to improve their personal effectiveness

Qualifications

There is an expectation that all wraparound provision will have qualified staff at Level 2 preferably in playwork practice and have staff who are trained as a minimum in the following:

• Paediatric first aid
• Safeguarding
• Level 2 in Food Safety  

Consider how staff support children to play, set up an inclusive environment and provide a range of resources for children to choose freely from.

Will some staff have additional responsibilities which require specific training?

Training & Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Norfolk Early Years Learning and Childcare offer a wide range of training.