Yesicare Policies

1. Safeguarding and child protection

At Yesicare, children’s safety and wellbeing are our highest priority. Our management team and staff listen to safeguarding concerns, make accurate records and pass concerns promptly to our designated safeguarding lead (DSL). We take appropriate action if we suspect abuse, neglect, exploitation or other harm. We do not investigate allegations ourselves or promise absolute confidentiality where a child may be at risk.

Our safeguarding arrangements cover concerns about adults, unexplained absence, missing children, safe arrivals and collections, online risks, staff training and cooperation with statutory safeguarding services. We follow the procedures of the relevant local safeguarding partners and seek help from Children’s Social Care (including the local authority’s Family Front Door or equivalent service) in the area where the child lives or where care takes place. Where allegations concern adults working with children, we follow the appropriate referral route to the local authority designated officer (LADO) for the relevant local authority. We may also contact the police, NSPCC or Ofsted as appropriate, and make any notifications required by law.

In an immediate emergency, we call 999 in the UK. Families may also contact the police or their local authority Children’s Social Care directly. Our management team oversees these safeguarding arrangements, and our designated safeguarding lead coordinates concerns and referrals.

2. Complaints, concerns and whistleblowing

At Yesicare, we welcome constructive feedback and take complaints seriously. Families may speak to our management team or email enquiries@yesicare.org.uk with ‘Complaint’ in the subject line. Our management team records concerns, reviews them fairly, explains the outcome where possible and provides a further management review when someone remains unhappy.

We follow applicable complaint-handling requirements for the services we provide, including statutory response times where relevant. We treat safeguarding concerns as urgent and refer them through safeguarding channels without waiting for an ordinary complaint review. We encourage staff to raise concerns about unsafe practice and support appropriate whistleblowing to relevant external bodies when necessary.

3. Childcare, childminding, nannying and tutoring

At Yesicare, we provide caring, age-appropriate childcare, childminding, nannying, tutoring and activities according to the services arranged with each family. We aim to create welcoming environments in which children feel safe, supported and confident to learn.

We follow the registration, supervision, training and safeguarding requirements applicable to each service and setting, including relevant EYFS or Childcare Register requirements where they apply. We maintain appropriate staffing and child supervision arrangements and comply with the applicable child-to-adult ratios.

To enquire about a booking, click Contact Us or the ‘Enquire with us’ button on any page. Complete the relevant fields in the enquiry form, and a member of our team will get back to you.

4. Health, safety, risk assessments and emergencies

At Yesicare, we regularly consider risks in the places where children are cared for, including indoor and outdoor activities, equipment, toys, transport, outings, fire safety, collection and any sleeping arrangements. We use appropriate supervision, safe equipment and age-appropriate practices, with staffing arrangements that reflect the children’s needs and relevant legal requirements.

Our team follows appropriate first-aid and emergency arrangements. When an accident or illness occurs, we care for and comfort the child, contact parents or carers as appropriate and record relevant details. For urgent medical assistance in the UK, we call 999 or 112; where services are provided outside the UK, we use the relevant local emergency number. We also follow appropriate safer-sleep, illness prevention, infection-control and medicine procedures where these apply.

5. Safer recruitment and professional conduct

At Yesicare, our management team follows safer recruitment procedures before engaging staff, assistants or other adults to work with children. We check identity and eligibility to work, obtain and verify suitable references, consider employment history, relevant qualifications, training and experience, and complete the required Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and suitability checks for the role.

We do not allow staff to work unsupervised with children before all legally required checks and suitability conditions are met. We provide appropriate induction and safeguarding guidance and expect everyone working with us to maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality and respectful communication. We keep our recruitment arrangements aligned with current requirements, including applicable September 2026 EYFS changes, and make regulator notifications where required.

6. Equality, diversity, inclusion and additional needs (SEND)

At Yesicare, we treat children and families fairly and with dignity. We respect race, culture, language, religion, disability, sex, family background and individual differences. We aim to provide inclusive books, toys, activities and resources that reflect children’s backgrounds and developmental needs and help every child feel they belong.

We welcome children with special educational needs and disabilities where we can safely and appropriately meet their needs. We work with parents, carers and relevant professionals, observe emerging needs, make reasonable adjustments when required, adapt activities and routines, encourage independence and confidence, and seek specialist advice where appropriate. We protect the confidentiality of children’s personal information.

7. Positive behaviour, wellbeing and anti-bullying

At Yesicare, we promote kindness, positive relationships and respectful behaviour through age-appropriate guidance, encouragement and clear boundaries. We do not tolerate bullying, discrimination, humiliating treatment or physical punishment.

If bullying occurs, we support the child affected, address the behaviour sensitively, record concerns where appropriate and work with parents and carers towards a positive outcome. We support children’s wellbeing and respond to individual developmental needs.

8. Online safety, mobile devices and photographs

At Yesicare, we promote safe, age-appropriate use of screens and online resources. We supervise children’s digital activities according to their needs and follow applicable guidance for the settings and services we operate.

We use appropriate safeguards around phones, cameras, online communication and the storage and sharing of children's images. We obtain appropriate permissions and a lawful basis before publishing identifiable photographs, and we respect children’s privacy.

Where we provide remote tutoring or online learning, we put children's safety and privacy first. Our team uses appropriate professional communication channels, avoids private or personal contact with children, and works with parents or responsible adults to establish suitable supervision for each child's age and needs. Staff are not permitted to use personal devices or accounts for unauthorised contact with children.

9. Parent partnerships, attendance, collection and missing children

At Yesicare, we work in partnership with parents and carers. We communicate openly about each child’s routines, wellbeing, progress, health, medication needs and any changes that may affect their care. We value the information families share and work together to provide consistent support.

We maintain appropriate attendance and collection records, confirm who is authorised to collect children and follow safe handover arrangements. We have procedures for late or unexpected collections, unexplained absences and missing children. If a child cannot be accounted for, we act promptly to protect their safety, inform parents and contact the appropriate emergency or safeguarding services where necessary.

10. Privacy, confidentiality and records

At Yesicare, we respect the privacy of children, families and everyone who contacts us. We collect information provided through our enquiry form, such as names, contact details and the content of an enquiry, to respond to requests, discuss services and manage necessary records. Our website is hosted on Cloudflare Pages, and our enquiry form uses FormSubmit to deliver messages to our business email.

We limit access to personal information, use appropriate security measures and share information with safeguarding professionals only where lawful and necessary. We respect applicable data protection rights. For privacy enquiries, contact enquiries@yesicare.org.uk. You may also contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

We maintain personal records relating to children and families only as necessary for our services and safeguarding duties, with appropriate confidentiality, access controls and retention arrangements. We follow the applicable UK data protection requirements and the regulatory requirements relevant to the childcare services we provide.

11. Other areas of our policies

At Yesicare, our internal policies also cover physical contact and intimate care, risk assessment, first aid, food hygiene and allergies, safe sleep where applicable, complaints, attendance, staff conduct and emergency evacuation. We protect children’s dignity when personal care or physical contact is appropriate and necessary, and always consider the child’s best interests.

Where food or drinks form part of our services, we promote suitable, balanced options, hygienic preparation and the safe management of known allergies. Our detailed procedures are maintained internally, reviewed by the management team and made available to regulators and inspectors as required.