Policy Statement

At Ladels Day Nursery, the safety and wellbeing of children, families, staff, and visitors is our highest priority. Arrival and departure times are important transition points in each child’s day, and they also provide valuable opportunities for communication between home and nursery.

Aims

We aim to:

  • Welcome every child and parent/carer warmly.
  • Ensure all children are safely signed in and out each day.
  • Maintain strong safeguarding procedures for drop-off and collection.
  • Keep the premises secure during all transitions.

Arrival Procedure

  • Parents/carers must hand their child directly to a staff member (ideally the key person).
  • The receiving staff member will:
  • Record the child’s arrival in the daily attendance register (digital or paper).
  • Note any updates from parents about the child’s health, mood, sleep, or needs.
  • If medication is required, the Medication Policy must be followed.
  • Staff will begin settling the child into activities, observing any initial behaviours or emotional cues.

Departure Procedure

  • The key person (or another staff member) will provide a daily handover to parents, including:
  • Meals, naps, toileting, learning, friendships, and wellbeing.
  • Any accidents or incidents (parents must sign accident forms before leaving).
  • Medication due to go home will be handed directly to the parent, with signatures obtained.
  • The child’s departure is recorded in the register immediately.

Collection by Someone Other than a Parent

To keep children safe:

  • Only authorised individuals (named on the registration form) may collect a child.
  • Parents must notify the nursery in advance of alternative collectors.
  • Photo ID and/or a collection password must always be provided.
  • Under-18s are not permitted to collect children.
  • If an unauthorised person attempts collection, parents will be contacted immediately.

Emergency Collections

  • Parents must call the nursery as soon as possible.
  • Collectors must still follow the agreed ID/password procedure.
  • Staff will contact parents or emergency contacts if unsure.
  • Please also see our Late Collection and Non-Collection Policy for related guidance.

Security During Arrivals and Departures

Parents must not hold doors open for unknown persons.

If an unauthorised person enters:

  • Staff will request ID and purpose of visit (if safe).
  • If concerned, staff will:
  • Activate the Lockdown Procedure
  • Call the police
  • Record and review the incident

Adults Under the Influence

If a parent or carer arrives under the influence of alcohol or drugs, staff will follow the Alcohol and Substance Misuse Policy.

Visitors

  • All visitors must sign in and out at reception.
  • Visitors are supervised at all times.
  • Please refer to the Supervision of Visitors Policy for details.

Staff, Students & Volunteers

  • All staff, students, and volunteers must sign in and out daily.
  • Records must also be updated if leaving for breaks or off-site tasks.
  • Accurate records are essential for safeguarding and evacuation procedures.

Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if there are incidents, changes to statutory guidance, or updates to internal procedures.

Discover a Nurturing Start for Your Child at Ladel’s Day Nursery!

Give your little one the best foundation for growth and learning in a safe, inclusive, and creative environment. At Ladel’s Day Nursery, we nurture children aged 3 months to 5 years with tailored care and engaging activities.
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