A safe, secure place for children to thrive
Your child’s safety, wellbeing and security are our priority. Our teams follow robust procedures every day, alongside a warm approach that helps children feel confident and cared for.
Parent information
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Find nursery updates, useful links, forms and key information for families across all YMCA nursery locations.
Secure access and safe spaces
We manage entry carefully, supervise visitors, and make sure children cannot leave areas unnoticed.
Controlled access
- All external doors use coded entry systems.
- Internal locks help prevent children from opening doors independently.
- Registers are updated as soon as children arrive or leave.
- Doors, gates and fencing are checked daily.
Visitors and contractors
- All visitors sign in and out, and are escorted at all times.
- Non vetted individuals are never left alone with children.
- Contractors provide ID, and where appropriate may be asked for DBS evidence.
- Where possible, maintenance work happens outside nursery opening hours.
Safeguarding
Always alert, always child centred
Safeguarding underpins everything we do. Our staff monitor children’s wellbeing, attendance and safety, and follow clear procedures to share concerns appropriately when needed.
- A trained Designated Safeguarding Lead is on site.
- Attendance is monitored as part of our safeguarding duty.
- We follow clear missing and lost child procedures and escalate quickly if required.
- Information is only shared on a need to know basis, with consent unless a safeguarding concern applies.
Trained teams you can trust
We invest in training that keeps children safe, supported, and thriving.
DBS and safer recruitment
- All staff and volunteers require a clear DBS check and references before starting.
- Students are supervised at all times and do not have unsupervised access to children.
- Any person not fully vetted and inducted is supervised by a senior team member.
Paediatric First Aid and wellbeing
- Paediatric First Aid: everyone.
- Mental health support: everyone.
- Accidents are recorded and reviewed, and parents are informed quickly where required.
- Emergency procedures include immediate ambulance contact when needed.
Safe routines, inside and out
From hygiene to fire drills to outings, we follow consistent procedures that protect children every day.
Health, hygiene and infection control
- Daily checks are completed before children arrive.
- Clear handwashing and PPE routines reduce cross contamination.
- Illness and exclusion periods follow public health guidance.
- Food hygiene follows Safer Food Better Business standards.
Fire and emergency planning
- Fire alarms are tested weekly.
- Evacuation drills take place each term, testing different routes.
- Evacuation procedures are displayed in every room.
- Staff carry registers and emergency contacts during evacuations.
Road safety and outings
- Every off site activity is risk assessed and signed off.
- Staff ratios increase where required for safety.
- Staff carry emergency contacts, a nursery phone, and an outings first aid kit.
- Children are supervised closely and supported appropriately while walking.
Emotional safety matters too
- Strong Key Person relationships help children feel secure.
- Children are supported to manage feelings and build positive relationships.
- Staff use calm, consistent approaches to behaviour and wellbeing.
Where would you like to go next?
Explore our nursery locations or discover the values that guide everything we do.
View our nursery locations
Find your nearest setting and arrange a visit that works for your family.
View locations →Understand our story and values
Learn about our child-led approach and the principles that shape our care.
Explore our ethos →