Keeping children safe during a flood

Flood waters present a serious threat to personal health and safety, and children can be particularly at risk. Follow these simple rules to make sure your children remain safe.
Floodwater areas

Never allow children to play in floodwater areas, and wash floodwater-contaminated toys with hot water or disinfect them before they are used. You should also wash your children’s hands frequently (always before meals).
If your home has flooded

When returning to your home after a flood, be aware that flood water may contain sewage. Protect yourself and your children by following these steps:

* keep children and pets out of the affected area until clean up has been completed
* very young children should avoid playing directly on timber floorboards or any damaged tiled floors if possible - be aware of the risk of injury from sharp edges on tiles or raised nails in the floorboards until these have been repaired
* clothing, bedding and other soft/fabric articles including children’s toys etc should be laundered on a hot wash (60°C or the highest temperature indicated on manufacturer’s instructions) which will destroy most germs that may be present
* do not let young children play on affected grassed or paved areas until the area has been cleaned down and restored to its normal condition
* ensure confined areas like garages or cellars are well ventilated and are not accessible to children and animals

Water for infants during flooding

Where the drinking water supply is either interrupted or contaminated, it is important to take precautions for formula-fed infants. Usually, communities affected by floodwater are provided with water bowsers (tankers holding uncomtaminated water). In these circumstances there are three options for the use of water to make infant formula milk:

* the preferred option is to use bowser, or bottled, water brought to a boil and allowed to cool for no more than 30 minutes in a clean covered container - then follow the manufacturer’s instructions on making up the feed
* commercially ready-made formula milk may be used as an alternative to powdered feeds made up with bowser water
* if neither of these options are possible because there is no energy to allow boiling, then bottled water (table, spring or mineral water) can be used unboiled to prepare baby feeds, but the prepared feed should then be used immediately -unboiled bowser water should not be used

The bottled water supplied to the public by the water company during flooding incident is suitable for making up infant formula. Parents with infants that are unwell with diarrhoea and vomiting should seek medical advice.

If the water company has advised that the domestic supply is unsafe for drinking it is inadvisable to use this for bathing infants. In this situation bowser water, or bottled water, are safe alternatives. A safe alternative to bathing is to use baby wipes for hand cleansing and washing infants.

Fire safety advice for parents and child carers

Fire and children

Fires in the home kill dozens of children every year, accounting for nearly half of all accidental child deaths. Children are naturally drawn to the warmth and light of fire, but without the proper guidance this can turn into a dangerous fascination. Children under the age of 10 cause 6,000 fires a year.
Talking to your children about fire

Younger children should be given clear instructions of what they should and shouldn’t do, whereas with children of five and above it is better to explain why. All children should know that it is never safe to play with fire.

Teaching your children simple rules will help protect them against fire. Tell them:

* never play with matches or lighters
* never play with a lighted candle
* never play close to a fire or heater, or leave toys near a fire or heater
* don’t pull on electric cables or fiddle with electrical appliances or sockets
* never switch on the cooker
* never put anything on top of the cooker
* don’t touch any saucepans on the cooker
* don’t put things on top of heaters or lights
* if they see matches or lighters lying around – tell a grown up

Fire instructions for children

It’s important to talk through with children what to do if there’s a fire. Don’t avoid it for fear of frightening them. Children need to know the basics of how to react, because there may not be an adult around to tell them what to do if a fire happens. Here are the basic instructions to give to your children:

* if they see smoke or flames, they should tell someone immediately – a grown up if possible
* get out of the building as soon as possible
* never go back into the building for anything – fire fighters can search the house for anything left behind quicker and more safely
* if there is smoke, crawl along the floor where the air is cleanest
* if the escape route is blocked, go into a room with a window, put bedding or towels at the bottom of the door to block the smoke, open the window and call for help
* never hide in a cupboard or under a bed – get out of the house and call for help immediately
* find a phone and dial 999, and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service – give the address slowly and calmly (they may need to go to the neighbours to find a phone)

You should always make sure that children know their address so they can raise the alarm.
Know your escape route

Plan an escape route and make sure that everyone in the house, including children, childminders and babysitters, are familiar with it. Keep all exits clear and practice the escape plan with children.
Make your home safe for children

Here are some measures you can take in your home to make sure your children stay out of harm’s way:

* don’t leave children on their own in a room where there’s a fire risk
* keep matches, lighters, candles and tea lights in a place where children cannot see or reach them
* put a child-proof fireguard in front of an open fire or heater
* don’t let children play or leave toys near a fire or heater
* put child locks on cupboards containing anything that could be used to start a fire (for example, matches, candles and flammable liquids)
* keep portable heaters in a safe place where they can’t be knocked over when they are being used or stored
* keep your fire escape route clear of toys and other obstructions
* never leave children alone in the kitchen when you’re cooking and never let them play near the oven and hob
* put plug guards into sockets so children can’t stick anything into the holes
* make sure electrical appliances in childrens’ bedrooms are switched off at night

Leaving children at home alone

The most important factor to consider is how mature the child is. For instance, it may be okay to leave a very mature or ‘grown up’ 12 year old alone for a day while you are at work, but not a 13 year old who is not mature.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) advises that:

* children under the age of thirteen are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time
* children under the age of sixteen should not be left alone overnight
* babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone

Things to remember

If you do leave your child home alone, remember to do the following:

* leave a contact phone number and make sure you can answer it right away
* leave a separate contact list of people you trust, in case they can’t get hold of you
* talk to your child before you leave about how to stay safe, and tell them not to answer the door to strangers
* make sure dangerous objects like matches and knives are out of reach, as well as medicines and dangerous chemicals
* leave clear instructions on what to do in case of an emergency (like a fire)
* tell them what time you will be back, and don’t be late
* set some basic rules about what they can and can’t do while you are out
* teach them basic first aid

Finally, it is essential to make sure that your child is happy to be left alone. If they aren’t confident about being left alone then find someone to look after them.

Childcare Act guarantees a sure start for future generations

The Childcare Bill has now received Royal Assent becoming the Childcare Act. The Act guarantees accessible, high quality childcare and other services for children under five and gives parents greater choice in balancing work and family.

Marking the first ever piece of legislation specifically on early years and childcare, the Act places responsibility for childcare provision with local authorities, charging them with raising quality, improving delivery, and achieving better results.

Local authorities would effectively become strategic leaders in the field of childcare - expected to work with both public bodies and private companies to ensure higher standards.

They would also be expected to make sure that parents’ views are heard in the planning and delivery of new services, so that new childcare schemes and businesses in each area reflect the real needs of families.

* all children under five will have access to high quality early learning and care and better access to early childhood services by the free offer of care and learning which will increase and become more flexible for parents of three and four year olds that want it
* a high quality learning and development framework for young children - the Early Years Foundation Stage will be developed - all providers registered on the early years register will have to work to this framework which will support the work to improve outcomes for young children
* local authorities are to provide better joined up and accessible early childhood services through children’s centres
* working parents will be given the choice of a wide range of childcare
* reforms to the regulation of childcare providers to provide parents with greater confidence about the childcare they choose

Childcare information services

Your local Children’s Information Service (CIS) can also advise you on childcare options and availability in your area. These services provide quality, impartial information and guidance on childcare, early education and other children’s services.

They hold information on Ofsted registered childcare such as day nurseries, out-of-school clubs, pre-school playgroups and childminders, as well as unregistered childcare such as parent and toddler groups.

Childcare options

our childcare options include:

* Sure Start Children’s Centres - offer early learning, childcare, health advice and family support for families with children up to age five
*
crèches - provide occasional care for children under eight
*
toddler groups - informal groups of parents and carers that meet locally with their children on a regular basis, usually including children who are under five
*
pre-schools and playgroups - provide play time and often early education to under fives
*
day nurseries - provide care for children from birth to four or five and beyond, often integrated with early education and other services
* out-of-school or ‘kids’ clubs - offer school-aged children a safe and stimulating environment in which they can play and learn outside of school hours
* childminders - usually look after children under 12 in the childminder’s own home and often collect school-aged children from a nearby school
* nannies - provide childcare in your own home and can look after children of any age

Early years education

All three and four year olds are entitled to twelve-and-a-half hours of free early years education a week, for 38 weeks a year, with a ‘registered provider’ such as a school, nursery or playgroup, regardless of income or circumstances.

Some large employers provide registered early years education at the workplace. You can also use a registered childminder if they’re part of an approved childminding

Getting Started: Developing childcare in and around schools

A resource for schools and partners

A must have resource providing essential guidance on delivering the childcare element of the extended schools core offer – extended primary schools are required to offer access to childcare 8am-6pm, 48 weeks a year.

This guide supports all those developing childcare in and around schools and covers the essential elements of consultation, developing the offer, partnership working, finance and sustainability, workforce, polices and quality and more.

Why choose a childminder?

Using childcare in a home environment can be more flexible than other forms of childcare. Also, your children can enjoy real-life learning experiences like cooking, shopping, gardening, mealtimes and outings to the park and library.

Childminders can be spontaneous, too - making the most of a sunny or unexpectedly snowy day as a great opportunity for outdoor play and learning.

Childminders are ideally placed for looking after disabled children, taking into account any special requirements. And if your child is feeling tired or under the weather, they can curl up and take it easy.

Resources for local authorities

Whether you’re a children’s information service, childcare team or employer you will find the following leaflets of interest. You can view the leaflets by clicking the leaflet titles.

NCMA also offers a range of leaflets aimed at childminders and parents which you can distribute in your area. Visit the parent library and childcarer library to download and browse the leaflets.

You can download a leaflet order form here. The form includes all the leaflets that are currently available as hard copies. Please note that some of the leaflets below may be avaialble as downloads only.