Sleep Policy
At Castle Lane, we aim to ensure that all children have enough sleep to support their development and natural sleeping rhythms in a safe environment.
The safety of babies’ sleeping is paramount. Our policy follows the advice provided by The Cot Death Society and Lullaby Trust to minimise the risk of Sudden Infant Death. We make sure that:
- Babies are placed on their backs to sleep. If a baby has rolled onto their tummy, we turn them onto their back again unless they are able to roll from back to front and back again, on their own, in which case we enable them to find their own position
- Children are never put down to sleep with a bottle to self-feed
- Children are monitored visually when sleeping, looking for the rise and fall of the chest and if the sleep position has changed
- Checks are recorded every 10 minutes – Staff must tick and initial the sleep check. During sleep checks, staff must ensure to putt their hand on children’s tummies and do a visual check. These checks will then be written and signed
- As good practice, we monitor babies under six months or a new baby sleeping during the first few weeks every five minutes until we are familiar with the child and their sleeping routines, to offer reassurance to them and families.
We provide a safe sleeping environment by:
- Monitoring the room temperature
- Using clean, light bedding/blankets and ensuring babies are appropriately dressed for sleep to avoid overheating
- Removing all bibs, hair bobbles, clips etc before a child is put down for a sleep
- Only using safety-approved cots or other suitable sleeping equipment (i.e. mats) that are compliant with British Standard regulations, and mattress covers are used in conjunction with a clean fitted sheet
- Not using cot bumpers or cluttering cots with soft toys, although comforters may be given where required
- Keeping all spaces around cots and beds clear from hanging objects i.e. hanging cords, blind cords, drawstring bags
- Ensuring every baby/toddler is provided with clean bedding labelled to them and working in partnership with parents to meet any individual needs, for example if a child prefers to sleep in a sleeping bag we will ask parents/carers to bring one from home
- Cleaning all bedding as required and at least weekly
- Transferring any baby who falls asleep while being nursed by a practitioner to a safe sleeping surface to complete their rest
- Having a no smoking policy
- All children are placed with their feet to the end of the cot
We recognise parents’ knowledge of their child regarding sleep routines and will, where possible, work together to ensure each child’s individual sleep routines and well-being continues to be met. However, staff will not force a child to sleep or keep them awake against his or her will. Parents will provide nursery staff with clear sleep routines, and we will aim to mirror home sleep patterns. Parents are responsible for liaising with staff to update any changes in sleeping routines.
We create an environment that helps to settle children that require a sleep for example dimming the lights, using soft music, where applicable, whilst ensuring that we continue to meet the needs of the children that do not require a sleep and ensure they can continue to play, learn and develop.
Sleep limits
The daytime sleep cycle is 45 minutes so to get the full benefit of a nap your child should be encouraged to sleep for at least one sleep cycle. We find that when young children are woken after the 45 minutes cycle, they seem more responsive to waking and in turn support’s their ability to engage back into nursery life and routines. For this reason, we have implemented minimum sleep times for different rooms.
Babies and Toddlers – minimum sleep time 45 minutes – meaning that we will not wake them before the 45 minutes.
Tweenies and Preschool – minimum sleep time 30 minutes – meaning we will not wake them before 30 minutes.
As a nursery we pride ourselves on supporting individual children. Parents are encouraged to speak to senior management if they have concerns regarding their child’s sleep limits.
Further information can be found at:
http://www.lullabytrust.org.uk
Policy last updated: January 2026
Child Absence Policy
At Castle Lane we are committed to ensuring the safety, wellbeing and consistent development of every child. Regular attendance is vital for children to fully benefit from the experiences we offer. This policy outlines the expectations and procedures surrounding absences from the setting.
Reporting an absence
If your child is unable to attend nursery on their scheduled day, we ask that you notify us by 9.30am on the first day of their absence. Where possible, we then ask that you inform us daily for the duration of the absence.
We ask that you report absences using any of the following options:
- Phone Call – 01858 468006
- Blossom App – using the messaging portal
If your child is going to be off for a prolonged period due to holiday, we ask that you notify us of the start and end dates. If your child is off for a prolonged period due to sickness, we ask that you contact us each scheduled day for an update on their wellbeing.
Unexplained Absences
Child attendance is monitored closely. If we do not receive an explanation for your child’s absences by 9.30am (AM or Full day) or 1.30pm (PM session), we will attempt to contact you. We will start with the first contact on our list. If we have no answer, we will then move down the list to ensure we speak to someone. As a nursery we pride ourselves on ensuring all children are safe. Therefore, if main 2 contacts (normally mum and dad) do not answer, we will ring the next contacts provided to check all is well.
If we have been unable to reach you within 48 hours and still have no explanation as to the child’s absence, we may be required to notify children’s services, in accordance with the children Act 2024.
Please note this procedure has been issued from the local authority due to a previous serious incident where the absence of a child went unnotified following a parent’s illness or emergency.
The sole purpose of this policy is to protect the safety and welfare of the child and their family.
Key principles
- Regular and punctual attendance is crucial for children learning and wellbeing
- Children should ideally be attending their sessions consistently
- Parents should be open and honest with the nursery team and not conceal or make excuses for absences
Parents Responsibilities
- Parents to notify the setting each day of child absences before 9.30am
- Parents to notify the nursery of prolonged period of absence due to holidays
- Parents are encouraged to work in partnership with the nursery to address any barriers to regular attendance
Staff Responsibilities
- Complete register regularly and be aware of children who are not yet present
- Ring parents/carers by 9.30am or 1.30pm
- If no answer ring further provided contact numbers
- Ensure all absences are logged on blossom and the paper absences records
- Ensure paper absence sheet are provided to the manager on the last day of every month
- Report persistent or concerning absences
- Absences will be monitored at the end of every month
This policy allows staff and parents to understand their roles and responsibilities regarding absences. It allows the nursery to see the value and benefit of children attending consistently.
Policy last updated: October 2025
Acceptable IT Use
Legislation
- Data Protection Act 2018
- General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679)
Related Policies
- Whistleblowing
- Social Networking
- Safeguarding Children/Child Protection
- Online Safety
This Policy describes the rights and responsibilities of staff using resources, such as computers, tablets, the internet, landline and mobile telephones, and other electronic equipment here at Castle Lane. It explains the procedures you are expected to follow and makes clear what is considered acceptable behaviour when using them. These devices are a vital part of our business and should be used in accordance with our policies in order to protect children, staff and families.
Security and passwords
All electronic devices will be password protected and passwords will be updated on a regular basis. Passwords for our systems are confidential and must be kept as such. You must not share any passwords with any other person; in particular, you must not allow any other staff member to know or use your password.
Work Email
We expect all staff to use their common sense and good business practice when using email. As email is not a totally secure system of communication and can be intercepted by third parties. External email should not normally be used in relation to confidential transactions.
Emails must not be used to send abusive, offensive, sexist, racist, disability-biased, sexual orientation based or defamatory material, including jokes, pictures or comments which are potentially offensive. Such use may constitute harassment and/or discrimination and may lead to disciplinary action up to and including summary dismissal. If you receive unwanted messages of this nature, you should bring this to the attention of your Manager. Room leaders can communicate with parents via their email, please ensure no full names are shared and no images are sent to parents via email. Staff emails are a reflection on Castle Lane and should be treated as a work email only. Therefore email address should not be used in a personal manner.
Internet access and iPads
You must not use the internet facilities to visit, bookmark, download material from or upload material to inappropriate, obscene, pornographic, or otherwise offensive websites. Such use constitutes misconduct and will lead to disciplinary action up to and including summary dismissal in serious cases. iPads in the room must be used for our parent app, photos, searching child related activities. iPads must not be used for searching any personal requests or information.
We encourage staff to keep iPad use to a minimum. We expect our staff are interacting with children and not spending prolonged time on the iPads. Room leaders are expected to monitor and be aware of staff use of the iPad. There are key times within the day that the iPad should not be used. iPads should never be used in sleeps rooms, in toilets or potty-training areas. If staff see other staff using the iPad in the names spaces, then they should notify a senior member of the team.
iPads should never be taken outside of the nursery setting. Each evening iPads should be safely stored and ensured they have they password facility set.
Each employee has a responsibility to report any misuse of the internet or email. By not reporting such knowledge, the employee will be considered to be collaborating in the misuse. Each employee can be assured of confidentiality when reporting misuse.
Work Laptops
Laptops are only to be used for work related tasks such as learning journeys, observations, and teams calls etc. Work laptops should not be used for personal internet searching. Work laptops should also contain a pin or password for access. All laptops must be stored in the staff room and should not leave the nursery premises. Work laptops should not be used in sleep rooms, toilets or nappy changing areas.
Personal use of the internet, email and telephones
No personal mobile phones are allowed within nursery rooms. They need to be either locked in staff lockers or in the box in the office.
Any use of our electronic communication systems (including email, internet and telephones) for purposes other than the duties of your employment is not permitted.
Emergency personal calls need to be authorised by the manager and where possible, be made on your own personal mobile phone outside the nursery. If required, staff can give the landline number for emergency contact and may ask the Manger if they can take an incoming call, for example from a doctor’s surgery.
Disciplinary action will be taken where:
- the privilege of using our equipment is abused; or
- unauthorised time is spent on personal communications during working hours.
Alexa
We have chosen to allow Alexa to be used within the nursery rooms. Staff must ensure the devices are only used to support and develop child engagement. Alexa may be used for music and movement, timers, tidy up songs and other dancing activities. Staff must not ask Alexa questions or use it to gain information. Children are encouraged not to talk to Alexa and staff must remain vigilant to this. The Alexas will be monitored and reflected by room leaders and they must speak to management if they feel that they are bring used inappropriately. We do not encourage music to be played throughout the day. However it can be used to support an activity, for example, dancing time.
Data protection
When using any of our systems, employees must adhere to the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 (GDPR). For more information see our Data Protection and Confidentiality Policy.
Downloading or installing software
Employees may not install any software which has not been cleared for use by the manager onto our computers or systems. Such action may lead to disciplinary action up to and including summary dismissal in serious cases.
Using removable devices
Before using any removable storage media which has been used on hardware not owned by us (e.g. USB pen drive, CDROM etc.) the contents of the storage device must be virus checked.
Policy last updated: October 2025
