Staff Working with their Own Children or Close Relation Policy

At Winston’s Place Day Nursery we support all employees returning to work after having a baby and understand that there may be times when a member of staff chooses our nursery to provide childcare alongside them working or that there may be occasions when a member of staff is working in the same environment as a close relation e.g. niece or nephew. This policy supports consistency of care while ensuring safeguarding, fairness, and professional boundaries are maintained.

In these cases, we request the member of staff meet with the nursery manager and room leader, where appropriate, to discuss how best this will work alongside the nursery business needs. Discussions and agreed outcomes will be documented and reviewed regularly.

We believe children learn best when they are healthy, safe and secure, have their individual needs met and have a positive relationship with the staff caring for them. It is our policy that all staff remain neutral and treat all children as individuals with the same regard. This supports EYFS principles of inclusion, equality, and safeguarding.

When looking to accommodate staff members working alongside their own child or close relative in the nursery, we will make a decision and agreement based on the following circumstances:
• The individual needs of the child, including if they have any special educational needs and/or disabilities
• The number of rooms, number of staff, staff deployment and ratios
• Age or stage of development of the child
• Staff member’s expertise and where and when they usually work
• Days and times the child attends
• Transition arrangements to ensure continuity of care and emotional security

Whether the child or close relation is better placed within the same room or a different room from the staff member will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Once a decision has been made, an agreed set of guidelines will be developed between the nursery and the member of staff setting out the expectations of working with their child or close relation. This includes:
• Agreement that during nursery hours the child is in the care of the nursery, and that the nursery retains full responsibility for the child’s care and supervision
• Agreement on how the staff member will manage situations such as covering other rooms, outdoor play, or breaks
• Clear expectations around maintaining professional boundaries at all times

A similar agreement will be put in place for staff who do not have direct care of children (e.g. manager, cook, admin staff) but whose own child or family member attends the setting. Staff caring for another staff member’s child will treat them as they would any other parent and child, ensuring confidentiality, professionalism, and equality of care.

Where this agreement is not working or is impacting on the care of the child or other children in the room, the manager will meet with the member of staff to review the agreement, and the following will be considered:
• Time left until the child is due to transition to the next room or school
• Temporarily moving the staff member to another room. It is nursery policy to move the staff member rather than the child (unless the child is transitioning), to preserve continuity of care and peer relationships
• Where the staff member already works in a different room, an agreement will be made regarding appropriate contact with the child during the nursery day. While acknowledging parental needs, the nursery must consider room routines and potential emotional impact on the child when the parent leaves again.

Breastfeeding

Where a staff member’s baby requires breastfeeding, the nursery will adapt the above guidelines to suit both the baby’s and mother’s needs. This will be managed sensitively and in line with Equality Act 2010 protections. Appropriate cover will be provided during this time. Risk assessments will be reviewed to ensure health, safety, and safeguarding arrangements remain effective.