Hand washing guidelines at Pre-School

[Flumpytina]

Just wondering if anyone has any advice or can direct me in the right direction about handwashing recommendations at a Pre-School.

dd1 currently attends the local community pre-school which is fab in all respects except their policy (or lack of it) towards handwashing.

The facilities are rather old and grotty but when I did duty there a few weeks ago it became quickly apparent that none of the children were washing their hands after using the loo, primarily because they couldn't turn the taps on or use the liquid soap dispenser independently.

They all have a mid morning snack and there was no suggestion/encouragement by the staff that they go and wash their hands. After I spoke to the Chair about it I was told that they usually get given an anti-bac wipe before their snack, and that they would look into getting some soap dispensers the children could actually use.

Am I making a huge fuss over nothing (ie is it usual in most nurseries/preschools that the children never wash their hands)?
And where can I get some info to back myself up at the next commitee meeting that things need to change.

Many thanks in advance

[charliecat]

At the nursery I used to work at there were child sized sinks with bars of soap, that ofsted said were germ ridden and had to be replaced with soap dispensers that the children had trouble adjusting to.
They washed thier hands after loo, out of habit, they got chased back down to the loos if they hadnt. Before and after snacks and lunch.

[brimfull]

They should have a policy to deal with health and safety which would include hygiene.
I'm the chair of a preschool,will look up ours in a mo.
Definately ours has a strict hand washing policy after using the toilet and before eating.We have a person to supervise it before snack time .Our toilet is directly off the pre-school room so the children can be seen at all times anyway.

[Flumpytina]

Thanks charliecat. Do you know if Ofsted actually publish any guidelines about handwashing. I've been on their web site but no joy putting it into the search function.

[hunkermunker]

What did their Ofsted report say?

Often hand hygiene is a "room for improvement" thing on reports.

At DS1's preschool, they're very hot on hand washing. Definitely good to be - children can spread germs so easily with grubby hands.

[brimfull]

\link{http://www.pre-school.org.uk/resources/safety.pdfhave a look at this site}

[brimfull]

sorry

[Flumpytina]

Great, will go and check out that link now.

Will also check out what the most recent Ofsted report said...I imagine it will say 'could do better' as the facilities are so minging (its in a 30 year old Scout Hut!!)

[Shosha]

Message withdrawn

[brimfull]

god had a panic there flumptina,thought you were talking about ours,as it's in an ancient scout hut aswell...but quite hygienic I might add
Had to check your profile to make sure!

[Flumpytina]

Thank you Shosha. I actually suggested that they have a few bowls of warm soapy water and all the children should line up and wash their hands before their snack. I was told, Oh no they have to wash their hands under running water, and we don't have the space for that (they only have one small corner sink), hence the use of anti bac wipes which I hate at they are so wasteful/expensive and personally I don't think they help in teaching the children the importance of handwashing.

ggirl couldn't find anything on the PSLA site so I've e-mailed them.

[Flumpytina]

ggirl..I'm sure your scout hut is beautifully sanitary!!

[Shosha]

Message withdrawn

[LowFatMilkshake]

I am the H&S Rep on my DD@s pre-school committee and I would not be impressed with this situation. If the building has been deemed suitable to accomodate a pre-school that needs to include wellfare facilities that can be accessed by those using the site.

Look on the ofsted report for comments and raise the concern with the committee and other parents if you have to.

An anti-bac wipe, while removing germs does not 'clean hands' And can actually dry delicate skin. It is a very lazy attitude to have and as a pre-school they should be teaching good hygiene behaviours for the children to put to use where ever they are.

Also, how do the children clean up after messy activities such as painting, play doungh sand etc. And what happens when they do any cooking?

Our pre-school has childrens pump bottles and tablet soap, paper towels and regular towels which helps the children realise all the differnet guises these things come in when they use public or domestic conveniences.

[brimfull]

try this site

[Flumpytina]

Will plough through the Sure Start site when am feeling more perky (nothing came up when I put hand washing into the search engine, but I'm sure there must be something of relevance in there!)

LFM I think the staff have just sort of given up on the whole hygeine front. There are plans to build a new purpose built pre-school, and the usual response to most grumbles is 'oh well when we're in the new building it will be different/better/perfect etc which drives me barmy as the children are in this building NOW (hence my desire to go to the next commitee meeting and make some pro active suggestions without pissing anyone off or upsetting anyone as I have another 3 years at least of sending my dc there)

Just checked the Ofsted report and hygiene was fine...things must have slipped!

[redshoes]

Our pre-school is in a church hall, and has 3 adult-size sinks for the children. We fill the sinks with water, and the children stand on steps to reach them. They handwash after using the loo and before snack. Ofsted seemed happy with that.

[ledodgy]

In my dd's pre school they are made to wash their hands after they have been to the toilet, before they have their fruit and after they have had any form of messy play. They have to show their hands for inspection after they have washed them as well!

[McDreamy]

anti bac wipes are not appropriate for replacing handwashing they should be used in addition to handwashing and are not at all appropriate for small childrens skin. I would def take this further if I was a parent there but I am an infeection control nurse and I do get a bee in my bonnet about handwashing

[Flumpytina]

Thank you all. You have reassured me that the current situation isn't really acceptable and that I'm not just being a paranoid parent!!

Ofsted has e-mailed me their guidelines (a bit vague but regular handwashing should definately be encouraged), they also recommended the Pre School Learning Alliance for a good resource for helping to teach the kids to wash their hands.

I feel a little better equipped for the committee meeting now!