Policies | Christian Nursery School in Coventry

Introduction

LoveSpring Nursery School is committed to maintaining the highest standards of care and education for all children, even during unexpected disruptions. This Business Continuity Plan outlines our strategies to ensure critical nursery operations continue during emergencies, safeguarding both children and staff while maintaining our educational provision.

We serve children aged 6 months to 5 years at our Coventry location (CV1 5HA), and our continuity planning is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of early years provision.

1. Plan Aims and Objectives

Our Commitment

This plan aims to:

Identify potential risks that could disrupt nursery operations
Provide clear procedures to maintain critical childcare activities
Ensure all children continue to receive quality care and education
Protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children and staff
Maintain communication with parents and stakeholders during disruptions
Minimize the impact of emergencies on nursery operations

2. Legal Framework

2.1 Legislative Foundation

This plan complies with relevant legislation and guidance including:

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework 2024
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Civil Contingencies Act 2004
Data Protection Act 2018
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023

2.2 EYFS Requirements

Under the EYFS framework, we must ensure continuity of care and maintain safeguarding standards even during emergency situations.

3. Roles and Responsibilities

3.1 Emergency Response Team

Role	Responsibilities	Deputy
Nursery Manager	Activate continuity plan, lead emergency response, make key decisions	Deputy Manager
Safeguarding Lead	Ensure child protection, support vulnerable children, liaise with agencies	Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Health & Safety Officer	Assess risks, coordinate safety measures, liaise with emergency services	Room Leader
Communications Lead	Manage parent communications, coordinate updates, handle enquiries	Administrative Staff

3.2 All Staff Responsibilities

Follow emergency procedures as trained
Prioritize children's safety and wellbeing
Maintain accurate records of incidents and actions
Support colleagues and maintain professional standards
Communicate effectively with parents and managers

4. Communication Strategies

4.1 Emergency Communication Channels

Stakeholder	Primary Method	Backup Method	Information Storage
Parents/Carers	Text message/Email	Phone calls/Nursery app	Secure cloud database + paper backups
Staff	Phone tree/WhatsApp group	Email/In-person briefing	Secure staff database
Emergency Services	Direct phone contact	Alternative numbers	Emergency contacts folder
Local Authority	Designated contact	Alternative departments	Secure directory

4.2 Immediate Response Communication

In the first 30 minutes of an emergency:

Alert emergency services if required (999)
Notify Nursery Manager and emergency team
Communicate immediate safety instructions to staff
Send initial alert to parents if situation affects collection/drop-off
Update nursery website and social media if appropriate

5. Continuity Strategies for Different Scenarios

5.1 Staff Shortage Scenarios

Scenario	Trigger Point	Immediate Actions	Responsible Person
Minor Staff Shortage	2+ staff absent unexpectedly	Reallocate staff, combine groups, use bank staff	Room Leaders
Significant Shortage	40%+ staff unavailable	Prioritize key rooms, temporary room closures, notify parents	Nursery Manager
Critical Shortage	Unable to meet ratios	Partial closure, emergency staffing, Ofsted notification	Nursery Manager

5.2 Premises Issues

Site-Specific Scenarios

Issue Type	Response Actions	Alternative Arrangements
Partial Closure (e.g., one room flooded)	Secure area, redirect children, temporary room allocation	Use of hall space, outdoor learning areas
Utility Failure (power/water/heating)	Assess safety, implement backup systems, early closure if needed	Generator use, bottled water, temporary heating
Full Site Closure (major incident)	Emergency evacuation, parent notification, secure premises	Pre-arranged alternative venue (local community centre)

6. Remote Learning and Support

6.1 Home Learning Provision

During extended closures, we provide:

Daily activity suggestions via email/nursery app
Online story sessions for pre-school children
Activity packs for collection/delivery
Regular check-in calls with families
Virtual parent consultations where needed

6.2 SEND and Vulnerable Children

Additional support for children with additional needs:

Individualized home learning resources
Regular contact with SENCO
Collaboration with external agencies
Priority access to nursery if partially open
Enhanced safeguarding checks

7. Safeguarding During Disruption

7.1 Continued Safeguarding

Safeguarding Aspect	Continuity Measures	Monitoring
Child Protection	Maintain safeguarding team availability, continue monitoring	Daily safeguarding briefings
Vulnerable Children	Enhanced contact, liaison with social services	Weekly vulnerability reviews
Staff Vigilance	Continued training, reporting procedures maintained	Incident logging and review
Online Safety	Secure remote systems, parent guidance	IT security monitoring

7.2 Wellbeing Support

We maintain support for children's emotional wellbeing through:

Consistent routines where possible
Emotional literacy activities
Staff training on supporting anxious children
Parent guidance on managing disruption
Access to specialist support if needed

8. Recovery and Restoration

8.1 Phased Recovery Approach

Recovery Phase	Key Actions	Timescale
Immediate Response	Secure safety, communicate, assess damage	First 24 hours
Short-term Recovery	Partial reopening, temporary arrangements, staff support	1-7 days
Medium-term Recovery	Restore full operations, review procedures, debrief staff	1-4 weeks
Long-term Recovery	Implement improvements, update plans, training	1-6 months

8.2 Review and Improvement

Post-incident review within 2 weeks of resolution
Staff and parent feedback collection
Update of continuity plans based on lessons learned
Additional staff training if required
Documentation of successful strategies

9. Key Contact Information

9.1 Essential Contacts

Contact	Role/Responsibility	Primary Contact	Backup Contact
Nursery Manager	Plan activation, overall responsibility	024 1234 5678	07890 123456
Safeguarding Lead	Child protection, vulnerable children	024 1234 5679	07890 123457
Health & Safety Officer	Risk assessment, premises safety	024 1234 5680	07890 123458
Local Authority	Early years team, emergency support	024 7683 1000	024 7683 2000
Ofsted	Regulatory reporting	0300 123 1231	enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk

10. Related Policies and Procedures

Integrated Policy Framework

Emergency Evacuation Procedures
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Health and Safety Policy
Critical Incident Response Plan
Remote Learning Policy
Data Protection and IT Security Policy
Staff Deployment and Absence Policy

11. Emergency Contact Information

Emergency Services: 999

Non-emergency Police: 101

NHS 111: 111

Nursery Emergency Line: 024 1234 5678

Out of Hours Contact: 07890 123456

Email: emergency@lovespringnursery.co.uk

Date of Plan: [Current Date]

Last Reviewed: [Current Date]

Next Review Due: [Two years from current date]

Signed: _________________________

Position: Nursery Manager/Owner, LoveSpring Nursery School