News

Improve your practice: Health and safety

Charities and training providers can help early years practitioners give child health and safety the attention it deserves CHILD HEALTH
Charities and training providers can help early years practitioners give child health and safety the attention it deserves

CHILD HEALTH

Allergies and anaphylaxis

Allergy UK

Allergy UK increases understanding and awareness of allergy.

Anaphylaxis Campaign

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction. However, most children affected can be accommodated in early years settings with the correct procedures in place. The Anaphylaxis Campaign provides information and training courses on how to support children with allergies in schools.

SRL Training

* Allergy and Anaphylaxis awareness: one-day course exploring the common causes and effects of allergy, reflecting on the role practitioners play in care.

Asthma

Asthma UK

National Asthma Campaign Scotland

Both charities support people with asthma and those who care and work with people with asthma.

Bedwetting

Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC) ERIC provides help to children suffering from nocturnal enuresis, the medical term for bedwetting, and the less common problems of daytime wetting. ERIC provides advice on bedwetting, daytime wetting, constipation and incontinence in children with special needs. Its seminars include:

* The assessment and treatment of childhood soiling, including children with special needs: seminar in Manchester on 25 January. Topics covered include the referral process.

* Nocturnal Enuresis: an advanced course on the Three Systems Approach: seminar in Manchester on 24 January advancing delegates' knowledge of the 'Three Systems' Approach and introducing principles for applying the theory to complex cases.

Burns/scalds

Children's Fire and Burn Trust

The Children's Fire and Burn Trust gives advice on drawing up a co-ordinated and comprehensive fire and burn prevention programme for schools and other child carers and aims to improve the long-term rehabilitation of child burn victims. The Trust promotes child safety awareness during Child Safety Week - Monday 20 to Sunday 26 June.

Cancer

Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK is the largest volunteer-supported cancer research organisation in the world.

Cleft lip

Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA)

CLAPA provides support for new parents, and for people with the condition and their families. There are more than 35 CLAPA groups in the UK (all run by volunteers), and many other regional contacts across the UK. Among their key functions are running a specialist service for parents and health professionals seeking help feeding babies with clefts, developing support and training for children affected by clefts.

* International conference: held annually in September.

Coeliac disease

Coeliac UK

Coeliac disease is a condition caused by an inability to digest gluten, which often results in bowel symptoms and failure to gain weight. Coeliac UK supports and provides help to Coeliacs and those with Dermatitis Herpetiformis (an itchy skin rash caused by gluten sensitivity).

Publications, including The Gluten Free Food and Drink Directory, can be bought direct from Coeliac UK.

Diabetes

Diabetes UK

Diabetes UK is the largest organisation in the UK working for people with diabetes.

Eczema

National Eczema Society

The National Eczema Society gives advice and assistance on lifestyle changes and self-help measures to help keep eczema under control. A School Information Pack is available.

* Eczema - supporting and managing this misunderstood condition: covers topics including childhood atopic eczema.

Epilepsy

National Society for Epilepsy

* An introduction to epilepsy: half-day seminar appropriate for those who have just started working with people with epilepsy.

* Customised training: includes a full-day epilepsy course, seminars, conferences and visits.

HIV

National Children's Bureau

* Children living with HIV: multi-disciplinary training course aiming to update knowledge of HIV as an issue and to raise the awareness of the impact of HIV on children, young people and families. This course will benefit professionals working in early years provision, social and health services.

Meningitis

Meningitis Trust

The Meningitis Trust has produced an extensive range of information to raise awareness of the disease and offers support to people affected by meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia.

The trust's nursery nurse officer has carried out meningitis awareness training courses for nursery nurses, nannies and childcarers across the UK.

The trust also has an educational website at www.inmedonline.co.uk.

Yorkhill NHS Trust

Yorkhill NHS Trust in Glasgow offers advice on care of a sick child, what to tell children before they go into hospital, supporting children post-operatively and in facing bereavement.

Paediatric care

Action for Sick Children

Action for Sick Children seeks to ensure that sick children always receive the highest standard of care in hospital, at home and in the community, and that their special needs are taken into account and the whole child is treated - not just the illness or injury. It promotes certain beliefs to achieve these aims, including the fact that children should never feel isolated and they should be involved in decisions about their treatment, along with their parents. A Parent Pack has been designed to specifically help parents cope with and prepare for different aspects of children's healthcare. Educational videos have been produced to help take away the fears children have about going to hospital.

SRLtraining

* Childhood illness: one-day course focusing on the effects of common infections on children.

CHILD SAFETY

ABC medical services

Approved by the National Childminding Association and the Pre-school Learning Alliance, ABC Medical Services courses include:

* Paediatric emergency aid: four-, six- or 12-hour course designed to give anyone responsible for looking after children the confidence to deal with medical emergencies.

* Anaphylactic shock awareness course (Epi-Pen): two-hour course including basic resuscitation and training in using an Epi-Pen. Only approved Epi-Pen instructors teach this course, which is recognised by the Anaphylaxis Campaign.

* Basic life support adult/ paediatric: three-hour course providing information on resuscitation.

Acorn Early Years Training

* Allergy management: half-day course for anyone who handles and prepares food in an early years setting. Topics include what causes allergies, how an allergic reaction occurs, and menu planning.

* Allergy and anphylaxis awareness: one-day course includes handling and preparation of food for chefs, managers and childcarers.

* Child safety in early years care: one-day course covering how accidents occur, how to carry out a risk assessment, identifying and responding to child safety concerns, shaken baby syndrome, legal and policy considerations.

* Fire safety: two-hour course to help practitioners to be aware of the causes of fire and what action to take in the event of a fire.

* First aid in early years: two-day, 12-hour course providing information on the essentials of first aid for the care of children and babies, including: casualty assessment, choking, bleeding, wounds, bandaging, resuscitation, epilepsy, care of the sick child, emergency plans, diabetes, burns and poisoning.

* Health and safety in early years care: one-day course for managers and supervisors including risk assessment, manual handling, fire safety and food hygiene.

* Implementing health and safety in a childcare setting: one-day course for those who have achieved the certificate in health and safety and want to gain a fuller understanding of implementing health and safety.

* Paediatric first aid: six-hour course providing information on the essentials of first aid, including care of children and babies, casualty assessment, choking, bleeding, wounds, bandaging and resuscitation.

* Sun safety: two-hour course in safe-sun practice. It looks at skin damage caused by the sun, precautions and policy considerations.

British Red Cross

First Aid for childcarers: courses run across England. Information on these courses can be obtained from your local Red Cross office.

Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT)

* General child safety: the content is designed specifically for each group of participants. Covering the provision and maintenance of play facilities, with topics including playground equipment standards, developing maintenance regimes, and achieving an appropriate balance between checking and maintaining equipment.

common threads training

* Introduction to risk assessment: four-hour course.

Crechendo Training

* First aid for babies and children: certified, one-day First Aid course about the skills needed to deal with everyday emergencies, as well as covering life-saving techniques including resuscitation and dealing with choking, burns and bleeding. The course is suitable for parents as well as professional carers.

EARLY EDUCATION Training and resource centre

* First Aid for those working with children: two-day course. On completion of a successful external assessment on day two, delegates will receive a certificate. This course meets Ofsted requirements.

experiential play

* Elementary food hygiene: two-evening course aimed at all staff working with children. REHISElementary Food Hygiene Certicate is offered on successful completion.

Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID)

FSID promotes information on how to reduce the risk of cot death and supports bereaved families. It is based in London and has eight regional co-ordinators working across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

JACE Training

* Infant and Child Diploma in First Aid: certificated course inspected and controlled by the Health and Safety Executive. The 12-hour course includes lectures and group discussions. Areas covered include the role of the appointed person, health and safety of the early years environment, the First Aid box, emergency procedures, children's accidents and injuries and how to record them.

* First Aid at work: under the Health and Safety Act 1981, if there are more than five employees then a qualified First Aider is required. This four-day course consists of practical tuition, including an examination.

Areas covered are similar to the Infant and Child Diploma course above.

Successful candidates will receive a certificate that is valid for three years.

The manor tree group

* Paediatric first aid: two-day course covering first aid for children and babies. Topics include: choking, bleeding, resuscitation, head injuries, epilepsy, allergic reaction, poisoning, exposure to cold and heat.

* Health and safety for schools and nurseries: one-day health and safety course including risk assessment and first aid regulations.

Maternity and Nanny Training (MNT)

* Emergency paediatric First Aid: comprehensive half-day course directed specifically at treating babies and children up to the age of seven. Topics covered include managing an incident, First Aid kits, unconscious casualties, choking and resuscitation.

* First Aid course: two-day in-depth course covering all aspects of First Aid including anaphylactic shock.

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA)

* Implementing health and safety in the childcare environment: one-day course covering the essentials of health and safety at work, including the law, the financial consequences, childcare, nursery and staff issues. It also examines the key requirements to implementing health and safety, such as developing the policy and culture, engaging staff, prioritising a realistic workload and setting achievable targets, and the key elements of a health and safety policy.

NHS CONNECT

NHS CONNECT is the professional and training development arm of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT). Tutors offer professional workshops.

Playgroup Network

For details of training, contact your local association.

Pre-school learning alliance

* Health and safety in the parent and toddler group: three-hour course for staff and volunteers working with younger children and looking at the importance of safe practice with young children.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) RoSPA is involved in the promotion of safety in all areas of life - work, home, on the roads, in schools, at leisure and on (or near) water. Safety posters, signs and videos can be purchased from RoSPA.

srL training

* Allergy and Anaphylaxis awareness: six-hour course looking at the cause and effect of common allergies, the practitioner's role in caring for young children with common allergies and developing an awareness of anaphylaxis.

St John Ambulance

* Early years First Aid: 12-hour course developed in conjunction with the National Childminding Association and the Pre-school Learning Alliance. The course is also recognised for the purpose of registration as an early years professional and can be used to provide evidence to an NVQ assessor for those working towards an NVQ in Early Years Care and Education. Topics covered include: First Aid and national standards, the role of a first aider, accident reporting and the First Aid box, action planning, casualty action plans, the recovery position, infant and child choking, asthma and diabetes, seizures, allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock, head injuries, bleeding and shock, burns, sprains, strains and fractures, poisoning, bites and stings. A St John Ambulance certificate, valid for three years, is issued on successful completion of assessment.

* Lifesaver babies and children: four-hour course shows how to deal with life threatening conditions in babies and children. Topics covered include managing an incident, casualty management, initial assessment, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and choking. A St John Ambulance certificate, valid for three years, is issued on successful completion of assessment.

* Emergency aid in schools: topics covered include burns and scalds, control of bleeding, resuscitation, incident management, miscellaneous conditions and treatment of an unconscious casualty. A St John Ambulance certificate, valid for three years, is issued on successful completion of assessment.

South-East Essex College

* First Aid - early years: course can be taken as either two six-hour days or over four weeks. Topics covered include resuscitation and recovery position for babies and children, how to treat unconsciousness, shock/bleeding, poisoning, burns and fractures.

Tinies Childcare

* Emergency First Aid: one-day course suitable for parents and childcarers and recognised by Ofsted. Covers all of the essentials, such as baby and child resuscitation, choking, convulsions, burns and bleeding.

* Basic food hygiene: recognised by Ofsted, this online course is suitable for all staff.

* Health and safety: recognised by Ofsted, it covers accident prevention, fire safety and hazardous substances.

* Recognising and preventing childhood illnesses: two-hour workshop suitable for all parents and carers, provides information on common ailments and symptons.