Last updated: April 2026

Review date: April 2027

• It is everybody’s responsibility to ensure that the nursery is clean and tidy throughout the day and chemicals harmful to children, are kept out of reach of children.
• Do not use a vacuum cleaner when children are present in the area. Furniture should be moved, where this is practical (ie the object is not too heavy). Caution should be exercised on stairs. Take care that no one can trip over the cable.
• Tidying away toys should be a cooperative task involving the children (Tidy-Up Time). Check that small pieces of toys go into the right boxes (there is no play value in an incomplete toy). Remove paint and glue from table surfaces, following a craft activity.
• Clean the lids on paint pots and change the paint if necessary (older children like to help with this job)
• Table surfaces need to be cleaned before meal times with anti-bacterial cleaner and a Tables and chairs must be cleaned thoroughly after meal times using soapy water and then sanitised.
• The toilet area needs to be checked and cleaned regularly. Disposable gloves should be worn when cleaning the toilets. Children are encouraged to flush the toilet, but you may need to flush it if they have not.
• Children are also encouraged to wash their hands after every visit to the toilet.
• Potties need to cleaned after each use, with disinfectant spray and a disposable cloth. Gloves should be Potties are then sterilised with sterilising fluid at the end of each day.
• Areas of the setting that are not carpeted need to mopped daily and the right colour mop and bucket assigned to that area.
• Chemicals for cleaning must never be mixed. To mop the floors, use hot, soapy water or an appropriate floor cleaner.
• Milton can be used to sanitise areas but must not be used with other cleaning products.
• Bins are emptied when full or at the end of each day. Children are encouraged to use recycling bins where appropriate.
• Dirty marks on any walls or windows should be cleaned, as soon as is practical after they are detected.
• All toys and equipment need to be stored away Equipment should not be left out in a common area to be put away later as this may constitute a health or fire hazard.
• Toys must be routinely washed or sterilised.
• Toys/resources that are perishable in weather, where possible, should be brought in from outside or stored in a shed to protect from the elements.

Use of Disposable/Reusable Clothing

This defines the simple procedures and precautions to be taken by Nursery staff for the safe use of disposable and re-useable protective clothing and related items in order to minimise the potential for cross-infections, and to preserve the health and safety of the staff member when in contact with hazardous materials and / or infection "The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended in 2022)"