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At Willow Den, we aim to ensure that all children are able to have a nap or rest throughout the day to promote good health and rejuvenation. Even children who do not nap as a routine sometimes need a short sleep. We offer quiet, cosy spaces for rest.
When designing sleep spaces at Willow Den settings, we prioritise the safety of children’s sleeping.
We provide a safe sleeping environment by doing the following:
- Keeping sleeping spots away from the hubbub of the main area but where staff can see or hear the child directly.
- To identify appropriate sleeping spots, we will consider the following points.
- Keeping all spaces around the sleeper clear from hanging objects and any other hazards.
- Avoiding the sun shining directly onto a child.
- Providing a sheltered spot away from the wind, draughts and out of the rain (e.g. inside a sleep tent or under tarpaulin).
- Providing an insulated mat which children can sleep on and/or hammocks for sleeping in.
- Ensuring children sleeping are not too hot or cold. The neck of a child gives an indication of comfort levels when a child is clothed. Taking a layer off to avoid overheating and keeping clean.
- We provide blankets/sleeping bags for children. Blankets are allocated to individual children.
- Bedding items are washed at least weekly and when visibly dirty.
- Bedding is allocated to a named child and stored individually.
- For comfort any child wearing a pull up or nappy will be checked before sleeping where possible. Children will be asked if they need to go to the toilet before sleeping.
- Protecting the child from biting insects and disturbance from animals.
- Placing children down on their back when putting a child down to sleep.
- Monitoring the children visually when sleeping; looking for the rise and fall of the chest and sleep position. Checks are recorded every 10 minutes.
- A sleep record will be filled out on the online recording system for each sleeping child. (For children with known medical illnesses or are who are unwell, sleep monitoring shall be carried more frequently.)
- Cleaning the sleeping mat after each use with recommended sanitising spray (as per infection control procedures) and wiped thoroughly with a disposable cloth.
We recognise parents/carers’ knowledge of their child regarding sleep routines and will work together to ensure each child’s individual sleep needs and well-being are met. However, staff will not coerce a child to sleep or keep them awake against their will. Staff will not usually wake children from their sleep unless necessary.
Staff will feedback children’s sleep times to parents at the end of the day and discuss any changes in their sleeping routines.
