Help with policies please

[LikeaPairOfNunsKnickers]

I'm due my Ofsted inspection any time now (was last inspected April 2009) and so I'm trying to get all my paperwork up-together.

I vaguely remember my last Childcare Advisor saying that we now need a 'Deaths' policy. Do any of you CMs have such a policy? I had a look on the lovely Bromley site but could find nothing.

My current Advisor is not quite as helpful and knowledgeable as my last (!) and so I thought I'd try you lot first.

Hi. I had my inspection last week. The inspector was extremely 'thorough'to say the least but she never mentioned a deaths policy. Good luck with it. X

Havn't got a specific death policy but how about adding into one of your existing ones say Transitions, partnership, Behaviour Management, Safeguarding or have you got one on general care.

I find the expression "death policy" quite alarming if only because of the wording used. I do know that schools have a "bereavement policy" which in my opinion is a somewhat more sensitive phrase. However, I do not personally believe that a specific policy is required for CM settings - I am one of those who believes that less is best and have just 12 policies which fully satisfied my inspector - I copied the idea from another poster on here in having what could be termed a "common sense" policy (although I don't actually call it that!!!).

You need very few policies - and that's not one of them!

I quite agree that 'death policy' is most alarming but that is how it was worded with my meeting with the previous CA.

I think a 'common sense' policy sounds far more appropriate. Tbh, my first reaction to being told about a 'death policy' was that I could not plan for such an horrific occurrence.

Akasa - could I be sneaky and ask where how you devised your 'common sense' policy, what wording did you use?

And thankyou, everyone, for all your help - it is good to know that I am not alone it thinking this this policy would be a step too far.

If you look on the Bromley site, there's a Terrorist Attack Policy template...that (to me) really is a step too far.

Hi there if you go to noelquinn.co.uk then there is a full list of policies on there, there is no mention of a death one!! I had a visit from my local advisor (dragon!!) and there was no mention of a death one but I got pulled up on not having an info sharing one so ofsted can look at my paper work and not having a charging one I thought I covered that in my contract but not good enough apparently !! Good luck with your inspection

callmedizzy - thanks for the suggestion of noelquinn, I'd never heard of it.

The policy templates certainly look a lot more comprehensive than mine so perhaps I will just update the ones I've got rather than stress about a 'death policy' that an ex-CA suggested.