What is Overnight Care?

Huggie Bears Family Childcare is registered to provide Over Night Care for children. There is a dedicated sleep room for children to sleep and children will be monitored to ensure their safety. Children’s safety and privacy are always safeguarded.

We ensure that children’s health, safety and wellbeing needs are met whilst attending overnight care and effective policies and procedures and the cultivation of effective systems for communication and collaboration between families. Whilst a full risk assessment has been undertaken.

Children being cared for overnight have additional care needs, which need to be discussed prior to a child staying to ensure a consistent and sensitive approach. We will need to obtain information from parent(s)/carer(s) about their child’s normal bedtime routines such as washing/ bathing, preferred comforters, eating and drinking requirements etc. We will also need to know if your child is likely to have any concerns in the night, for example, bedwetting, nightmares, sleepwalking, using the toilet/potty during the night, etc and how parent(s)/carer(s) normally deal with these. The setting will work closely with parent(s)/carer(s), to ensure that the child’s needs are met.

Before a child stays overnight, emergency contact numbers must be provided. If the parent is unavailable to be contacted, then another named person must be available to collect the child if necessary – confirmation of this agreement must be obtained which will be included in the contract with the parent(s)/carer(s) agreement.

What are the reasons for Overnight Care?

This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as parents working late shifts, going on a trip that may be work related, or needing a break. It is ideal for shift workers such as those in the emergency services, i.e. medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, police, firefighters and paramedics, to ensure that they can work whilst their child is being professionally and safely cared for. We are ideally located within easy reach of several hospitals, fire station and police stations as well as ambulance station.

For children who attend during the day, there is continuity of care for when a child stays overnight when this required – Children refer to it as a ‘sleepover’ and there is lots of excitement! It is very helpful for parent(s)/carer(s) as the child is very familiar with the setting and allows for continuity of care.

What do I need to supply for my child for Overnight Care?

We ask that parent(s)/carer(s) supply the following items in an overnight bag for your child’s
stay:

• Pyjamas / dressing gown / slippers
• Toiletries – toothpaste / toothbrush / soap / bubble bath / shampoo etc
• Clothing for the next morning
• Hairbrush
• Comforter / teddy for sleep
• Any other items you feel your child may need.

Please note that clean bedding and towels will be provided and are laundered daily.

Safeguarding Statement: As an Ofsted Registered Early Years setting, we need to make parent(s)/carer(s) aware that if a child is cared for a continuous period of 28 days or more, s/he is regarded as a foster child and we must notify the local Social Care for Children Department. This is outlined in our Safeguarding Policy and Procedure which would be discussed with parent(s)/carer(s) at registration.