I always have to hand phone numbers for the children’s parents/guardians, children’s GP, my GP, Emergency GP Line/NHS Helpline and emergency back up person. At home, I have a landline telephone in addition to my mobile which is always switched on and with me either when I’m at home or out and about.

As required by my registration I attend recommended first aid courses every 3 years. A first aid box (stocked according to Red Cross recommendations) is easily found in the kitchen.

A fire blanket is situated in the kitchen. 2 smoke alarms are fitted – one on the ground floor in the hallway and one situated upstairs on the landing and are checked weekly.

Children are shown the smoke alarms and what they sound like. Each term, I practice my fire drill with the children (without frightening them).

In an emergency situation I can contact nearby Registered Childminders. In the unlikely event that I cannot contact a Registered Childminder in an emergency situation your child may be left with Keith, or a trusted friend, neighbour or relative for a short period to await your collection. An emergency situation (eg, my accompanying an injured child in an ambulance) is the only situation that would lead to my leaving your child with an unregistered person. At all other times minded children are within my sight or hearing, unless parent has given written permission for their child to walk to/from my home unaccompanied, for example a secondary school student walking to my home from the bus stop.