Covid Policy

Protective measures we are taking in light of coronavirus (COVID-19)

First and foremost, it goes without saying that the safety of your child and of our staff is our top priority. We are working hard, following the latest government guidance, to develop and implement a number of new ways of operating. This will allow us to open as safely as possible, focusing on measures that will help limit the risk of coronavirus transmitting within our setting.

Measures

• Asking that anyone who is displaying coronavirus symptoms, or who lives with someone who does, not to attend the setting. That includes children and staff who work here.
• According to National guidelines laid out for all education settings if any of the children or adults at the setting display one of the three symptoms below you have to collect them immediately and carry out a covid test for them, before they can be allowed back on site provided the test result is negative and they are in good health.
• If they test positive you follow the guidelines for isolation period for your child and yourself.
• You are able to book a test for them at a walk-in centre or order a home testing kit.
• Advise on how to do this can be found on https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
• You will have to send the NHS confirmation result to the nursery please not photos of the test strip.
• The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
  a high temperature
  a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual) a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
  • Preventing the spread of coronavirus involves dealing with direct transmission (for instance, when in close contact with those sneezing and coughing) and indirect transmission (via touching contaminated surfaces).
  • We ensure that contact is minimised with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus symptoms, or who have someone in their household will not attend the settings.
  • There is more cleaning of hands more often than usual – hands should be thoroughly washed for 20 seconds with running water and soap and dried thoroughly, or alcohol hand rub or sanitizer can be used by ensuring that all parts of the hands are covered
  • We ensure good respiratory hygiene by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach
  • We are cleaning frequently touched surfaces often using standard products, such as detergents and bleach.
  • Children, young people and students whose care routinely already involves the use of PPE due to their intimate care needs will continue to receive their care in the same way (as expected staff will follow nappy changing policy)
  • If a child, with symptoms of coronavirus while at the setting and needs direct personal care until they can return home. A fluid-resistant surgical face mask will be worn by the supervising adult if as a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained alongside disposable gloves, a disposable apron If a risk assessment determines that there is a risk of splashing to the eyes, for example from coughing, spitting, or vomiting, then eye protection should also be worn this will also be adhered to when there has been a case of vomiting.
  • Please ensure its only one parent dropping of or collecting.
  • Please ensure that your children come in each time in fresh new clothing with a clean spare set of clothing in their bags. If we notice that children come in appearing dirty or unkempt with dirty bags etc. We will ask that you take them home and clean them up before we can accept them into the setting.
  • A member of staff will bring your child to door they will ensure that child is suitably dressed for home; please do not attempt to come inside the building unless you’re encouraged to do so by a member of staff.
  • You will need to arrive 10-15 minutes early to collect your child to ensure that you’re not late and to help us manage the new protocol as staff will begin to get your child ready 20 minutes before their pickup time.
  • Avoid arriving too early to drop your child off so that you don’t have to wait too long and to adhere to social distancing method.
  • Also avoid lingering in the compound to chat with other parents’ pickups and drop offs should be prompt.

Isolation

If you or your child travels you would have to Isolate upon your return according to Government guidelines depending on the country you are returning from: You must let the setting know of your intention to travel so that we can have a record and let you know when your child is expected back at the setting as well.

Managing Resources

• At the moment no use of all soft toys and soft furnishings such as rugs, bean bags, pillows are still disallowed for now with the exception of sleep mats all children will continue to use their separate beddings and bedding bags.
• No activities such as water play/sand play or activities.
• At this point we are discouraging toys from home other than dummies for babies which will be sterilised upon arrival