Covid Policy

Effective infection protection and control of COVID 19 Policy

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 will 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.
Upon arrival at the nursery each staff and child must wash their hands.
There will be 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 will ensure good respiratory hygiene by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach
We will be cleaning frequently touched surfaces often using standard products, such as detergents and bleach
We will be minimising contact and mixing by altering, as much as possible, the settings layout and break timetables for staff (such as staggered break times and encouraging staff to use other areas of the settings and outdoor areas and not just the staff room).

Personal protective equipment (PPE) including face coverings and face masks

Wearing a face covering or face mask in schools or other education settings is not recommended. Face coverings may be beneficial for short periods indoors where there is a risk of close social contact with people you do not usually meet and where social distancing and other measures cannot be maintained, for example on public transport or in some shops. This does not apply to schools or other education settings.

Children, young people and students whose care routinely already involves the use of PPE due to their intimate care needs should 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.

Shielded and clinically vulnerable children and young people

Some adults and young people have health conditions that mean they are more likely to get very unwell and might have to go to hospital if they catch coronavirus (COVID-19). These people are described as being extremely clinically vulnerable and include those who:

1. have had a solid organ transplant – kidney, liver, pancreas, heart, or lung
2. are having treatments for some cancers
3. have severe long-term lung disease including cystic fibrosis and severe asthma
4. have rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that increase their risk of infection
5. are on medication that compromises their immune system and so are much more likely to get infections and become seriously unwell from them
6. are pregnant with significant heart disease

Extremely clinically vulnerable people need to take extra action to prevent themselves from coming into contact with the virus, this is known as ‘shielding’.

If you are part of this group, the NHS will have sent you or will send you, a letter and/or a text confirming this. The letter may be sent to your parent or guardian on your behalf. If you think you are part of this group but you haven’t been contacted by the NHS, you should call your GP or hospital doctor for advice.

Once you receive a letter your clinician will be in touch to discuss what actions you should take depending on your individual circumstances. These may include:

1. Do not meet up with people outside of your household, including friends and family that don’t normally live with you, even if you are 2 metres apart (3 steps).
2. Strictly avoid contact with anyone who is showing symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough.
3. For more information on shielding please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremelyvulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/covid-19-guidance-on-protecting-people-most-likely-to-getunwell-from-coronavirus-shielding-young-peoples-version

Dropping off and picking up

Upon your arrival if you notice three parents in the compound already please wait outside the gate until you can come in.
Please ensure that your children come in each time in fresh new clothing with a clean spare set of clothing in their bags. (please for now can children make use of a plastic bag this is because staff will be wiping down their bags with detergent upon arrival)
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.
Toddlers will now come in through the garden gate and make their way into their part of the room, they will be collected by a member of staff at the garden gate.(please ring door bell and toddler room staff will be notified to collect your child)
Please ensure its only one parent dropping of or collecting.
A member of staff will bring your child to door they will ensure that child is suitably dressed for home; please until new guidelines come to effect parents are not able to come inside the building at all.
You now 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 pick up 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
Please rely on the Nursery famly app for feedback as staff will not be able to linger at the door to give extensive feedback.
Also avoid lingering in the compound to chat with other parents pickups and drop offs should be prompt.

Space management

Children under 2 years need 3.5 metres squared per child
2 year olds need 2.5 metres squared per child
Children aged 3 to 5 years need 2.3 metres squared per child

We will ensure that the children are in their rooms at all times each day, and different groups are not mixed during the day, or on subsequent days
We will ensure that the same staffs are assigned to each room, as far as possible; these stay the same during the day and on subsequent days.
We will ensure that wherever possible children use the same area of the setting throughout the day, with a thorough cleaning of the rooms at the end of the day and throughout the day

Managing Resources

We will be reducing the amount of toys and resources the children play with but we will still make sure that the children have a good variety of activities and play to keep them stimulated.
No use of all soft toys and soft furnishings such as rugs, bean bags, pillows to be disallowed for now with the exception of sleep mats all children will continue to use their separate beddings and bedding bags.
Sharing of toys to be reduced any toys or resources that are shared must be cleaned between different groups’ toys to be wiped down after each play or before another child can play with it.
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 children`s cups and beakers will be sterilised upon arrival too.

Cleaning and hygiene

We will follow the COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings guidance as stated below in bold.

Cleaning an area with normal household disinfectant after someone with suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) has left will reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people
Must wear disposable or washing-up gloves and aprons for cleaning. These should be double-bagged, then stored securely for 72 hours then thrown away in the regular rubbish after cleaning is finished
Using a disposable cloth, first clean hard surfaces with warm soapy water. Then disinfect these surfaces with the cleaning products you normally use. Pay particular attention to frequently touched areas and surfaces, such as bathrooms, grab-rails in corridors and stairwells and door handles
If an area has been heavily contaminated, such as with visible bodily fluids, from a person with coronavirus (COVID-19), use protection for the eyes, mouth and nose, as well as wearing gloves and an apron
Public areas where a symptomatic individual has passed through and spent minimal time, such as corridors, but which are not visibly contaminated with body fluids can be cleaned thoroughly as normal.
All surfaces that the symptomatic person has come into contact with must be cleaned and disinfected, including:objects which are visibly contaminated with body fluids
All potentially contaminated high-contact areas such as bathrooms, door handles, telephones, grab-rails in corridors and stairwells
Use disposable cloths or paper roll and disposable mop heads, to clean all hard surfaces, floors, chairs, door handles and sanitary fittings, following one of the options below:
A household detergent followed by disinfection (1000 ppm av.cl.). Follow manufacturer’s instructions for dilution, application and contact times for all detergents and disinfectants
If an alternative disinfectant is used within the organisation, this should be checked and ensure that it is effective against enveloped viruses
Avoid creating splashes and spray when cleaning.
Any cloths and mop heads used must be disposed of and should be put into waste bags as outlined below.
When items cannot be cleaned using detergents or laundered, for example, upholstered furniture and mattresses, steam cleaning should be used.
Any items that are heavily contaminated with body fluids and cannot be cleaned by washing should be disposed of.
Wash hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds, and after removing gloves, aprons and other protection used while cleaning

We will be cleaning surfaces that children and young people are touching, such as toys, books, desks, chairs, doors, sinks, toilets, light switches, banisters, more regularly than normal, thorough out the day.
We will ensure that all adults and children: frequently wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and dry thoroughly.
Upon children`s arrival we will ensure that they wash their hands and as usual before and after eating, and after sneezing or coughing.
We will encourage them not to touch their mouth, eyes and nose and use a tissue or elbow to cough or sneeze and use bins for tissue waste (‘catch it, bin it, kill it’).
We will ensure that help is available for children and young people who have trouble cleaning their hands independently.
All spaces should be well ventilated using natural ventilation (opening windows) or ventilation units.
We will prop doors open, where safe to do so (bearing in mind fire safety and safeguarding), to limit use of door handles and aid ventilation.
After the children finish playing with resources the Adults in charge of that group must wipe clean all resources.
During toilet checks sink surfaces and potties must be wiped ensure you are wearing disposable gloves.
Each staff after using the staff room must clean up after themselves and not leave any litter.

Laundry

We will wash items in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the warmest water setting and dry items completely. Dirty laundry that has been in contact with an unwell person can be washed with other people’s items.
Please do not shake dirty laundry this minimises the possibility of dispersing virus through the air.
Clean and disinfect anything used for transporting laundry with your usual products, in line with the cleaning guidance above

Waste

Waste from possible cases and cleaning of areas where possible cases have been (including disposable cloths and tissues):

Waste should be stored safely and kept away from children. You should not put your waste in communal waste areas until negative test results are known or the waste has been stored for at least 72 hours.

if the individual tests negative, this can be put in with the normal waste
if the individual tests positive, then store it for at least 72 hours and put in with the normal waste

If storage for at least 72 hours is not appropriate, arrange for collection as a Category B infectious waste either by your local waste collection authority if they currently collect your waste or otherwise by a specialist clinical waste contractor. They will supply you with orange clinical waste bags for you to place your bags into so the waste can be sent for appropriate treatment.

What happens if someone becomes unwell at an educational or childcare setting?

If anyone becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature a loss of, or change to, their sense of smell or taste in the setting, they will be sent home and advised to follow the COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection guidance.
If possible, we will move the child to a room where they can be isolated behind a closed door, with appropriate adult supervision; the window will be opened for ventilation. If it is not possible to isolate them, move them we will move them to an area which is at least 2 metres away from other people. If they need to go to the bathroom while waiting to be collected, they will use the disabled toilet separate and this will be cleaned and disinfected using standard cleaning products before being used by anyone else.
PPE will be worn by staff caring for the child while they await collection as a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained.
Once the child or member of staff has left the setting, we will follow Cleaning of nonhealthcare settings to ensure areas they have been in are disinfected and any PPE and other waste is disposed off safely.
In an emergency, we will call 999 if they are seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk. You are advised not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital.
If a member of staff has helped someone who was unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, they do not need to go home unless they develop symptoms themselves (and in which case, a test is available) or the child subsequently tests positive (see ‘What happens if there is a confirmed case of coronavirus in a setting?’ below). They should wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after any contact with someone who is unwell. Cleaning the affected area with normal household disinfectant after someone with symptoms has left will reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.