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Our COVID-19 Policy Continued...

First of all, we ask if you or anyone who you live with has any symptoms related to Covid-19, please stay at home. The Department of Health and Social Care latest advice is: all individuals should isolate if they develop a new continuous cough, fever or anosmia. Anosmia is the loss of or a change in your normal sense of smell. It can also affect your sense of taste as the two are closely linked.

All staff members will use hand sanitiser gel when entering the Centre and then wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, thoroughly drying them before going into respective rooms.

Parents/Carers will be asked to use the hand sanitiser for themselves and their children; we are now enabling two parents simultaneously from separate families, only as far as the foyer; this will take place at drop off and pick up times, taking into account social distancing. In addition, latest government guidance recommends that all Parents and visitors wear a face mask when entering the building.

Our times of dropping off and collection are staggered due to the varying times children are booked in between 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. However, this will be addressed where possible if long queues start building up, e.g. at 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Floor markings are already in the outdoor front area to help parents keep a minimum of 2 meters distance, as directed by Government guidelines.

Parents/Carers will not congregate in groups outside and will maintain social distancing measures.

In order to maintain 2 meters social distancing, we ask that fees be paid either online or by telephone.

Staff members will meet the children in the Foyer to take them to respective rooms.

The main and new hall, 4 pre-school rooms, 2 toddler rooms and 3 babies’ rooms are open and children will be kept in their rooms where possible. Rooms will be organized to enable children to spread out and unnecessary items will be removed and stored elsewhere to ensure the learning environment is spacious.

Children will be encouraged to play in the outdoor learning environment and will be allocated specific areas throughout the day; these areas will be cordoned off and children will be in their individual groups at all times. These areas will be used alternatively using safety measures.

Staff will ensure that children are encouraged to wash their hands often, for 20 seconds, before snacks, meals, toileting, playing with toys, coming in from outside, and to wash their hands and mouths after snacks and meals drying them with paper towels; where soap and water are not available, hand sanitiser gel will be used for cleaning hands. Staff will also do the above.

Staff and children will be encouraged to cover their mouths and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not hands) when coughing or sneezing, (Catch it, Bin it, Kill it).

They will put used tissues in the bin straightaway.

Staff and children will try to avoid contact with people who become unwell. Staff will clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Staff and children will avoid where possible touching their eyes, nose or mouth if hands are not clean. Sharing of food, drink utensils, equipment and toys will be prevented wherever possible.

Guidance on what to do in the case of anyone displaying Coronavirus symptoms is displayed throughout the Centre and staff members are well versed in procedures to follow in case of any eventualities. 

If a child is symptomatic and awaiting collection the staff member looking after them will wear a face visor in addition to gloves and apron. The child will be moved to a room where they can be isolated behind a closed door and the one staff member will remain with them until they are collected. Windows will be open to allow for more ventilation. If they need to go to the bathroom while waiting to be collected, they will be taken to a separate cubicle, which will be cleaned and disinfected before being used by anyone else.

Once the child has left, all areas will be cleaned and disinfected and any used PPE will be double bagged and in line with guidance, disposed of after 72 hours.

When a child, young person or staff member develops symptoms compatible with coronavirus, they will be sent home and advised to follow the current Government guidelines.

Where the child, young person or staff member tests negative, they can return to their setting and the fellow household members can end their self-isolation. Where the child, young person or staff member tests positive, the rest of the group within their class will be sent home and advised to self-isolate in line with current guidance.