Covid-19 Policy
Policy statement
Puddleduck Preschool aim to provide care for healthy children through preventing cross infection of viruses and bacterial infections and promote health through identifying symptoms which maybe signs of Covid-19 and following government guidelines to ensure all children and staff are safe at all times. Please note this policy will change in accordance to government guidelines whenever these changes take place. This policy DOES NOT replace our Health and Safety policy. This policy is for Covid-19 only.
Procedures for children with symptoms of Covid-19
Hygiene procedures
Covid-19 at home
If a child or parent has come into contact with someone who is symptomatic or has been tested positive parents must contact the Preschool/Nursery immediately and Puddleduck Preschool will follow government guidance.
Stopping the spread of the virus
Puddleduck Preschool is following strict government guidelines to help stop the spread of the virus by ensuring:
This policy was adopted by Puddleduck Preschool at a meeting held on:
Date _________________________
Signed on behalf of the Preschool __________________________________
Name of signatory ___________________________________
Role of signatory __________________________________
Review date _________________
Puddleduck Preschool
Guidance and Risk Assessment – COVID19
Revised April 2021
This Guidance and Risk assessment directly addresses risks associated with coronavirus (COVID 19) so that measures can be put in place to control those risks for children, families and staff. It is supported by our policies including our sickness and behaviour policies and follows Government Guidelines.
Guidance
Social distancing statement - We follow the Government Guidance and staff will continue to maintain social distancing with other members of staff.
We understand that young children cannot be expected to understand social distancing. However, it is important to minimise contact between children and adults, reducing transmission risk between staff and children as much as possible.
Access to setting – It is important that social distancing is adhered to when parents/carers drop off and pick up their children.
Children will not be able to attend preschool should they have one of the main symptoms.
Covid-19 Policy
Policy statement
Puddleduck Preschool aim to provide care for healthy children through preventing cross infection of viruses and bacterial infections and promote health through identifying symptoms which maybe signs of Covid-19 and following government guidelines to ensure all children and staff are safe at all times. Please note this policy will change in accordance to government guidelines whenever these changes take place. This policy DOES NOT replace our Health and Safety policy. This policy is for Covid-19 only.
Procedures for children with symptoms of Covid-19
- If a child appears unwell throughout the day – for example high temperature, persistent cough and/or lose of smell and taste – we will call parents and ask 1 parent to collect their child from an area of the preschool/nursery setting
- During the time of a child presenting symptoms of Covid-19 a staff member will isolate with the child until the parent arrive. If the staff member cannot keep 2 metres away they will apply PPE. This PPE is then double bagged and placed in a secured place until test results are provided.
- All children and adults are now able to have testing for Covid-19. If a symptomatic child is tested, they must isolate for 10 days with a positive test.
- Thorough cleaning of the Preschool/Nursery will take place and PPE must be worn – any cloths, disposables etc must be double bagged and placed in an area away from everyone for until test results have been provided
- All other children in the setting will follow government guidance
Hygiene procedures
- Outdoor learning will take place as much as possible
- Hand washing/antibac will be carried out prior to staff and children entering the premises
- Temperature checks will be carried out prior to staff or children entering the Preschool/Nursery
- Children will be hand washing regularly for 20 seconds at a time – regular moisturising will also take place
- Used tissues to be placed in the bin and children and staff will be encouraged to sneeze into a tissue and thrown straight into the bin
- A daily cleaning schedule is to be carried out regularly along side daily risk assessments and Covid-19 risk assessment
- A management schedule is to be completed daily prior to children arriving
- All children have staggered drop off and pick up times where possible
- Any maintenance people must be given permission prior to coming into the premises and be in full PPE
- Window should be opened as much as safely possible throughout the day to ventilate the premises
- Puddleduck preschool will not allow visitors or parent helpers into the Preschool/Nursery without prior arrange and when they do enter the nursery/preschool with must sanitise their hands and wear a mask
Covid-19 at home
If a child or parent has come into contact with someone who is symptomatic or has been tested positive parents must contact the Preschool/Nursery immediately and Puddleduck Preschool will follow government guidance.
Stopping the spread of the virus
Puddleduck Preschool is following strict government guidelines to help stop the spread of the virus by ensuring:
- Outdoor learning takes place as much as possible
- Handwashing regularly and for 20 seconds at a time
- Contaminated waste must be double bagged, labelled and placed in a secure area for until the result of testing is available. If the person tests negative waste can be disposed of with normal waste. If the test is positive, we will follow government guidance on correct disposal
- Lunch times and breaks staggered for staff and masks advise to be worn in communal areas
- If staff leave the premises during work time they must wash their hands thoroughly.
- Visits to care homes has ceased until we have receive further guidance
- Home visits for new starters has ceased
- Staff meetings, where possible to be carried out on a zoom call or if carried out in the setting, 2 meters must be applied between the adults
This policy was adopted by Puddleduck Preschool at a meeting held on:
Date _________________________
Signed on behalf of the Preschool __________________________________
Name of signatory ___________________________________
Role of signatory __________________________________
Review date _________________
Puddleduck Preschool
Guidance and Risk Assessment – COVID19
Revised April 2021
This Guidance and Risk assessment directly addresses risks associated with coronavirus (COVID 19) so that measures can be put in place to control those risks for children, families and staff. It is supported by our policies including our sickness and behaviour policies and follows Government Guidelines.
Guidance
Social distancing statement - We follow the Government Guidance and staff will continue to maintain social distancing with other members of staff.
We understand that young children cannot be expected to understand social distancing. However, it is important to minimise contact between children and adults, reducing transmission risk between staff and children as much as possible.
Access to setting – It is important that social distancing is adhered to when parents/carers drop off and pick up their children.
- Entrance and exit to the setting will be at the main Gate.
- Specific areas, 2 meters apart, will be indicted at the entrance.
- Parents need to wait at the indicated points until called by a member of staff.
- No parents will be allowed to enter into the preschool setting.
- Children will be registered and their temperature taken and recorded. Personal items such as lunch bag and spare clothes will be put on a table for staff to take.
- Staggered Start / Finish Times – To reduce the number of parents waiting with their children at any one time, we will monitor start/finish times to ensure numbers are staggered. It is importance that parents arrive promptly and wait at the indicated points until called by a member of staff.
- Shared care - Parents and carers should be encouraged to limit the number of setting their child attnds, ideally ensuring their child only attends the same setting consistently. Gov.UK – Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak (27 July 2020)
- Outside space - The outside spaces will be used at all times when possible (weather permitting) with esources/equipment will be cleaned regularly during and at the end of each day.
- Play resources and inside areas will be cleaned regularly during and at the end of each day.
- All unnecessary items including all soft furnishing and soft toys have been stored.
- Where possible, lunch will be eaten outside.
- Coronavirus is an easy virus to kill when it is on the skin. This can be done with soap and running water or hand sanitiser. Gov. UK – Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak (27 July 2020)
- Staff and Children will wash their hands regularly with soap for 20 seconds including on arrival, after using the toilet, before and after eating, and after coughing or sneezing
- Staff will have hand sanitiser available at points within the setting.
- Children will be encouraged to cough or sneeze into a tissue and bin it.
- Children will be encouraged to not touch their mouths, eyes and nose
Children will not be able to attend preschool should they have one of the main symptoms.
- a high temperature –feel hot to touch on the chest or back
- a new, continuous cough – coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if they usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
