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  and advised to follow guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection
• 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 meters 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, therefore parents should arrange for the symptomatic child to have a test If a child is tested, they must isolate for 14 days with a positive test, if negative then the child may return once well enough, as long as they are clear of a fever for 48 hours..
• 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
• If they need to go to the bathroom while waiting to be collected, they should be taken to a separate bathroom if possible - the bathroom should be cleaned and disinfected using standard cleaning products before being used by anyone else
• All other children in the setting will follow government guidance
• In an emergency situation call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk - anyone with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms should not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital
• Any members of staff who have helped someone with symptoms and any children who have been in close contact with them do not need to go home to self-isolate - however, they must self-isolate and arrange for a test if they develop symptoms themselves (in which case, they should arrange a test), if the symptomatic person subsequently tests positive or they have been requested to do so by NHS Test and Trace

 
 
Hygiene procedures

• Children will be grouped and will spend the day with their group and teacher/s
• 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  under supervision– regular moisturising will also take place. Hands will be washed:
• when they arrive at the setting
• when they return from breaks
• when they change rooms
• before and after eating

• All staff have cleaning caddies to ensure constant hygiene in the setting is taking 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 alongside daily risk assessments and Covid-19 risk assessment.  Unnecessary soft furnishings and items that are difficult to clean have been removed, where possible.
• A management schedule is to be completed daily prior to children arriving
• All children have staggered drop off and pick up times
• Any maintenance people must be given permission prior to coming into the premises and be in full PPE.  A bin is provided to allow safe disposal of masks by visitors, if used.
• Window should be opened as much as safely possible throughout the day to ventilate the premises
• Puddleduck preschool will not allow parent helpers into the Preschool/Nursery (parents who need to enter the premises will only be able to do so with prior permission from Puddleduck Directors)
• Essential visitors (for maintenance etc) will need to contact the setting prior to attending and following guidelines on attending.  Playball and Languages have commenced, and guidance has been issued to the relevant people.

 
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
• Grouping children by following government guideline
• All parcels and letters delivered to the Preschool/Nursery to be left for 2 days where possible, gloves and aprons worn when opening parcels and letters – thorough cleaning of parcels must take place if possible
• 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 and/or children to be sat in their groups to enable social distancing with other groups and adults
• All external training and site to site visits are ceased
• Visits to care homes has ceased
• 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.  No parent-teacher meetings to take place. All communication should be done via email or phone

External professionals
If essential professionals such as social workers, speech and language therapists or counsellors, or other professionals need to visit to support delivery of a child’s EHC plan, the following should be followed:

• They should be aware of the guidance for Early Years
• Keep the number of attendances to a minimum
• Wash hands frequently
• Where possible to do so, maintain social distancing
• Are informed about the system of controls in settings
• Where appropriate, wear face coverings

 
 
 
 
 
New Admissions
Parents and carers may visit the settings in person; however the following must be followed:

• Ensuring face coverings are worn by visitors to the setting
• There is regular handwashing, especially before and after the visit
• Visits are held after hours or whilst no children are in the building and strict social distancing is observed in our Ascot setting. Windsor is currently being done on the virtual tour only

Parents may settle children in if the following are observed:

• Wear face coverings, in line with arrangements for staff and other visitors to the setting
• Stay for a limited amount of time (ideally not more than an hour)
• Avoid close contact with other children
• Are made aware of the system of controls, how this impacts them, and their responsibilities in supporting it when visiting the setting with their child

 
Safeguarding and Welfare
The safeguarding and welfare of the pupils as laid out in our Child Protection Policy, and staff are paramount.  We acknowledge that this current situation brings its own unique challenges. Children may be experiencing a variety of emotions in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, such as anxiety, stress or low mood. This may particularly be the case for vulnerable children, including those with a social worker.  Puddleduck Preschool understand it is important to contextualise these feelings as normal responses to an abnormal situation.  
We will provide more focused support where issues are identified that individual children may need help with, drawing on external support where necessary and possible.  We also consider support needs of particular groups we are already aware of needing additional help and any groups they identify as newly vulnerable. 
We also work with staff to support anyone who is struggling in these uncertain times.
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 _________________