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)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
If a child has a temperature, has been ill and/or needs calpol, they will not be allowed to attend preschool. Should a child become ill or develop a temperature during the day parents will need to be available to collect their child as soon as possible.
PHE has confirmed that if a child has any symptoms then they must self-isolate. Even if you or a parent believes the symptoms to be as a result of teething etc, the child cannot return to the setting until there has been a negative test. (HCC Local Recovery Guidance for Early Years and Childcare – 5 August 2020)
Cleaning and Hygiene (Please refer to cleaning checklist)
We will continue to maintain a high level of cleaning in the kitchen, frequently touched areas (tables/chairs/doors) and toilet area during and at the end of the day.
- Handwashing facilities are maintained and cleaned regularly during the day and at the end of the day
- Ensure staff have hand sanitiser, surface cleaner and tissues available.
- Bins to be emptied throughout the day and at the end of each day
- When possible, windows will be opened for natural ventilation
- All resources will be cleaned during and at the end of each day.
- The kitchen area will be regularly cleaned and high level of cleaning for food utensils will be maintained.
It is not a statutory requirement for staff to use PPE in education settings. However, we understand individual’s concerns and have made available to staff:
- Face visor
- Gloves
- Aprons
- Face mask
The usual PPE is to be used for intimate care ie apron, disposable gloves.
PPE - if a child becomes unwell.
Full PPE will be only be needed if a child becomes unwell with symptoms of coronavirus while in the setting and needs personal care until they can return home, and a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained. Full PPE – face mask, disposable gloves, disposable apron and face shield are available within the setting. Whilst waiting to be picked up they should be moved away from others attending the setting. All PPE used to help a person who is unwell should be double bagged and held for 72 hours before putting in the general bin. Anyone who has helped he person who became unwell does not need to go home unless they develop symptoms themselves. Hands should be washed thoroughly and the affected area cleaned.
Staff members and parents/carers will need to be ready and willing to:
- book a test if they are displaying symptoms. Staff and children must not come into the setting if they have symptoms and must be sent home to self-isolate if they develop them in the setting. All children can be tested, including children under 5.
- provide details of anyone they have been in close contact with if they were to test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or if asked by NHS Test and Trace
- self-isolate if they have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms
• if someone tests negative, and they feel well and no longer have symptoms similar to coronavirus (COVID-19), they can stop self-isolating. They could still have another virus, such as a cold or flu – in which case it is still best to avoid contact with other people until they are better. Other members of their household can also stop self-isolating
• if someone tests positive, they should follow Gov.UK - COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection and should continue to self-isolate for at least 10 days from the onset of their symptoms and then return to the setting only if they do not have symptoms other than cough or loss of sense of smell or taste. Other members of their household should continue self-isolating for the full 14 days.
Managing confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the setting
Should someone who has attended preschool has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). Settings should contact the local health protection team.
The local health protection team will work with settings to carry out a rapid risk assessment to confirm who has been in close contact with the person during the period that they were infectious, and ensure they are asked to self-isolate.
Based on the advice from the local health protection team, settings should send home those people who have been in close contact with the person who has tested positive, advising them to self-isolate for 14 days since they were last in close contact with that person when they were infectious.
Close contact means:
- direct close contacts - face to face contact with an infected individual for any length of time, within 1 metre, including being coughed on, a face to face conversation, or unprotected physical contact (skin to skin)
- proximity contacts - extended close contact (within 1-2m for more than 15 minutes) with an infected individual
A template letter will be provided to settings, on the advice of the local health protection team, to send to parents, carers and staff if needed. Settings must not share the names or details of people with coronavirus (COVID-19) unless essential to protect others.
Household members of those who are sent home do not need to self-isolate themselves unless the child or staff member who is self-isolating subsequently develops symptoms. If someone in a group that has been asked to self-isolate develops symptoms themselves within their 14-day isolation period, they should follow Gov.UK - COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection. They should get a test, and:
• if the test delivers a negative result, they must remain in isolation for the remainder of the 14-day isolation period. This is because they could still develop the coronavirus (COVID-19) within the remaining days
• if the test result is positive, they should inform their setting immediately, and should isolate for at least 10 days from the onset of their symptoms (which could mean the self-isolation ends before or after the original 14-day isolation period). Their household should self-isolate for at least 14 days from when the symptomatic person first had symptoms, following Gov.UK - COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection.
• Settings should not request evidence of negative test results or other medical evidence before admitting children or welcoming them back after a period of self-isolation
Contain any outbreak by following local health protection team advice
If settings have two or more confirmed cases within 14 days, or an overall rise in sickness absence where coronavirus (COVID-19) is suspected, settings may have an outbreak, and must contact their local health protection team who will be able to advise if additional action is required.
Notify Ofsted
Any confirmed cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the setting (either child or staff member), and/or if the setting is advised to close as a result, should be reported to Ofsted through the usual notification channels.
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
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
- 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 _________________
