Smallville Nursery

 COVID-19 Policy 2021

(Revised August 2021)

It is important that everyone complies with the latest Government guidance on Coronavirus.

Smallville Nursery has developed these Safe Operating Procedures based on guidance from the Department of Education and the National Institute for Health Protection specifically for Nursery. It is important that we adapt our everyday practices to ensure that we continue to offer the staff and children a safe environment. Hygiene and social distancing remain the two key elements of infection prevention and control. If any symptoms are displayed, families must be alert and self-isolate for the safety of everyone.

COVID-19 appears to affect young children less often and with less severity. Children’s role in its transmission is unclear but it seems that it is not significant.

Compassionate leadership is at the heart of offering continued nursery care and we will do everything we can to be honest, open and to communicate with you. There will be a lot of anxieties and we acknowledge that it is OK to feel worried and that COVID-19.

Everyone involved in the day to day running of the nursery will receive appropriate instruction and training on how to operate under the terms of the Safe Operating Procedures.

We aim to work in partnership with parents and trust that everyone understands and follows these Safe Operating Procedures.

The key principles of these procedures are:

-           Any child, staff member, parent or visitor with coronavirus symptoms must not attend nursery and must isolate at home

-           Increased cleaning processes are in place, throughout and at the end of the day

-           Children and team members will be social distancing as far as possible

-           Children will each day stay in ‘a bubble’ with a buddy group working alongside to ensure continuity of staffing and children

-           ‘Bubbles’ will be in place inside and outside

-           Arrival and departure may be staggered and children will be dropped off at separate entrances, where this is possible.

-           Parents will not come on site or visit the nursery rooms unless this is explicitly arranged with the Nursery Manager e.g. in the event of a child being distressed

-           The process for settling in sessions will be managed away from the other children. In full lockdown situations first settling sessions may have to take place via video link.

-           Parents and staff members will wear masks during drop off and collection at nursery

-           Staff members who ‘cross bubbles’ or move fluidly around the nursery will wear appropriate PPE at all times.

Attendance

Children and employees are welcome to attend nursery but must not be displaying any coronavirus symptoms, the most common being a new, continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of taste and smell. There is some suggestion that mottled skin or sickness and diarrhoea can also be a symptom.

It is important that you seek medical advice if you are unsure.

It is important that children do not attend nursery if unwell for their own wellbeing and for the safety of others. Children will not be accepted to nursery if they have been given Calpol or any other medication that can mask fever symptoms, at parents’ discretion, after 4am on their day of attendance (after 9am for children with afternoon bookings).

Anyone who is experiencing any symptoms cannot return to nursery until they have completed the required isolation period, in line with government guidelines, and be symptom free or have achieved a negative test result (we politely request evidence of this to be sent to the nursery). Prompt exclusion is essential to preventing the spread of infection. Children and employees who are classed as clinically vulnerable should follow their own medical advice before attending nursery.

It is preferable that your child only attends one setting to avoid mixing with different groups of children. Please speak with the Nursery Manager if this is going to be a problem or to make them aware that this is the case.

Drop off and collection of children

Parents are asked to drop off and collect their children at designated entrances and not to enter the nursery. Whilst parents are waiting, it is important to maintain social distancing by keeping a distance of two metres apart. It is preferable if only one parent carries out drop off and collection. Parents are requested to wear masks and handovers will continue to be predominantly outdoors. Nursery staff will also wear masks at drop off and collection.

Children will be assigned ‘bubble’ on the room they are in and a team member from that group will be responsible for collecting and delivering that child back to the parents. We will give you a limited handover, unless there is an important issue to discuss, as other parents may be waiting. If you wish to speak to your child’s key worker in more detail please contact the nursery directly.

Temperature and symptom monitoring

Routine temperature testing is not recommended as a reliable method for identifying coronavirus. Parents and employees should follow the NHS guidelines regarding isolation and testing criteria.

Smallville Nursery is very conscious that during the colder, winter months young children will get temperatures to help them to fight cold and flu symptoms. Snotty, red eyed, catarrh filled coughs are not thought to be symptomatic for COVID-19 and may not indicate that a child needs to undergo a coronavirus test. Staff members will monitor the children in their care and will make reasonable judgements on whether a family is advised to undergo testing. We ask that families do the same and monitor their children's wellness, making the decision if they need to isolate, undergo testing, or are well enough to attend a nursery setting. If a child has a dry, continuous cough or a persistent temperature (over 24 hours) accompanied by flu or cold symptoms they will still be asked to book a coronavirus test.

If your child is due vaccinations Smallville Nursery will ask for evidence of this by sharing the child's red book to justify a child's temperature.

Children who have asthma or other breathing related difficulties should be known to nursery staff and can attend nursery as usual with their medical plans in place.

If a child needs a routine medical appointment, we are asking parents that wherever possible this is booked on a non-nursery day or at the end of the child’s session. If this is unavoidable the child will be allowed to return to nursery after the appointment, provided they are fit and well in themselves.

Travel to nursery

It is better not to share transport and to travel by car, bike or walk. Face coverings have been advised by the Government for use on public transport.

Travel outside of local area

If you travel internationally to a country not on the travel corridors list or to an area of the UK under local COVID restrictions, and are displaying symptoms, then you must be tested and have a negative result before returning to nursery. This is to ensure every possible protection factor is in place for the staff and the children in our care. While we understand the practicality of this may seem difficult for some, we will continue to put the safety of everyone first and this is a precautionary measure that we have chosen to have in place.

We ask that you are aware of the restrictions in place and the tier rating of any area that you are visiting is in and follow government guidelines for any travel in and out of the area.

If you have travelled to a country or area of the UK under local COVID restrictions you can opt in to pay for a private COVID-19 test.

If you are travelling from a destination not on the travel corridors list, do not have a job that qualifies you for a travel exemption or do not want to opt in to test to release, you will need to self-isolate for 10 full days after you were last in a destination not on the travel corridors list.

Implementing social distancing

It is very difficult to avoid a level of physical interaction with young children and it is important to have their wellbeing at the centre of everything we do. If a child is in need of a hug, then it would not be fair to deny them this. To help with social distancing the children will be grouped in small groups (a bubble) with a practitioner and this group will work alongside a buddy group to ensure that an adult is always available. Social distancing will also apply to coat pegs, seating arrangements and sleeping.

Mealtimes

As always, children will eat in their rooms. The practitioners will serve the children.

Employees

All employees will undergo regular induction and training on the Safe Operating Procedures, with emphasis on good hygiene practices and maintaining social distancing.

Fire drills and lockdown practice

If we have to respond to a fire or emergency lockdown, we will continue to manage social distancing, as far as possible. The safety of the children and employees will always come first.

Settling in sessions/transitions

Parents may enter the nursery for the purpose of settling-in sessions, the Manager will give further guidance on the day. It is important that social distancing continues to be maintained. Where possible this will be conducted outside.

Visitors

Visitors to the nursery will not be encouraged unless it involves a safeguarding issue that cannot be resolved by telephone. Interviews or meetings will be conducted via video conference. Parent’s evenings will still be organised but will be conducted over the telephone.

Nursery show-rounds

Prospective parents should make use of the nursery website for information relating to the ethos and organisation of the nursery. There are videos showing the nursery and also the activities that take place. The Nursery Manager will be able to give you all the information you require.

Contractors

Any contractors to the nursery will be reminded of National Institute for Health Protection guidance prior to entering the building. Non-essential visitors will not be allowed on site during lockdown and will need to be rearranged.

Health, Hygiene and Safety Reducing the spread of the virus

It is recognised that good hygiene and cleaning practices will significantly reduce the spread and transmission of the virus as well as everyone being alert to the symptoms. Doors and windows will be opened as much as possible.

Cleaning

An enhanced cleaning schedule will be implemented throughout and at the end of the day. Communal areas, door handles and shared facilities, must be regularly cleaned. The Nursery Manager will be responsible for recording these cleaning schedules.

The rate of hand washing must be significantly increased. Everyone, including children, must wash their hands on arrival at nursery. If no wash basins are available, sanitiser can be used. There will be regular opportunities for hand washing throughout the day.

Toileting

The children will be taken to the toilets and supervised. Hand washing signs will be displayed to ensure hand washing is thorough and the practitioners will talk to the children about why we are washing our hands.

Risk assessments

All risk assessments will reflect the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Certain activities will be adapted or removed to reflect this risk e.g. going on trips using coaches.

Items from home

If your child requires a comforter e.g. soft toy or blanket, please bring it in a bag and then take home at the end of the day and wash it. We would prefer no toys or comforters to be brought into nursery but do understand that this could cause distress.

Resources at Nursery

Toys and resources that are difficult to clean will be kept for play with only one bubble group.  The children will only share toys and activities within their groups. We will aim to sanitise items at the end of each day. Furnishings (i.e. cushions, rugs, dressing up clothes) can move between bubble groups after being washed or disinfected and left for 48 hours.

Responding to a person displaying symptoms of COVID-19

A child

If a child is suspected of displaying coronavirus symptoms whilst attending the nursery, they should be collected as soon as possible and isolate at home in line with NHS guidance. The child must be tested before they return.

Whilst waiting to be collected, they will be isolated from others in a designated area. An employee will stay with them and will wear PPE.

If the child becomes very unwell, we will follow our normal emergency procedures and call 999.  The isolation area will be cleaned once the child has been collected.

An employee who displays symptoms

In the event of an employee developing coronavirus symptoms whilst at work, they will leave work immediately and isolate at home in line with NHS guidance. They will be required to have a test before they return.

PPE Equipment

Government guidance is that PPE is not required for general use in nurseries to protect against COVID-19 transmission. Hand washing, effective cleaning and social distancing are the most effective measures. Gloves and aprons will be used for nappy changing and first aid. Aprons will be worn at mealtimes

Reporting, testing and tracing

Everyone is eligible for a COVID-19 test, should they display coronavirus symptoms.

Any suspected or confirmed case must be reported to the Nursery Manager as soon as possible. If a positive result is confirmed, the practitioners and children associated with that bubble must self-isolate for 10 days before returning to nursery, regardless of whether they have a negative test result themselves. Positive tests will be reported to the National Institute for Health Protection and Ofsted by the nursery.

Smallville Nursery is responsible for contacting the National Institute for Health Protection if a case is confirmed or if a symptomatic person is admitted to hospital, a possible case refuses testing, there are a cluster of possible cases/unexpected increase in absenteeism or a suspected case has a definite link to a confirmed case.

If there is reasonable evidence that a positive diagnosis was caused by exposure at work, this will be reported to the National Institute of Health Protection.

If someone in your household, or someone you have close contact with, is contacted by track and trace or is told they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, you do not need to be tested. If they test positive, then you will also need to self-isolate for 10 days even if you do not test positive yourself. You should only book a test yourself if you develop symptoms.

The Government’s tracing app is a way of helping to protect everyone.