Rainbow Nursery
Covid-19 Policy and information for parents.
COVID – 19 Policy and Procedures
If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), get a test as soon as possible. Stay at home until you get the result. We recommend going to a test center rather than using the postal test kits as these can take much longer for the results to come back.
Apply online on GOV.UK. Or call 119 if you have problems using the internet.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Most people with coronavirus have at least 1 of these symptoms.
What to do if you have symptoms
If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus:
- Get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible.
- Stay at home and do not have visitors until you get your test result – only leave your home to have a test.
Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also stay at home until you get your result.
No child will be admitted to the premises who is displaying any of the above symptoms:
How long to self-isolate
If you have symptoms or have tested positive for coronavirus, you'll usually need to self-isolate for at least 10 days.
You'll usually need to self-isolate for 14 days if:
- someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive
- someone in your support bubble has symptoms or tested positive
- you've been told by NHS Test and Trace that you've been in contact with someone who has coronavirus
How parents can help prevent the spread
We ask that proof of a negative test result be emailed to rainbowfrome@aol.com before the child can be readmitted.
We also ask that parents telephone 01373 462553 to report a child’s absence as emails are not always checked daily.
Please can parents ensure children wear a clean set of clothes for each session and that clothes are washed at 60 degrees.
If children leave the premises partway through a session (for doctor’s appointment or immunisations) they will not be readmitted back into the nursery on the same day.
Ideally children should only attend one setting, please let us know if you plan to send your child to more than one.
We will no longer be able to administer any medication including Calpol or Nurofen as they could mask any underlying symptoms. This is with immediate effect.
Please supply a change of clothes to be left at Rainbow these can be change as necessary but we are trying to limit bags/backpacks coming into the premises.
Statement
Covid-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It is caused by a virus called Coronavirus. Symptoms can be mild, moderate, severe or fatal. This policy is to limit the spread of the virus within Rainbow Nursery. All users of the setting are at risk so we are putting the following controls in place. Rainbow Nursery reserves the right to amend this document as the situation develops.
Nursery closure
If at any time it is felt necessary to close to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the health and safety of all service users, Rainbow Nursery with do so with immediate effect. Rainbow Nursery will monitor and take advice from the Department of Health England, The Department of Education and our local authority before deciding whether the closure extends to all children or whether we will open partially for vulnerable and keyworker children.
Hygiene
All staff and children will wash hands for a minimum of 20 secs using soap and warm water immediately upon entry to the setting and before leaving. Foaming sanitizer will be available to supplement handwashing in areas such as the garden.
Paper towels will be used and disposed of in a lidded bin which will be emptied at lunchtime and at the end of the day.
All staff and children will be encouraged to cough or sneeze into a tissue cannot be and then wash hands afterwards, tissues are to be disposed of into a lidded bin which is emptied at lunchtime and at the end of the day.
Staff and children’s clothing must be washed after each session.
No prams, scooters or bikes are to be left at the setting.
All staff and children will bring lunch and drinks in a wipeable container which will be placed on the ‘Drinks’ bench by the child where appropriate. Please put a small ice pack inside the lunchbox as we are not able to store them in our fridges at the moment . Children will be provided with self service water and snacks during the day. Staff must wear full PPE for changing soiled nappies: Disposable Mask, Gloves, goggles and Apron
Arrival/ Departure
All parents and children must adhere to the markings on the pavement/Railings and must not enter the premises, a member of staff will take your child and escort them into the building, this member of staff will have a face covering on. Staff will take your child and return them to you at the gate. Lunch boxes will be placed in the designated area. If you require a conversation with staff, then a telephone consultation will be booked..
Signs of illness
Please be aware that children will meet both staff members and other children during the session. Although every measure will be taken to ensure that a child has minimal contact with others, children will inevitably want to hug and touch others through play or when they need comfort, therefore it is vital that we adhere to high hygiene practices.
Children and Staff will have their temperature taken at the start of each session and this will be recorded, this will give a pattern of each person’s usual temperature and will enable us to look for changes. If staff or children have a temperature of over 37.8, has a new cough, looks generally unwell or is displaying any other signs associated with COVID-19 then he/she will be excluded for 14 days following government guidelines and will be given a date when they can return. Should a member of staff or a child get tested during this time then, providing evidence is given to the Nursery, they may return sooner. Staff will isolate from the rest of the group and will be provided with suitable PPE when tending a child who becomes ill during the session.
Staff and parents –on behalf of their child will be asked to complete a health and safety risk assessment checklist at the start of each session
Responding to a suspected case
• In the event of a child developing suspected coronavirus symptoms whilst attending the setting, they should be collected as soon as possible and isolate at home in line with the NHS guidance
• Whilst waiting for the child to be collected they should be isolated from others in a previously identified room or area. If possible, a window should be opened for ventilation
• The staff member responsible for the child will isolate with the child, the staff member will wear full PPE (Isolation Pack)
• The area should be thoroughly cleaned, immediately if the area cannot be left unvisited, and if the area can be left unvisited then cleaned after 72 hours
• The person responsible for cleaning the area should wear appropriate PPE, if this person wishes to self-isolate, they will discuss with their manager
• In the event of a staff member developing suspected coronavirus symptoms whilst working at the nursery, they should return home immediately and isolate at home in line with the NHS guidance
Cleaning
At the end of the day all staff will help to sanitize all surfaces, toys, toilet areas, outdoor area and equipment. Special attention will be paid to light switches, door handles, chairs and any other areas where cross contamination is possible.
Bathroom and nappy changing areas will be cleaned and sanitized regularly during the session. The adult facilities will be cleaned after each use.
Bedding/towels/tea towels will be washed after single use and bed mats wiped at the end of each session.
Toilets and sinks used individually and cleaned after each use.
Handrails, door handles, light switches wiped at the end of the day.
Sand flushed through with Milton at the end of each week.
Toys, tables and surfaces cleaned as necessary throughout the day.
Outdoor toys bikes playhouse etc sprayed with sanitizer and left to dry.
Water-play changed after each session, few squirts of antibacterial soap added to the water.
Individual playdough for each child stored in a named zip seal bag and thrown away at the end of each week.
Social Distancing
The recommended safe distance is 2 meters, however, this is difficult to maintain in Nursery. The following changes will be made to the running of each session –
There will be no admittance of parents/carers to the building
Parents will be asked to maintain a distance of 2 meters whilst waiting to drop children off or collect them
The mixing of different age groups of children will be restricted as much as possible and limited to the hours between 8-9am and 3-6pm when necessary. Staff teams will work with the same age groups as much as possible, but it may be necessary to redistribute staff as necessary.
Some activities will be suspended including cooking activities and any other that pose a high risk of contamination.
Outdoor play will be encouraged as much as possible
Sleeping children will be placed 2 meters apart
This policy was adopted on 27/05/20 and amended on 27/08/2020