COVID-19 POLICY AND PROCEDURE
POLICY STATEMENT
In order to keep the children, staff and parents at Groombridge Preschool safe and well during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have established explicit guidelines incorporating the necessary protective measures required to maintain an uninterrupted experience at Pre-school. The safety of all those involved with our pre-school is of paramount importance and this Policy has been written using guidance from East Sussex County Council; Protocol for Responding to a Suspected Case of COVID-19, The Department of Education, Government guidelines: COVID-19 Cleaning of Non-Healthcare Settings Guidance and the Early Years Alliance. The Pre-school will carry out a strict cleaning regime, disinfecting the setting on a daily basis, cleaning regimes throughout the day, operating a ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’ approach when sneezing, coughing and wiping noses, following advice from Government and EYA guidelines regarding suitable play equipment and adhering to new drop off and pick up protocols. The COVID-19 outbreak is an ever-evolving situation and therefore the Pre-school will consult updated information regularly as things change.
COVID-19 POLICY
This policy was adopted on 25th November, 2020.
This policy will be reviewed to reflect all updated information from Government Guidelines.
In order to keep all those associated with Groombridge Pre-School safe during the COVID-19 Pandemic the following procedures must be adhered to;
All parents should consult the COVID-19 Risk Assessment on our website. Children should be dropped off at the external gate in the car park where the child may walk across the playground unaccompanied, to a waiting staff member at the hall door. The adult should not enter the play ground or the premises. The collection protocol will follow the same format and each child will walk unaccompanied across the playground to their waiting parent at the gate. No adult is permitted to enter the playground or the premises. Parents should adhere to the 2m rule of social distancing.
All children should feel safe and happy when separating from their parents. If your child is unhappy to separate, a member of staff will offer to take your child from you with a cuddle and reassurance. We will do everything we can to work with you and reassure your child in order to enable a confident and happy separation.
Upon arrival, all children will sanitise their hands. Parents may provide their own sanitiser if they prefer. Children will only have their temperature taken if staff feel that they are unwell or display any symptoms of Coronavirus. A temperature of 37.5 or above will result in parents being asked to take their child home immediately. The child will be allowed to return to Pre-school following a negative COVID-19 test. If a child is awaiting collection, they should be moved, if possible, to a room where they can be isolated behind a closed door with the appropriate adult supervision ideally with the window or door open for ventilation.
All water bottles and packed lunch boxes will be sanitised upon arrival. The mouthpiece of the water bottle will not be touched.
All children will leave their purple bag on their pegs at Preschool. The bag will contain a change of clothes which can be replenished when required. No other items should be brought into preschool including comforters, toys, dummies etc in order to reduce the potential of cross contamination.
Strict cleaning regimes are in place. The setting will be sanitised with disinfectant and anti-bacterial spray at the beginning of every session and throughout each day. Toys, equipment and surfaces will be cleaned during the day and at the end of each session. Staff and children will wash their hands before snack, after using the toilet, after sneezing and intermittently throughout the day.
Snack will be provided for all children and each child will provide their own bottle of water. The staff will serve each child their snack individually to avoid the children touching eachother’s food.
A number of resources have been put away in accordance with Government and Early Years Alliance guidance; we have no soft toys, dressing up or sand. Rugs are sprayed with anti-bacterial spray each day and hovered. Toys will also be rotated.
Our outdoor space will be constantly available to the children. The ride-on equipment will be wiped with anti-bacterial wipes after use. Outdoor trips to the park or to church will be risk assessed in order to avoid any close contact with others.
Staff will rotate each day to greet parents in order to establish and maintain our great relationships. We really value the relationships that we form with our families which the current protocols make very difficult. Parents may ring with any queries and communicate via Tapestry. It may be possible to arrange time to speak outside the gates outside drop off and pick up times and further ways to improve our communications are being pursued.
The collection protocol will remain the same as drop off, children will walk unaccompanied across the playground to the waiting staff who will hand them over to their parent or authorised adult.
If a child develops any symptoms of COVID-19 whilst in setting; a new, continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of or change in their normal sense of taste or smell, we will follow the East Sussex County Council Protocol for Responding to a Suspected Case of COVID-19. Parents will be advised to follow the Guidance for Households with Possible or Confirmed Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections which sets out that they must either self-isolate for at least 10 days or arrange to have a COVD-19 test. All children are welcome to return immediately having presented a negative test result. We fully appreciate that at this time of year, we would expect many of our children to present with runny noses and coughs. However, we would ask parents to consider not bringing in their children if they have a cough as we may have to send them home during the session and they will not be permitted to return until they have a negative test result or have isolated for 10 days.
Visitors will not be allowed into the setting with the following exceptions – Tradespeople to carry out essential maintenance. Toby Tiger will continue to do sport on Monday mornings outdoors. He will be temperature checked and all of the play equipment will be sanitised before and after use.
Children who have travelled abroad will need to stay away from Pre-school for 14 days following their return home if the country they have travelled to is listed on the Government website for quarantine.
This Policy has been written and agreed by:
Supervisor: Jeannette White
Updated: 27 November 2020