COVID 19

In preparation for our return to Pre-School in September 2020 please read the following procedures now in place, set following the Government guidelines supporting schools in England to fully open for the Autumn term. 

We are really excited to be returning to  Pre-School after the summer break and looking forward to the arrival of many of our children that we have missed so much. We would really encourage you to have lots of child friendly conversations with your child before their first day about  Pre-School looking a bit different, the routine being changed and the toys being limited so it does not come as a shock to them when they attend their sessions. Please make sure they know who their Key Person is (if you are not sure, let us know and we will update you on this information). We will of course be doing everything we can to make it a smooth transition back into  Pre-School and making their time here as fun as we can. The focus for the first few weeks will be making them feel safe and secure here; we will be talking lots about their thoughts and feelings, working on self-care skills and building their confidence, all in an age appropriate way. 

Please read carefully the following procedures;

1. On arrival you will need to walk across the field and form a queue starting at the path on the field. This will be clearly signed, and 1 meter marked on the floor in      coloured tape. A member of staff will greet you one at a time. Once you have dropped your child with us you can walk up the drive to ensure a one-way system is met. This will also be clearly signed. If you need to leave promptly to get to work, please make sure that you are at the front of the queue as we can’t guarantee how quickly we will be able to get all of the children in. 
2. If your child is unable to walk into  Pre-School independently (and we imagine some will struggle with this after being away from  Pre-School for so long), a member of staff will come and take your child from you offering a cuddle (both you and the member of staff will need to be wearing a face mask). If you feel this would be to distressing for your child, then you can opt to take them home      again. Please note we will not be taking children from parents who are in a distressed state and therefore unable to settle, as we do not feel this would be fair on the child or the staff.  Please note - New starters will receive separate information explaining how settling your child in will work as this will need a different approach.
3. All children and staff will be temperature checked upon arrival – please do not leave until we      have confirmed your child’s temperature is within normal levels.
4. Any child presenting with any signs of a cough, cold, runny nose (unless connected to hay fever, in      which case we would ask that Piriton is given prior to attending) then your child will either not be allowed to attend that session, or sent home if symptoms appear during the session.  
5. We will not be able to admit      any child that has been given Calpol before attending as this indicates the child is not well enough to come into pre-school, and Calpol masks high temperature until it wears off.
6. If your child does start to show symptoms during a session, we will have to isolate them (with a member of staff but away from the rest of the children and staff) until you are able to come and      collect from us, which should be done as quickly as possible      please.
7. Please continue to observe the 48-hour rule with regards to vomiting and diarrhoea. 
8. Staff who show symptoms will also not be allowed to work for that session and will be tested as per the government testing program.
9. We will NOT be allowing parents into the building at all – children will need to come in independently and they will be sent out at the end of the day with all of their coats/ bags etc.  If a      staff member needs to speak to a parent, this will be done outside.       If a private conversation between a staff member and parent needs to take place, you will be invited onto the decking area via the side gate.
10. If there is a confirmed case of Covid-19 either in a child or staff member at the setting, we will be forced to close in order for a deep clean to be carried out, and staff and children who have been in contact with that individual will need to self-isolate for 10 days as      per the government guidance.
11. Please note that is physically impossible for us to impose 2 metre social distancing on children of 2, 3 and 4 years old – we will encourage use of space (inside and out)  but they will      naturally want to (and should) play with each other and this will involve close proximity. 
12. Your child MUST have their own named and recognisable water bottle - if they arrive without a water bottle or hat, we will ask      you to return home and bring them in.
13. In warm weather, children MUST have had sun cream applied before they arrive.  We will top up at lunchtime but want to limit the amount of time we are spending in close contact with the children where possible.
14. Children are not advised to wear masks at all.  
15. Staff will not be wearing PPE unless a child show symptoms and needs to be isolate in the nappy changing area with a staff      member until they are collected. We have been advised by the government that we do not need to wear it, and we also personally feel that it would be very worrying for the children if we are all in masks etc.
16. Please bring with you a packed lunch, water bottle and change of clothes (all clearly labelled) if      your child does not have one of these you will be asked to go home and get it - (no bookbags please)
17. We have put a strict cleaning and hand washing regime in place, meaning toys, equipment and      surfaces will be cleaned during the day and at the end of each session. Staff and children will be following the hand washing procedures. 
18. We have limited the number of resources available to children, we have no soft toys, blankets,      rugs or soft furnishings.  Toys will be changed on a rota basis. 
19. You WILL NOT be able to bring in any comforters or soft toys into the setting.  We appreciate that this may be upsetting for children who are very attached to a      comforter or soft toy, but unfortunately, we cannot allow additional items into the setting that could carry germs.
20. Where possible we intend to make the most of being outside for all parts of the day. 
21. Snack will be prepared in the kitchen by a member of staff. Children will receive snack on their own individual plate. There will be no sharing of bowls of fruit/ vegetables in the middle of the table as we did before.  
22. At the end of the day, please follow the same procedure as in the morning, walk across the field      and form a queue, a member of staff will bring your children out one at a time. Once you have your child, please walk up the driveway to the car park, ensuring a one-way system is kept.  Please be patient with us, this is going to take more time than usual. 
23. Where possible if parents could call the Pre-School to discuss anything they need to throughout the day, as we will be very limited on time and drop off and pick up.
24. If you haven’t already seen on Tapestry please could you provide us with some photos and updateon what you have been up to over Lockdown, and any worries or concerns you or your child has about returning and their current interests. This will help us settle them in once back in the preschool environment.
25. If you are holidaying abroad, even in areas which have no UK quarantine restrictions, please do not bring you child back to the setting until you have been back in the UK for a clear 14 days.  Whilst we realise that airbridges are in place for a reason (i.e. the government currently thinks that area is ‘safe’), because restrictions change at very short notice, our own risk assessment is that we do not feel comfortable allowing children back into the setting if they have travelled abroad to any areas.
26. Equally, if you have been to the North of the UK where there are local lockdowns in place, again we would request that you do not bring your child to attend the      pre-school for a clear 14 days following returning from these areas.

Kawasaki Disease 

We would also like you to make you aware of the signs and symptoms of the Kawasaki Disease. This disease seems to have a link with Coronavirus. The characteristic symptoms are a high temperature that lasts for 5 days or more, with:

• a rash
• swollen glands in the neck
• dry, cracked lips
• red fingers or toes
• red eyes

Please find a link for more information:  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Kawasaki-disease/

Below are some links to the government guidance for parents regarding early years setting.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-coronavirus-covid-19