COVID 19

In order to keep the children, staff and parents associated with Rotherfield Village Pre-School safe during the current COVID-19 outbreak, the following procedures must be adhered to:

1. Wearing a face mask is now optional for the approach to and from pre-school.

2. Please walk across the field and form a queue starting on the path that leads from the football HQ building. 

3. A member of staff will greet you one at a time from within the gated area at the front of the pre-school. 

4. Please walk up the drive past the scout hut to ensure a one-way system. 

5. If your child is unable to walk into pre-school independently then either:

- 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) 

- or if you feel this would be to distressing for your child then you can opt to take them home again 

- we will not forcibly take children from their parents as we feel that this is more distressing for the child. We will work with parents in whatever way we can to help the child to come in, which may be asking parents to come to the setting with the child after hours for example, in order to make the transition in easier.

6. Staff and children wash their hands-on arrival. They will also wash hands before and after food, after using the toilet, if they sneeze or cough and when coming in from outside activities and at the end of the day before going home.

7. Please bring with you a packed lunch, water bottle, sun hat and change of clothes (all clearly labelled). 

8. Please apply sun cream at home in the mornings, we will then re-apply at lunch time. Staff will be washing their hands in between each child. The sun cream we are using is Tesco soleil kids, factor 50. Please let us know if you will be providing a different on for your child due to allergies or sensitive skin. 

9. 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. 

10. Toys will be changed on a rota basis. 

11. Where possible we intend to make the most of being outside for all parts of the day. Please ensure your child has the appropriate clothing for this. 

12. We will be using the outdoor spaces around us to take the children outside as much as possible. We will continue to risk assess all of our trips out and about. 

13. Windows and external door to the decking are open during the day to allow a flow of fresh air. Please ensure your child is appropriately dressed for this.

14. At the end of the day, please follow the same procedure as in the morning. A member of staff will bring the 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 as this is going to take more time than usual. 

15. We cannot guarantee that Rotherfield Village Pre-School will NOT be affected by a case of COVID-19. We will be doing everything that we can to minimise the risks, but this will not prevent the virus being brought into the setting. 

16. Parents of new start children will be able to stay with their child for a settling in session. Prospective parents will be able to visit the pre-school during opening hours.

17. We are now able to carry out educational trips/ visits.

18. If your child attends another setting, then you MUST make us aware of the name of the setting and how frequently your child attends. 

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19 which are:

 a high temperature 

 a new continuous cough 

 changes to your sense of smell or taste 

You must get a PCR test and obtain a negative result or self-isolate for 10 days before returning to pre-school. 

What will happen if a child or an adult shows symptoms of COVD-19 during a session?

If a child or staff member starts to show symptoms of COVID-19 during a session (high temperature; continuous cough; sore throat, loss of taste or smell) we will isolate this individual from the rest of the setting:

Staff members will be asked to leave the premises immediately and go home, where they will be advised to get tested for COVID-19. If their result comes back as negative, they will be able to return to work. 

If a child is showing symptoms, they will be removed to the office with a staff member who will put on PPE and contact the child’s parents. The child will stay in the office in the care of this staff member until they are collected by their parents, at which point it will be advised that they are tested for COVID-19. Again, if the child tests negative, they will be able to return to the setting.

Once the affected individual has left the premises, there will be a full clean and PPE will be disposed of safely.

If the individual tests positive, all of the children and staff who have been in contact with that child will be informed of a positive case and asked to do a PCR test. If the test is negative then they are able to return to Preschool.