Updated 11/09/2020 MR
Guidance for parents and carers is available below.
Basically the guidance asks us to do what we can to minimise the spread of the virus, both through direct transmission (coughing and sneezing) and indirect transmission (touching contaminated objects).
This will include;
We are a caring setting for children to attend, feel safe, and follow their interests. We allow children to lead themselves in their learning and avoid imposing rules on them where possible. We spend our days outdoors in nature, where transmission of coronavirus is less likely than indoors.
Young children are unlikely to be able to socially distance themselves from others and we would not expect them to. For the children the return will seem pretty much the same as before, maybe with a bit more hand washing.
The steps outlined below should enable us to operate with the likelihood of virus transmission reduced as much as is to be reasonably expected.
Anyone who has, or is showing symptoms of, coronavirus (a new continuous cough, or fever, or a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)), or has someone in their household who is, they should not be in a childcare setting. They should stay at home, in line with the guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection.
Any child or staff member who develops the above symptoms while at Nest in the Woods will be sent home immediately. They will be advised to get tested for Covid-19. While waiting to be collected, a child with symptoms will be moved away from the other children (at least 2m) to wait in a safe place under supervision of an adult.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested#arrange-a-test
If anyone at Nest in the Woods tests positive for Covid-19 we will close the setting for 2 weeks in line with current quarantine guidance.
If somebody tests negative, they can return to our setting.
If a child or a member of staff lives with someone who is clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable), including those who are pregnant, they can attend Nest in the Woods.
If a child or staff member lives in a household with someone who is extremely clinically vulnerable, as set out in the COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable guidance, it is advised they only attend an education or childcare setting if stringent social distancing can be adhered to and, in the case of children, they are able to understand and follow those instructions. We do not feel that this would be possible at Nest in the Woods, so please keep away if someone in your household is extremely clinically vulnerable.
We will encourage everybody to wash their hands regularly and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds using soap and water. We will also have hand sanitiser available for use. We will sing hand washing songs as we usually do to encourage the children. We will bring water and soap for hand washing in the outdoors using our pump flasks and extra water containers. We will use paper towels for drying hands. Everyone will need to wash their hands on arrival at Nest in the Woods, after using the toilet, before and after eating, and after sneezing or coughing.
We will try to encourage the children to avoid touching their face and putting their fingers in their mouths as much as is reasonable. We will have tissues and wipes available to use, and a rubbish bag for them to be disposed of. Hands will be washed after use of tissues.
We will regularly clean frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, toys etc. We will not be using toys and equipment which is difficult to regularly clean such as soft toys. As we are outdoors all day, this should not be too much of a large task. We will take extra care to make sure that we regularly clean our camping toilet and tent, hand wash pump, water container, trolley, mud kitchen equipment and toys.
We will not be using our plastic cups for drinks. Please ensure you send your child with their own drink container each day.
As for things that children bring with them, we would ask that they do not bring toys from home. Also please ensure their things are cleaned each day, lunchbox, drinks bottle, etc. Also please wipe down their waterproofs with soapy water (no need to machine wash), and give their bag a wipe down.
Schools and childcare settings have the need to minimise social contact between groups of children, and to have the same supervising adult each day where possible. In schools they will have groups based on classes or year groups, and will avoid contact with other groups of children by staggering break times for example.
Early years settings are no longer required to arrange children and staff in small, consistent groups so can return to normal group sizes.
However there may be a problem with children also attending other settings, thus widening their social bubbles. As we are a part-time setting, and we have less risk of transmission due to being outside, we will accept children who also attend one other setting, but please be aware that the other childcare setting may not, so plan accordingly.
Our Home-Ed groups and Parties will still be subject to group size limitations. Home-Ed will be limited to 15 children per group and parties are subject to the social gathering guidance which means that from the 14th September 2020 we cannot host parties until further notice.
We also need to consider minimising social contact between families during drop off and collection times. To do this we request that if walking to our setting you please wait at least 2 metres away from other people in the car park area. If driving please wait in your car. A member of staff will come and collect the children from you at the car park area.
Again, during collection time, please wait in the car park area and a member of staff will bring the children to you.
We will complete signing in and out into our register on your behalf.
We will not be accepting visitors at this time.
Staff and children will not be wearing face masks as part of our usual routine. Young children are not able to handle face masks in an effective way and their use may inadvertently increase the risk of transmission. Staff may only need to wear PPE if they need to care for a child who becomes unwell with symptoms of coronavirus and are waiting to be collected by their parent or carer.
PPE may be used as part of our normal routine for example dealing with intimate care needs.
Reference to PPE in the following situations means:
Where PPE is recommended, this means that:
When PPE is used, it is essential that it is used properly. This includes scrupulous hand hygiene and following guidance on how to put PPE on and take it off safely in order to reduce self-contamination.
Face masks must: