Covid-19 Safety Plan
Risk Assessment Plan
Our aim is to reduce the transmission of Covid-19 as much as possible by reducing the footfall within the nursery. While we realise we will not be able to eradicate it completely as we still need to interact with both parents and children we still aim to do as much as we can too keep everyone safe.
we are setting out an ideal situation but we are aware that some parents will still want to come into nursery to drop / collect their child or speak to staff and will of course continue to accommodate this but where possible we would like to reduce the overall traffic in and out of the nursery.
Arrangements for Dropping/Collecting
1) We have introduced a one-way system into the nursery. Parents will be required to come though the back (car park access) and then leave through the front .Parents are asked where possible to collect from the back gate and stay in between the 2 gates
If parents come beyond this we ask that you wear a mask.
2) If parents would like to speak to staff they can stand in the garden/toddler room so that other parents can still drop/collect children while abiding by social distancing rules. We are currently looking into the possibility of staff using Face Time on an Ipad so parents can speak to them this way. Telephone contact is also available as usual.
3) We will be doing daily diaries for preschool to make handover time shorter.
4) We ask that parents stay outside of the building and only use the porch. Toddlers can go straight into the toddler room from the garden. Pre-school and baby room staff will come to collect children for these rooms upon their arrival. We understand that some parents will want to take their children to the rooms themselves so we will do our best to accommodate this where possible.
5) The baby room will use one door as an entrance and one as an exit. To make this clearly parents should use the door nearest the kitchen as the entrance and the door nearest the stairs as an exit.
6) All toys, dressing up cloths, books, dolls, rugs and garden toys will be split into four separate sets. After a set has been used it will then be left for at least 72 hours outside of the room before it is used again. This is to ensure toys will always be available but also reduces the amount of cleaning needed to be done and gives staff more time to spend with the children.
7) All soft toys are being removed from rooms.
8) Cushion covers are removed and washed daily.
9) Children will enter and leave from their own rooms meaning that each room will be self contained for that age group. No mixing between rooms is allowed.
10) If your child uses a dummy/comforter we ask parents to leave 1 dummy/blanket at the nursery instead of bringing one in each day.
11) No toys/soft toys are to be brought in by children.
12) visitors will be appointment only and they will only be allowed to look into the rooms. Visitors will be limited to one adult and child. The child will only be permitted if there is no available care while the parent is viewing the nursery.
13) No visitors will be permitted to enter any rooms until further notice. The only exception to this is children will be allowed to settle in once they have been accepted at the nursery.
Maintaining a Clean Enviroment
1) Door handles, stair rails, baby gates, external doors and the buzzer box will be wiped every 30 minutes during busy times. The frequency of this will be reduced/increased based on the influx of parents at any given time. Disinfectant and cloth will also be kept in the conservatory so that staff can give door handles a wipe down after parents have used them.
2) Children are to wash their hands when they come into the nursery. Parents should also wash/use hand gel if they come into the nursery. Along with regular cleaning measures all surfaces will be sprayed and wiped down after they have been used.
3) As well as regular hand washing measures additional hourly hand washing will be taken.
4) All staff will have completed training on transmission and infection control before 1st June 2020.
5) Staff are to wipe taps, toilet seats and handles after each use.
6) Assuming the weather permits doors and windows will be opened as natural ventilation reduces the spread of viruses.
7) Assuming the weather permits pre-school will work outside as much as possible
8) The garden will have designated area's for children of different age groups. The toddler area will be green and the pre-school area will be blue. Babies will only be outside as their own age group.
9) Outdoor toys will be cleaned after each group has used them.
10) Soap dispensers will be regularly checked and filled. Only paper towels will be used.
11) Cleaning cloths will be washed/changed during the afternoon and evening.
Staff Notes
1) Staff will stay in their own rooms and will not mix with other rooms/children.
2) We will try to keep the same staff on the same shifts each week so they will only come into contact with the same parents/children.
3) Staff will be brought back to work as the number of children dictates.
4) Initially we will not be bringing back staff who use public transport.
5) Cleaning staff will be working out hours to reduce contact and ensure all surface area's are clean from the previous day.
6) Staff will wash their uniforms after each shift to combat the spread of the virus.
7) Staff are investigating on how forest schools/outdoor teaching works effective so forward planning can be done.
8) While face coverings/masks are not recommended in childcare settings some staff are anxious and have asked if they could wear a mask if they are required to interact with parents so this will be permitted where necessary.
General Guidelines
1) Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 need to notify the nursery and get tested. We require proof of testing before re-admittance will be allowed.
2) A poster about potential symptoms will be posted at the entrance of the nursery.
3) If anyone becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature in the workplace then they should be advised to follow the stay at home guidance for households with possible Covid-19 infection. If these symptoms develop whilst at work they should be sent home immediately, avoiding any contact with anyone else.
4) If a member of staff has helped someone who is unwell with a new, continuous cough or high temperature they do not need to go home unless they develop symptoms themselves. They should wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after any contact with another person who is unwell with symptoms consistent with Covid-19.
5) It is not necessary to close the business or send any staff home unless government policy changes.
6) If anyone needs clinical advice they should go to NHS 111 Online or call 111. In an emergency where they are seriously ill or injured with their life at risk call 999. Do not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital.
7) If a member of staff lives in a household where someone else is unwell with symptoms of Covid-19 then they must stay at home inline with the stay at home guidance.