COVID 19 Information for Parents & Carers

Here at Elm Cottage we have been working very hard to reopen our settings in a safe environment for all children, parents, carers and our staff. We are regularly deep cleaning our settings and toys and have a strict hand washing policy in place. For more information please see our risk assessment documents below for our nurseries and clubs. Please take time to read the guidance attached so that we can ensure the safety of all staff and children.

We are members of the National Day Nurseries Association who provide us with all the government updates and announcements regarding the coronavirus outbreak and how this affects early years settings.

Following the NDNAs meeting in May with scientific advisors which included Prof.Chris Whitty the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Patrick Vallance the Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Jennifer Harries the DCMO and Allan Bennet from Public health England among others, Purnima Tanuku (head of NDNA) fed back to the early years sector.

The advisors on the panel were clear that their decisions are based purely on scientific evidence not Government policy. In the meeting the advisors went through some of the evidence around risk, what is known and what is not known about the virus. What was clear is that there is not a scenario where the risk from the virus can be ruled out entirely. However, there are much lower infection rates, clinical impact, and deaths among children than among adults.

Please click here for the scientific evidence and further explanation published by the Government for those of you who wish to read it. This document covers infection and transmission, the risk to different groups, testing, PPE and international comparisons.

Although we are clear that there is no such thing as a ‘no risk’ scenario it does seem to appear that risks to children in nursery are extremely low. This must be balanced against the risk of them unable to access vital care and education which includes socialising with other children.

As parents we realise you need to make your own decisions.

Thank you for your patience as we move forward. Please feel free to contact us if you have further comments or questions.

Nurseries

All our nurseries are now open.

In line with the new Government guidance and to help us keep staff, parents/carers and children safe, we now ask that all parents/carers wear a mask on pick up and collection. All staff members will do the same.

We are currently not taking viewings of our nurseries due to the Corona virus. Please see our virtual tours below.

Crescent Park

Orrishmere

Thorn Grove

RISK ASSESSMENT – Nurseries

Class names and layout vary depending on setting

Risk	Actions to Minimise Risk
Social Distancing in Nursery	All staff will try to maintain a 2m distance between each other. Each room will be one hub, as there are less children. They will not come into contact with another room/hub. The children will not be expected to social distance. There will be less staff in the nursery, however ratios will be maintained at all times. No visitors will be entering the nursery.
Drop Off & Collection	No parents will be able to enter the nursery. No cars will be allowed on the driveway. Only one parent to drop off/ collect at one time, unless you have children in more than one room. Between 8-9am and 4-5pm the access points will be as follows; Dolphin children- Playground gate (Left side) Starfish children- Right side gate Little Fishes children- Front door 2m markings will be put in place- if these are full please wait in your car until space becomes available. Any other times please use the front door- Hand sanitiser will be available on top of the intercom No toys to be brought in from home (comforters/dummies are ok) A staff member will collect your child at drop off and bring your child to you at pick up. Feedback will be given via Tapestry for Dolphins and Starfish. Little Fishes will have a feedback slip in their bags. We will telephone you if there are any important messages to convey. If you have any important messages, please email or ring.
Child/Staff show Coronavirus symptoms New continuous cough High temperature Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste	Any staff/children who are displaying symptoms or have a member of their household who is; should not enter nursery. If staff or children begin to show symptoms whilst at nursery they will be sent home. Whilst a child is waiting to be collected they will be separated from their group with a staff member to care for them. The staff member will have to wear PPE- A mask, gloves, apron and if there is risk of fluid to their eyes- they will wear eye protection. The child will then need to be tested- You can ring 111 to book a test- this applies to all under 5’s Negative result- the child can come back to nursery Positive result- We will inform the whole group and they will need to isolate for 14days. If any of them display symptoms they will be able to get tested. (Other household members do not have to isolate unless the child develops symptoms) All areas will be disinfected if a child has displayed symptoms.
Child/Staff Illness/Sickness	If a child/staff member becomes ill our normal procedures will apply, unless they show Coronavirus symptoms.
Emergency Contact Details/Procedures	You will be phoned immediately if your child is displaying Coronavirus symptoms. Please ensure your contact details are in place. Please can you also ensure that your emergency contact would be able to collect in the event of an emergency. This will be a last resort if we are unable to contact you.
Hygiene Practices	All staff and children will wash their hands on entering the nursery Handwashing will be embedded into the nursery routine and the children will be supervised. Staff will encourage children to follow the ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it’ process when nose blowing. Tissue bins will be disposed of more frequently. Hygiene practices will be embedded using songs, stories and role modelling. Antibac Gel will also be provided on the top of the intercom, to be used before buzzing your child’s room. It is advised that children’s clothing is washed after a nursery day.
Cleaning	Staff will be deep cleaning the nursery on Monday 1st before the children return on Tuesday 2nd. All major touch surfaces for example: door handles, will be cleaned regularly throughout the day. All resources will be cleaned before the end of the day or rotated to allow time to clean thoroughly.
Resources/Activities	We will be ensuring that the children utilise the outdoor space as much as possible. Dolphin children will have constant access to the playground and have access to the garden when the other children are inside. Little Fishes and Starfish will stagger their outdoor times in the garden. Little Fishes will access the garden through the front door and through the side gate, to avoid the other rooms. All equipment will be cleaned between uses, at the start and end of the day. Playground resources will be cleaned daily.
PPE	Staff will not be expected to wear PPE throughout the day. During care routines, normal use of PPE will be used. Staff will only wear full PPE when they are caring for a child who is displaying coronavirus symptoms and is waiting to be collected.

Out of School Clubs

The following settings are open for September:

Didsbury Road before and after school club
Hursthead after school club only (before school club under review)
Thorn Grove after school club only (before school club under review)

RISK ASSESSMENT – After School Clubs

Social Distancing in Club	All staff will try to maintain 2m distance where possible. Each year group will be classed as one bubble and grouped accordingly. The children will not be expected to social distance in their bubble.
Collection from Club	Didsbury Road On arrival parents should use the normal club entrance. Hand sanitizer will be available at the club entrance. Parents should pick up from the club entrance (socially distanced in a queue). Parents will not be able to enter buildings where the club is operating from. A staff member will get your child and bring them to you, with all their belongings. Only one parent who is symptom free to drop off/ collect at one time. Hursthead Parents should then make their way to the location of their child/ren: Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in the Infant hall & Field Room. Year 3 and 4 in the Club Mobile Year 5 and 6 in the Junior School Hall A member of staff will be in the infant playground to direct you if you are unsure where to go. On arrival at the entrance to either the infants or junior school, parents should ring the doorbell and wait for a member of staff to arrive. A staff member will get your child and bring them to you, with all their belongings. Parents will be not able to enter buildings where the club is operating from. Only one parent who is symptom free to drop off/ collect at one time.
Collection from school	Didsbury Road We will collect all the children from their classrooms inside the school like normal. Hurtshead We will collect the infant children from their classrooms inside the school like normal. The juniors will have a new meeting point. There will be a staff member to greet the children. Year 3 will meet at the designated meeting point and then be accompanied to the mobile with a member of staff.
Club Resources	All resources will be cleaned at the end of each night and rotated regularly so children continue to have a wide range of activities. Areas with soft furnishings will be reduced. If soft furnishing such as cushions/ blankets are used, they will be “quarantined” for 72 hours after use.
Outdoor Space & Equipment	We will be reducing the amount of free flow play throughout the evening. Year groups will have designated times/ areas to go outside and play in. Playground resources will be cleaned daily.
Emergency Contact Details/Procedures	You will be phoned immediately if your child is displaying Coronavirus symptoms. Please ensure your contact details are correct. Please can you ensure that your emergency contact will be able to collect in the event of an emergency. This will be a last resort if we are unable to contact you.
Hygiene Practices	All staff and children will wash their hands on entering the Club. Handwashing will continue to be embedded into the Club routine, and the children will be supervised. Staff will encourage children to follow the ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it’ process when nose blowing. Tissue bins will be disposed of more frequently. Hygiene practices will be embedded and encouraged. On arrival parents should use the normal coded gate into club . Hand sanitizer will be available.
Cleaning	Staff will be deep cleaning the Club before children attend and at the end of each day. All major touch surfaces for example: door handles, will be cleaned regularly throughout the session. All resources will be cleaned before the end of the day or rotated to allow time to clean thoroughly.
PPE	Staff will not be expected to wear PPE throughout the day. Staff will only wear full PPE when they are caring for a child who is displaying coronavirus symptoms and is waiting to be collected.