COVID-19 Contingency Plan
Conkers Day Nursery
COVID-19 Contingency Plan
(1st Septmeber 2021)
This policy has been prepared in accordance with Governement Guidance and is effective from 16th August 2021.
This policy applies to all Conkers Day Nursery staff, children and families. This is a working document and updates will be added as statutory guidance is updated.
All staff must recieve a copy of the policy and it will be shared with all parents and families.
Parents and carers must follow this policy, failure to do so may result in their child not being able to attend as these procedures have been put in place to safeguard all children, staff and families attending.
It is the managers responsibility to ensure that all staff have read and understood the context of the policy.
In addition to this policy a COVID-19 Risk Assessment must also be completed.
Managing Risk and Transmission-
Over the past 18 months we have dealt with some challenging ans stressful times and have now learnt that COVID-19 is a virus that we must learn to live with safely. Following the update by the government in August 2021, we, as an early years setting must now reduce the disruption to each child's education and plan and prepare for ways to manage an outbreak.
From the 16th August 2021 the government guidance states that all Early Years and Education providers must have a working COVID Outbreak/Contingency Plan outlining how we will operate if there is an outbreak in our setting or local area.
If we have several confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 within a 10 day period this may be classed as an "outbreak".
If we have 4 or more children or staff test positive within a 10 day period this will be classed as an outbreak and we must immediately contact the DfE helpline for advice. Our local Public Health Team will also be contacted and will be advised whether we need to implement our Outbreak Management/ Contingency Plan.
The dedicated DfE helpline number is: 0800 046 8687
Conkers Nursery Outbreak Management/ Contingency Plan
STEP 1-
As soon as we are notified of more than 1 positive case with symptoms occuring within a 10 day period of each other please go to step 2
STEP 2-
Contact the DfE and local Public Health England Protection Team and follow advice. Document all information regarding the positive cases and who they have been in contact with.
STEP 3-
Should we have an identified local outbreak within our nursery we will follow the advice given to us from our Local Public Health Protection Team and from Dfe, this advice may include:
* Re-introducing enhanced control measures
* Re-introducing smaller group sizes
* Applying enhanced guidance rules around self-isolating and testing
* Partial closure or reduced opening hours
* Full closure
Please note, the above will only be applied if advised to do so by our Local Public Health England Protection Team and is not an exhaustive list of measures. Any such measures and actions will be communicated to parents and carers via email.
Workforce
We activiely encourage all staff members to have their COVID-19 Vaccinations to keep themselves and others safe.
Clinically extremely vulnerable people are advised as minimum to follow the smae guidelines as everybody else.
Social distancing measures are no longer required within the workplace.
Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Children
Children who are clinically extremely vulnerable should attend the nursery as normal unless they are one of the small group of children under paediatric or other specialised care and have been advised by a consultant not to attend.
Children and Staff Travelling From Abroad
All children and staff travelling to England must adhere to current travel legislation.
Risk Assessments
As a setting we must have a full COVID-19 Health and Safety Checklist and have carried out a COVID-19 Risk Assessment. Both documents must be updated as and when needed or as and when government guidance is changed. These documents are working documents that may be changed.
Mixing and Groupings of Children
It is no longer necessary to keep groups of children seperate however if an outbreak occurs in our nursery or in our local community then we may re-introduce seperate groups/ bubbles.
Bubbles will be re-instated if instructed to do by changes made to the government guidance.
Tracing Contacts and Isolation Rules
Close contacts are now identified via the NHS Test and Trace Programme and Nursery settings are no longer required to identify and notify any close close contacts of a positive within nursery. However, we will always notify ALL parents if we have had a positive case in our setting to make you aware of this and to ensure you are extra vigilant.
NHS Test and Trace will work directly with the positive case (or their parents/carers) to identify close contacts, however, we are aware that parents may not be aware of who their child has been in close contact with therefore we, as a nursery, will assist with this information when required.
From the 16th August 2021 children under the age of 18 years old will no longer be required to self-isolate (even if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact) instead they may be advised to take a PCR test.
We as a setting have made the decision, that in order to keep everyone as safe as possible during these Winter months, that if there is a positive case in your household you must immediately inform nursery to allow nursery to make the decision regarding whether we feel it would be still safe to allow the child to attend nursery during this period (for example if both parents have tested positive then we would feel that the child must remain at home with the parents and isolate for the 10 days due to the fact that the child will continue to be in close proximity to the parents during this time).
As a setting we are encouraging all individuals to take a PCR test should they be advised to do so.
Any staff members aged 18 years and 4 months will be treated as adults and will not need to self-isolate if they have recieved both COVID vaccinations. However if nursery feels that it would be putting other individuals at risk by attending nursery during that isolation period then nursery will request the staff isolate as normal.
Only staff who have not been double vaccinated and who are contacted by the NHS Test and Trace Programme will be required to self-isolate.
We will continue to work alongside our Local Health Protection Teams in the case of a local outbreak.
If there is a local outbreak then enhanced control measures may be reintroduced.
What if our setting has several positive cases in a 10 day period but haven't been contacted by test and trace?
If you are concerned about several positive cases within a 14 day period we will call the dedicated advice service who will escalate the issue to the Local Health Protection Team. The telephone number is: 0800 046 8687- please select option 1
Face Coverings
Face masks are currently worn optionally when entering our nursery premises.
Control Measures
* Ensure good hygiene for everyone- enhanced hand washing and use of hand sanitisers
* Maintain appropriate cleaning regimes, including daily and weekly sterilising of toys and equipment
* Keep occupied spaces well ventilated
* Follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19
Use of PPE
No addional PPE requirements other than what is normally required for work purposes.
When an individual develops COVID-19 symptoms or has a positive test result
Children, staff and other adults must not come into the nursery if they have symptoms of COVID-19. These symptoms are:
* A new and continuous cough
* A high temperature
*Loss of taste and/or smell
If anyone in the setting develops symptoms of COVID-19 whilst in nursery they will be sent home and will be asked to have a PCR test. Current Public Health Guidance should be followed until test results are received.
If a child is awaiting collection, appropriate PPE should be used by any staff members in close contact. Areas should be cleaned following normal cleaning procedures once the child has been collected.
Staff are encouraged to complete twice weekly lateral flow tests. Should a staff member have a positive lateral flow test they should isolate immediately and arrange a PCR test.
Whilst awaiting a PCR test result the individual should continue to self-isolate.
Where a child or staff member has had a positive PCR test, they can return to normal routine once they have completed the isolation period if they are well.
Staff and children should only stay at home for COVID-19 reasons if:
1. They are symptomatic
2. They or someone in their household has tested positive with a LFT or PCR test.
3. If they are NOT double vaccinated and are contacted by NHS Test and Trace
Admitting children into the setting
Children with symptoms should not attend the nursery and should stay off until either all symptoms are no longer present or until a negative PCR test is recieved.
Children CAN NOT attend nursery if they have had a paracetamol medicine for a temperature or a cough.
Side effects of children taking a routine vaccination or teething
Vaccines may cause a mild fever in children; this is a common and expected reaction.
Teething can cause some known side effects such as flushed cheeks and sore gums.
Please can parents ensure they are notifying nursery if their child has recieved a routine vaccination in the last 7 days to allow us to be aware of any side effects. In such circumstances where a side effect occurs then nursery is able to administer appropriate medication where needed.
OFSTED
Ofsted must be notified of any confirmed cases in the nursery within 14 days of the positive case.
Visitors to the nursery
Visitors are now permitted in the nursery as per pre pandemic guidelines
Cleaning
Cleaning guidance is displayed in each unit.
All surfaces are to be cleaned each day.
Toys are to be sterilised daily/weekly.
Material items must be cleaned daily.
New starters and settling in sessions
Prospective parents are able to come in to view the nursery on a pre-booked system.
New starters are invited into nursery for settling in sessions with a parent as they did prior to the pandemic.
Messy/sensory play
Sensory play can be reintroduced as normal but hand-washing must take place before and after use.
Sensory play should be changed daily in unable to be cleaned.
Sand play must be changed weekly.
If there is an outbreak all messy/sensory play will be halted immediately.
Dual placements
Children can once again attend more than one setting however parents must advise us of the full name and address of the other setting and it is there responsibility to notify us if there is a postive case or outbreak at the other setting.
Drop off and collection procedures
From Monday the 4th October 2021 we are welcoming parents back into the setting, however we want to do this gradually and feel that the free flow that we had pre-pandemic could make nursery a little too busy at times therefore we will be having limits to the amount of parents that are able to enter the nursery at any time.
Mornings will remain with dropping off at the doors as we feel the children do settle much quicker this way. We are also aware that the darker mornings and evenings are approaching therefore Pre-school parents will revert to using the front door once again.
Toddler parents will continue to go around to their area in a morning where they will be greeted by a Toddler member of staff.
However from Monday 4th October 2021 there will be some changes to our evening routines...
Toddler parents will remain going around to the toddler room doors and will be invited into the unit via the artroom. We will allow 2 Toddler parents into the unit at any 1 time.
Baby parents will remain going around to the toddler room doors and will be invited into unit via artroom. We will allow 2 toddler parents into the unit at any 1 time.
Pre-school parents will enter nursery through the front door and will be invited into the corridor area and go up the stairs into the pre-school unit. We will only allow 2 pre-school parents into the unit at any time.
Please can I ask all parents when in the nursery please try to refrain from stopping and chatting to each other as we don't want parents/ carers waiting outside for any longer than they need to.
COVID-19 Contingency Plan
(1st Septmeber 2021)
This policy has been prepared in accordance with Governement Guidance and is effective from 16th August 2021.
This policy applies to all Conkers Day Nursery staff, children and families. This is a working document and updates will be added as statutory guidance is updated.
All staff must recieve a copy of the policy and it will be shared with all parents and families.
Parents and carers must follow this policy, failure to do so may result in their child not being able to attend as these procedures have been put in place to safeguard all children, staff and families attending.
It is the managers responsibility to ensure that all staff have read and understood the context of the policy.
In addition to this policy a COVID-19 Risk Assessment must also be completed.
Managing Risk and Transmission-
Over the past 18 months we have dealt with some challenging ans stressful times and have now learnt that COVID-19 is a virus that we must learn to live with safely. Following the update by the government in August 2021, we, as an early years setting must now reduce the disruption to each child's education and plan and prepare for ways to manage an outbreak.
From the 16th August 2021 the government guidance states that all Early Years and Education providers must have a working COVID Outbreak/Contingency Plan outlining how we will operate if there is an outbreak in our setting or local area.
If we have several confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 within a 10 day period this may be classed as an "outbreak".
If we have 4 or more children or staff test positive within a 10 day period this will be classed as an outbreak and we must immediately contact the DfE helpline for advice. Our local Public Health Team will also be contacted and will be advised whether we need to implement our Outbreak Management/ Contingency Plan.
The dedicated DfE helpline number is: 0800 046 8687
Conkers Nursery Outbreak Management/ Contingency Plan
STEP 1-
As soon as we are notified of more than 1 positive case with symptoms occuring within a 10 day period of each other please go to step 2
STEP 2-
Contact the DfE and local Public Health England Protection Team and follow advice. Document all information regarding the positive cases and who they have been in contact with.
STEP 3-
Should we have an identified local outbreak within our nursery we will follow the advice given to us from our Local Public Health Protection Team and from Dfe, this advice may include:
* Re-introducing enhanced control measures
* Re-introducing smaller group sizes
* Applying enhanced guidance rules around self-isolating and testing
* Partial closure or reduced opening hours
* Full closure
Please note, the above will only be applied if advised to do so by our Local Public Health England Protection Team and is not an exhaustive list of measures. Any such measures and actions will be communicated to parents and carers via email.
Workforce
We activiely encourage all staff members to have their COVID-19 Vaccinations to keep themselves and others safe.
Clinically extremely vulnerable people are advised as minimum to follow the smae guidelines as everybody else.
Social distancing measures are no longer required within the workplace.
Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Children
Children who are clinically extremely vulnerable should attend the nursery as normal unless they are one of the small group of children under paediatric or other specialised care and have been advised by a consultant not to attend.
Children and Staff Travelling From Abroad
All children and staff travelling to England must adhere to current travel legislation.
Risk Assessments
As a setting we must have a full COVID-19 Health and Safety Checklist and have carried out a COVID-19 Risk Assessment. Both documents must be updated as and when needed or as and when government guidance is changed. These documents are working documents that may be changed.
Mixing and Groupings of Children
It is no longer necessary to keep groups of children seperate however if an outbreak occurs in our nursery or in our local community then we may re-introduce seperate groups/ bubbles.
Bubbles will be re-instated if instructed to do by changes made to the government guidance.
Tracing Contacts and Isolation Rules
Close contacts are now identified via the NHS Test and Trace Programme and Nursery settings are no longer required to identify and notify any close close contacts of a positive within nursery. However, we will always notify ALL parents if we have had a positive case in our setting to make you aware of this and to ensure you are extra vigilant.
NHS Test and Trace will work directly with the positive case (or their parents/carers) to identify close contacts, however, we are aware that parents may not be aware of who their child has been in close contact with therefore we, as a nursery, will assist with this information when required.
From the 16th August 2021 children under the age of 18 years old will no longer be required to self-isolate (even if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact) instead they may be advised to take a PCR test.
We as a setting have made the decision, that in order to keep everyone as safe as possible during these Winter months, that if there is a positive case in your household you must immediately inform nursery to allow nursery to make the decision regarding whether we feel it would be still safe to allow the child to attend nursery during this period (for example if both parents have tested positive then we would feel that the child must remain at home with the parents and isolate for the 10 days due to the fact that the child will continue to be in close proximity to the parents during this time).
As a setting we are encouraging all individuals to take a PCR test should they be advised to do so.
Any staff members aged 18 years and 4 months will be treated as adults and will not need to self-isolate if they have recieved both COVID vaccinations. However if nursery feels that it would be putting other individuals at risk by attending nursery during that isolation period then nursery will request the staff isolate as normal.
Only staff who have not been double vaccinated and who are contacted by the NHS Test and Trace Programme will be required to self-isolate.
We will continue to work alongside our Local Health Protection Teams in the case of a local outbreak.
If there is a local outbreak then enhanced control measures may be reintroduced.
What if our setting has several positive cases in a 10 day period but haven't been contacted by test and trace?
If you are concerned about several positive cases within a 14 day period we will call the dedicated advice service who will escalate the issue to the Local Health Protection Team. The telephone number is: 0800 046 8687- please select option 1
Face Coverings
Face masks are currently worn optionally when entering our nursery premises.
Control Measures
* Ensure good hygiene for everyone- enhanced hand washing and use of hand sanitisers
* Maintain appropriate cleaning regimes, including daily and weekly sterilising of toys and equipment
* Keep occupied spaces well ventilated
* Follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19
Use of PPE
No addional PPE requirements other than what is normally required for work purposes.
When an individual develops COVID-19 symptoms or has a positive test result
Children, staff and other adults must not come into the nursery if they have symptoms of COVID-19. These symptoms are:
* A new and continuous cough
* A high temperature
*Loss of taste and/or smell
If anyone in the setting develops symptoms of COVID-19 whilst in nursery they will be sent home and will be asked to have a PCR test. Current Public Health Guidance should be followed until test results are received.
If a child is awaiting collection, appropriate PPE should be used by any staff members in close contact. Areas should be cleaned following normal cleaning procedures once the child has been collected.
Staff are encouraged to complete twice weekly lateral flow tests. Should a staff member have a positive lateral flow test they should isolate immediately and arrange a PCR test.
Whilst awaiting a PCR test result the individual should continue to self-isolate.
Where a child or staff member has had a positive PCR test, they can return to normal routine once they have completed the isolation period if they are well.
Staff and children should only stay at home for COVID-19 reasons if:
1. They are symptomatic
2. They or someone in their household has tested positive with a LFT or PCR test.
3. If they are NOT double vaccinated and are contacted by NHS Test and Trace
Admitting children into the setting
Children with symptoms should not attend the nursery and should stay off until either all symptoms are no longer present or until a negative PCR test is recieved.
Children CAN NOT attend nursery if they have had a paracetamol medicine for a temperature or a cough.
Side effects of children taking a routine vaccination or teething
Vaccines may cause a mild fever in children; this is a common and expected reaction.
Teething can cause some known side effects such as flushed cheeks and sore gums.
Please can parents ensure they are notifying nursery if their child has recieved a routine vaccination in the last 7 days to allow us to be aware of any side effects. In such circumstances where a side effect occurs then nursery is able to administer appropriate medication where needed.
OFSTED
Ofsted must be notified of any confirmed cases in the nursery within 14 days of the positive case.
Visitors to the nursery
Visitors are now permitted in the nursery as per pre pandemic guidelines
Cleaning
Cleaning guidance is displayed in each unit.
All surfaces are to be cleaned each day.
Toys are to be sterilised daily/weekly.
Material items must be cleaned daily.
New starters and settling in sessions
Prospective parents are able to come in to view the nursery on a pre-booked system.
New starters are invited into nursery for settling in sessions with a parent as they did prior to the pandemic.
Messy/sensory play
Sensory play can be reintroduced as normal but hand-washing must take place before and after use.
Sensory play should be changed daily in unable to be cleaned.
Sand play must be changed weekly.
If there is an outbreak all messy/sensory play will be halted immediately.
Dual placements
Children can once again attend more than one setting however parents must advise us of the full name and address of the other setting and it is there responsibility to notify us if there is a postive case or outbreak at the other setting.
Drop off and collection procedures
From Monday the 4th October 2021 we are welcoming parents back into the setting, however we want to do this gradually and feel that the free flow that we had pre-pandemic could make nursery a little too busy at times therefore we will be having limits to the amount of parents that are able to enter the nursery at any time.
Mornings will remain with dropping off at the doors as we feel the children do settle much quicker this way. We are also aware that the darker mornings and evenings are approaching therefore Pre-school parents will revert to using the front door once again.
Toddler parents will continue to go around to their area in a morning where they will be greeted by a Toddler member of staff.
However from Monday 4th October 2021 there will be some changes to our evening routines...
Toddler parents will remain going around to the toddler room doors and will be invited into the unit via the artroom. We will allow 2 Toddler parents into the unit at any 1 time.
Baby parents will remain going around to the toddler room doors and will be invited into unit via artroom. We will allow 2 toddler parents into the unit at any 1 time.
Pre-school parents will enter nursery through the front door and will be invited into the corridor area and go up the stairs into the pre-school unit. We will only allow 2 pre-school parents into the unit at any time.
Please can I ask all parents when in the nursery please try to refrain from stopping and chatting to each other as we don't want parents/ carers waiting outside for any longer than they need to.
What To Expect
This page is currently being updated. If you require immediate information then please do not hesitate to call or email us via the contact us page.