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Covid 19 Toolkit Re-opening Childcare in Torfaen
As we start to return to our new ‘normal’ and welcome more young children back through the doors into our settings, we will be required to consider situations and experiences like never before.
The experience of a global pandemic, subsequent lockdown and social isolation is unprecedented; it is unchartered territory and it has affected us all. None of us will be returning back to what we were used to.
As well as considering and planning essential procedures to keep us all safe and well, we need to acknowledge and support our children, families and our own staff , who will each have their own unique reactions to the changes in their world.
Your re-opening will be unique
We have developed this guidance document to support you through this process.
It reiterates the key messages published by the Welsh Government on June 10 th 2020 and develops these messages to include practical examples of good practice and extensive further links.
It goes without saying that the examples in this document should be taken and adapted to your ownRisk Assessments and Procedures.
It is also important to stress that this guidance is in itself a work in progress; as we all learn from each other and the situation develops, there will be many more examples of good practice to share.
We will regularly review and update the advice within this document and the latest version will always be available on:
FIS Covid-19 page - https://torfaenfis.org.uk/covid19-update/
FIS home page - https://torfaenfis.org.uk/
This is a new landscape and we are in it together- we need to work in partnership with our families, communities and other providers to support our youngest children to be resilient and have very best foundations on which to build, whatever the future holds.
Key Messages from the guidance published by Welsh Government -10 th June 2020 - https://gov.wales/protecting-staff-and-under-5-year-olds-coronavirus-childcare
1. Social distancing measures should be employed so far as is reasonably practical but it is accepted that this will be harder to maintain in a childcare setting where babies and pre-school aged children are being cared for than in other settings. Therefore, infection prevention and control measures must be increased;
2. Read and consider the guidance before re-opening or expanding your provision; 3. As employers, childcare settings have legal obligations under employment law. They should carry out risk assessments on
an ongoing basis to plan appropriately for individual circumstances;4. Implement measures that limit the number of contacts that children and adults have;5. Follow Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Childcare Settings including;
o thorough and regular cleaning and disinfecting of the environment, for example, at a minimum, daily cleaning and disinfection of toilets, taps, furniture, equipment, surfaces and door and gate handles. Plastic or wooden toys should be disinfected after use
o Effective personal hygiene procedures, especially frequent handwashing by staff and children
6. Follow Public Health Wales guidance if a child/staff member or a member of child/staff member’s family is showing symptoms of COVID-19;
7. If a child receiving childcare becomes symptomatic whilst at the setting, the child should be cared for away from other children and a parent/carer should be called for immediately and the child collected and taken home;
8. Plan how you are going to tell parents/carers about your new arrangements for implementing protective measures. and how you are going to involve the children;
9. Remember that the needs, rights and experiences of all children at the setting should remain a key consideration when planning and operating protective measures.
Key message 1: ‘Social distancing measures should be employed so far as is reasonably practical but it is accepted that this will be harder to maintain in a childcare setting where babies and pre-school aged children are being cared for than in other settings. Therefore, infection prevention and control measures must be increased’
Advice in Welsh Government guidance(as of 10 th June 2020):
Social Distancing and Mixing in Childcare SettingsSocial distancing within childcare settings with young children will be harder to maintain than in other settings. Settings should therefore implement the following measures to minimise the number of contacts that children and adults have, whilst ensuring children are kept safe and well cared for:
Settings should:
Risk assess appropriately to evidence their approach to social distancing which may mean limiting the number of children they can safely care for;
Prevent the sharing of food, drink, utensils, and where possible equipment and toys; Consider how your emergency evacuation procedures might need to change to accommodate new child/staff
groupings; Inform parents about the measures you are taking and seek their help to implement them; Make as much use as possible of the available outdoor space for activities.
For children and young people who require additional support – such as children with a statement of special educational needs or who have additional learning needs or disabilities - work with the local authority as well as with parents to decide
how best to continue supporting these children to stay healthy.
Face Coverings
The Chief Medical Officer for Wales has been clear that there is no evidence to support the widespread wearing of non-medical face coverings in the community. Non-medical face coverings are only recommended where social distancing cannot be maintained. They are not a replacement for far more effective measures such as social distancing and hand hygiene.Social distancing is not always possible in child care settings, especially with the youngest children and that is why infection prevention and control measures must be increased. No-one who may not be able to handle face coverings as directed (e.g. young children, or those with special educational needs or disabilities) should wear them as it may inadvertently increase the risk of transmission.
The Minister for Health and Social care made a statement about face coverings on 9 June 2020: https://gov.wales/three-layer-face-coverings-recommended-not-mandatory-certain-situations-wales
This is based on scientific advice which also acknowledges that some people such as young children cannot wear face coverings: https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2020-06/use-of-face-coverings-in-the-context-of-covid-19.pdf
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Childcare Settings
The below information is based on current advice. We will keep this under review and update if required, based on scientific evidence.
Gloves and aprons should be used when providing intimate care to a child, including hands-on care such as washing, toileting, or first aid and certain clinical procedures such as assisted feeding.
Fluid-resistant surgical mask and eye protection should also be worn if a risk assessment determines that there is a risk of splashing to the eyes such as from coughing, spitting, or vomiting.
Gloves and aprons should be used when cleaning equipment or surfaces that might be contaminated with body fluids such as saliva or respiratory secretions.
Handwashing should always be practised before putting on and after removing PPE.
In cases where aerosol generating procedures such as suction are undertaken, gloves, fluid repellent gown, FFP3 mask and eye protection are required.
All staff should understand how to put on/remove PPE in order to reduce the risk of onward transmission of infection. Further guidance is available here in appendix 6 of the Infection Prevention and Control for Childcare Settings GuidanceChildcare settings should not require children to wear face coverings as incorrect handling may inadvertently increase the risk of transmission.
Face Masks and Implications for Deaf ChildrenThe impact of wearing a face mask when caring for a deaf child should be carefully considered, as communication for many deaf people relies in part on being able to see someone’s face clearly. The National Deaf Children’s Society has provided the following communication tips, which childcare staff may find useful in this regard: https://www.facebook.com/112180125505122/videos/3087775494640238and https://www.ndcs.org.uk/blog/the-impact-of-face-masks-on-deaf-children/
We know that, unlike older children and adults, children in the early years cannot be expected to remain 2 metres apart from each other and staff. You should therefore work through the following hierarchy of measures:
Good practice Ideas:
ensure parents are advised to keep children with any symptoms at home
ensure staff who are symptomatic do not attend work
What might this look like?
Email parents prior to restartingPut up posters at drop off points as a reminderTemperature checks daily on arrivalParents required to sign statement saying they understand and agree to this policy prior to restarting
Get staff to sign statement saying they understand and agree to this policy
ensure frequent hand cleaning and good respiratory hygiene practices
ensure regular cleaning of settings
Consider the need to adjust fire alarm procedures, for example assembly points, and how you will ensure that staff are trained in them.
Posters in staff room as reminderTemp checks or have a staff thermometer available on site Early notification of any symptoms - to allow setting to arrange staff to cover
Hourly handwashing as well as before and after meals, snacks, and after physical contact or toileting/nappy changing.Ensure that all follow required handwashing procedure Hand wash and Individual paper towels available-you will need much more than you thinkSanitiser should not be used as a ‘replacement’ for handwashing
Settings should clean regularly throughout the day with particular focus on contact points like door handles, toilet flushes, light switches, fire extinguishers etc. Settings should complete a risk assessment to identify how much cleaning will be needed and at what times this will be done. Additional cleaning may also be needed. All areas, furnishings and equipment should be cleaned thoroughly at the end of every day. This should be kept under review and adjusted if necessary.
Practice a fire drill before opening to find out if exits/staff/ routes/rally points are still working. Can you still access fire equipment? Are the exits still the same?Rewrite the fire drill and practice the new drill before opening.
Face coverings-the settings open to date have opted not to use them and to rely on their infection control procedures.
This may have be a personal decision made by the key practitioner working within a bubble-the risk factor will depend upon the current health of the children in the bubble and the confidence of the key practitioner. This decision may vary day by day, week by week, and season by season. If a child in your bubble has a cold or a phlegmy cough (NOT COVID-19), then the wearing of a clear visor may decrease staff anxieties when being in very close contact with that child
Key message 2: ‘Read and consider the guidance before re-opening or expanding your provision’
Advice in Welsh Government guidance(as of 10 th June 2020):
Vulnerable Health Groups
Shielding and clinically vulnerable children For the vast majority of children coronavirus (COVID-19) is a mild illness. Children who have been classed as shielding
due to pre-existing medical conditions have been advised to undertake specific ‘shielding’ measures. These children have serious underlying health conditions which put them at very high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and are advised to rigorously follow shielding measures in order to keep themselves safe. We do not expect these children to attend settings at this time. Other clinically vulnerable children (who are not shielding) will need to be considered case by case, but of course we would only expect these to attend where parents/carers are satisfied that this is safe for them.
Shielding and clinically vulnerable adultsShielding adults including staff from childcare settings should also follow the shielding guidance and therefore should not attend work. Clinically vulnerable adults are also advised to be very stringent in following social distancing and hand hygiene advice, and may need to work from home, following individual risk assessment.
Living with a shielding or clinically vulnerable personIf a child or member of staff lives with someone who is clinically vulnerable (but not shielding), including those who are pregnant, they can attend their childcare setting.If a child or staff member lives in a household with someone who is shielding, they should only attend a childcare setting if stringent social distancing can be adhered to, and the child is able to understand and follow those instructions. This may not be possible for very young children and older children without the capacity to adhere to the instructions on social distancing. In those instances, we do not expect those children to attend a setting.
More advice can be found in the guidance on shielding.
Good practice Ideas:
Look after yourself and be kind to yourself.Being the leader/owner of a childcare setting at this time is very challenging. You need to prioritise
What might this look like?
Plan in time for your own well beingRevisit ‘5 Ways to Well-being’ training or contact Ruth Harris for more informationContact details for Ruth : Pre-school Health and Sustainability Officer
yourself if you are to take care of your staff, children and families
If your site or buildings have been closed, or if parts of the building have been out of use for a long period, then you must undertake a health and safety check of the buildings concerned.(including a Legionnaires Check)
Ensure that all risk assessments are robust and considered. Have clear protocols in place and enable everyone to deliver these as part of
E-mail: [email protected]: 07932772653
Early Years Wales have produced a useful pre reopening checklist:https://earlyyears.wales/sites/www.earlyyears.wales/files/early-years-wales-pre-re-opening-checklists-v1.-05.2020.pdf
Reopening guidance also available from NDNA, https://www.ndna.org.uk/NDNA/Knowledge_Hub/Coronavirus_for_nurseries_early_years.aspx
Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs https://www.clybiauplantcymru.org/news-more.asp?nid=442
Pacey https://www.pacey.org.uk/working-in-childcare/spotlight-on/coronavirus/reopening-settings-coronavirus/
Mudiad Meithrinhttps://www.meithrin.cymru/home/
You must always use government guidelines and your existing setting policies to support decisions made about managing risks as part of everyday practice.All planned activities will need to be regularly risk assessed in light of the current stage of Coronavirus-due consideration will need to be given to constant adaptations of ‘usual’
everyday provision. All planned activities should be risk assessed in light of coronavirus, in conjunction with relevant staff where applicable, and due consideration given to how usual practice may need to be adapted.
Staff risk assessments
Conduct an audit to determine the availability of staff to work in the setting on reopening
In so doing, remember that you may be working with some staff who are anxious and may value the opportunity for discussion and reassurance. Consider staff wellbeing, including any support that may be needed for those who have suffered bereavement, and discuss their needs with them.
Ensure that your setting is operationally prepared to implement these measures, and that they are
practice.Decisions will need to be made based on the unique needs and challenges in your setting and in relation to individual children where necessary. Your spaces, staffing numbers and number of children will need to be considered carefully at all stages.
It is important to communicate clearly and with confidence – make it clear that you have developed a clear structure for everyone that has been informed by your risk assessments.
Ensure that you have been explicit about physical safety. Check that everyone understands the risk assessments and adapted policies and that they have been given an opportunity to discuss and contribute.Be decisive as well as listening to your team.
To reassure staff-maintain a narrative about priorities of safety and well-being.
This article could be helpful: https://famly.co/blog/covid-19/reshan-richards-remote-team-leadership-quarantine/
Supplier recommendation from a Torfaen setting:https://www.gompels.co.uk/
Ensure that you have informed CIW you are reopening via the CIW online portal? Update
clearly communicated to all staff members.
Ensure that supplies of essential products are in place, as well as contingency plans to respond to any shortages in supplies.
Review arrangements for the supply of food to the setting and agree an approach that suits the setting’s particular circumstances. If you use food suppliers, consider how appropriate physical distancing, and hygiene measures, can be maintained when on setting premises, and communicate this with suppliers.
Consider instances where other suppliers and contractors may be in the setting, for example cleaners and site maintenance, and how physical distancing and hygiene measures will be put in place and communicated.
your Statement of Purpose with any changes.
Please contact Hayley Morgan, [email protected] or 07890 732664, if you require a Social Care Wales card to enable you or your staff to gain access to the major supermarkets during the protected times.
Complete a risk assessment for supermarket food deliveries Complete a risk assessment if a staff member has to pop out and collect supplies from a local shop or supermarket (also consider how to protect the staff member)
If possible, try to arrange for contractors to only enter your setting when children are not attending?If not, risk assess prior to contractor attending site and put measures in place to reduce risks as far as possible:Can contractor enter by a separate door straight into area they need to visit?Will the visit take more than 15mins?Can contractor stay 2m away from anyone else at all times?Do you have masks, gloves, sanitiser available?Is there a separate sink/toilet available for contractor to use?
Consider a monitoring system and contingency plan to minimise the impact of shortages of supplies and workforce.
List of suppliers, Torfaen use in the South Wales region:
Alliance Disposables Arco Ltd Arrow County Supplies Banner Group Chemsol Cymru Ltd Core Hygiene Ltd H D Adcock (Nelson) Ltd Lyreco UK Ltd Newhall Janitorial Ltd Office Depot UK Ltd PHS Group Ltd PK Safety Ltd Simon Safety and Lifting Centre Ltd Topperswales Ltd
Flexible furlough scheme – are you aware of how it works? https://www.gov.uk/guidance/calculate-how-much-you-can-claim-using-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Key message 3: As employers, childcare settings have legal obligations under employment law. They should carry out risk assessments on an ongoing basis to plan appropriately for individual circumstances;
Advice in Welsh Government guidance(as of 10 th June 2020):
Risk Assessment Every setting must carry out a risk assessment to ensure children and staff are kept safe prior to reopening or expanding their provision and on a weekly basis thereafter. The assessment should directly address risks associated with coronavirus (COVID-19), so that sensible measures can be put in place to control those risks for children and staff.
All employers have a duty to consult employees on health and safety, and they are best placed to understand the risks in individual settings. Childcare staff are able to select a union representative to engage in the risk assessment process, and employers should share the risk assessment results with the workforce. In the case of settings that have closed, this should be shared before staff are expected to return.
All Wales COVID-19 Workforce Risk Assessment ToolThe All Wales COVID-19 Workforce Risk Assessment Tool has been designed for use for all health and social care staff thought to be vulnerable or at risk, regardless of ethnicity. The tool addresses individual risk factors.
Work is underway to adapt this Tool to support the childcare/education workplace. Ahead of that work the Tool can also be used to support members of staff to consider their own health and wellbeing status, and helps employees and employers identify, assess and discuss the risks and the actions they can take to mitigate them. Links:
https://gov.wales/covid-19-workforce-risk-assessment-tool https://llyw.cymru/adnodd-asesu-risg-covid-19-ar-gyfer-y-gweithlu
Good practice Ideas:
Allow time and space for recovery and rebuilding. Avoid the temptation to rush - this will take
What might this look like?
Make a plan for what you might do and when. Share this with others- try not to do everything at once and prioritise what needs to come first. Hold virtual or socially distanced staff meetings to discuss concerns and practicalities.
time.
Prioritise staff wellbeing - supporting emotional resilience for the team and yourself. Make time to discuss anxieties, difficult feelings such as grief and guilt that may arise as a result of individual experiences.
Consider how you can involve staff in developing policies for your setting and ensure that they are personalised where necessary, for example for staff who have responsibility for providing 1:1 support for children or for children with additional needs.
Build in time for staff to review processes and procedures and to ask questions and raise any concerns in advance.
Consider how to arrange regular
https://famly.co/blog/covid-19/reopening-child-care-how-to-get-everyone-on-board
Make time for 1-1 meetings. Assign experienced team members to mentor and support some of the team if necessary.
Support for mental health, bereavement and other concernshttps://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
https://www.cruse.org.uk/
https://www.mind.org.uk/
https://www.samaritans.org/?nation=wales
Ask staff if there is anything that’s not working?WhatsApp/messenger group or online zoom meetings with staff for feedback and alternative suggestions?
Have regular meetings with furloughed staff and ensure they are given as much notice as
opportunities to get feedback from staff on the new arrangements
Communicate your plans for the wider opening of the setting with staff, ensuring they are aware of and understand all new measures to reduce the transmission of coronavirus and their roles and responsibilities.
Consider the instruction and training that staff will need on infection control and the use of PPE
The availability of staff, as well as your own and family circumstances, may change, so agree a policy for updating your audit on a continuous basis and how you will communicate this with staff and parents.
possible of any changes
Ensure all covid-19 policies and working procedures are circulated to all non-working staff at the earliest opportunity and give them time and the opportunity to ask questions
Follow infection prevention and control guidance?Make part of back to work inductionHave posters showing required procedures in all areas where PPE needs to be used, as a reminderGuidance on: putting on, taking off and disposing of PPE.
Managers/leaders need to regularly monitor staff to ensure they are fully complying with strict guidelines as staff can begin to feel safer and become complacent
Infection Control Training :https://www.virtual-college.co.uk/resources/free-courses
There are on line covid-19 courses available such as:
https://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/covid-19-course
https://greymatterlearning.co.uk/social-care-courses/coronavirus-course/
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/covid19-novel-coronavirus
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/social-care-social-work/coronavirus-dealing-death-dying-and-grief
Key message 4: ‘Implement measures that limit the number of contacts that children and adults have’
Advice in Welsh Government guidance(as of 10 th June 2020): Social Distancing and Mixing in Childcare Settings
Ensure that children and staff where possible only mix in a small, consistent group; Children should be cared for in consistent groups of no more than 8, while adhering to NMS ratios; Sessional nurseries that have different cohorts of children at different times of the day may wish to consider having
smaller group sizes to limit the number of children staff are in contact with; As far as possible, the same members of staff should be assigned to each group and these should stay the same
during the day and on subsequent days; Keep your staffing arrangements as consistent as possible. Where you do need to use staff from other settings or
agency staff, ensure this is agreed on a weekly basis, not daily, to limit contacts; Keep groups of children separate from other groups where possible; Stagger interaction between different groups of children and consider the movement of children around the childcare
setting, including one way route systems where possible to reduce large groups of children gathering; Ensure that only essential visitors attend the setting and encourage children and staff to walk or cycle where
possible, and avoid public transport at peak times; Consider staggering children arriving and leaving the childcare setting to avoid parents gathering during drop off and
pick up points; Consider putting markers in outside spaces for parents to space out for drop off and collection if possible; If large spaces (Halls) are utilised to accommodate children these must be demarcated and managed accordingly to
keep groups/ individuals apart as per social distancing requirements;
Good practice Ideas:
Consider your premises and how they can be best used to keep small, consistent groups of children together throughout the day, and to keep the groups apart from each other.
What might this look like?
A setting with, for example, 12 children and 4 staff members, could be split into three or four bubbles reducing the number of children and staff members each child and staff member comes into contact with.
These bubbles will reduce risk of transmission in children and adults. These bubbles will effectively manage instances of COVID-19 in the setting. These bubbles will reassure parents as to the control measures you are using. These bubbles will reassure staff that their health & wellbeing is being planned
for. These bubbles will provide organisation and clear responsibility for staff in
guiding children.
Display information/share on your social media about bubbles so the parents are well informed. FIS also have ‘bubble’ information on their website.
Depending on the size and the layout of individual settings, consider how floor space, rooms and outdoor space can be organised to ensure physical distancing between staff and between groups of children,
Area dividers may help to keep children in different parts of the room, and floor markings could be helpful in assisting staff with keeping groups apart. The use of communal spaces in settings should be managed to limit the amount of mixing between groups as much as possible.
Smaller settings, including childminding settings, may have fewer children than larger settings, so the necessary adjustments may be different. It may be difficult for childminding settings, where family members are also present, to limit their use of shared spaces. However, settings could consider whether a specific room could be designated
Personalise the zones for each bubble of children-for example, red bubble; blue bubbleEach bubble could have their own assigned and labelled toilet/sink if you have enough toilets/sinks for the number of bubbles-this would reduce the cleaning needed between each group of children.You could even consider having different entrance doors for each bubble if your setting allows this to happen.
Where siblings attend, they should be kept in the same group/bubble if possible, even if they are different ages.
If a separate space is not available solely for the use of minded children, a risk assessment should be carried out to identify how often cleaning should be carried out (as above for group settings?)
for childcare during the day.
Consider how snacks and meal times can be planned to ensure groups of children are kept together.
Where possible, staff meetings and training sessions should be conducted virtually and staff should remain at a safe distance from each other during breaks, including in staff rooms or other staff areas in the setting.
While in general groups should be kept apart, brief, transitory contact, such as passing in a corridor or when moving to a different part of the setting, is low risk.
Key message 5: ‘Follow Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Childcare Settings
including;
o thorough and regular cleaning and disinfecting of the environment, for example, at a minimum, daily cleaning and disinfection of toilets, taps, furniture, equipment, surfaces and door and gate handles. Plastic or wooden toys should be disinfected after use
o Effective personal hygiene procedures, especially frequent handwashing by staff and children ‘
Advice in Welsh Government guidance(as of 10 th June 2020):
Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is essential before and after all direct contact with a child and after cleaning equipment and the environment. Hands should be washed thoroughly for 20 seconds with soap and water. An alcohol-based hand rub can be used if hands are not visibly dirty or soiled and if soap and water are unavailable. However, thorough handwashing with soap and water is more effective than the use of hand sanitisers. Hand washing/sanitising should be done for example:
on arrival at the setting; after use of the toilet; before and after eating; after returning indoors from outdoor play; after being in physical contact with other children;
after sneezing or coughing.
Encourage staff and children not to touch their face.
For sneezes and coughs– ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it’ is key. Disposable single use tissues should be used to cover the nose and mouth when sneezing, coughing or wiping and blowing the nose. Used tissue should be disposed of promptly in a separate double bagged waste bin and disposed of safely. Bins should be emptied, cleaned and disinfected regularly throughout the day. Consider how to encourage young children to learn and practise these personal hygiene habits through games, songs and repetition.
Some children with additional learning needs (ALN), and disabilities may require additional support in following public health advice or may find frequent handwashing distressing. Staff will know where this is likely to be the case and should consider how they can best support individual children.
Cleaning routines including times, dates, and name of person responsible for the cleaning should be recorded to meet the requirements. Please see appendix 9 of Infection Prevention and Control for Childcare Settings Guidance for further information on keeping equipment clean.We realise that childcare staff are required to provide close contact care for small children, including toileting, nappy changing and feeding. In these situations, staff should follow Infection Prevention and Control for Childcare Settings Guidance using aprons and gloves as necessary.
The guidance on Linen/Laundry in Infection Prevention and Control for Childcare Settings Guidance should be followed. Those who travel to work should change into their uniform/work clothes in the childcare setting, and then bag the clothing and travel home in clothes that have not been worn while caring for the children. Work clothing should be laundered after each use and employers should consider whether staff have sufficient sets of uniforms to enable this.
Ideally, parents/carers should be encouraged to provide clean clothes for children every day but this may not be possible and should be handled sensitively
Settings should tell parents, carers or any visitors, such as suppliers, not to visit the childcare setting if they are ill or displaying any symptoms of coronavirus
Settings should ensure all indoor spaces are as well ventilated as possible, by opening windows or use of ventilation units.
Decontamination and Cleaning
Cleaning of the setting must take place as set out in Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Childcare Settings, Additional cleaning and disinfecting must be undertaken of areas that a symptomatic individual has come into contact with.
Except for public areas where a symptomatic individual has passed through and spent minimal time and are not visibly contaminated with body fluids, all surfaces that the symptomatic person has come into contact with must be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with the Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Childcare Settings once the individual has moved from the area. These surfaces include:
objects which are visibly contaminated with body fluids; all potentially contaminated high-contact areas such as toilets, door handles, telephones, grab-rails in corridors and
stairwells.
The clothes of staff and children who have come into contact with a symptomatic child should be washed on a hot wash in accordance with the guidance on contaminated laundry in Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Childcare Settings. It is therefore suggested that staff keep a change of clothes in the setting.
When items cannot be cleaned using detergents or laundered, for example, upholstered furniture and mattresses, steam cleaning should be used.
Any items that are heavily contaminated with body fluids and cannot be cleaned by washing should be disposed of.
In cleaning the areas where an individual with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) has been, disposable gloves and an apron should be worn as a minimum. Hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after the gloves and apron have been removed. All staff should understand how to put on/remove PPE (as required by Health and Safety Regulations) and to ensure staff limit the spread of COVID-19. Guidance is available at appendix 6 of the Infection Prevention and Control for Childcare Settings Guidance
WasteWaste from areas where possible cases of COVID-19 have been should be disposed of in accordance with the Infection Prevention and Control for Childcare Settings Guidance .
Waste should be stored safely and kept away from children. You should not put your waste in communal waste areas until negative test results are known or the waste has been stored for at least 72 hours.
If storage for at least 72 hours is not appropriate, arrange for collection as a Category B infectious waste either by your local waste collection authority if they currently collect your waste or otherwise by a specialist clinical waste contractor. They will supply you with orange or purple clinical waste bags for you to place your bags into so the waste can be sent for appropriate treatment.Good practice Ideas:
Ensure sufficient handwashing facilities (running water and soap, alcohol hand rub, sanitiser, skin-friendly wipes) are available for staff and children, and that hands are washed upon entering the setting, regularly throughout the day, before and after eating and when they
What might this look like?
Talk about and develop child-safe hand washing routines so that children can engage in cleaning practices and develop good protective habits. Sing songs to reinforce the message and make it fun. Make this really easy for children to master and keep monitoring how systems are working.
leave.
Ensure children are supervised when doing this, especially if using hand rub or sanitiser, and learn how to do it effectively.
Ensuring you have a good supply of disposable tissues throughout the setting to implement ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’.
Ensure the availability of lidded bins, preferably operated by a foot pedal, and that tissues are immediately disposed into bins and that these are emptied throughout the day.
Ensure surfaces that children and staff are touching, such as toys, books, doors, sinks, toilets, light switches, are cleaned more regularly than usual by putting in place an enhanced cleaning schedule using disinfection as appropriate.
Consider surfaces that ‘might’ also be touched-for example, fire extinguishers.
“Washy washy clean scrub scrub:”You tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxlQn7KaCNU
Provide a named individual bag or box for each child’s personal resources for care, hygiene, sleep, soothing and settling, feeding /water bottles etc.
One setting in Torfaen has received this feedback from this feedback from Liz Vann ‘bleach based is best, anything which we would usually use for something like nora virus. She mentioned Ecolab chlorine tabs and will check to make sure they don't leave a powder residue. I found this link which has brill info and guidance from Ecolab https://en-uk.ecolab.com/pages/coronavirus’
More information is available at:
https://www.torfaen.gov.uk/en/Related-Documents/Food,HealthandSafetyEnforcement/Health-and-Safety-at-Work/Infection-Prevention-Control-Childcare-Settings.pdf
Ensure all items that are laundered within the setting, for example towels, flannels and bedding, are washed in line with guidelines and that these items are not shared by children between washes.
Ensure that there are clear procedures for maintaining stringent cleaning processes for food preparation areas, dining areas and table coverings.
Keep windows open as far as possible to ensure ventilation, avoid the use of lifts unless essential and use outdoor areas as much as possible.
Key message 6: ‘Follow Public Health Wales guidance i f a child/staff member or a member of child/staff member’s family is showing symptoms of COVID-19’
Advice in Welsh Government guidance(as of 10 th June 2020):
Infection Prevention and Control Measures
The present advice is that it is not necessary to screen children’s temperatures. The child’s parents/carers should check their temperature before bringing their child if they suspect the child is unwell. In any case, asymptomatic screening will not identify all cases of COVID-19. We will keep this under review. Staff should of course be vigilant for signs of fever and other symptoms. No child with symptoms should be sent to the provision at all and it is vital that parents/carers are encouraged to act accordingly.
Symptomatic Individuals
If a child or a member of their family is showing symptoms of COVID-19 (a new, continuous cough, high temperature, loss of smell or taste), they must not attend the childcare setting. This also applies to staff working in the setting. Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 should self-isolate for 7 days. All other household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days, even if they remain well. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill. Further advice is available here: https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus and here: https://gov.wales/protect-yourself-others-coronavirus
Test, Trace, Protect
The new Test, Trace, Protect strategy published on 13 May was implemented across Wales from 1 June. This strategy sets out the next phase of our approach to tackling coronavirus: testing people with symptoms in the community, tracing those who have come into close contact with people who have tested positive for coronavirus, and protecting family, friends and our community by self-isolating.Test, Trace, Protect works by:
Testing those people who have coronavirus symptoms, asking them to isolate from family, friends and their community whilst taking a test and waiting for a result. You can apply for a test for yourself or someone in your
household with symptoms. This includes adults and children, including under 5s. If you are displaying symptoms, you can apply for a coronavirus test here https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-test
Tracing those who have been in close contact with people that have tested positive for the virus, requiring them to take precautions through self-isolation. Further information on contact tracing and how it will work can be found https://gov.wales/contact-tracing-your-questions.
Providing advice and guidance, particularly if the person who has symptoms or their contacts are in shielding or other groups at greater risk: https://gov.wales/guidance-shielding-and-protecting-people-defined-medical-grounds-extremely-vulnerable-coronavirus-0
Ensuring that if the symptoms are not due to coronavirus, individuals and their contacts can get back to their normal routines as soon as possible.
Further information and Q&A about Test, Trace, Protect can be found here: https://gov.wales/test-trace-protect-your-questions
If a child or staff member receives a test and that test is positive, they should self-isolate and report their symptoms. The setting will then be contacted by the Contact Tracing Team and advice will be given on isolation measures to be taken by individuals.
Advice on returning to work following a test is available here: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/latest-information-on-novel-coronavirus-COVID-19/information-for-key-workers-and-household-members-tested-for-COVID-19-infection/
Where children under 16 are contacted, their parental or guardian consent will be required to proceed with gathering information. Alternatively their parent or guardian would be able to provide contact tracers with the information on behalf of their child.People are considered as potential contacts if they were in contact with the person who has tested positive during a period beginning up to two days before symptom onset and ending when the case entered home isolation. This is based on current understanding of the main period of infectivity. A contact is defined as someone who has had close contact during this period, specifically:
within 1 metre of the index case and has been coughed on, had a face-to-face conversation, had skin-to-skin
physical contact, or been in other forms of contact within 1 metre for 1 minute or longer; within 2 metres of the person tasting positive for more than 15 minutes; have travelled in a vehicle with the person who has tested positive.
This is likely to mean that the small group within which the child has been receiving care or for which the staff member has been providing care will have to self-isolate for 14 days.Further information can be found here: https://gov.wales/contact-tracing-your-questions
Good practice Ideas:
It is essential to follow the most up to date advice and guidelines available for the Welsh Government
You might decide to take child’s temperature every day when child enters your setting
What might this look like?
Regularly look for updates on the WG/ Public Health Wales websites.
Update procedures as soon as new advice is published
How are you going to ensure that all staff know the up to date advice?
Toolkit for critical worker employers-posters and advice for employers of Critical workers
Use a consistent thermometer
Use a hands free thermometer
Create a baseline reading for each child.
Ensure that you have parents’ permission
Key message 7: ‘If a child receiving childcare becomes symptomatic whilst at the setting, the child should be cared for away from other children and a parent/carer should be called for immediately and the child collected and taken home’
Advice in Welsh Government guidance(as of 10 th June 2020):
If a Child Shows Symptoms of COVID-19 while in a Childcare Setting
Settings will need to have a clear, written procedure in place for the protection of staff and children if a child develops symptoms while at the setting. Their parent/carer should be called immediately and the child collected and taken home. Young sick children will need to be cared for until they are collected.
The child should be moved away from other children and cared for separately with appropriate adult supervision. I f it is not possible to isolate the child, move them to an area which is at least 2 metres away from other children. Ideally, a window should be opened for ventilation. Disposable gloves, apron and a fluid-resistant surgical mask should be worn if the child requires personal care or close contact. If a risk assessment determines that there is a risk of splashing to the eyes, for example from coughing, spitting, or vomiting, then eye protection should also be worn.
If a child needs to go to the toilet while waiting to be collected, they should use a separate toilet if possible. The areas where a person suspected of having COVID-19 has been, including toilets, must be cleaned and disinfected. Gloves and aprons should be used when cleaning the areas where a person suspected of having COVID-19 has been. See section on Decontamination and Cleaning below.
In an emergency, call 999 if the child is seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk. Settings should follow their emergency procedures policies, but should not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital where a child is displaying
symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
If a member of staff has helped someone who was taken unwell, they do not need to go home unless they develop symptoms (new continuous cough, high temperature, and loss of smell or taste) themselves. They should wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after any contact with someone who is unwell and where possible should change into clean clothing.
Should there be a delay in a parent collecting a symptomatic child, please contact the local environmental health officer via your local council’s website.
Symptomatic Individuals in Childminder Settings
In the case of a childminder who shows symptoms of COVID-19 or whose household member(s) show symptoms of COVID-19, the childminder and their household members would need to follow self-isolation guidance. This would mean the setting would need to close until the childminder and their household members are able to end their isolation in accordance with the self-isolation and testing guidance: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/latest-information-on-novel-coronavirus-COVID-19/information-for-key-workers-and-household-members-tested-for-COVID-19-infection/
andhttps://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus)
PPE in childcare settings: Where there is suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) in a childcare setting: Gloves, aprons and a fluid-resistant surgical mask should be worn if a child becomes unwell with symptoms of
COVID-19 and needs direct personal care. Eye protection should also be worn if a risk assessment determines that there is a risk of splashing to the eyes such
as from coughing, spitting, or vomiting. Gloves and aprons should be used when cleaning the areas where a person suspected of having COVID-19 has
been.
Good practice Ideas:
Amend your current policy on sickness management to ensure your setting has a protocol in place for responding to a suspected case of coronavirus and that you are prepared with the resources and staffing levels to implement this if necessary.
Ensure that emergency contacts are updated in advance of wider opening and consider where these may need to change, for example if previous
What might this look like?
All of the umbrella organisations have templates that can be used for these and some can be accessed by non-members too.
https://www.pacey.org.uk/partnerships/pacey-in-wales/
https://www.clybiauplantcymru.org/
https://www.ndna.org.uk/
https://earlyyears.wales/en
Infection prevention and control guidance will also have guidance relating to this f
https://phw.nhs.wales/services-and-teams/harp/infection-prevention-and-control/guidance/accordians/docs/infection-prevention-and-control-guidance-2019-for-childcare-settings-0-5-years-in-wales-nurseries-childminding-and-playgroups/
Get parents to complete and return updated details by email before restarting in settingCheck with parents attending, that nothing has changed
emergency contacts are in a shielded group.
Use your emergency pack only for suspected cases
Plan how you will communicate your protocol to parents and carers and ensure they understand their role and will be available to collect their child if necessary.
Protocols
Provide a designated area away from other children or outside, weather permitting.
If an indoor area is used, it should only contain a limited amount of resources and easily cleaned surfaces/floor.
It must not be used for at least 72 hours after it has been used for quarantine purposes. This area needs to be deep cleaned after 72hrs.
If the child needs to use a toilet, mark the toilet and sink out of use until it can be deep cleaned. Communication to all staff is important if this happened so that all staff know which area/toilet is out of use. The area that the child has been in will need to be vacated, not used for 72hrs and deep cleaned before use.
Staff will need to retrace the steps of the child and decide which areas can be used and which areas can be safely cleaned. The cleaner/designated person should do the main cleaning as they will have PPE but staff can support with this where safe to do so. Communal areas may need to be locked for 72hrs depending on where the child has been.
Parents of the ill child need to be advised they need to self-isolate, along with other household members. A note should be made on the register to mark the first day of isolation.
Ensure that parents sign and agree to new policy relating to this before child starts attending
Key message 8: ‘Plan how you are going to tell parents/carers about your new arrangements for implementing protective measures. and how you are going to involve the children’
Advice in Welsh Government guidance(as of 10 th June 2020):
Good practice Ideas:
Communicate your plans for the wider opening of the setting from 1 June with parents and carers, ensuring they are aware of all new measures put in place to reduce risk of transmission of coronavirus, how this impacts them and their responsibilities in supporting this.
Where appropriate, review your policies and procedures with parents and carers and inform them of any updates you have made.
Reduce contact between parents and carers when dropping off and picking up their children, for example
What might this look like?
Communicate your plans in ways that are accessible to specific groups of parents and carers (for example, those with English as an additional language) and parents and carers of vulnerable children. –think about using social media channels, texting messages, phone calls,
Parents will be feeling nervous about the new ‘rules for drop off and pick upa setting has filmed a video that explains clearly where and how the children are to be dropped off into their Nursery: have a look at https://www.facebook.com/Littleexplorersdaynurseryharrogate
by limiting drop off and pick up to one parent or carer per family and staggering timings.
Do not allow parents or carers into the setting unless this is essential, and arrange for children to be collected at the door if this is possible.
Avoid the need for parents and carers to wait, but where they have to, consider whether physical distancing markings could be used.
Consider how you can use technology to communicate with parents and carers digitally, for example when providing handover information at the end of the day.
You need to build on your already established parent/carer partnerships and develop effective communications and trust with those new to the setting. Find ways to support team members to make this central to their everyday practice. Find ways to re-connect and make your setting easily “reachable”.
There are many commercially available online learning diaries, but a cheaper way may be to make phone calls, regularly update your website and keep your Facebook page vibrant to communicate information in a clear and timely way. Make contact with new parents directly by phone if possible. Give virtual or socially distanced real tours of your school/setting to support transition. Key people may need support to do this confidently.
Carry out virtual home visits by secure video link (or phone calls) to have conversations with families about what is important to them. Identify strategies together that will support children’s transitions. The Gwent one page profile is an ideal format to use to record this information
Spend more time than usual learning about your families and their unique story during this time. Use what you know to plan for children when they are with you and to help support transitions into and out of your setting.
Ensure that parents are clear about expectations of your setting and how they might support their children at home. Ensure that parents feel confident in your leadership.
Build and strengthen relationships with parents and children to ensure each family feels confident and trusting in returning to the setting.
Film “master classes” to share with parents/carers to explain what and how children will be doing/earning. How about creating a “my day in playgroup” video
Send the family a postcard (perhaps a photo of the room and staff they can expect to see upon return) telling them how excited you are to welcome them back and committed to the upkeep of a safe environment.
Torfaen staff are available to offer support to families and settings. Online transition and Person Centred Planning meetings can be arranged to ensure that children’s individual needs are fully discussed and catered for in childcare.Ongoing support for childcare practitioners is available via phone or Microsoft Teams meetings to discuss children and families and to share strategies that will support the child in childcare and at home.
Contact details Michalla Metcalfe – Flying Start Early Years Support Officer ALN / Transitions 07980682710 /[email protected]
Kate Pike - Flying Start Enhancement [email protected]
Remind parents and carers of the complaints policy setting out the routes to accept and resolve any low level concerns that arise.
Dee Kostanjevec - Childcare Additional Learning Needs Support Officer07939 [email protected]
Key message 9: ‘Remember that the needs, rights and experiences of all children at the setting should remain a key consideration when planning and operating protective measures’
Advice in Welsh Government guidance(as of 10 th June 2020):
Use of Outdoor Space
Children should spend as much time outdoors as possible as this can limit transmission and more easily allow for distance between the groups. Outdoor equipment should not be used unless the setting is able to ensure it is appropriately cleaned between groups of children using it, and that multiple groups don't use it simultaneously
Play with sand, water, plasticine/play dough and cookery and other messy play activities should be restricted and only participated in if the relevant guidance around hygiene and cleaning in the Infection Prevention and Control for Childcare
Settings Guidance can be adhered to.
If this cannot be adhered to, these activities should not be undertaken .
Activities should not involve contact between children. Equipment, toys and surfaces, including those across all areas of the setting such as toilets, sinks, taps and changing areas, tables and handles should be cleaned and disinfected frequently in line with Infection Prevention and Control for Childcare Settings Guidance.
Providers should consider removing soft toys and toys that are hard to clean (such as those with intricate parts).
Outdoor equipment and entrance gates should also be cleaned and disinfected frequently.
Good practice Ideas:
Before reopening
As some young children will not have been attending a setting for a number of weeks and may be feeling anxious, work with parents and carers to consider how best to manage dropping off their children while maintaining physical distancing.
What might this look like?
Use what we know about attachment theory to consider how best to adapt your setting to reduce separation anxiety for all. Ensure that each child and family know who the child’s keyperson is especially if this has changed. Send personalised video messages from key person to child to welcome them back and explain any changes. This can be done in various ways e.g. Online learning diary, email, text, website etc.
Consider how children are invited into the setting as soon as they reach the gates/door. Offer something interesting, inspiring to entice them in as they leave their parent/carer to support separation anxiety. Plan something interesting as a greeting e.g. a bubble machine, an invitation to join in with something e.g. a picture of someone in their group to find as they go through the door.
Plan how all children will be supported to address the specific issues that may have arisen due to coronavirus, taking into account children’s individual needs and circumstances. The coronavirus outbreak may have caused significant mental health or wellbeing difficulties for some children. Be alert to harms/experiences that may have been hidden or missed while they have not been attending settings.
Support children and families by gathering information to understand their family story and how best to meet their needs. Ensure anything planned for/offered to/expected of the child is in accordance with what they can cope with emotionally and developmentally.
Consider the mental health, pastoral or wider health and wellbeing support children may need, including with bereavement, and how to support them to transition into the
Ensure that there are photographs of children and their families at child height or that children can hold and carry e.g. on jam jar lids or key fobs that can be cleaned
Ensure that open lines of communication are always available and encourage families to continue to ask questions, discuss challenges and share thoughts and feelings on the transition and new ways of working. Check-in when child is not attending – keep this practice up.
Prioritise communication with families to get a picture of how lockdown has been. Did the child take part in any activities, did they have a daily routine and how have they felt? What are their current interests and are there any areas in need of additional support? The team could contact families by phone or ask them to fill in something to send back. Respond to family bereavements and support family wellbeing with various information such as this document available from the British Psychological Society:https://www.bps.org.uk/sites/www.bps.org.uk/files/Policy/Policy%20-%20Files/Supporting%20yourself%20and%20others.pdf
setting after a long period of absence.
Consider how you will involve parents and carers to identify specific support for children and how children’s needs may have changed and to prepare for their return to your setting.
Avoid making assumptions about what we think it may have been like for them.
After reopening:
The priorities at this time are helping young children to adapt to their new routines and supporting children to settle back into the setting, especially where there have been staffing changes.
Parent/carer guidance about returning to nursery https://www.annafreud.org/media/11655/early-years-pc-2205.pdf
Coronavirus from the perspective of a baby or young child https://www.annafreud.org/insights/blogs/2020/04/coronavirus-4-from-the-perspective-of-a-baby-or-young-child/
Develop a clear routine and clear expectations to help settle children as they get use to the new way of life.
Predictability can be crucial for children to be able to adapt.Provide a clear and easy to follow routine so that everyone feels more at ease and less anxious about the unknown.Ensure all children and families have ongoing access to picture timetables/routines.
Consider using soothing and calming fragrances and music. Explore ways to use all 5 senses when planning activities. Encourage calmness, mindfulness and breathing. Create safe and inviting spaces to encourage these to happen naturally and as part of the daily routine. Encourage slow and quiet times for children to work on emotional or self-regulation. Stretching and breathing sessions, being still and quiet with relaxing music, Walks in the outdoor environment and other soothing experiences could all be useful.
Continuing to support their early language and communication skills is essential.
Consider how stories, singing and games can be used to help children to socialise and resettle into familiar everyday routines.
Consider new approaches that will need to be taken to minimise the sharing of resources between
Child yoga links:
https://awakeandmindful.com/best-kids-yoga-videos-on-youtube/
https://www.kaplanco.com/blog/post/2017/09/20/7-benefits-of-yoga-for-young-kids
Support children with social stories and books and by talking openly with simple language. This is a great picture book that explores how we all might be worrying about coronavirus :
https://en.calameo.com/read/000777721945cfe5bb9cc?authid=Xu9pcOzU3TQx
Make routines feel consistent and safe so that children can develop a sense of confidence and control. Develop routines that are calm and unrushed.
Use a visual timetable to support understanding and avoid too many transitions throughout the day. Use a now and next board to simplify this further.
Booklist of calming stories:
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/booklists/c/calming-mindfulness/
An agreed decision about how resources and materials are used should be made in your setting with agreement of staff and in accordance with public health guidance
groups, for example for painting, sticking, cutting and outdoor construction activities, which should be thoroughly cleaned before and after use by different groups.
Malleable resources, such as play dough, should not be shared between groups and public health advice is that, as sand pits cannot be thoroughly cleaned between uses, they should not be used at this time.
Consider how resources can be used safely and in which circumstances and which items it might be more practical to remove during this time.
Here are some ideas to consider and adopt if your risk assessments and staff discussions allow them :Rotation of resources:Just because it isn’t easily cleaned, doesn’t mean it can’t be used. Rotating resources, materials and loose parts will be key. If things can’t be easily cleaned, put them away for 72 hours to avoid any possible spread of infection.
Cleaning stations: Once a child has finished with equipment such as playdough cutters, they could be taken to a designated area in the setting that will be used as a cleaning station where a member of staff can clean them in a ready-made Milton solution or with appropriate cleaning sprays or wipes. Also include anti-bacterial gel the children can freely use.
Washing regimes:Many resources can be washed or wiped in warm water and detergent, put in a dishwasher or washing machine. Consider how any soft furnishings that are still in use might be laundered.
Sensory play materials:Using materials for sensory experiences that clean as they are played with e.g. Water play with soapy water that is changed or discarded every few hours, bubble play. Children could also make their own playdough daily, and keep it in a named bag to use that day and discard/take home. Malleable resources should not be shared.
Provide a range if alternative sensory materials that can be cleaned or disposed of easily after play: leaves/ flowers of different shapes, size, and scent, pebbles, soil, mud etc.
Create a timetable of cleaning , emptying bins, wiping door handle, etc. to operate throughout the day as well as at the end of the day or session and /or before use of the area and resources by another group or ‘bubble’ of children.
Tables and eating and drinking areas must cleaned before and after use.
Children who have had limited opportunities for exercise should be encouraged to exert themselves physically.
Provide plastic bins with lids/liners to contain any germs, and clean as part of the daily cleaning routine.
Fill a sink or washing up bowl with water and a suitable anti- bacterial cleaner such as Milton and leave toys and equipment to soak for at least 15 minutes or 24 hours for a deep clean.
Wipe storage shelves down daily with a deep clean with an anti-bacterial solution, at the end of the week or when there is a changeover of children
Store small resources in plastic baskets with holes – these can be immersed into buckets or bowls of sanitising liquid, and left to dry.
Use pillow cases or net washing bags to wash small construction /plastic small world resources in washing machines or dish washers.
Use PE mats or plastic coated table cloths which are easy to wipe down and useful for floor activities such as construction.
A good supply of paper towels/rolls at key stations within the classroom with easily accessible plastic bins with lids.
Large equipment and outdoor toys which cannot be immersed in water can be wiped with a suitable solution and left for 15 minutes. This can be done daily for use by the same children, followed by a deep clean at the end of the week or when the equipment is to be used by a different of group /’bubble’ children.
A small selection of books can be provided for a group of children or ‘bubble’ and wiped with antibacterial solution daily. At the end of the week /period of time in school for that group of children the books can be given a thorough clean and quarantined for seven days before used again.
Trays used by children to store any resources they have used during the day can be cleaned at the end of each day, and given a deep clean before use by a different group of children.
Using the outdoor space is essential and highly advised as part of the recommended
Plan how outdoor space, where available, can be used as much as possible.
Consider how all groups of children can be given equal opportunities for outdoor learning, while ensuring outdoor equipment and toys are appropriately cleaned between being used by different groups.
Support children to play together with others within constraints of social distancing/bubbles. This may be something that children have not done for some time. Free play may be anxiety inducing for some children and adults will need to observe carefully and tune in to individual needs.
guidance to effectively support social distancing, and also to minimise the risk of transmission and supporting health and well-being. Suitable clothing will be essential, as they say..“there is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing”Has every child got a name labelled set of outdoor clothing?
Spaces could be separated for smaller groups to use safely.Each group could use different outdoor areas/resources for a day and then clean and swap.Alternatively equipment can be cleaned if groups change over during the day.
Encourage and support children to play in a small group or with just one other child.Model challenging and enthusiastic physical play to encourage children who may have had less experience or limited access to outdoors and the challenges it offers. Look out for those children who may be reluctant movers and find ways to engage them in fun active games.
