Covid-19 Safety Policy

The government has released protective measures guidance to help providers of out-of-school settings put measures in place to reduce the risk of infection and transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).

We will be adhering to the below.

For cleaning and hygiene:

follow the COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings guidance
ensure that sufficient handwashing facilities are available. Where a sink is not nearby, provide hand sanitiser in classrooms and other learning environments
clean surfaces that children and young people are touching, such as toys, books, desks, chairs, doors, sinks, toilets, light switches, bannisters, more regularly than normal
ensure that all adults and children:
- frequently wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and dry thoroughly. Review the guidance on hand cleaning
- clean their hands on arrival at the setting, before and after eating, and after sneezing or coughing
- are encouraged not to touch their mouth, eyes and nose
- use a tissue or elbow to cough or sneeze and use bins for tissue waste (‘catch it, bin it, kill it’)
ensure that help is available for children and young people who have trouble cleaning their hands independently
consider how to encourage young children to learn and practise these habits through games, songs and repetition
ensure that bins for tissues are emptied throughout the day
where possible, all spaces should be well ventilated using natural ventilation (opening windows) or ventilation units
prop doors open only if they are not fire doors, and where it is safe to do so (bearing in mind fire safety and safeguarding), to limit use of door handles and aid ventilation
there is no need for anything other than normal personal hygiene and washing of clothes following a day in an educational or childcare setting
increased frequency of cleaning of toilets and washrooms. Cleaning schedule will be implemented

Reduce mixing within education or childcare setting by:

allocated drop off and collection times
social distancing is promoted to students whilst queueing up to go inside, entering the classroom and whilst moving within the school premises
accessing rooms directly from outside where possible
considering one-way circulation, or place a divider down the middle of the corridor to keep groups apart as they move through the setting where spaces are accessed by corridors
minimising contact with staff, children and young people, and other individuals who are unwell by ensuring those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms do not attend their setting. This also applies if a member of their family has symptoms or has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19); or if they have been advised individually by NHS Test and Trace to isolate at home because they are the contact of a case that does not live in the same house.
minimising contact and mixing between groups of children by altering the environment to allow for social distancing between children, and keeping children in small consistent groups of 15 and one or two staff members.
groups will be frequently reviewed in order to minimise the amount of ‘mixing’ (for example, the number of different people each child comes into contact with); and should also ensure they are keeping up-to-date records of the children attending their settings, including the specific groups and members of staff they have been assigned to.
if there are multiple small groups of children throughout the day, sufficient changeover time will be implemented between different groups to allow for cleaning to take place and to prevent children and parents or carers waiting in large groups.
staggering breaks to ensure that any corridors or circulation routes used have a limited number of pupils using them at any time
staggering lunch breaks – children and young people should clean their hands beforehand and enter in the groups they are already in, groups should be kept apart as much as possible and tables should be cleaned between each group. If such measures are not possible, children should be brought their lunch in their classrooms
ensuring that toilets do not become crowded by limiting the number of children or young people who use the toilet facilities at one time
noting that some children and young people will need additional support to follow these measures (for example, routes round school marked in braille or with other meaningful symbols, and social stories to support them in understanding how to follow rules)

Reduce the use of shared resources:

by limiting the amount of shared resources that are taken home and limit exchange of take-home resources between children, young people and staff
by seeking to prevent the sharing of stationery and other equipment where possible. Shared materials and surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected more frequently
although practical lessons can go ahead if equipment can be cleaned thoroughly and the classroom or other learning environment is occupied by the same children or young people in one day, or properly cleaned between cohorts

If someone is sick:

If anyone in an education or childcare setting becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, or has a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste of smell (anosmia), they must be sent home and advised to follow the COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection guidance.
if a child, young person or other learner becomes unwell with symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) while in our setting and needs direct personal care until they can return home, we will follow the following guidelines: A fluid-resistant surgical face mask will be worn by the supervising adult if a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained. If contact with the child or young person is necessary, then disposable gloves, a disposable apron and a fluid-resistant surgical face mask will be worn by the supervising adult. 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 is awaiting collection, they should be moved, if possible, to a room where they can be isolated behind a closed door, depending on the age of the child and with appropriate adult supervision if required. Ideally, a window should be opened for ventilation. If it is not possible to isolate them, move them to an area which is at least 2 metres away from other people.
If they need to go to the bathroom while waiting to be collected, they should use a separate bathroom if possible. The bathroom should be cleaned and disinfected using standard cleaning products before being used by anyone else.
PPE should be worn by staff caring for the child while they await collection if a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained (such as for a very young child or a child with complex needs).
In an emergency, call 999 if they are seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk. Do not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital.
If a member of staff has helped someone with symptoms, they do not need to go home unless they develop symptoms themselves (and in which case, a test is available) or the child subsequently tests positive (see ‘What happens if there is a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in a setting?’ below). They should wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after any contact with someone who is unwell. Cleaning the affected area with normal household disinfectant after someone with symptoms has left will reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people. See the COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings guidance.

If there is a confirmed case of coronavirus:

When a child, young person or staff member develops symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19): a high temperature, new and persistent cough or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia), however mild, they should self-isolate for at least 10 days from when the symptoms started; or if they are not experiencing symptoms but have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) they should self-isolate for at least 10 days starting from the day the test was taken.
If they have tested positive whilst not experiencing symptoms, but develop symptoms during the isolation period, they should restart the 10 day isolation period from the day they develop symptoms.
This only applies to those who begin their isolation on or after 30 July 2020.
Where the child, young person or staff member tests negative, they can return to their setting and the fellow household members can end their self-isolation.
Where the child, young person or staff member tests positive, the rest of their class or group within their childcare or education setting should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days. The other household members of that wider class or group do not need to self-isolate unless the child, young person or staff member they live with in that group subsequently develops symptoms.
As part of the national test and trace programme, if other cases are detected within the cohort or in the wider setting, Public Health England’s local health protection teams will conduct a rapid investigation and will advise schools and other settings on the most appropriate action to take. In some cases a larger number of other children, young people may be asked to self-isolate at home as a precautionary measure – perhaps the whole class, site or year group. Where settings are observing guidance on infection prevention and control, which will reduce risk of transmission, closure of the whole setting will not generally be necessary.

We will ensure:

an appointed person is responsible for first aid
staff members and volunteers are aware of the new safety measures the setting has introduced during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
staff members and volunteers have relevant training to deal with child protection issues such as physical, emotional or sexual abuse
staff and volunteers have completed relevant qualifications and checks (for example pre-employment references, DBS checks and so on)