Covid-19
Attendance
- In line with current Government guidance, all children are encouraged to attend
- Only children who are symptom free or have completed the required isolation period can attend the setting
- Only adults who are symptom free and have completed the required isolation periods will be able to drop off or collect their child
- Children MUST NOT attend if they are unwell (temperature, cough) or have been given Calpol (excludes runny nose, sneezing or sore throat)
- Parents will be notified of action to take if a child shows symptoms of COVID-19
Travel
- If public transport is necessary, current guidance on the use of public transport shall be followed
- Travel accessories, including buggies, car seats, bikes and scooters CANNOT be left at the setting
- Outings from the setting; all staff on the outing will follow current guidelines for the protection of the spread of Covid-19, and those of the location that they are visiting
Handwashing
- Hand washing facilities with soap, hot water and paper towels are in place
- We ensure that all adults and children:
- frequently wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and dry thoroughly
- 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’)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- As per Government current guidance, PPE is not required for general use in the setting to protect against COVID-19 transmission
- In line with the Intimate Care policy PPE shall continue to be worn as normal for nappy changing
- In line with existing policy, appropriate PPE shall be worn for the administration of first aid
Main symptoms to look out for:
Adults:
- High temperature – feeling hot to touch on chest and back
- A new, continuous cough – coughing a lot for more than one hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. If you usually have a cough, it may be worse than normal
- Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
Symptoms to look out for in children
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Loss of appetite
- Unusual skin rash
Responding to a possible case
- In the event of a child developing suspected coronavirus symptoms while attending the setting, they should be collected as soon as possible and isolate at home in line with current NHS guidance (self-isolate from day symptoms started + next 10 full days).
- Households to follow latest Government guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance
- Whilst waiting to be collected, the child shall be isolated from others in a previously identified room or area. If possible, a window should be opened for ventilation
- The staff member responsible for the child during this time shall be a staff member from their group
- The staff member will NOT need to go home unless they develop symptoms
Asymptomatic (rapid lateral flow) testing
- We operate a workplace lateral flow rapid testing programme. Staff complete asymptomatic rapid lateral flow tests twice weekly at home, the results of which are reported and logged in accordance with Department for Health and Social Care guidance
- Parents and carers of early years children can access symptom-free rapid lateral flow tests, which, when taken twice-weekly, three to five days apart, can contribute to the reduction of the transmission of COVID-19Testing kits can be collected from various locations around Southampton - please follow these links for more information on obtaining and completing the test:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptom-free testing (southampton.gov.uk)
Understanding lateral flow antigen testing for people without symptoms - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Households and bubbles of pupils, students and staff of schools, nurseries and colleges: get rapid lateral flow tests - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Do not visit any of the testing sites to collect kits if you develop coronavirus symptoms or are self-isolating. If you have COVID-19 symptoms you must not use the symptom-free testing and should book a symptomatic PCR test in the usual way.