Covid 19 Operating Procedures
The following information gives an overview of how we have adapted our operating procedures at Little Steps Nursery in response to the Covid 19 pandemic. For a more detailed breakdown of our control measures please ask for a copy of our risk assessment.
We appreciate that this could be a very anxious, and at moments frustrating, time for you. Please be assured we are doing everything we can to keep you, your children and our staff safe. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Ellie Graham: ellie.graham@stgeorgesdunstable.co.uk
At all times we will follow the guidance and procedures set out by the government.
If a child develops symptoms while at nursery
If your child has a temperature of 38 degrees or higher, a continuous cough (they will be monitored for one hour to ensure the cough is continuous) or loss of taste or smell, we will contact you and ask you to collect your child as soon as possible. If the only symptom is a high temperature we will offer paracetamol and monitor the child for half an hour.
We ask that you then take your child for a PCR test; if negative the child can return to nursery.
Although the legal requirement to self isolate has now been removed, children who test positive will still be asked to stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five days. This is inline with current government guidance.
Should your child develop these symptoms at home they should not attend nursery until they have received a negative PCR test result.
We understand that children develop temperatures for all sorts of reasons and often suffer from coughs and colds. We also know how frustrating it can be to be asked to collect your child and keep them at home. For now, however, we must follow the government guidance on this issue in order to keep everyone safe.
If a child is identified as a contact of someone with Covid-19
There is no longer a requirement for close contacts to stay at home and contact tracing has now come to an end.
Grouping children and staff
Although we will no longer be strictly adhering to ‘bubbles’, children will remain in their normal groups with the staff they know. We endeavour to limit movement of staff between groups as much as possible and have suspended all non-essential visits for the time being.
Equipment and resources will not usually be transferred between groups, if they are, they will be thoroughly cleaned or quarantined for 48 hours.
Drop off and pick up
After consulting with parents and staff we have decided to continue with dropping off and picking up children at the front door, on the whole. However, we are delighted to be able to welcome parents in to the nursery should you wish to talk to your child’s key person at any point. We ask that you wear a mask when dropping off and collecting your children.
Medication
One of the main symptoms of Covid 19 is a high temperature. We have therefore temporarily amended our procedures around giving paracetamol/ibuprofen as they may cover up this key symptom
For the time being, if your child has a high temperature, we will offer parents/carers the choice of allowing us to administer one dose of paracetamol. If the temperature doesn’t go down, or goes down but comes back up, the child will need to be collected. The only exception to this is if your child has recently had their routine immunisations.
We are happy to administer other prescribed medications as needed.
Prospective Parents
We are now delighted to be able to welcome prospective parents into nursery for a tour. If you would like to arrange a tour please phone 01582 661471 or email info@stgeorgesdunstable.co.uk