COVID- 19

This page contains information regarding our opening / closure during the pandemic. You will find useful links, answers to frequently asked questions, risk assessment information and a contact box for submitting any questions.

Our COVID-19 Risk Assessment

Our first risk assessment was written on 6th June 2020 and has been under constant review. The latest version was updated on 1st September 2020 and a full copy is available for inspection by any parent/carer or other authorised interested party.


The document follows the normal processes of health & safety management and reflects guidance issued by Government, some of which is a legal requirement.


Our risk assessment remains under constant review and will be updated should any circumstances change.


The content of the risk assessment is summarised below:


  1. What is the hazard?
  2. Who are we trying to protect?
  3. What have we done to our premises?
  4. What are we doing to avoid an outbreak of COVID-19?
  5. What happens if someone displays the symptoms of COVID-19 or tests positive for COVID-1

The hazard is the COVID-19 virus. This can be transmitted via airborne droplets or through contaminated surfaces.


We are seeking to protect everyone who uses or comes into contact with the pre-school. This includes children, parent/carers, staff members, visiting contractors and any other authorised visitors. Access to the pre-school is restricted to children and essential persons only.


Our premises have been set up so to minimise the transmission of COVID-19. Actions taken include removal of all soft toys and play equipment, removal of non-essential work equipment, laying out of the classroom and other rooms to accommodate social distancing.


To avoid as far as we can an outbreak of COVID-19, we have established written procedures which take into account enhanced cleaning of the school premises, frequent cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and any shared toys or other shared items and emergency protocols which if needed will be put into immediate effect including notification to parents/carers.


If someone should display the symptoms of COVID-19 and/or subsequently test positive, our emergency protocols will be activated. These include sending the person or child concerned home requesting they comply with the NHS Test and Trace process and prevailing guidelines regarding periods of self-isolation. The pre-school will fulfil their obligations in terms of engaging with NHS Test and Trace and reporting to the local health protection team who will co-ordinate containment of the virus in the local community.


If you should require any further information, please contact us.


Phil Hopkins, Health & Safety Officer.

FAQ

Q. Can my child attend multiple settings or use a childminder and attend pre-school?

A. We have been advised in the past and again recently to advise against children attending multiple settings and where possible for this to be avoided. However, under recent review and taking the DfE and local authorities latest advice, we are aim to be flexible where appropriate for parents who have little to no options.

This relaxation now hands the responsibility over to the parents to consider the child’s safety, along with those that they come into contact with and the potential ripple effect of those effected by a possible infection. If after this careful consideration and reassurance from your chosen providers that every precaution is being taken we would be happy to work with parents to solve any childcare problems. We would expect this responsibility to also include a free flow of information regarding any concerns, outbreaks of Covid-19 (be it confirmed or not) so we can continue to follow the governments advice for infection control.


Q. How will the pre-school staff and children be able to practice social distancing?

A. Normal social distancing practices will not be possible within our early years setting. We are currently working off the government guides and are doing our own risk assessments as to what is the best way to move forward. We shall inform you at a later date once these have been completed and researched thoroughly. 

The government guide currently states; "We know that, unlike older children and adults, early years and primary age children cannot be expected to remain 2 metres apart from each other and staff. In deciding to bring more children back to early years and school, we are taking this into account."


Q. Will you still be offering an early drop off / late pick up service when the children return to pre-school?

A. Unfortunately we shall not be offering this service during these unprecedented times. When the pre-school is fully operational again we shall re-survey to see if there is a need to re-introduce this service.


Q. Can my child toys from home into preschool during the outbreak?

A. No. Children must not bring in toys from home during the outbreak. If you child requires a comforter please inform us by email or phone before their session commences to discuss further. 

Have a question? 

Please submit it by completing the boxes below.

Thank you for submitting your question for our FQA section on reopening post lockdown. There is still much to be worked on and for more information to come our way. However, we aim to answer as many questions as we can we the limited information we have. Thank you.
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Useful Links

Please click on the headers for links to the relevant websites.