FAQs COVID-19
Is the Pre-school planning to open fully to all children on the 7th September?
Yes, the Pre-School will reopen fully to all children in September.
Does my child have to attend?
Funded children - from September the Government have said that attendance at Pre-School for all children claiming Early Education funding is now required. If you choose not to use your funded space, you will be required to cover the costs or it will be revoked and offered to children on the waiting list.
Non funded children - from September you will be liable for the cost of your child’s spaces. Should you choose not to send your child you will still be required to cover the costs or the spaces will be revoked and offered to children on the waiting list.
Will my child loose their place if they do not attend?
Yes, unless you are prepared to cover the costs of the sessions your child has the Pre-School will be forced to offer your spaces to others on the waiting list.
Will the session timings remain the same?
From September our new session times will be: -
Drop off Collection
Early morning sessions (8am – 8:45am) any time from 8am
Morning sessions (8:45am – 11:45am) between 8:45am - 9:15am between 11:15am - 11:45am
Lunch time sessions (11:45am – 12:15pm) at 11:45am at 12:15pm
Afternoon sessions (12:15pm – 3:15pm) between 12:15pm – 12:45pm between 2:45pm – 3:15pm
Late afternoon sessions (3:15pm – 4pm) any time before 4pm
The gates will be open for 30 minutes at the start and end of the session in order to enable you to stagger your drop off / collection times to support social distancing.
Your child will be able to attend for the sessions you have chosen previously.
Practitioners are relying on the local schools for childcare for their own children. If they are unable to get childcare or childcare is limited to set times it may be necessary to change our session times.
Will there be wrap around care?
The early morning and late afternoon sessions will be available Monday to Friday from September. They will continue to be held in the Rainbow Room.
What happens when we arrive at Pre-School?
Rainbow Room children should come in through the main gate, go round to the righthand side of the building (through the wooden gate, through the white gate and then through the playground and the second white gate into the Rainbow Room playground. You should then line up on the yellow floor markings.
Star Room Group 1 should come in through the main gate, round to the righthand side of the building through the wooden gate. You should then line up on the yellow floor markings and wait to be called to the front of the line.
Star Room Group 2 should come in through the main gate, round to the righthand side of the building and through the first white gate. You should then line up on the yellow floor markings and wait to be called to the front of the line.
Please ensure only one adult comes into the Pre-School grounds to drop-off/collect. Where it is necessary to bring siblings please ensure they stay with you and do not play on any of the equipment.
At the beginning and end of the sessions the gates will be propped open, where possible, please refrain from touching the gates and fencing.
Does my child have to have their temperature taken on arrival?
No, we will no longer be taking temperatures as children arrive.
What will my child need to bring each day?
Bag - Your child should bring a fully stocked bag on their first day. Please stock the bag with spare clothes, sunhat, suntan lotion, nappies and wipes. Practitioners
Drink bottle – Your child should bring a named drinks bottle with them on their first day.
Lunch – Your child should bring lunch each day if they are staying for lunch.
Can my child bring a comforter?
Your child can bring their dummy or comforter. Please do not bring any toys or other items as these will have to be removed at the door.
What do the classrooms look like now?
The classrooms look a little different now. All soft furnishings have had to be removed. The toys are limited to toys that are easy to clean at the end of the session. Toys are rotated throughout the week to ensure the children get the opportunity to play with lots of different toys. The Star Room is split into two different groups
How will you manage social distancing?
It is impossible for Early Years children, returning to Pre-School, to social distance at 2m. Children will not be expected to social distance from the other children in their group. We are putting plans in place to reduce the risk as much as possible.
The Rainbow Room will be one group of no more than 30 children (across the week) with three Practitioners. There will be a maximum of 12 children at any one time.
The Star Room Children will be one group of no more than 40 children (across the week) with four Practitioners. There will be a maximum of 24 children in the Star Room at any one time.
· Each group will stay together and will not mix with other groups
· Each group will have snack, eat lunch and play outside together
· Each group in the Star Room will have their own area in the classroom
· Each group will have their own toys and equipment both inside and outside
· The large outdoor equipment will be cleaned in between each groups use
· Practitioners will direct children to wash their hands frequently
· Frequently touched surfaces eg work tops, tables, door handles etc will be regularly cleaned throughout the session
· Toilets are cleaned following each use
· Outside learning will be encouraged
· Thorough cleaning will be undertaken at the end of the day to include the classroom, toilets, frequently touched surfaces, all resources, outdoor equipment and fencing
Will parents be allowed into Pre-school?
No. To further reduce the risk and to aid social distancing parents/carers will be asked to hand over their children at the door. Parents are asked to maintain the 2m distance from other families while waiting. Any money will need to be in an envelope labelled. Please note only one family member is allowed into the Pre-school grounds to drop off / pick up. If you must bring siblings along please ensure they are kept with you and do not use the equipment in the playground.
Will there be any visitors in Pre-School?
No. Only essential Practitioners will be in the setting. Essential visitors eg for maintenance will be asked to come out of hours unless it is an emergency.
Will you help my child if they need support with toileting?
Yes, Practitioners understand that the children in our care may need help with toileting, adjusting their clothing and some will need their nappy changing and this cannot be done from 2m away. Practitioners will be offered PPE to do this.
Will you comfort my child if needed?
Yes, Practitioners understand that the children in our care will need comfort to settle in, if they have hurt themselves or feel sad or worried. Practitioners will offer comfort and cuddle a child when needed. Practitioners will be offered PPE to do this.
Will Practitioners or children be expected to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
The current guidance states that children and Practitioners do not need to wear PPE throughout the day over and above what would normally be used. There will be a stock of PPE within the Pre-school for the following purposes: -
· Dealing with first aid
· Caring for any child showing symptoms
· Cleaning following a child or Practitioner showing symptoms within the pre-school
· For Practitioners providing intimate care
· For Practitioners who choose to wear PPE
What happens if my child develops symptoms?
Current guidance states: - When a child, young person or staff member develops symptoms comparable with coronavirus, they should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 10 days. Their fellow household members should self-isolate for 14 days. All staff and students who are attending an education or childcare setting will have access to a test if they display symptoms of coronavirus and are encouraged to get tested in this scenario.
Where the child, young person or staff member tests negative, they can return to their setting and their 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 of 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.
If your child develops one or more of the following symptoms you must keep them off Pre-School and arrange for them to be tested: -
· A high temperature – feel hot to touch on chest or back
· A new or continuous cough
· A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
A child can return to Pre-School straightaway following a negative test result provided they no longer have a temperature and feel well enough to attend. Any child that tests positive should self-isolate for 10 days, with fellow household members self-isolating for 14 days. IF YOUR CHILD TESTS POSITIVE YOU MUST INFORM THE PRE-SCHOOL IMMEDIATELY.
If a child/Practitioner in the group tests positive the remaining members of the group will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days and to organise to be tested. The household members of these individuals do not need to self-isolate unless the group member develops symptoms or tests positive. IF ANY OF THE REMAINING MEMBERS F THE GROUP TEST POSITIVE THEY SHOULD INFORM THE PRE-SCHOOL IMMEDIATELY.
Will you still be carrying out the usual pre-school events?
No. Unfortunately, we will not be able to carry out our usual events at this time. Although this is a shame, we are sure you will understand that this could compromise our efforts for social distancing. As guidance changes we will adapt the setting to suit.
What can I/we do to help?
To help the Pre-School you should: -
· follow all of the Pre-Schools rules, social distance from other parents/families, keep your children with you at all times, keep children off the equipment while you are in Pre-School grounds
· follow all Government guidelines on social distancing, travelling on public transport, limiting the number of people you and your family are mixing with
· Please DO NOT bring your child to Pre-School if they are feeling under the weather – if your child is unwell and Practitioners do not feel they will benefit from the session parents will be asked to take them home or to collect their child during the session and take them home
· Please DO NOT give your child paracetamol or ibuprofen before sending them to school
Please note that our priority remains the safety of the children and Practitioners.