Covid-19

Scallywags Nursery’s key priority at all times is the health, safety and wellbeing of the children in our care, their families and our staff.

We have a comprehensive risk assessment and policies that all staff are following at all times with regards to COVID-19.

No staff member who has COVID-19 symptoms will be admitted into the nursery until they have either had a test and tested negative or they have completed self-isolation in line with government guidance.

Parents will be asked to confirm at the nursery entrance that their child is not displaying any COVID-19 symptoms such as a new continuous cough or a high temperature of 37.8°C or more.

Scallywags introduce additional Covid measures as an when required in line with the latest guidance from the NHS, Public Health Bodies, and the government.

What Covid-19 safety measures do we have in place?

Nursery access restrictions

One way system in and out of nursery gates (where possible)
No unauthorised adults / children and non-essential visitors allowed in the nursery building

Social distancing

Parents and children are asked to keep a 2m distance from each other outside when arriving and leaving site where possible
At drop off and pick up times we are asking parents to hand their child to a member of staff at the nursery play room doors / entrance
Where possible staff maintain distance from staff and children not in their room bubble
Staff and children working in staff / children room bubbles in and outside to reduce the number of people they are coming into contact with. Staff will still have physical contact with children in their bubble .. we won’t stop hugging children when they need a cuddle or some reassurance
We have made changes to our indoor environments and the organisation of activities so as to encourage children to naturally use all areas of the room, rather than congregate in one area
Outdoor play areas have been zoned off so only one groups uses each area at a time and all areas are disinfected after each use
Staff will wear PPE when very close contact is required such as at drop of and pick up times / if a child becomes unwell during the day and needs to go into the Isolation room
Staff use several staff room areas to take breaks

Hygiene practices

It is Scallywags preference that adults wear a face masks whilst on the nursery premises
Staff wear face masks in all communal areas and if they need to visit another bubble
Hand sanitising stations in and outside the building
Additional cleaning schedules to include the cleaning of the following every hour- high-risk contact areas such as door handles and doors, toys and children’s resources, phones, light switches, taps, toilet flushes, countertops, shared PCs, including children’s computers/iPads.
Covid deep clean at the end of each day using fogging machines.
Regular handwashing by staff and children
Good natural ventilation in all playrooms and corridors
Ensuring good respiratory hygiene by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach to any coughs or sneezes

Testing

In line with the current government guidelines, it is not mandatory that staff routinely get tested, however the nursery recommends that staff take part in weekly testing and results are issued to the nursery following these tests

If someone is ill

If children or staff develop any symptoms such as a new continuous cough or a high temperature of 37.8°C we will take immediate action. Staff will be asked to return home immediately, self-isolate and seek a test. For children we have a dedicated Isolation room where they will be taken and cared for by a member staff who is known to them until a parent can come and collect them.
We ask that is your child is unwell that they remain at home and get better unless it is a very minor illness