Coronavirus Response
February 2021 Update
Drop off & Collection
The Q-Bell app is working very well with letting the team know your child has arrived for drop off, or you have arrived for collection.
If you have not yet registered, please let me know your phone number & email - each invitation is unique to the user, which means it is very safe to use.
We suggest that you wait in your car until the ‘drop off’ or ‘pick up’ message has been sent - this prevents congestion around the door/ ramp.
Please be mindful of 2 meters distance - if your child can walk, then please encourage them to do so from the blue line to the door where a carer will be greeting them on drop off.
On collection we ask you to wait at the blue line & your child will walk to you.
If your child needs to be handed over (baby - not yet walking independently) - please give any verbal messages from a distance and then come towards the door for a quick hand over.
We thank you for continuing to wear masks on drop off & collection and ask that this continues.
August 2021
As you will know, the rules for COVID-19 pandemic are changing!
On 16 August, the rules on self-isolating as a contact will change for people who are fully vaccinated and for under 18s. Those not fully vaccinated will still need to isolate if they are contacts, and everyone will still have to isolate if they test positive, to protect themselves and others.
At Wellies we are continuing with all of the processes in place to date, which have kept everyone safe from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parents to continue to wear masks on drop off & collection
All children will wash hands on coming to Nursery & when going home along with regular times through the day
Continue with the QBell system for drop off & collection
Bring your child to Nursery if they are well - not needing calpol / ibuprofen in the 12 hours before attending Nursery
Please give the first 24 hours of antibiotics at home - we will support your child after that time period, if they are well enough to return to Nursery.
Follow the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ routine when wiping noses etc
Play outside & have windows open for ‘airy’ rooms
Whilst we know that under 18’s do not need to isolate following close contact with a positive coronavirus case, we ask that if a household member has symptoms & is having a PCR test, your child is off until the result is known. If your child is unwell with any of the main symptoms, please book them a PCR test and let us know asap.
Currently ⅓ of the team have not yet been double vaccinated or even had 1 vaccine - this will impact staffing in the event close contact with a positive case of COVID 19. Your child may well be able to attend Nursery , however there could be staffing issues - we will let you know as soon as possible should there be an impact following a positive result.
Updated November 2020
Wellies Day Nursery is now open for usual hours from 07:30 to 18:15 Monday to Friday. There are no limits on Nursery places across all age groups - within our usual numbers & ratios for each group.
National Guidance for Early Years Settings from 5th November to 2nd December 2020
The policies set at Wellies are showing effective control to date.
Please continue with -
Testing any household member if they show symptoms as defined by the Government
Isolating the household, until results of the test are known
Informing Nursery by email of the household result/ child result
Keeping your child at home if they are at all unwell.
Please do not give calpol/paracetamol/ibuprofen in the 24 hour period before attending Nursery - this is so we can be sure your child is well and continue to effectively monitor their health during the day.
If your child requires oral medication the first 48 hours will need to be given at home
If your child becomes unwell during the nursery day, you will be contacted for immediate collection and advised about booking a COVID test, or speaking to your GP.
By working together we will be able to keep all groups at Nursery open. We continue to keep everyone in their separate rooms, garden spaces & staff areas to avoid close contact.
What happens if we are informed of a positive Coronavirus test?
All families, whose child has been in contact in the previous 48 hours, will be contacted & told their child needs to isolate for a period of 10 days.
It may be you need to collect your child from Nursery - please arrange to do this as quickly as possible.
The group may then need to close for the same period of time - as the team will have to isolate too.
There is a possible option of the team having daily lateral flow tests for the 10 day period & come to work if negative, however the timing is not great as the centre does not open until 09:30. There is also the added welfare for the team anxiously awaiting a daily result to assess their health to come to work. They are feeling they would just prefer to isolate for the required period of time.
At Nursery - we will follow the guidance from the DFE and send out template letters, provided.
We fill out an online form for the LA to inform them and receive a call from Public Health if required
We fill out a ‘serious incident’ form for Ofsted.
Information provided is just numbers of children in contact in the 48 hours before the positive test and number of staff affected, along with actions taken by Nursery.
In the event of closure due to a positive result a fee refund will be applied to your account for the number of days that we have not been able to offer childcare.
In the event of staff absence due to COVID-19
All of our groups have a supernumerary team member - which means we can continue with 1 member off. To date we have had to offer core hours of 08:00 to 17:00 as an alternative to the team doing the rotational shifts, which only works if we have the full team in for the group.
Current Situation
Wellies Day Nursery welcomed children back in June 2020, having set up new Policies, Procedures and Risk Assessments introduing rigourous infection control measures.
Before returning to work the team completed a series of training programes on Infection Control, Hand Washing, Personal Hygiene, Food Hygiene - to name a few.
Everyone is following the current Government Guidelines on Testing and Household Isolation.
To date, all tests for children have been negative. There have been some households affected by Coronavirus, who have followed the Isolation rules effectively.
Please continue to follow the self-isolation guidance should any member of the household show symptoms. Inform Nursery as soon as possible. Please let us know as soon as possible if any member of the household, including children, has a positive test.
In the event of a positive test in Nursery, we are bound to following Government Guidance through the Test & Trace process, which may lead to children & staff needing to self-isolate at home.
Wellies will need to be your only childcare provider during this time. We ask that children do not mix with others at another setting, or childminder - until we receive further guidance from the Government. If this has happened your child will need to have 14 days isolation BEFORE returning to Wellies
You will need to use the Q-Bell app on drop off & pick up or ring the doorbell (1 parent to drop off & non-nursery children to remain in the car) Please use the daily diary on Eylog for all messages - we need the hand over to be as quick as possible. If your child can walk, then please hold their hand until you are ready to hand over - a team member will then offer a hand to bring them into Nursery. Your child will then wash their hands (we have a new sink installed) before being taken to their room. Please explain this to your child, if you feel they will understand.
If your child is a baby - not yet walking, needs a cuddle - then please allow us to take them as swiftly as possible - limiting close contact for all of us!
We understand your concern about your child being unsettled - however please be reassured that we will give them cuddles as needed through the day and settle to play. There is an intention to be outside every day for as long as possible and most children find the garden exciting, soothing and an adventure.
We will update Eylog as soon as possible to give you reassurance - however do bear with us as we may be busy!
Your children will be in groups for the day, according to their age.
Baby Room - up to 9 per day with Michelle, Kelly & Beenish
Pooh Bear - up to 9 per day with Megan D, Sophie-Jo & Cyrah
Threadbear Room up to 9 per day with Tyla, Frankie & Daisie
Pooh Bear & Threadbear will link during the day and outside - there will be no more than 18 on any day
Polar Bear - up to 12 per day with Katie, Ellie-Mae, Bethany & Emily
Rupert - up to 16 per day with Lorraine, Lisa, Paige, Courtney & Alice
Polar Bear & Rupert will join to make the best use of the garden
Paddington Room up to 16 with Amanda, Kayleigh, Zoey, Amelia & Megan P
Superteds Preschool up to 36 with Sarah M, Gemma, Danielle, Megan B, Daniella & James - in the new barn!
When collecting, use the Q-Bell app or ring the doorbell and we will collect your child, wash their hands before bringing them to you
Please do not bring your child to Nursery if they are at all unwell - refer to the Illness Policy, which has been loaded onto files on Eylog and shared with you by email. Do call if in doubt!
WHAT TO BRING
A nursery bag with at least 2 changes of clothes - we will send dirty items home & only send the bag home if changes have been used.
If your child uses a dummy - then please provide one, which we will keep at Nursery and ensure it is sterilized etc.
NAMED ITEMS - sunhat/ light coat, splash suit if you have one, raincoat and as the weather becomes cooler then appropriate outdoor clothing to include wellies. Please let the office know if you need a drawstring bag for wellies to be kept in.
WHAT NURSERY WILL PROVIDE
-disposable nappies.
- suncream
- all meals/snacks/drinks - with the exception of breakfast
- fun & laughter
- love & well being
- caring & professional approach
- updates on Eylog
