At The Tots' Clubhouse we aim to take positive steps to prevent the spread of infection.  The Nursery School Director reserves the right to refuse children, parents, staff and visitors who are deemed contagious and may impact upon the welfare of others.

Stocks of cleaning products, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), tissues, hand washing equipment and sterilising fluids will be maintained to ensure all children, staff and visitors have what they require to maintain their good hygiene.

Records are kept of all incidents relating to viruses and infections.  Letters/notifications will be sent to parents/carers immediately upon notification of potential viruses and infections.

The best ways to prevent a virus or infection from spreading is to:

• Look out for symptoms and keep your child at home to rest and recover when they are unwell.
• Maintain clean hand hygiene by washing and sanitising.
• Clean facilities and resources on a regular basis.
• Wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when handling bodily fluids.
• Keep up-to-date with Council/government guidance on infection control for specified viruses e.g. COVID19.

Caring for Children

• Sickness and Illness Policy should be followed.
• Ensure all children use tissues when coughing and sneezing to catch and remove any germs.
• Ensure all children wipe their noses and mouths as necessary.  Staff to support children where they are not able to do this themselves.
• All tissues/wipes are disposed of in a hygienic way.  Children and staff wash hands after using tissues/wipes.
• Items of clothing are changed in bodily fluid incidents, where necessary.
• Ensure all children wash hands before eating and after eating, after visiting the toilet, playing outside or being in contact with animals, soil and sand etc.
• Pacifiers, comforters and other personal equipment will need to be labelled and stored in appropriate manner to prevent cross-contamination with other children's items.  Items will be cleaned and sterilised where necessary before use.

Staff Practices

• Child Sickness Policy should be followed.
• Staff to dispose of items in the appropriate manner and wash hands.
• All potties and changing mats are cleaned and sterilised before and after each use.
• Staff wash hands before and after eating, after visiting the toilet, supervising outside or being in contact with animals, soil and sand etc.
• Staff wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to manage any bodily fluid incidents.
• Items of clothing are changed in bodily fluid incidents, where necessary.

Parents Practices

• Ensure their child is well enough to attend the Nursery School and that NHS/government guidance is followed.
• Parents remove all outdoor footwear or use shoe covers when entering rooms/spaces where children may be crawling or sitting on the floor.
• Parents provide clean equipment, labelled boxes, clothes and equipment necessary for their care.

Cleaning

We use Council and manufacturer recommended cleaning products for use within childcare settings.  We employ a cleaner to clean all learning spaces, communal areas and staff spaces each evening.  A deep clean of all spaces will occur once per month or as required upon any concerns over the spread of viruses and infections.

The Nursery School Director reserves the right to close the Nursery School for cleaning where it is deemed necessary to control the spread of viruses and infections.  

Resources for daily use are cleaned after use.  Specialist resources that are used as and when are swapped in and out after use to quarantine resources for 72 hours.  Soft furnishings are washed regularly and spot checked after sessions to ensure that they are clean for sharing.  A cleaning rota for specified resources will operate where they are quarantined and cleaned after periods of 72 hours.

A COVID19 Risk Assessment will be activated, if required.  

Dated: 12 September 2024 Review date: December 2025