Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Policy for dealing with COVID-19 within Llanddulas Playgroup

1. Information about the virus

A Coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China in December 2019. The incubation period of COVID-19 is between 2 and 14 days. This means that if a person remains well 14 days after contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus, it is unlikely that they have been infected.

The following symptoms may develop in the 14 days after exposure to someone who has COVID-19 infection:

  • cough
  • difficulty in breathing
  • fever (37.8 degrees or above)
  • Loss of sense of smell/taste

Generally, these infections can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. There is no evidence that children are more affected than other age groups – very few cases have been reported in children.

1.1 How COVID-19 is spread

From what we know about other coronaviruses, spread of COVID-19 is most likely to happen when there is close contact (within 2 metres) with an infected person. It is likely that the risk increases the longer someone has close contact with an infected person. Droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes (termed respiratory secretions) containing the virus are most likely to be the most important means of transmission.

There are 2 routes by which people could become infected:

  • secretions can be directly transferred into the mouths or noses of people who are nearby (within 2 metres) or could be inhaled into the lungs
  • it is also possible that someone may become infected by touching a surface or object that has been contaminated with respiratory secretions and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes (such as touching a door knob or shaking hands then touching own face).

2. Preventing the spread of infection

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus. There are general principles to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

  • washing your hands often (for 20 seconds or longer) - with soap and water or use alcohol sanitiser if handwashing facilities are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport.
  • covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in a bin. Follow the Catch it, Bin it, Kill it Programme and encourage the children to complete also.
  • people who feel unwell should stay at home and should not attend work or any education or childcare setting (see below: Guidance on dealing with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Llanddulas Playgroup))
  • pupils, staff and visitors should wash their hands:
    • before leaving home
    • on arrival at playgroup
    • after using the toilet
    • after outdoor play/walks
    • before food preparation
    • before eating any food, including snacks
    • before leaving playgroup
  • use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 80% alcohol if soap and water are not available
  • avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • avoid close contact with people who are unwell
  • clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
  • Wearing appropriate PPE if supporting a child or colleague who has suspected or confirmed COVID-19

If you are worried about your symptoms or those of a child or colleague, please call NHS 111. Do not go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment without appointment.

See further information on the Public Health Wales and the NHS UK website.

2.1 Cleaning Routines

Daily cleaning routines will largely remain the same, as high standards of good hygiene are currently in place. However, in areas where there are hard surfaces that are infrequently cleaned or not cleaned to a high enough standard the following will be put in place:

All frequently used hard surfaces will be cleaned with a hard surface cleaning and sanitising solution each day, this includes all door handles, keys, light switches, laptops, telephones, printers, phone, cupboards, children's chairs, tables, storage boxes window sills.

Disposable cleaning cloths will be used throughout the playgroup, for example blue roll for cleaning hard surfaces.

Toys will be rotated each day and sterilised between uses to prevent cross contamination between children who attend of different days. The toys available will be toys that can be cleaned effectively, and resources will be limited to enable rotation.

Toys that are difficult to clean, such as toys with lots of fiddly parts and soft toys will not be available at this time.

Sand will only be available to play with outdoors and sensory play such as playdough will be offered as an individual solo activity and then disposed of appropriately.

Whilst high touch surfaces will be regularly sanitised during the session, a deep clean will take place once children leave the setting.

2.2 Hand Washing Routines

To ensure staff, children, parents and visitors are washing their hands in line with the current guidelines the following will be put in place:

  • On arrival to playgroup all adults will sanitise their hands before entering the building followed by hand washing them inside and if desired re-applying hand sanitiser.
  • On arrival all children will be taken to the bathroom to wash their hands by a team member.
  • Staff should wash their own hands before supporting a child to wash theirs.
  • During the day children and staff will be encouraged to hand wash regularly and must wash their hands after going to the toilet or having their nappy changed, before meals or snacks, and when arriving back from a walk or from using the garden.
  • Staff should wash hands before putting on any PPE.
  • Staff will introduce a Hand Washing Song to encourage the children to wash their hands with soap and water, and for at least twenty seconds.
  • Children's guides on handwashing will remain in the bathroom.
  • Staff must wash their hands before preparing or serving food even if wearing gloves.

2.3 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

In line with recommendations from the DfE and PHW, PPE will be worn as follows:

The staff member leading registration / welcoming and leaving at the start or end of each day will be required to wear a face mask (three ply medical grade) disposable gloves and disposable apron. Their sleeves should be rolled to their elbow to allow good handwashing before registration and throughout if necessary.

In the event of a child or team member showing symptoms of COVID-19 during the day the person supporting this person will need to wear a disposable apron, disposable gloves, a disposable face mask and their own personal face shield.

In the event of a staff member cleaning an accident of bodily fluid e.g. sick, blood, urine the staff member will be required to wear a face mask, disposable gloves, and a disposable apron.

If a child is to be taken from the parents / carers arms the staff member will be required to wear a face mask, disposable gloves, and a disposable apron.

When performing intimate care, the staff member will be required to wear a face mask, disposable gloves, and a disposable apron.

All staff must thoroughly wash their hands before applying PPE and when removing it.

2.4 Social Distancing and further measures to protect from infection

2.41 Managing Registration Times at Pickup and Drop off

  1. Parents will be given a registration slots to prevent too many parents arriving at once. We are aiming that drop off registration will be between 8.45am and 9am.
  2. One adult only per child to attend setting to drop off or collect. Parents will not be permitted to enter the playgroup.
  3. Staff will collect the children from the main gate, no parent is to enter the playgroup site.
  4. Staff will sign the child into the setting using the Seesaw app, which the parents will confirm attendance using their page on the app.

2.42 Regulating movements within the nursey

Signs will be displayed on front doors stating: Please do not enter playgroup if you or your child has any COVID-19 symptoms.

  • No visitors are allowed into the settings
  • Virtual tours will be conducted with pre-recorded videos and remote meetings with prospective parents with the manager via Zoom or WhatsApp

Video calling: If this is not appropriate for individual families further measures will be put in place.

2.43 Other measures

  • Children will be prevented from bringing toys and belonging from home into playgroup. A plastic drawstring bag of spare clothes and nappies can be kept on site and topped up as required, these bags will be stored in a sealed plastic box.
  • Water will be available to children in cups, in disposable plastic cups. Children will not be able to bring in a water bottle from home.

2.5 Management of Staff and organisation of groups of children to prevent cross contamination within the nursery/h4>

Playgroup will form a bubble with Ysgol Llanddulas Nursery Class and children will be cared for by a consistent team of 4 staff daily whilst attending playgroup.

3. Guidance on dealing with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Minis

3.1 What to do if child or adult becomes unwell with symptoms of COVID-19

If a child becomes ill, the parents will be informed, and should collect the child immediately. They should be no longer than 30 minutes.

  • The staff member should leave playgroup immediately and return home.
  • Call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency (if they are seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk), you can do this on their behalf if this is easier. People who become unwell should be advised not to go to their GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital without a prior appointment.
  • Whilst you wait for advice from NHS 111 or an ambulance to arrive, try to find somewhere safe for the unwell person to sit which is at least 2 metres away from other people. If possible, find a room or area where they can be isolated behind a shut door.. If it is possible to open a window, do so for ventilation. They should avoid touching people, surfaces and objects and be advised to cover their mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when they cough or sneeze and put the tissue in the bin. If no bin is available, put the tissue in a bag or pocket for disposing in a bin later. If you do not have any tissues available, they should cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow. The room will need to be deep cleaned once they leave.
  • If they need to go to the bathroom whilst waiting for medical assistance, they should use a separate bathroom if available.
  • Make sure that the children who are old enough know to tell a member of staff if they feel unwell.

3.3 Getting tested

The parent of the child or team member who has symptoms must contact 111 or apply online immediately and request a test.

Tests are available to all team members and their families, children attending the playgroup and their families.

If any person in a team member or child's household shows signs of COVID-19 the family must get tested immediately. They cannot attend playgroup whilst they await the results and the entire household must isolate. Playgroup must be informed of the result as soon as possible to enable appropriate action to be put in place if required.

3.4 What to do if a case of COVID-19 is suspected in playgroup

If anyone has been in contact with a suspected case in playgroup, no restrictions or special control measures are required while laboratory test results for COVID-19 are awaited. There is no need to close the setting or send other learners or staff home. Once the results arrive, those who test negative for COVID-19 will be advised individually about return to nursery.

3.5 What to do if a case of COVID-19 is confirmed in playgroup.

Playgroup will need to contact Public Health Wales to discuss the case, identify people who have been in contact with them and advise on any actions or precautions that should be taken. An assessment of each childcare or education setting will be undertaken by the Health Protection Team with relevant staff. Advice on the management of children and staff will be based on this assessment.

The Health Protection Team will also be in contact with the patient directly to advise on isolation and identifying other contacts and will be in touch with any contacts of the patient to provide them with appropriate advice.

Advice on cleaning of communal areas such as playrooms and toilets will be given by the Health Protection Team.

If there is a confirmed case, a risk assessment will be undertaken by management with advice from the local Health Protection Team.

Playgroup will be required to close, all staff and children within playgroup will be required to self-isolate for 14 days along with the other members of their household.

3.6 What to do if children or staff in playgroup are contacts of a confirmed case of COVID-19 who was symptomatic

The definition of a contact includes:

  • any child or staff member in close face-to-face or touching contact including those undertaking small group work (within 2 metres of the case for more than 15 minutes)
  • talking with or being coughed on for any length of time while the individual is symptomatic
  • anyone who has cleaned up any bodily fluids of the individual
  • close friendship groups
  • any child or staff member living in the same household as a confirmed case

Contacts are not considered cases and if they are well, they are very unlikely to have spread the infection to others, however:

  • they will be asked to self-isolate at home for 14 days from the last time they had contact with the confirmed case and follow the home isolation guidance
  • they will be actively followed up by the Health Protection Team
  • if they develop any symptoms within their 14-day observation period they should call NHS 111 for assessment
  • if they become unwell with cough, fever or shortness of breath they will be tested for COVID-19
  • if they require emergency medical attention, call 999 and tell the call handler or ambulance control that the person has a history of potential contact with COVID19
  • if they are unwell at any time within their 14-day observation period and they test positive for COVID-19 they will become a confirmed case and will be treated for the infection

Family and friends who have not had close contact (as listed above) with the original confirmed case do not need to take any precautions or make any changes to their own activities such as attending childcare or educational settings or work, unless they become unwell. If they become unwell, they should call NHS 111 and explain their symptoms and discuss any known contact with the case to consider if they need further assessment.

If a confirmed case occurs in playgroup the local Health Protection Team will provide advice and will work with the management team. Outside those that are defined as close contacts, the playgroup does not need to take any precautions or make any changes to their own activities, attending educational establishments or work as usual, unless they become unwell. If they become unwell, they will be assessed as a suspected case depending on their symptoms. This advice applies to staff and children in playroup. The decision as to whether children and staff fall into this contact group or the closer contact group will be made between the Health Protection Team, playgroup and (if they are old enough) the child. Advice should be given as follows:

  • if they become unwell with cough, fever, loss of smell or taste or shortness of breath they will be asked to self-isolate and should seek medical advice from NHS 111
  • if they are unwell at any time within the 14 days of contact and they are tested and are positive for COVID-19 they will become a confirmed case and will be treated as such.

4. What to do if children or staff return from travel anywhere else in the world within the last 14 days

Staff or children returning from abroad are required to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return and cannot attend playgroup during this time.

5. Guidance on cleaning Llanddulas Playgroup after a case of COVID-19 (suspected or confirmed)

Coronavirus symptoms are similar to a flu-like illness and include cough, fever, or shortness of breath. Once symptomatic, all surfaces that the suspected case has come into contact with must be cleaned using disposable cloths and household detergents, according to current recommended workplace legislation and practice. These include:

  • all surfaces and objects which are visibly contaminated with body fluids
  • all potentially contaminated high-contact areas such as toilets, door handles, telephones

Public areas where a symptomatic individual has passed through and spent minimal time in (such as corridors) but which are not visibly contaminated with body fluids do not need to be specially cleaned and disinfected. If a person becomes ill in a shared space, these should be cleaned as detailed above.

5.1 Disposing of waste in playgroup including tissues, if children or staff become unwell with suspected COVID-19

All waste that has been in contact with the individual, including used tissues and PPE, should be put in a plastic rubbish bag and tied when full. The plastic bag should then be placed in a second bin bag and tied. It should be put in a safe place and marked for storage until the result is available. If the individual tests negative, this can be put in the normal waste. Should the individual test positive, the playgroup will be instructed what to do with the waste.

6. Guidance to assist professionals

As COVID-19 has only been recently identified, guidance to support professionals is regularly being updated or published. Up-to-date advice can be found through the following links.

Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and advice:

Guidance for educational settings:

Guidance for parents:

Guidance for employers and business:

This policy was revised and adopted: 18th June 2020 (J Heap)
Date of next review: September 2020

This policy was reviewed and amended: September 2020 (J Heap)
Date of next review: December 2020