These operating procedures apply during covid-19 Alert Level 2. They are based on Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Education (MOE) advice as at 12th August 2020. They are automatically superseded should MOH or MOE advice change to require greater restrictions. Should MOH and MOE advice become less stringent these operating procedures shall be reviewed and amended as appropriate.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to ensure that the centre operates as safely as possible during Alert Level 2.

RATIONALE

It is important that children, staff, parents and whānau are both protected from infection and prevented from spreading the infection. It is also important for KCC to support our local community. The teaching profession’s Code of Professional Responsibility, and the values that underpin the code, include commitments to learners, families and whānau, and to society. These are continuing commitments, ones that we must fulfil in the safest possible way.

These operating procedures are intended both to ensure that our centre is safe and to give everyone in our community confidence that we are as safe as we can be.

KEY PUBLIC HEALTH PRINCIPLES

The two key public health principles that support Alert Level 2 are:

• first to minimise the risk that someone gets infected in the first place, and

• second to limit the number of possible contacts people have if they do get infected, to make it easier to rapidly stop further spread.

MOE AND MOH GUIDANCE

The overriding principle for Alert Level 2 is to attend ECE. Parents and whānau can send children to early learning and KCC will be operating to our full license numbers.

During Alert Level 2 KCC will be open to support our community, but with the required public health measures in place.

MOE has announced the following changes to normal ECE practice:

· Regular washing and drying of hands continues.

· Cough and sneeze into elbows.

· Disinfect and clean all surfaces daily, this includes sleep furniture.

· Indoor temperature must be set at a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius.

· All outdoor play areas can be used.

· Children will continue to have their own food containers and need to be watched closely so they do not give and take food to and from each other.

· Adults must not share food, crockery or cutlery during meal breaks.

· Cleaning supplies will be maintained and stored safely out of reach of children.

· Ensure effective contact tracing processes for everyone who visits the service, every day.

· Stay home if you’re sick, report flu-like symptoms.

HOW WILL WE KEEP YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN SAFE?

Social Distancing

We are not required to maintain a physical distance between children or children and staff. We encourage adults where practicable to use 1metre as a guide between themselves and other adults. Mat times and other group sessions shall be run with children as dispersed as practicable. Opportunities shall be taken to discuss with the children how infections can be spread by coughing, sneezing and touching.

Drop Off and Pick Up

· The parent dropping off and picking up children must wash their hands and their child’s hands in the Kowhai room bathroom immediately upon arrival. Only one parent is to enter KCC for drop-off or pick-up.

· Please then sign in on the usual table by the front door.

· Please bring your own pen for completing the form.

· If you forget a pen, we will have a stock of sanitised ones available.

· For contact tracing, it is essential that we keep a record of the individual who dropped off or picked up each child – there will be a separate form for you to write your name on.

· There is hand sanitiser available for use on the kitchen bench.

· Please keep drop-off and pick-ups as short as possible.

· Please maintain 1 metre distance from all other adults and children where possible.

· School siblings and other adults must wait between the 2 gates, and not enter KCC.  Babies of siblings may enter if they are in a front pack on the adult or in a covered pram.

Health Monitoring

· Parents and staff are responsible for monitoring their own health and not coming to the centre if they feel at all unwell.

· Children who display any symptoms must be kept at home.

· KCC will isolate and send any child home who has a temperature of 38˚C or higher or any other flu-like symptoms.

· Adults who are sick with flu-like symptoms (sore throat, cough, sneezing, blocked ears, head cold, fever or body aches) must not enter KCC premises and must not bring their child to KCC, they must all stay at home.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

MOH and MOE advice is that gloves and face masks are not required for normal activities. Anyone wearing gloves for their own protection must remember that the outside of the gloves may become contaminated, so gloves being worn must be sanitised in the same way as bare hands. Gloves must be worn when required for our normal procedures.

Hand Sanitiser

Hand sanitiser is provided on the kitchen bench. Hand sanitiser shall be kept out of children’s reach so they do not drink it. Properly washing hands with soap and water is recommended, but when this is not possible hand sanitiser shall be used:

• after touching any potentially contaminated surface,

• if contamination is suspected.

Other Hygiene Practices

· Please wash your hands and your children’s hands before you leave your home for the centre.

· Please wash your hands and your child’s hands upon arrival at KCC.

· Please wash your hands upon arrival for pick-up at the end of the day.

· The centre shall be cleaned daily at the end of each day including sleep furniture. During the day door handles, commonly touched surfaces and in-use resources shall be sanitized regularly with a disinfectant spray, which will be left on for 30 seconds before wiping off.

· Children shall be well spread out at meal times. If necessary meal times will be staggered. No food or drink may be shared. Food will be pre-served in individual bowls.

· All normal hygiene practices shall be followed.

· Children will be well-spaced when sleeping on the deck.

· The sleep room window will be open and cots spaced as far apart as possible.

WHAT IF THE CENTRE IS EXPOSED TO COVID-19?

If we believe that someone at the centre has COVID-19 we follow our normal processes. If there is a confirmed or probable case linked with KCC, we will be advised of that by the Medical Officer of Health.

Our regional Ministry of Education staff will work with us and local health authorities to agree a plan. That will happen quickly and support will be provided to assist us to communicate with and support our parent community and staff.

If the person or persons who are a confirmed or probable case have worked in or attended our centre when they could have been infectious (which could start 2 – 3 days prior to having symptoms) we will be closed for at least 72 hours to allow time for contact tracing and a clean of the service to align with Ministry of Health guidelines.

Close contacts at KCC would be anyone who had:

• face-to-face contact in any setting within two metres of a case for 15 minutes or more

• having been in a closed environment (e.g., hospital waiting room) within 2 metres of a case for 15 minutes or more

Close contacts will be required to self-isolate and will need to monitor for symptoms.

Supporting Contact Tracing

To support contact tracing, we must keep records of who was at our service and when. We have talked about the pick-up and drop off process earlier. Remember that it is important that people record their names and don’t just use a signature. We already keep records of staff attendance. We will ensure that any other adults, such as necessary tradesmen for repairs, also print their name and phone number when they book in and out.

WILL THE CENTRE BE FULLY STAFFED?

We must maintain normal adult/child ratios as required by the Regulations. If we are unable to meet them, due to sick staff and unavailable relievers, we may need to close KCC for the day or ask for some children to stay home.

Staff must at home if they are:

· sick with COVID-19 or are unwell generally; or

· caring for a dependent who is sick with COVID-19; or

· casual staff booked to work but are not able to work due to illness or COVID-19; or

· self-isolating, or are caring for a dependant who is self-isolating, on instruction of public health.