COVID-19 – PREVENTION AND CONTROL AT THE LITTLE PEOPLES PLAY

CENTRE AND THE AFTERCARE.

INTRODUCTION

The Protection of Children and Educational Facilities is particularly important.

It is of vital importance to maintain the health, safety and welfare of all
children and staff as well as the community.

Precautions are necessary to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 in

school settings.

BASIC PRINCIPLES.

The following basic principles will help to keep the children and staff safe at
school and help stop the spread of this disease.

 Sick children/students and staff should not come to school.

 General high standards of cleanliness will be observed at all times, dust
kept to a minimum and areas of use thoroughly cleaned and disinfected
on a regular basis.
 Staff must continuously enforce regular hand washing with safe water and
soap, alcohol rub/hand sanitizer. Hand washing facilities are provided for
all pupils and staff. Hand basins are at an appropriate height for staff and
children of all ages.
 The wearing of masks/cloth coverings will be compulsory except for
babies and children under the age of two because of the danger of
suffocation.
 The child care classes will include the same group each day, and the same
child care providers will remain with the same group each day.
 Social distancing will be practised.
ENSURING SAFE SCHOOL OPERATIONS.
 All staff, children, parents or visitors wanting to gain access to the school
will be required to undertake a body temperature analysis prior to being
granted access to the school. Body temperature analysis will be
conducted using non-contact thermometers. Persons with a body
temperature of 38.0C or above will not be granted access to the school.
 Hand hygiene stations will be set up at the entrance to the facility, so that
all persons can clean their hands before they enter.
 Depending on numbers the beginning and end of the school day could be
staggered
 All special events, assemblies and other events that create crowded
conditions will be cancelled
 Children’s desks/tables will be at least 1.5 - 2 metres apart and
disinfected on a regular basis.
 Teaching will be remodelled to create space and avoid unnecessary
touching.
 Daily group activities that may promote transmission will be halted or
altered.
 The mixing of children will be limited by for example, staggering
playground times and keeping groups separate for social activities such as
art, music and exercising.
 At nap time the children’s mattresses will be spaced out as much as
possible, ideally 2 metres apart. Children will be placed head to toe in
alternating fashion so as to further reduce the potential for viral spread.
 Arrival and drop off times will be staggered depending on numbers and
staff members will adhere to strict social distancing measures as they
fetch children from their cars.
 On arrival at school children’s temperatures will be taken in their cars and
should a temperature read at 38ᵒ or above, they will not be allowed to
exit the car. Parents will be encouraged to hand over their children to a
staff member outside the facility to walk the children to their classroom
 Parents collecting their children at the end of school will also have their
temperatures taken, be required to wear a mask and adhere to social
distancing. Signing stations will be outside, and there will be sanitary
wipes for cleaning pens between each use.
PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 BY:
 Ensuring there are adequate supplies to support hand hygiene and
routine cleaning of objects and surfaces.
 Encouraging staff to take everyday preventive actions to prevent the
spread of respiratory illness.
 Communicating to the parents the importance of keeping children at
home when they are sick
 Communicating to the staff the importance of being vigilant for symptoms
and staying in touch with the facility management if or when they start to
feel sick.
 Establishing procedures to ensure children and staff who become sick
while at the facility are sent home as soon as possible.
 Keeping sick children and staff separate from well children and staff until
they can be sent home. A special room that can be used to isolate a sick
child will be designated for this purpose.
 Sick staff members should not return to work until they have met the
criteria to discontinue their home isolation.
 Limiting visitors to the school.
 Washing hands often with soap and water.
 Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.
 Coughing and sneezing into a bent elbow or into a tissue which is
disposed of immediately.
CARING FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS.
Before diapering a child the child minders will apply the following procedures:
 Disinfect the diapering area with fragrance-free bleach that is registered
as a sanitizing or disinfecting solution
 Wash their hands and the child’s hands
 Wear gloves.
 Dispose the wrapped diaper in a bin and wash hands again.
FOOD PREPARATION AND MEAL SERVICE.
The following procedures will apply:
 Serve meals in classrooms.
 Sinks used for food preparation should not be used for any other
purposes.
 Care givers must ensure that children wash their hands prior to and
immediately after eating.
 Kitchen staff must wash their hands with soap and water or a hand
sanitizer before preparing food and before dishing the food up for the
children.
 Facilities must at all times follow all regulations and guidelines related to
the safe preparation of food.
AFTERCARE PICK-UP
 The vehicle will be sanitised before and after each pick-up
 Children will have their hands sanitised as they enter and leave the
vehicle.
 Physical distancing will be applied. The bus will not exceed 50% capacity
SURVEY WITH PARENTS.
A survey will be done with the parents to establish the number of children
LPPC will be starting with. This will enable the school to plan for the reopening.
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