Page last updated 28/02/2021

Childminders for school-aged children

This week the Government has announced its plan to move the country out of lockdown. Childminders can continue to look after all early years children. Until 8 March, childminders should continue to only look after those school-age children (from reception onwards) who are vulnerable or children of critical workers. From 8 March, childminders will be able to look after vulnerable children as normal, and all other children where parents are using the provision to support them to work, seek work, undertake education or training, or attend a medical appointment or address a medical need.

 

Ofsted has cancelled plans to restart early years assurance inspections next month

Previously Ofsted had intended to resume inspections from 8 March, after suspending them in January at the start of the third national lockdown. However, the inspectorate has now said that routine full inspections will resume as soon as possible in the summer term, with the decision kept under review.

 

Vaccines by age group not profession

This week the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has ruled out prioritising people by occupation and will instead use an age-based delivery approach. Phase two will start with vaccination of adults aged 40-49, followed by 30-39 and finally 18-29. PACEY has been campaigning for early years and childcare practitioners to be prioritised as an occupational group to receive the vaccine once the most vulnerable are protected, due to the close contact that practitioners have with children, and the lack of regular home testing available to childminders and nannies.

 

Page last updated 15/11/20

You must notify Ofsted about Covid cases in your setting

Ofsted must now be informed if any children that attend the setting are confirmed to have COVID-19 (coronavirus) within 14 days of notification, and if you have to close as a result.

 

Inspections in 6 year window

Ofsted inspections for childminders, as soon as they resume, will now be actioned within a 6 year window, with their focus being on those that have not yet achieved a good outcome, of if there are any concerns. New childminders should still receive an inspection within 30 months of registration. Details are available here.

 

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Inspections

Ofsted has confirmed that its plans for returning to childminding inspections in January 2021 is being kept under review, although has not yet changed. In the meantime, Ofsted will continue to carry out registration visits, early years interim visits and childcare register inspections. Inspectors will decide on a case-by-case basis whether this work can be carried out virtually or on-site or through a combination of the two.

 

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)

will be extended for the full duration of the national lockdown with furloughed staff to be paid at least 80% of their salary up to £2500 a month.

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant extension provides critical support to the self-employed in the form of 2 further grants, each available for 3 month periods covering November 2020 to January 2021 and February 2021 to April 2021. The third grant will cover a 3 month period from 1 November 2020 until 31 January 2021. The Government will provide a taxable grant calculated at 80% of 3 months average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment and capped at £7,500 in total. This is an increase from the previously announced amount of 55%.

 

EYFS Requirements during lockdown

During the lockdown period, where early years settings are unable to deliver early years foundation stage (EYFS) requirements in full due to national lockdown restrictions, settings can disapply some of the requirements of the EYFS statutory framework as per the Department for Education’s (DfE) guidance.

 

Visitors

Settings should restrict all visits to the setting to those that are absolutely necessary.

If you must settle new children during this time, then you should consider providing virtual tours for prospective parents and carers. If parents and carers are keen to visit in person, keep in mind that the spirit of lockdown is that it is temporary and that you should be sensible regarding precautions such as face coverings and hand washing especially before and after a visit. Please use your good judgement and do anything virtually that can be done virtually, hold visits after hours if possible, or limit visitors to outside areas.

If you are settling new children during this time and parents need to stay, try to keep parent visits to under an hour and keep them away from other children.

In general, parents and carers should not be allowed into the setting unless there is a specific need. Children should be dropped off and collected at the door, if possible. Stay and play sessions, such as where the purpose is for parent and carers to meet each other, should not take place at this time.

 

Outdoors

Settings should maximise the use of private outdoor space. Settings can take groups of children to outdoor public places that are open, provided:

• it is for the purpose of education or childcare
• they remain within the EYFS staff child ratios
• they conduct a risk assessment in advance
• the risk assessment demonstrates that they can remain socially distant (2 metres) from other people and groups, wherever possible
• good hygiene is maintained throughout
• thorough handwashing happens before and after the trip.

Childminders can continue taking all children they care for outdoors. Under the exemptions to restrictions on leaving home, a childminder from one household can meet another childminder from a different household outdoors with any children under the age of 5 in their care. As children over the age of 5 are counted in the limit on two people meeting outside, childminders will not be able to meet other childminders if accompanied by children over the age of 5.

Paediatric first aid training can continue during lockdown.

 

Car

You can continue to use your car as long as it is necessary, walking is preferable. If this is not practicable, then a private vehicle for single household use is preferable. Use of public transport should be minimised.

 

Flu vaccine

Also remember with regards the Flu Vaccine, which many children will be having at the moment, be aware that a raised temperature may incur after the vaccine has been given but will not last, whereas the Covid temperature will be very high and last longer. The NHS website states:

The nasal spray flu vaccine for children is very safe. Most side effects are mild and do not last long, such as:

• a runny or blocked nose
• a headache
• tiredness
• loss of appetite

 

If your child has the injected flu vaccine, side effects include:

• a sore arm where the injection was given
• a slightly raised temperature
• aching muscles

 

1/11/20

Early years provisions to remain open during the November 5th lockdown

This document confirms that childminders should remain open when lockdown begins on Thursday.

Early years provision including childminders to remain open across all Covid-alert levels

The updated ‘Actions for early years’ guidance also confirms that: “At all local COVID alert levels, the expectation is that education and childcare provision should continue as normal. The government has been very clear that limiting attendance at schools, and other education settings, should only be done as a last resort, even in areas where a local alert level is high or very high.”

 

Updated Outbreak Action Cards and guidance

Please note that the Outbreak Action Cards for education were updated on 13/10/20.  You can find the card relevant to Early Years and Childcare settings here.   Also updated is the guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.  The changes include:

• amended information on local COVID-19 alert levels and tiers of restriction (section 3),
• staff who are clinically extremely vulnerable (section 3),
• children who are shielding (section 4), and
• informal childcare (section 5).

 

Foundation Years Covid 19 Resources Hub

Foundation Years have launched a new hub to support all early years providers during the COVID-19 outbreak. It includes the latest policy updates, government guidance, and free resources from across the early years sector all in one place.

Relaxing of the rules around 2 year checks has now been suspended from 3rd October

Ensure you read the government’s Actions for early years and childcare providers during the COVID-19 outbreak 

 

Ofsted Inspections will resume

Ofsted announced that they will be carrying out a phased return to inspection, starting with an interim period of visits during the autumn term. The disapplications to the EYFS are expected to end on 25th September. Ofsted intend to resume full inspections in January 2021, and are keeping the exact timing under review.  From September 2020 they will start by inspecting providers that have been judged inadequate or requires improvement and have associated actions to fulfil.

 

What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges in the autumn term

Government guidance updated frequently

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19): implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings

The full government guidance document about early years expectations during Coronavirus.

 

Note: the following resources have been submitted to me by various childminders. They have done their best with what is available. All of these documents were written prior to 22nd May 2020. Information changes very fast. The latest government guidance document Planning guide for early years and childcare settings now addresses some of this information and you should consult it when writing your own documents. For example, they are clear that there is no need to take children’s temperatures every few hours.

The risk assessment provided below includes many items that many of you will NOT consider to be risks. I like this risk assessment because it shows that she has THOUGHT about the items. So you may ‘risk assess’ them and come to very different conclusions about the level of risk. But the point of the list is that she has thought about EVERYTHING and if you use it in your own setting, it will allow you to the same.

Everything below last updated 22 May 2020

A sample letter to send home to parents prior to your 1st June opening

This was written by a member of the Childminding Best Practice Club who wishes to remain anonymous. You are free to adapt this as you choose for your own setting. Last updated 19/5/2020

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

We will re-open the setting on June 1st 2020 following our short closure to observe the government guidance. We have adapted our setting to ensure the welfare and safety of the families and children attending, any staff present and our own families.

The setting may not open in the same way as previously and we will follow the following guidance for prioritising the children who attend:

Priority One:

• Those families where both parents (or lone parent) are key workers.
• Those families where one parent is a key worker and the other parent has to be present in the workplace in order to do their job.
• Vulnerable children including those with SEND, low income households and those with a family social worker.

Priority Two:

• Those who require a full-time place (4 days or more)
• Siblings of those children attending full-time
• Children who require placement during the summer holidays.

Priority Three

• All other children who have previously attended the setting and are registered here.

Hygiene Measures:

It is important to stress that social distancing is not possible to maintain where young children are concerned. We cannot enforce this at the setting as we would not be able to deliver the curriculum or any activities. We will be reinforcing hand washing and good hygiene habits with all children and staff but children will be interacting and playing together. If you are concerned about this then I continue to advise that your children stay at home with you and do not attend the setting. If you or any members of your household fall into the vulnerable groups, I also advise that you keep your children at home with you for this reason.

 

Measures to be observed by parents:

No visitors are allowed to the setting except for staff, parents, carers, children and deliveries.

Children are to be met outside by a member of childminding staff. All children and parents are required to use the hand sanitiser provided at the front door. Parents are asked not to enter the house except where very young children cannot be physically handed over without doing so.

All parents and carers are asked to observe the two metre distancing rules when dropping off and collecting children, using the demarcated areas set out at the house.

Brief verbal handover will be given at a distance of two metres, and longer discussion are to be held over the phone or via e-mail.

Any forms are to be completed online and prior to being dropped off with the exception of existing Injury forms that have to be completed by parents at the setting if needed. Accident forms will need to be signed by parents on collection of their child at the end of the session.

Parents must not bring a child in that has been administered Calpol or displayed any of the COVID-19 related symptoms.

Please do not bring scooters and bikes to the setting in order to minimize the items being brought from home.

No items are to be placed to be on pegs – everything must go home or be bagged and stored. We will not bring book bags from school or new property into the setting. Please do not send your children with property from home such as cuddly toys or stationery.

All outdoor shoes are to be removed outside and placed into the shoe box designated.

 

Inside the Setting:

At 9.30am, 12.30pm and 3.30pm staff will undertake a full disinfection of all surfaces, door handles, telephones and other high traffic areas using clinical wipes.

Staff are to follow government guidance on social distancing when not at work.

Staff and children will have their temperature taken on arrival and at lunch and teatime or as identified necessary (i.e. not well) and this will be recorded.

The conservatory will act as an isolation room in the event that a child becomes unwell and displays symptoms associated with Covid19.

We will not use flannels, but instead a bowl containing hot washing water and disposable hand towels / wipes. I have purchased a large number of Clinical surgery standard disinfectant wipes.

We will not be attending any closed spaces or buildings such as shops, libraries with the children when they re-open. This will be re-visited as government advice changes but at this time we will only visit open spaces and woodland areas.

 

Self-Isolating

All Staff, parents, carers and children must self-isolate for 7 days from the onset of symptoms: a high temperature or a new, continuous cough, and any individuals in their household will now be asked to self-isolate for 14 days from that moment as well. Children that have been sent home with symptoms can return earlier on the production of a negative test result.

 

Please be assured that we will continue to prioritise the welfare and safety of all children and their families. The setting may be liable to closure at very short notice in the event of an outbreak and this risk will present for some time.

Wishing you and your families all the best and good health.

1. Childminder

 

Childminding Best Practice Club Member Sandrine Curpanen shares how she is planning to open and also the email she has sent to her parents

You may copy and adapt as much as this as you want for your setting.

 

I intend on running 2 groups : group 1 will be composed of EYFS and school children not attending school and group 2 will be of school children only. I work with an assistant so we are working on our activity timetable and room allocations. I am lucky to have a garden with a gazebo on the patio so this will be used to the max in conjunction with indoors rooms to separate group 1 for mealtimes and activity.

Only few toys will be kept at children’s level for the toddlers which will be cleaned twice a day after group 1 and after group 2. The rest is going to be put in plastic boxes some in my garage and the rest out of reach. Children will need to ask for toys (the older ones) and according to our activity I will choose a selection to leave out. I am putting a dirty basket in place so that instead of children putting toys away they will have to put them in the dirty baskets which I will need to clean afterwards. Resources with lots of pieces I.e. duplos, play kitchen accessories will be scaled down and not used too often.

As a result of all the extra daily cleaning required I am not operating my normal hours (7.30am to 6.30pm) but (9am to 3pm) for group 1 and before and after school for group 2.

As for the nursery children (3/4 yr old) they normally attend the nursery school in the morning and afternoon with me, I have told parents that I cannot do this anymore and I am hoping to make a deal with the nursery school so that the children either do their 30 hours with the school only or with me.

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Dear Parents

I hope that you and your families are well.

I am writing in response to the Government’s proposal to open childcare settings to children of all ages as from 1 June.

As the Government has highlighted I am conscious that the mental wellbeing of children is strengthened through social interactions with their peers and finally by enabling children to return to childcare settings / school it will in turn allow more parents to return to work.

There are however numerous factors to be taken into account and the Government has included many of these in the documents that it released on Monday.

It really goes without saying that the most important factor is that I should do everything that I can to protect the health of your children, your family, my family and Sxxxx. As part of this I have been asked to carry out a risk assessment to ensure that everything has been done to protect the health of all of us when I do reopen. I am in the process of completing this and putting in place the additional protective measures that I have identified, such as disinfecting toys, equipment, furniture, door handles etc. at regular intervals throughout the day. I am also looking at how I will need to reorganise our daily routine so that I will be able to welcome back children when it is appropriate to do so.

A strong point from the Government’s guidance is to ensure that children and young people are in the same small groups at all times each day, and different groups are not mixed during the day, or on subsequent days.

In order to abide to the small groups advice I will be welcoming children who do not attend school from 9am to 3pm for the rest of the school year. I will be reviewing those opening hours to non school children on a regular basis following government’s advice on mixing different groups and school children attendance.

I would like to notify you of few temporary changes that I will apply as from 1 June such as:

Food – unfortunately I will not be able to provide lunch and snacks. The reason being is that I cannot guarantee that I will be able to secure a weekly food delivery. I will kindly ask for parents to provide a pack lunch and snacks in a plastic container which I can disinfect the exterior on arrival. I am happy to reheat any lunches if need be.

Hand towel – As regular hand washing is highly recommended, could all children bring their own hand towel on a daily basis which can then be sent back home for cleaning.

Beddings – could children who requires nap bring their own bedding on a daily basis

Soft toys / own toys– I will kindly ask children not to bring any soft toys (e.g. teddy bears, costumes etc..) which are difficult to disinfect on arrival. I appreciate that children at times enjoy showing and sharing their own toys with their peers, however the government/s guidance recommend to minimise the sharing of toys and resources therefore can you please make sure that your child does not bring his/her own toys.

Outings

At the beginning I do not intend on doing any outings until I have been advised it is safe to do so. Should we do outings it will be to local parks where no public transport is required. I will notify parents in advance to seek your permissions.

Drop off / Collection time

As advised by the Government I am making changes to the drop off and collection of your child:

• Please be on time
• On arrival and at collection time parents are asked to not come in, the handover will be done at the door whilst keeping safe distance as much possible between adults.
• Parents are asked to not gather closely at the front of my house and keeping the recommended social distance between themselves.
• Children will start to get ready 5 min before home time.

Clothing / PPE

The Government has not recommended practitioners to wear PPE during opening hours, however as a precautionary measure Sxxxxx and I will be changing clothes in between the attendance of the different groups. Children are asked to change their clothes on a daily basis.

I appreciate that with the measures listed above and your personal circumstances, it is not possible to abide to our contractual hours. In order for me to plan our weekly schedule I would be grateful if you could let me know as soon as possible the days and hours you would like your child to attend my setting when I reopen on 1 June.

Should further guidance on preparing childcare settings for reopening is issued from the Government I will share this with you as soon as I am able to.

If you have any concerns or questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards,

Sandrine

 

Returning to childminding during Coronavirus Policy – contributed by Childminding Best Practice Club Member Ilana Hill

Ilana has done a great job with this. You may adapt or change her policy as suits your setting.

The UK has been in lockdown since March and early years and childcare settings such as myself were told by the government to close from Monday 23 March 2020. I have been looking after key worker and vulnerable children since then. We have been told by government that we may be able to begin looking after all children of all ages from as early as 1 June 2020. This policy has been written to document how my setting with do it’s utmost to control and reduce the risk of transmission of the Coronavirus. I have had to figure out what will work for my setting by balancing keeping myself and the children safe and providing a service to all of my families.

 

Policy (what I will do)

My policy will be to reduce contact between people as much as possible. We can achieve this and reduce transmission by ensuring that children and myself only mix in small, consistent groups that stay away from other people and groups. Public Health England (PHE) is clear that if early year’s settings, schools and colleges do this, and crucially if we also apply regular hand cleaning, hygiene and cleaning measures and handle potential cases of the virus as per government advice, then the risk of transmission will be lowered.

We cannot social distance young children. We have a duty of care to provide for their basic needs such as love, comfort, food, hygiene etc. and so I will continue to change nappies and love and cuddle the children in my care.

Public Health England have advised us that the symptoms of Coronavirus include a new continuous cough and high temperature (37.8 degrees and above). Symptoms typically appear 2-10 days after infection and any contact with the virus could potentially make any of us ill.

I will follow government guidelines to keep myself safe and healthy. I would ask that all of the families of children who attend my setting do the same. Avoid public transport if at all possible and do not visit public places except for food or medical assistance. If at any time anyone in your household shows any symptoms of the coronavirus I ask that you keep your children at home until that person has been tested or for at least 14 days from the day their symptoms started. If the test is negative the child may return to my setting, however if the test is positive then you will need to keep your child at home for at least 14 days.

If a child or anyone in their home tests positive whilst they have been in my care I will have to close my whole setting until their test comes back negative or after 14 days. This would mean no childcare for anyone.

I will keep up to date with new regulations and guidance from government, Department for Education and Ofsted and communicate any necessary details to all families by email or text.

 

Procedure (how I will do it)

I will continue to regulate thorough hand washing routines and monitor these where necessary. There will be a constant supply of soap and warm water for this purpose as well as single use flannels for hand drying which the children will place directly into the washing machine after each use. These will be washed every evening at 60 degrees. If children’s hands become dried or cracked I will apply a small dab of hand cream for them to rub in. I will get parent/carer permission to do so.

I will continue to encourage children to catch coughs and sneezes into a tissue and put the tissue into the bin immediately followed by thorough hand washing. I will also continue to encourage children to turn their head away from others if they cough or sneeze. The bin will be emptied as soon as it is half full and at the end of each day.

I will continue to implement a ‘drop at the door’ policy where parents/carers do not enter my setting. Only one parent/carer should drop or collect their child at my setting at one time. Please knock or ring the doorbell then step back onto the driveway and I will encourage the children to come inside. If this proves emotional or difficult then please do come with me into the hallway and I will close the kitchen door to prevent other children joining us in the hallway. If you children are old enough, understand and are happy to do so they can walk to my front door on their own from your car. Please stay in your car and text me when you arrive on my driveway. I will open my front door and wave; encouraging your children to walk to my front door independently.

I will implement staggered drop off and collection times for each family so that no two families arrive at my setting at the same time. If you arrive and notice another family is at my front door please stay in your vehicle or on the pavement at the end of my driveway until the other family has left before you approach my front door.

I will ask each child to remove coats and shoes, hang these on their hooks in the hallway and then immediately wash hands before touching anything in my setting. I will encourage and assist any children that need it.

Children’s individual bags should contain a change of clothes and any other items that you think I may need and be dropped to my setting at least 72 hours before your child is due to come back after 1 June 2020. I will isolate these bags and then place them on their hooks in the hallway for use. If I use an item from the bag (such as a change of clothes) I will put dirty clothes in a tied plastic bag and send home with the child and ask for a new set of clothes to replace those from the bag. Please do not send toys and comforters from home each day. Children will also not be allowed to use electronic devices brought from home.

There is no need for anything other than normal personal hygiene and washing of clothes following a day in an educational or childcare setting

My setting will be well ventilated and kept clean at all times, particularly high traffic areas such as light switches, door handles, toys, tables and chairs etc.

Toys and resources will be kept to a minimum and rotated at the end of each day with those kept in storage to prevent cross contamination. Dolls clothes and blankets will be washed after every use.

The children will eat meals and snacks from individual plates using both the dining room table and the little activity table to help keep them spaced apart. I will explain to the children why we are not sharing and why we should not take food from others plates. I am keeping daily numbers of children to 6 maximum so I can sit 4 at the dining room table and 2 at the activity table. All food and drinks to be supplied by myself, please do not send food or drink from home.

My clothes will be washed after every day and not re-used. I will wash my hands regularly and do my best not to touch my face. I will not wear a face mask and do not expect the children to wear one.

No outside visitors will come into my home whilst the lockdown is in place and my cleaner will temporarily come on a weekend when I am out of the house.

My buggy will be cleaned by wiping it down and spraying with antibacterial spray at the end of each day or more often if required.

We will not leave the premises at this time other than to drop off and pick up from nursery. I will drive the children in my car to nursery, stay in my car in the car park, text the key worker who will come to my car to collect the children. At the end of the nursery session I will stay in my car in the car park, text the key worker who will bring the children to my car.

We will use the garden and resources outside as much as possible to get fresh air and exercise. As things progress and on advice from the government I may begin to do the school run but will let you know as and when this may happen.

If you decide not to send your children back if I am able to re-open on 1 June 2020 I will continue to charge a 50% of your usual monthly fee unless otherwise discussed individually with each family.

 

Sample email to find out if parents will still want your services when you reopen – contributed by Childminding Best Practice Club Member Sue Burnel

Dear Parents,

Following my previous email, please can you confirm the following:

1) Will you NEED childcare when I re-open to all ages on 1st June?

2) Will you be sending your child, should they be eligible, back to school on 1st June?

3) Will you be sending your child back to school, and to my setting?

If your child attends school, and you require me to have them after school, it would not be possible for me to do drop off and do collection from school with other children in my care, because this would not be supporting current guidance, and other parents may not have agreed for their child to leave my setting during this time.

Parents are also being asked to carefully consider using only one childcare setting for all their care to minimise risk.

Depending on the uptake for places at my setting: days / times required, the ages of the children and the different families concerned, I will need to reflect on how the children can be safely cared for at my setting whilst minimising any potential risk of infection.

Therefore I will be contacting you all individually over this next week to discuss what your childcare requirements will be going forward. If you have already discussed and decided this within your family, please feel free to confirm this to me via email or text.

Thank you to those parents who have already responded to my first email and have given me their childcare requirements going forward.

Many thanks for your time in reading this email, and thank-you for your continued support,

Kind regards

Sue

 

Risk Assessments for Covid-19 – contributed by Ilana Hill

Ilana Hill is sharing her list of risk assessments she is doing. You should adapt this list for your own setting and think if there are any further risks you need to add for your own house. But this is a wonderful, comprehensive place to start.

Area	Hazard	Control measures in place
Driveway	Parents/carers and children standing too close to each other	Staggered drop off and collection times in place, note to parents asking them to stay in their car if they arrive when another parent/carer is at my front door
	drop off and pick up	If children responsible enough (and with parents/carer agreement) parents/carer can text me upon arrive and stay in their car whilst the children walk to my door or walk from my door to the parent/carer car at pick up
Front Door	Doorbell	Cleaned after every use. Positioned higher up so that children cannot touch
	Door and handle	Cleaned after every use and at end of the day
Hallway	carpeted bottom step where children sit	sprayed with antibacterial spray after every use
	Children’s hanging hooks	cleaned at the end of each session
	Children’s bags	Parents asked to put one bag together with spare items to be dropped at my house at least 72 hours before 1 June. Ilana isolate each child’s bag for 72 hours (probably outside on back patio to get fresh air (if not raining) then place onto each child’s individual peg. Used items sent home in tied plastic bag with the children, request for replacements with parents, and repeat the cycle
	communication with parents/carers	no paper diaries to go home, I will be using text, tapestry (online learning journey), phone calls and emails to communicate the daily activities and routines of the children
	kitchen door and handle	cleaned after every use and deep cleaned at the end of each day
	Children’s toys/comforter from home	No toys from children’s home to come to my setting please unless they are in the bag that arrived 72 hours before the child is due to start (this includes electronic devices)
	Other items from children’s homes (such as buggies, car seats etc)	to be stored outside behind my car if appropriate and not raining or in lounge on newspaper to stop transmission from wheels and out of reach of children
Playroom	Soft toys	rotated with those in storage at the end of each day
	Sofa cushions	removed
	blankets	washed after every use
	Toys and books	Kept to a minimum, rotated with those in storage every day, cleaned as required and deep cleaned at the end of each day
	Floor	Cleaned whenever needed throughout the day, hoovered and mopped at the end of each day
	Leather sofa	Cleaned as required and at the end of each day
	Children’s table and chairs	Cleaned after every use, then again at the end of the day
	Messy play (playdough, waterbeads etc)	Each child to have own individual tray with own playdough or waterbeads etc, not to be shared between children (Ilana will explain why), thrown away or sent home with that child after 1st use
	Craft activities	Each child to have their own individual resources, explain to children why not sharing at the moment, craft activities taken home with child at the end of each day
	Computer	Keyboard and mouse cleaned after each use and deep cleaned at the end of the day
	Computer table	Cleaned whenever needed throughout the day and deep cleaned each evening
	Cupboard doors and drawer handles	Wiped clean after every use and at the end of each day
	Dining room chairs	Wiped clean after every use and at the end of each day
	Dining room table	Wiped clean after every use and at the end of each day
Downstairs bathroom	Toilet	As usual wiped clean after every use and deep clean at the end of the day
	sliding door	Wiped clean after every use and deep cleaned at the end of the day
	Basin	Cleaned after every use and deep clean at the end of the day
	Hand washing	Teach children to wash hands using soap and warm water thoroughly (for at least 20 seconds), monitor and assist where necessary
	Hand drying	Single use flannels on top of toilet for drying hands, placed in washing machine immediately after use for 60degree wash each night
	Toilet roll holder	Wiped clean after every use and deep cleaned at the end of the day
	Walls	Wiped clean as required and deep cleaned at the end of the day
Quiet Room	Toys and resources	kept to a minimum, rotated daily with those in storage shed, cleaned at the end of every day or more frequently if required
	Toys and resources	For older children put together a box for each child of favorite toys for their sole use when here
	Soft toys	rotated with those in storage after each day
	Dolls buggies	sprayed with antibacterial spray at the end of every day and rotated every evening with those kept in storage
Kitchen	Water bottles	Only water bottles provided by me to be used, each child has own bottle, dishwashed at end of each day
	Plates, bowls and utensils	Each child has own (no sharing), placed in dishwasher immediately after use, washed overnight every day
	Cupboard doors and handles	Wiped clean after each use and at the end of the day
	Generally	Children restricted in the kitchen so that food items not touched by many
	Surfaces and chopping boards	Sterilised and cleaned after every use
	Tea towel	kept out of children’s reach and washed after every use
Lounge	Soft furnishings, carpet, cushions	Children not allowed in here unless in travelcot to sleep
	Travelcot	Sprayed with antibacterial spray after every use and wiped clean
	Travelcot fitted sheet	Each child has their own, washed at high temp after every use
	Blanket	Each child has their own, washed at high temp after every use
Outside	table and chairs	Wiped down after each use and at the end of the day
	sand pit	closed and out of use (I will explain to the children why)
	Water tray	Only soapy water play or used for loose parts and imaginative play such as dinosaurs, cars etc
	Veg garden equipment	each child have their own spades, watering cans, forks etc which are cleaned at the end of every day
	Climbing frame	Sprayed with antibacterial spray at lunch time and at the end of each day
	Trampoline	Remind children that only 1 person on the trampoline at one time, sprayed with antibacterial spray halfway through the session and then at the end of each day
	Ride ons and other toys	Wiped down at the end of the day, rotated daily
Play House	Soft furnishings and soft toys	rotated with those in storage after each day
	Tables and Chairs	wiped down at the end of each day
	Door handle	Wiped down as required and at the end of the day
	Other toys	Rotated with those in storage every day, wiped down as required and at the end of the day
Mud kitchen	Pots, pans other metal objects	Washed at end of each session
	Natural objects	pine cones, leaves, feathers stones etc washed with soapy water at the end of each session and left in fresh air
	Rubber and plastic bowls etc	Each child have their own and washed at end of each session
	Wooden utensils	washed at end of each session and left out in fresh air
	mud	Each child to have their own tray of mud which is disposed of at the end of their play session
Everywhere	ventilation	Every area of my setting will be well ventilated at all times, if the weather is good two doors will remain open to allow a flow of air throughout the setting
	General cleaning	Spills, sneezes, toilet accidents etc will be cleaned at the time and the whole area will be kept very clean all of the time
	General	Children will be encouraged to help with the wiping down and cleaning of surfaces and toys and I will do a deep clean of the entire area at the end of each day
Parents/carers	Health	Ask all parents to monitor their health and take all precautions laid out by the Government
	Symptoms	If anyone in the household begins to show any symptoms particularly a continuous cough or a high temperature, then children to be kept at home
Children	Sneezing, coughing, licking	Teach the catch it, bin it, kill it routine, tissues straight in the dustbin, hands washed, also talk to the children about licking and spitting not being acceptable (taking age and stage of development into account also)
	Bodily fluids onto their own clothes	Change of clothes from spares bag, dirty clothes washed at high temp or sent home in tied plastic bag
	Coronavirus Symptoms	Most telling symptoms are a new continuous cough and a high temperature above 37.5 degrees. Other symptoms could include runny noses, headache, stomach ache, upset tummy, general flu like symptoms. I will be aware of these symptoms in my setting and take precautions laid out below.
	Child showing symptoms of Coronavirus	Isolated from everyone else as much as possible whilst keeping them safe and happy, contact parent/carer for immediate collection
	temperature of children	By the time a temperature becomes apparent individuals already have Coronavirus and could have previously been contageous so I will not be taking temperatures at my setting. If parents wish to do so or are concerned they could take their children’s temperature at home before they come to my setting and let me know the outcome.
Toffee Dog	pick up virus from outside walks	for the time being outside walks for Toffee will be limited to Friday evening only so that she has enough time to be clear of possible contaminants before children come into contact with her on a Monday
	Bedding	Toffee’s crate will continue to be stored in the quiet room with her cushion inside. I will continue to wash the cushion once a week and I will also explain to the children why they should not climb into her crate or touch her cushion
Family members	Zxx my daughter	Will remain in her student house in Bxxx.   If she shows interest in coming home I will discuss this with you all, she will self isolate in her bedroom for 72 hours before being allowed to mix with any of the children
Visitors	Cleaner	My cleaner will come on a Saturday morning whilst I am out of the house and she will be wearing protective clothing, gloves, a mask, shoe covers, etc
	General	Visitors will not be allowed into my setting until the government give clearance for social distancing measures to be relaxed

 

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This sample Coronavirus policy was submitted to me by a member of the Childminding Best Practice Club. She asked to remain anonymous. This is a good, reasonable policy that you can feel free to adapt for your own setting if you want to write a policy. Please keep in mind that there is no legal requirement to write a Coronavirus policy. It is just up to you if you want to think through the scenarios that could affect your business and provide this information in written format to parents.

 

Coronavirus Policy (Updated 17/03/2020)

Due to the recent events surrounding Coronavirus, this is the policy I will be following.
This will be updated as guidance changes.

It is extremely important that we are honest with each other about any suspected cases or any isolation periods that have been enforced or recommended.

In the setting

Parents and children will be asked to wash their hands on entry to the setting.
We will wash hands on the return from outings.
We will continue to wash hands before meals and snacks and regularly throughout the day.
The kitchen, garden room, cloakroom and downstairs bathroom will be cleaned daily (as normal).
The usual cleaning regime will continue with extra care with regard to door handles, high traffic surfaces and toys.
All toys and equipment will continue to be cleaned on a regular basis.

Illness and Exclusion periods

Relating to Children and Parents attending my setting

If any member of your household is showing any symptoms of the Coronavirus including;
– a new persistent cough
– fever above 37.8C and or flu like symptoms

Every member of the household will need to self isolate for 14 days minimum or longer until symptoms have resolved.

If I am open, normal fees will be charged.

 

Relating to myself

If any member of my household is showing symptoms of the Coronavirus including;
– a new persistent cough
– fever above 37.8C and or flu like symptoms

Every member of my household will need to self isolate for 14 days minimum or longer until symptoms have resolved.

If I am closed, no fees will be charged.

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