It is our policy to remain open if it is safe for the children, their parents/carers and the staff to do so.
Scenarios when closure/partial closure of the playgroup could occur:
Procedures:
Any decision to close or reopen the playgroup will be the responsibility of the Manager, or if they are unavailable, the Deputy Manager or failing that the member of staff leading the session at the time the emergency occurs. The decision will be made with reference to Early Years Foundation Stage statutory regulations, Surrey Supporting Children Team and Central/Local Government advice (as applicable).
Parents and staff will be notified of closure and reopening by telephone and/or email and on our Facebook Group page.(Parents will be reminded to update their contact details in termly newsletters).
If the setting has to be closed during a session, the parents or, if they are unavailable, one of their nominated contacts will be telephoned and asked to collect the children. (If the children cannot wait in the building e.g. due to a fire, staff will endeavour to arrange a safe, indoor waiting place, see list of useful numbers overleaf)
The person making the decision to close/reopen the playgroup will inform Surrey Supporting Children team, Ofsted and the All Saints Church PCC (through the Parish Office), see contact details below.
In the event of a partial closure, when only a limited number of places will be available,
priority will be given to (in order):
1. children of parents engaged in priority occupations (as advised by local/national government)
(1. in the event of a Flu Pandemic – children who have recovered from the flu)
2. Kittens in receipt of FEET funding
3. “Cats” in receipt of Free Early Education for 3 and 4 year olds (FEE)
4. “Kittens” in receipt of FEE
5. Children not in receipt of FEE
Parents will be refunded any fees paid for the period of the closure. In the case of partial closure, parents of children who are not offered a place will be refunded any fees paid for sessions that they have not been allowed to attend.
Pandemic
Advice will be sought from Public Health England and Surrey Early Years advisors as to whether we should close or not. If we are told to close parents/carers will be informed via our Facebook page and email.
Advice will be given to all parents/carers about symptoms and what to look out for and asked that if a child or parents connect to a child at playgroup gets a confirmed diagnosis of the pandemic to inform us so that we can inform all other parents/carers of this and all staff.
If Staff remain well and show no signs of symptoms, they will come into playgroup during the closure, and a deep clean will take place before re-opening (including toys, games, apparatus etc).
If playgroup remains open during a Pandemic, a risk assessment will be carried out to enable Playgroup to open safely(advice sought from Public Health England and Early Years Advisors). Parents and children will be made to wash their hands or use hand gel (+60% alcohol) on arrival into playgroup. We will ensure that Children’s hand’s will be washed with anti-bacterial soap after sneezing, toileting and before snack time.
Staff
Staff will be vigilant with their own personal hygiene and with the children in their care at Playgroup. They will wash their hands when helping a child with toileting, wiping noses and before handling food and using anti bac gel (+60% alcohol) when entering the premises and where necessary when no access to sink.
If we are advised to close Playgroup, we would look at each case individually but where we see fit we would pay staff for the time they would have been at playgroup. If staff members have to Self-Isolate because of symptoms’ then we will pay sick pay but if a staff member chooses to self- isolate with no symptoms then they will not be entitled to sick pay. In a case of Pandemic a case by case approach will be adopted depending on the circumstances. Consideration will be made for those staff members who have to look after family members during a pandemic.
The policy was adopted by Laleham Church Playgroup at a meeting on.... 6th March 2021.................
Signed on behalf of Laleham Church Playgroup...........................................
Surrey Supporting Children Team : 01372 833833
email: SectorNE@surreycc.gov.uk
free.earlyeducation@surreycc.gov.uk
Parish Office: 01784 441160
Ofsted: 0300 123 1231
Public Health England: 020 7654 8000 or
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england
Useful Contacts
The Parish Office (Monday, Wednesday + Friday am) 01784 441160
Laleham Village Hall (Mavis Duncan) 01784 469059
Laleham Primary School 01784 453556 or 01784 464593
Laleham Vicarage 01784 455524