COVID-19 Handbook

Dear Parents,

As we are getting ready to reopen after being closed for nearly four and a half months, I want to make sure we are all on the same page. While I know this can be a fearful time since none of us have ever experienced this before, the teachers and administration at West End Children’s Centre are committed to providing a quality program that is safe, educational, child-friendly, and fun!

While make things seem different with new procedures in place for safety of all, this will still be an environment that fosters fun and learning. It is our goal to draw out and inspire the best in our children as we provide them with opportunities to create, explore, and learn.

All the information on this page will remain the ‘new normal’ until further notice. We will make sure that all changes are realistic and feasible for staff and children by following City of Kingston, Ministry of Education and KFL&A COVID-19 guidelines.

The following are rules for personal items coming into the centre: Indoor shoes- children are not allowed to wear their outdoor shoes inside therefore please provide indoor shoes that remain at the daycare. Diapers and wipes are to be brought in an unopened sleeve/container. Comfort items need to be left in centre if they can. Backpacks/extra clothes are to be left at daycare and not brought back and forth on a daily basis.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the policies and procedures that are outlined on this page. They are in place to ensure West End Children’s Centre is a safe and enjoyable place for your family.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide clear and direction for employees of WECC to follow when conducting health screening procedures. This policy is designed to help reduce risk of the spread of illness, including COVID-19.

Policy

In consideration of the increased health risk associated with the spread of COVID-19, and in accordance with Ontario Regulation 137/15, s. 88.6(5) and Ministry of Education Operational Guidance during COVID-19 Outbreak; it is required that all individuals entering into WECC undergo a health screening. If an individual does not pass health screening entry into WECC will not be permitted.

Parents dropping off children, although not entering the centre, must participate in health screening on their child’s behalf.

Health screening must be conducted in accordance with the procedures described in this policy.

In the interest of reducing risk of infection no visitors, volunteers or any other non-essential individuals (e.g. maintenance personnel, Ministry Staff, Public Health Inspectors, etc.).

Procedure

All individuals wishing to enter WECC will be screened upon arrival. Entry will only be permitted only if the individual passes the health screening.

If any individual fails the health screening, they shall NOT be permitted to enter the childcare centre.

Wherever possible, staff should be screened by another staff member. In the event that this is not possible, staff may perform the health screening procedure on themselves.

Consideration should be given to scheduling staff shifts and/or arrival times to allow for staff to complete screening and be ready to welcome children into ratio as they arrive.

All other individuals (children and essential visitors) entering the centre must be screened by designated staff. Parents will NOT be permitted to go past the screening area. If exceptional circumstances are identified which require a parent to enter into the centre, the parent would be considered an essential visitor as per the paragraph below.

If an essential visitor enters the centre, they are required to wear a mask for the duration of their visit. As per O. Reg. 137/15 s. 88.4(1), a record must also be kept of the essential visitor’s contact information, and time of arrival and departure. A record should also be kept detailing where in the centre the essential visitor was present (e.g. keep a record of which room they visited).

In order to ensure the screening process is efficient, it is recommended that where possible, two staff be designated to set up the health screening area and to carry out the screening process. It is permissible for one staff person to conduct the health screening, provided all duties described in this policy are carried out.

Health Screening Area Set Up

Whenever possible, WECC will conduct health screening outdoors prior to any individual entering. During inclement weather conditions, screening will take place in entrance of the childcare centre.
No individual shall be permitted to proceed into the centre without successfully passing the health screening;
In order to ensure that all individuals are screened, only the main daycare entrance will be used to enter the building.
A table should be set up in the screening area with all needed materials:
Hand sanitizer (ensure hand sanitizer is visible to those entering the building)
Screening questionnaires
Pens
Disinfectant wipes (use of wipes with a short contact time e.g. 1 minute is recommended)
Disposable gloves
Disposable surgical/procedure masks
Protective eyewear (googles or face shield)
Thermometer
Small plastic container (to place soiled eyewear in)
Public Health COVID-19 information resources
Trash receptacle (placed near table);
The health screening area must be set up to allow for physical distancing at a minimum of 2 metres:

The staff conducting health screening should maintain a minimum of 2 metres distance between themselves and the person being screened (unless conducting temperature check while wearing PPE).

Visual guides should be set up to assist with physical distancing (e.g., pylons) in the event that a line-up forms while parents/guardians and their children are waiting to be screened prior to entering into the child care centre;

Place signage describing the health screening process at the screening area and on the door of the childcare centre.

Health Screening Implementation

One staff member (the designate) will be carrying out all health screening duties including temperature checks, visual well-being check, and screening questionnaire which involves recording the outcome (pass or fail). This staff member will be wearing full PPE while carrying out health screening duties.
Disposable surgical/procedure mask
Eye protection
Isolation gown
Disposable gloves

*A second staff member will be designated as the ‘Runner’. Once the child has passed the screening process, the runner (who has remained 2 meters away and not required to wear PPE) will take the child to their designated cohort.

Procedure for Health Screening

Greet everyone in a friendly manner and acknowledge our ongoing evolving situation with COVID-19
Request that each individual (parent/guardian, and child) use hand sanitizer;
The Designate will ask each staff person, parent/guardian, or essential visitor all of the health screening questions (Appendix A);
For regular attendees who have contact information on file (staff and children) the outcome of the health screening may be recorded on the Supplement to Appendix A- Health Screening Questionnaire Information Record.
For any irregular attendees (essential visitors) screening must be recorded directly on the Appendix A form, and include a contact phone number of the individual, to allow for contact tracing in the event of an illness.
The Designate will also perform a visual check and temperature check and record observations as outlined on the health screening questionnaire;
The Designate, after each child’s health check has been performed and parent and child has left the area, they will:
Perform hand hygiene
Disinfect the thermometer if needed
Disinfect any touch surfaces i.e.: door handles

Please Note: The designate does not need to remove mask, eye protection or gown after each child. Mask, eye protection and gown should be worn for the duration of screening. However, if they become soiled or contaminated, they must be changed. Gloves are required to be changed after coming into physical contact with the person being screened (e.g. you brush a child’s hair back off their forehead before taking a reading with your infrared thermometer)

The Designate will review the health screening form:
If all questions have been answered with a NO and the individual’s temperature is 37.8 C or below the individual may be admitted to the centre. The Runner will then take the child to their designated program.
If any questions have been answered with a YES or the individual’s temperature is 37.8 C or above the individual cannot be admitted to the centre. Resources with information on local COVID-19 testing centres will be provided.
In the event that a staff person or child cannot be admitted to the center because they failed the screening, the site supervisor must be notified immediately.
PLEASE NOTE: At anytime throughout the day, parents need to notify WECC of any onset of illness of household members that the child has been exposed to.
If an individual who has just completed and passed a health screening is an essential visitor (not a child or staff member) they must be asked to wear a mask prior to entering the childcare center, and wear the mask throughout their entire visit.
In the event that a staff person or child who has attended the program in the last 14 days fails the health screening, Public Health must be notified immediately.
As per O. Reg 137/15 s. 88.4(4) all screening records must be retained at the childcare center for at least one year after the date the record is made;
PPE Doffing Procedure (at the end of screening process or as needed)
Remove Gloves
Remove Gown
Perform hand hygiene
Remove eye protection (goggles) and set in small container
Remove mask and discard
Perform hand hygiene
Clean eye protection (goggles) with disinfectant wipe, allow to air dry and then place back in clean storage area
Wipe container where dirty goggles were placed and the screening table
Discard used wipes
Remove gloves
Perform hand hygiene

Child Pick Up Procedure

As parents/guardians are NOT to enter past the screening area (unless exceptional circumstances are identified). The following process will be put in place for parents/guardians to notify staff that they have arrived to pick up their child

*Call in by phone (613-546-2911)

Once notified of the parent/guardian’s arrival, a staff person who is not in ratio with the children will go to the classroom and bring the child to the door, so that the child may be picked up by their parent/guardian.

Staff should be aware of both the typical and atypical signs and symptoms of COVID-19 as described by the Ontario Ministry of Health. Please refer to the latest version of the Ministry of Health COVID-19 Reference Document for Symptoms note: children may exhibit atypical signs/symptoms of COVID-19. Screening staff must be familiar with these signs/symptoms in case they are reported by a parent during the screening process:
Ministry of Health Reference Documents can be found here: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/2019aspx#symptoms
This policy and procedure must be reviewed and signed off by all employees prior to commencing work at WECC

How to Report Illness and Exclusion of Ill Individuals

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide clear direction for staff of WECC to follow on how to communicate with Public Health regarding the exclusion and return to program of an individual who has been excluded either because they failed the Health Screening, or due to signs of illness while in attendance in program. As Per the Ministry of Education Operational Guidance During COVID-19 Outbreak, this policy is designed to help reduce risk of the spread of illness, including COVID-19.

Policy

Due to increased health risk associated with the spread of COVID-19, all staff of WECC must adhere to this policy when excluding an individual or considering admitting any individual into program who has been previously excluded due to failing the Health Screening or due to observed symptoms of ill health while in attendance in program.

Any observations of ill health in any individual present in the program staff or child must be immediately reported to KFL&A Public Health. If direction from Public Health varies from the information contained within this policy, the Service Provider is expected to adhere to direction provided by Public Health.

Where a child, parent, or staff is suspected (i.e. has symptoms and has been tested) of having or has a confirmed care of COVID-19, licensees must report this to the ministry as a serious occurrence.

Where a room, centre or premises closes due to COVID-19, licensees must repot this to the ministry as a serious occurrence.

Procedure

Children will be excluded from a child care centre as individuals or as a cohort based on direction from the Medical Officer of Health. The Medical Officer of Health may direct that cohorts are also excluded, based on but no limited to, local epidemiology or outbreaks associated with child care centres.

At a minimum individual exclusion applies in all circumstances:

If an individual answers “yes” to a screening question or become symptomatic while in the program, the individual is excluded from the program.
If a child becomes symptomatic while in program, they must be isolated immediately and picked up as soon as possible as per the program’s Isolation of Ill Children Policy and Procedure. The parent/guardian of the child must be instructed to attend the local assessment centre for COVID-19 testing. Public Health must be notified, Serious Occurrence Reporting is also required;
If a staff becomes symptomatic while in program, they must leave the centre as soon as possible and be instructed to attend the local assessment centre for COVID-19 testing. Public Health must be notified, Serious Occurrence Reporting is also required;
If the symptomatic individual has a negative COVID-19 test result, they may return to program after being symptom free for 24 hours (48 hours symptom free in the case of gastrointestinal symptoms)
If the symptomatic individual has a positive COVID-19 test result, all children and child care staff/providers in the same cohort, and siblings in the same or a different cohort will be excluded from programming. Public Health will provide any further direction on testing and isolation of these close contacts.

In the event of an increase in COVID-19 activity within the community the Medical Officer of Health may implement cohort exclusion, which would require the following:

If an individual answers “yes” to a symptom screening question and had attended the centre in the two days prior, or becomes symptomatic while in program, all children and child care staff/providers in the same cohort, and siblings in the same or a different cohort are excluded. Public Health will provide any further direction on testing and isolation of these close contacts.

Please Note: Specifics regarding individual and/or cohort exclusion may change based on further provincial guidance or updated instruction from the Medical Officer of Health.

When considering readmission to program for individuals who have failed screening and/or experienced symptoms of ill health:

Readmission to the program will be at the direction of Public Health
If the excluded individual does not undergo COVID-19 testing, they will be excluded from the program for a minimum of 14 days, and after 14 days may be readmitted at the direction of Public Health, provided they are symptom free.
Once Public Health has approved the return of a previously excluded individual, the individual should be contacted by WECC staff and notified that they are welcome to return to program the next day.

Policy and Procedure Review

This policy and procedure must be reviewed and signed off by all employees prior to commencing work in WECC.

Isolation of Ill Children

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all employees of WECC are prepared to respond to any sign of illness in a manner that will help reduce risk of the illness spreading.

Policy

In accordance with Ontario Regulations 137/15, s. 36(2) the Service Provider must separate a child showing signs of illness from all other children. In consideration of the increased health risk associated with the spread of COVID-19 and in accordance with Ministry of Education Operational Guidance during COVID-19 Outbreak, employees of WECC are required to follow the Isolation of Children Policy and Procedure.

Procedure

Children will be monitored for signs of ill health throughout the day by:
Visually checking for signs of ill health
Observe for coughing, shortness of breath, fever and overall, well being.
Any child showing symptoms of ill health must be immediately separated from other children and picked up by a parent/guardian as quickly as possible. Public Health must also be immediately notified.
Any child showing signs of illness will be isolated in the following location while awaiting pickup by their parent/guardian
A section of the fellowship hall will be designated for the ill child.
While isolated the staff person caring for the ill child will be:
Head Teacher/Supervisor

The staff person caring for the ill child must wear PPE including surgical/procedure mask, protective eyewear, gown and disposable gloves. If over two years of age the child should also wear a surgical/procedure mask (provided the child will tolerate it). Please note: due to risk of suffocation, masks are not to be used on children under 2 years of age who would be unable to remove the mask of their own accord.

Staff must be aware of proper protocols for safely donning and doffing PPE;
Tissues must be provided to the child for proper respiratory etiquette with proper disposal of the tissues and proper hand hygiene. Proper respiratory etiquette (using a tissue to cover a cough or sneeze) should be practiced;
Environmental cleaning and disinfection of the space the child was separated must be conducted once the child has been picked up;
Any materials the ill child had been using in the classroom must be removed until cleaned and disinfected. All items that cannot be cleaned (paper, books, cardboard puzzles) should be removed and stored in a sealed container for a minimum of 7 days.
Contact KFL&A Public Health to notify them of a potential case. Public Health will provide information on next steps and direction regarding the information that should be shared with other parents of children in the childcare centre.
This policy and procedure must be reviewed and signed off by all employees prior to commencing work in WECC.

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide clear direction for environmental cleaning and disinfecting practices in WECC. This policy is designed to help reduce risk of the spread of illness, including COVID-19

Policy

In accordance with Ontario Regulation 137.5/15, s. 33, Ministry of Education Operational Guidance During COVID-19 Outbreak and in consideration of the increased health risk associated with the spread of COVID-19, the staff of WECC are required to strictly adhere to environmental cleaning and disinfecting procedures, as described in this document.

All employees of WECC are expected to know and understand these procedures, and carry out these procedures as per their job duties.

Procedures

When carrying out any cleaning or disinfecting appropriate PPE must be worn in accordance with MSDS information for the particular product in use. Products selected for use in disinfecting must have a DIN. Hand hygiene must be completed before and after use of PPE, and upon completion of cleaning and disinfecting routines.

If using bleach for disinfecting, a solution of 1000ppm must be used with a contact time of 10 minutes. The measurements for 1000ppm bleach solution are 20ml (4 teaspoons) household bleach + 1000 ml (4 cups) water.

When using bleach, the surface must first be cleaned with soap and water. The bleach solution must remain wet on the surface for at least 10 minutes. The bleach solution must be replaced daily.

If using a disinfectant other than bleach manufacturer instructions for use and contact time must be observed.

Expired cleaning and disinfection products are not to be used.

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting Record Keeping

Cleaning and disinfecting logs which correspond with this policy must be maintained. Logs corresponding with this policy are as follows:
Appendix B – Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting Log
Appendix C – Washroom Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting Log
Appendix D – Cot and Bedding Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting Log
Appendix E – Outdoor Play Equipment Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting Log
All tasks listed in these logs must be carried out with appropriate frequency as described in this policy and indicated in the logs;
It is acceptable to add additional tasks to these logs, as needed for each particular setting
A separate log is required for each corresponding area of the childcare centre (e.g. each classroom, washroom, etc.)
All logs once completed must be kept on file at the childcare centre for a period of 4 weeks

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting Routine Practices

Upon Entry to Childcare Centre:

Staff are encouraged not to bring personal items into the classroom area or unless the item will be needed throughout the day (e.g. a water bottle, keys, etc.)
All hard surface personal items brought into the classroom area by any individual (staff or child) must be cleaned and disinfected upon arrival.

Common Areas:

An Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting Log (Appendix B) shall be kept for common building areas (e.g. entryways and hallways). This log must be accessible to all staff (e.g. entryways and hallways). This log must be accessible to all staff (e.g. posted on a wall, or in a binder kept in an accessible location).
Cleaning and disinfecting routines shall be carried out consistently in accordance with the Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting Log.
All high touch areas, such as door knobs and light switches must be cleaned and disinfected at a minimum, twice daily and as often as necessary (e.g. when visibly dirty, or contaminated with body fluids)
All low touch areas, such as walls and floors must be cleaned and disinfected at a minimum, once daily and as often as necessary (e.g. when visibly dirty, or contaminated with body fluids).

Classrooms:

Each classroom shall maintain its own Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting Log (Appendix B). This log must be accessible to all staff working in the room (e.g. posted on the wall, or in a binder kept in an accessible location)
Cleaning and disinfecting routines shall be carried out consistently in accordance with the Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting Log
All fabric items, such as pillows, stuffed animals, puppets, and dress up clothes should be removed from the play environment
Ensure all toys and play materials in use are made of materials that can easily be cleaned and disinfected
Ensure that any tablets or other electronic devices shared between staff are disinfected between users
All high touch areas must be cleaned and disinfected at a minimum twice daily and as often as necessary (e.g. when visibly dirty, or contaminated with body fluids)
High touch areas include but are not limited to:
Shelves containing children’s toys
Frequently used toys
Tables
Chairs
Light switches
Doorknobs
Countertops
Sinks
All low touch areas must be cleaned and disinfected minimum once daily as often as necessary (e.g. when visibly dirty, or contaminated with body fluids)
Low touch areas include but are not limited to:
Floors
Walls in proximity to high touch areas
Door surfaces
Window ledges
Any carpeting or upholstered furniture in the room must be vacuumed daily and maintained in a sanitary condition
Tables, chairs and countertops used for food service/meal routines must be cleaned and disinfected immediately prior to use and again after food service has ended.
Trash cans located within children’s reach should have a lid.

Washrooms:

Each classroom shall maintain its own Cot and Bedding Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting Log (Appendix D). This log must be accessible to all staff working in the room (e.g. posted on the wall, or in a binder kept in an accessible location)
Cleaning and disinfecting routines shall be carried out consistently in accordance with the Cot and Bedding Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting Log
In accordance with Ontario Regulation 137/15 33.1 (2.C.i) All children who sleep while in attendance at the childcare centre shall be assigned a cot or crib, as developmentally appropriate. All cots/cribs once assigned to a child are to be labeled with that child’s name.
Cots must be stored in a manner that prevents the bedding and/or sleeping surface of one cot from touching the bedding and/or sleeping surface of any other cots (e.g. do not allow a blanket to hang over the side of the cot and make contact with the cot stacked below.)
If cots are to be stored in the classroom, cots must be covered with a large fabric sheet used solely for this purpose, this sheet must be laundered after each use
No items are to be placed or stored on top of cots (e.g. extra bedding, toys)
Hard surfaces of cots must be cleaned and disinfected after each use (e.g. corners and legs of the cots that come into contact with other cots when stacked for storage)
Bedding should be removed from the cot/crib and laundered on a weekly basis, or more often as needed. Bedding must be laundered if switching between children
All surfaces of cots/cribs should be cleaned and disinfected on a weekly basis
If a child requires a personal comfort item for sleep (e.g. stuffy, special blanket etc.) the item should, be left at the childcare centre. This item should be laundered regularly, along with bedding and blankets.
Personal comfort items (e.g. stuffy, special blanket etc) must not be brought from home daily.

Children’s Hygiene Items:

Toothbrushes and pacifiers must be individually labelled with the child’s name, stored separately (not touching each other), and covered. These items must not be shared among children. The plastic handle of a toothbrush and/or pacifier must be washed in detergent upon arrival to the centre, and regularly after use.
For diapering creams and lotions, each container/tube must be labeled with the child’s name and disinfected upon arrival at the centre, and regularly after use. Never put hands directly into lotion or cream containers, use a tissue or single-use glove to remove product from the container and apply product to child’s skin. If more product is needed, a fresh tissue or single use glove must be used
Only sealed packages of diapers should be accepted for use at the childcare centre. Upon arrival the package must be disinfected and labeled with the child’s name.
Clean cloth diapers may also be accepted for use at the childcare centre, these must be stored in a bin or basket labeled with the child’s name. Soiled cloth diapers must be stored in a container with a lid, in a location that is inaccessible to children and sent home daily.
Children’s individual sunscreen containers must be labeled with the child’s name and disinfected upon arrival at the centre, and regularly after use. When applying, or helping children to apply sunscreen staff must use disposable gloves. It is recommended that each child have their own sunscreen, however if the same container of sunscreen is to be used for multiple children the sunscreen must be dispensed onto a paper towel and then applied to the child
Staff should not clean or rinse wet or soiled children’s clothing. Instead the wet or soiled item should be placed in a sealed plastic bag and sent home. Staff are required to practice hand hygiene if touching any wet or soiled item.

Outdoor Play Equipment

Prior to taking a group of children onto the playground, the staff responsible shall complete an Outdoor Play Equipment Cleaning and Disinfecting Log (Appendix E). This log must be accessible to all staff (e.g. in a folder near the playground door, or in a binder kept in an accessible location)
Cleaning and disinfecting routines shall be carried out consistently in accordance with the Outdoor Play Equipment Cleaning and Disinfecting Log
It is preferred that climbers and other fixed play structures are not used
If climbers and other fixed play structures are to be used, all high touch surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected immediately prior to use. If multiple groups of children are to use the structure, all surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized prior to use by each individual group. Surfaces are also to be cleaned more frequently, as necessary (e.g. visibly dirty, or contaminated with body fluids)
It is preferred that each group of children has their own outdoor play equipment and toys, and that items are not shared between multiple groups of children. All items must be cleaned and disinfected prior to use. Items are also to be cleaned more frequently, as necessary (e.g. visibly dirty, or contaminated with body fluids)
If outdoor play equipment and toys must be shared by multiple groups of children, all items must be cleaned and disinfected prior to use by each individual group. Items are also to be cleaned more frequently, as necessary (e.g. visibly dirty, or contaminated with body fluids)

Toys and Play Materials:

Please refer to the Toy and Play Materials Cleaning and Disinfecting Policy and Procedure

Policy and Procedure Review

This policy and procedure must be reviewed and signed off by all employees prior to commencing work in WECC.

Toy and Play Material Cleaning and Disinfection Practices

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide clear direction for the staff of WECC to follow when cleaning and disinfecting children’s toys and play materials. This policy is designed to help reduce risk of the spread of illness, including COVID-19.

Policy

In accordance with Ontario Regulation 137/15, s.33, and Ministry of Education Operational Guidance During COVID-19 Outbreak, Service Providers are required to have policies and procedures in place with respect to sanitary practices. Due to the increased health risk associated with the spread of COVID-19, WECC will follow routine toy and play material cleaning and disinfection in accordance with this policy, and document using the Toy and Play Materials Cleaning and Disinfecting Log (Appendix F).

Procedure

All toys and play materials accessible to children must be cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis. Daily cleaning and disinfection is required whether or not children were observed to have touched the materials.
Any toys which are mouth, or otherwise come into contact with bodily fluids must be immediately removed and placed in a designated container away from children’s reach until the item can be appropriately cleaned and disinfected
Toy and play material cleaning and disinfecting must be carried out using either the three-sink method, or a dishwasher. Large items may be cleaned and then sprayed with disinfectant left for the appropriate contact time.
Staff are required to wear PPE as appropriate for the cleaners and disinfectants used
All toys and play material cleaning and disinfection routines are to be documented using the Toy and Play Materials Cleaning and Disinfecting Log (Appendix F)
Use of sensory materials (e.g. shredded paper, soil, sand etc.) shall be limited to individual portions of materials offered to children. These materials are not to be shared between children. These materials are to be considered single use only, and shall be disposed of each day.
If using “wet” sensory materials (e.g. individual bins of water, goop, slime, etc.) care must be taken in disposing of these materials immediately after use by a single child, and that the surrounding surfaces are immediately cleaned and disinfected in order to remove any of the material that may have splashed in the surrounding area.
All fabric toys and play materials are to be removed from the classroom and shall not be used
Any toys that children are likely to put in their mouths or hold against their faces should be removed (e.g. toy dishes or cutlery, binoculars, magnifying glasses)

Policy and Procedure Review

This policy and procedure must be reviewed and signed off by all employees prior to commencing work in WECC.

Physical Distancing and Daily Routines

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide clear direction for the staff of WECC to follow when planning and implementing daily routines, in order to support physical distancing. This policy is designed to help reduce risk of spread of illness, including COVID-19.

Policy

Mealtimes

Ensure that both staff and children perform diligent hand hygiene before and after eating
Refrain from allowing children to self-serve food (often called “family style meals”). All food should be served by staff only, and all serving dishes kept covered and out of children’s reach when food is not actively being served
Practice extra vigilance when ensuring that children do not share food or eating utensils.
Arrange mealtime seating to maximize physical distance between children, while still ensuring that all children can appropriately be supervised. (e.g. children seated at several different tables within clear sight of staff, rather than seated all together at one table)
Refrain from allowing children to help prepare food or set the table; Refrain from allowing children to help clear each other’s plates and other dishes. A child may clear their own dishes, or staff may do so.

Daily Schedules

As much as possible, each group of children should be cared for by one staff person, who is assigned to the group. Staff rotation should be limited to required breaks and shift changes (e.g. coverage for a lunch break, or afternoon shift change over)
Shifts will be given to each staff member scheduled to work. Staff will arrive at the childcare centre and move to their designated room and cohort. Staff will remain with this cohort group and room throughout the day except for their designated break.
Rescheduling of group events and/or in person meetings will take place in accordance with the following: Staff will communicate with parents with HiMama and phone. All face to face meetings will be suspended until further notice. Meetings with WECC will be conducted through phone calls and/or emails.
At no point may the number of children present in a classroom exceed the maximum cohort of 15 (excluding special needs resource staff)
Staff should work at only one location.
A record must be kept for contact tracing purposes of the name of each staff and time in/out of each room. This record must also reflect any essential visitors who enter the room.
Each cohort of children must be strictly separated:
Only one group of children should be in a playground area at any given time. If the playground is sufficiently large more than one group of children may be outdoors at the same time, providing a visual barrier (e.g. pylons or caution tape) to maintain a minimum of two meters separation between each group
Use of indoor common spaces such as gyms or resource rooms should be considered as a secondary choice after outdoor play. The area must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between use by each group.
If multiple groups are to use the same gym or indoor area at the same time, a floor to ceiling divider must be in place to separate the groups.
Consideration should be given to each group’s transition schedules in order to eliminate contact between groups. (e.g. two groups meeting in the hallway as one group is going outside and the other is coming in.).

Classroom Set up

Play materials and “invitations to play” should be set up to encourage children to spread out as much as possible.
Consider offering multiple copies of popular items, and disperse them throughout the room.
Set up multiple “points of interest” throughout the room
Consider moving furniture to eliminate “bottle necks” and create more space for children to move, while maintaining distance.

Rest/Sleep Routines

When setting up cots for sleep, cots should be placed with consideration to maximize physical distancing between children. Also, consider encouraging children to lie on their cots in such a way as to alternate head to toe.

Caring for Younger Children

When holding/carrying a child for routine care (i.e. feeding or rocking to sleep), a blanket or cloth should be placed between the educator and the child, in order to cover the educator’s clothing. These blankets/cloths should be changed between children and laundered at least daily.

Staff Breaks

Wherever possible, stagger breaks between staff to avoid multiple staff congregating in one room
If more than one staff are in a break room together physical distancing must be practiced.
Staff should clean and disinfect surfaces as they leave (e.g. tables, chairs)
Staff are expected to perform hand hygiene before/upon entering a break room and before/after eating.

Policy and Procedure Review

This policy and procedure must be reviewed and signed off by all employees prior to commencing work in WECC.

Hand Hygiene Best Practices

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all employees of WECC are aware of and adhere to hand hygiene best practices. This policy is designed to help reduce risk of the spread of illness, including COVID-19.

Policy

All staff must be aware of, understand, and adhere to hand hygiene best practices. This is of extreme importance as proper hand hygiene is crucial in reducing the spread of illness, including the protentional of COVID-19.

The supervisor shall routinely monitor staff and provide feedback as needed in order to ensure that the hand hygiene practices described within this policy are strictly adhered to.

Hand Hygiene is defined as hand washing, or hand sanitizing carried out as per the procedures described in this policy.

Procedure

Public Health Hand washing posters must be posted in a visible location near all sinks.
Public Health Hand Sanitizing posters must be posted in a visible location near where hand sanitizer is kept for use.
Public Health Diapering Routine posters must be posted in a visible location near all diaper change tables.

Hand Hygiene shall be carried out routinely as described below:

All staff must practice hand hygiene upon entry to the classroom, prior to engaging in play or any other activities.
Hand hygiene must be practiced when hands are visibly dirty.
Hand hygiene must be practiced after:
Sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose
Using the washroom
Handling garbage
Handling raw foods
Outdoor Play
Toileting/diapering routine
Handling soiled laundry or dishes
Handling soiled toys or other items
Coming into contact with any soiled/mouthed items
Gardening
Hand hygiene should be practiced before and after:
Preparing, handling, serving and eating food
Handling animals
Touching a cut or open sore
Changing diapers
Glove use
Dispensing/handling expressed breast milk
Giving medication

Hand washing shall be carried out in accordance with the following steps:

Wet hands
Apply soap
Lather for at least 20 seconds. Rub between fingers, back of hands, fingertips, under nails.
Rinse well under running water
Dry hands well with paper towel

Hand Sanitizer shall be used in accordance with the following steps:

Apply hand sanitizer (minimum 60% alcohol-based)
Rub hands together for at least 20 seconds
Work sanitizer between fingers, back of hands, fingertips, and under nails.
Rub hands until dry.
NOTE: if hands are visibly dirty, hand sanitizer will not clean sufficiently. If hands are visibly dirty, they must be washed with soap and water.

Policy and Procedure Review

This policy and procedure must be reviewed and signed off by all employees prior to commencing work in WECC.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all employees of WECC are aware of appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to ensure employee safety and to help reduce risk of the spread of illness, including COVID-19.

Policy

WECC shall provide their employees with all PPE required to safely carry out their required job duties. This includes but its not limited to, routine cleaning, mixing of disinfectant solutions, changing diapers, health screening, and temporarily supervising a symptomatic child.

All employees shall receive training on proper and safe use of PPE.

Procedure

Nitrile, vinyl or similar material disposable gloves shall be available in sizes appropriate for staff who will be using them.
Eye protection shall be available for staff use.
Disposable surgical/procedure masks shall be available for staff use
Gowns shall be available for staff use
Glove use is required when carrying out any of the following:
Performing first aid
Changing a child’s diaper or assisting a child with toileting
Routine cleaning and disinfecting activities
Cleaning bodily fluids
Cleaning and disinfecting PPE
Handling toys, bedding or other items which may have come into contact with bodily fluids.
Eye protection and gloves are required when mixing disinfectants (use PPE as required in accordance with MSDS)
Mask, eye protection, gown and glove use are required when taking an individual’s temperature during health screening, or caring for a child who shows symptoms of illness, or when cleaning blood or body fluid spills if there is a risk of splashing.
Personal Protective Equipment is expected to be worn in accordance with this policy.

Policy and Procedure Review

This policy and procedure must be reviewed and signed off by all employees prior to commencing work in WECC.

Fees:

Parents will continue to receive an invoice at the beginning of each month. Fees are due upon receipt. Payments of either cash or cheque will be accepted. All fees must be given in a sealed envelope with your name and amount written on the envelope. All fees are to be given to the teacher that is conducting the screening. They will ensure that the fees will be placed in the gold slot.

Resources:

Seeking health care for COVID-19

If you are unwell (cough, fever, breathing difficulties), you are strongly encouraged to report your concerns to your employer, self isolate immediately, and seek a health assessment for COVID-19 as soon as possible. There are four options available:

A Self-Assessment Tool available: http://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus
Telehealth Ontario at: 1-866-797-0000 (24/7)
Your primary care provider: You should call your primary care provider and they will provide virtual assessment by phone or other technology. You should not book an in-person visit for COVID-19 assessment without first having a virtual assessment.
KFL&A Health Unit at: 613-549-1232
Eastern Ontario Health Unit- Daily Health Assessment Tool: https://eohu.ca/files/resources/12086-20e.pdf

West End Children’s Centre: 613-546-2911

email: westend_daycare@hotmail.com