minimaternelle

Over the past few months, in conjunction with guidelines from the CDC, the NY State Department of Health and in collaboration with Early Childhood program leaders across Brooklyn, we have created a detailed plan to ensure the health and safety of the children, the families, and the staff. Here, you will find a summary of the main points from this plan.

If at any point revised information becomes available from the CDC or licensing bodies, these policies will be amended to reflect the most up to date guidance possible. 

Training

• All staff will be trained prior to reopening, and training will be ongoing as new information is released on all things related to coronavirus. 

 Health and Safety: Hygiene Precautions

• We will ensure adherence to hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection requirements as advised by the CDC and DOH.

• Scheduling will be changed to maximize outdoor time.

• Toys from home are not permitted at school at this time. 

• Classroom furnishings will be rearranged to maximize distance between students.

Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Shared Spaces and Materials

• High use surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected frequently at specific points during the school day with child-safe, CDC-approved products, as well as a thorough, intensive cleaning every evening.

• Toys will be utilized on a rotating basis and cleaned and sanitized between usage. 

• Soft objects will be removed and replaced with items that are easier to disinfect.

• Cleaning schedules will be posted and adhered to. 

Napping at School

• Nap sheets and blankets must be brought home and laundered at the end of each week. 

• Nap mats will be cleaned and sanitized daily. Each child will have their own designated nap mat labeled with their name. 

• Children who nap at school will be placed 6 feet apart whenever possible and head-to-toe.

Social Distancing at School/Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Staff

• As required by the Department of Health, employees will wear face coverings whenever interacting with the children.

• Anytime that staff are less than six feet from one another, they must wear acceptable face coverings.

Classes

• Classes will not be permitted to mix or use shared space at the same time. 

• Teachers will be assigned to regular/static groups and will not commingle with other classes/groups.

Families

• All guardians/caregivers must wear a face covering during pick-up and drop-off. 

• Guardians/caregivers must maintain social distancing of 6ft outside of the entrance to school and limit gathering before and after drop off. 

• Guardians/caregivers will not be permitted into the facility unless for an extenuating circumstance.

Daily Health Screenings

• The school is adopting an app based system that will require all students to enter health data prior to entering school each day.

• When a child arrives at school, a teacher or director will conduct a health screening and welcome the child into school. Each child will then immediately wash their hands.

• Students will have their temperature taken upon arrival (admittance will be denied for a temperature of 100 °F or higher) 

Sick Policies for Staff and Children

• Parents and staff must disclose all symptoms of illness to the school so that proper monitoring and tracking can ensue.

When to keep your child at home

• Fever above 100°F.

• Respiratory symptoms (cough, difficulty breathing) not a previously diagnosed condition (ie. allergies)

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Rash

• Contagious Illness

Returning to school

• All students with a confirmed COVID diagnosis will be required to have a negative COVID test and clearance note from a doctor before returning to school. 

• As per the CDC, a person must be fever free for 3 days with no fever reducing medications and improvement of symptoms, must have no symptoms in the last 10 days and report general feelings of wellness.

• If a staff member or child contracts or is exposed to COVID-19, they cannot be admitted to a center again until the criteria for lifting transmission based precautions and home isolation have been met. 

• If no symptoms, 10 days from the date they were tested.

• Child/staff member may not return to school without a note of clearance from their physician.

COVID Exposure Safety Protocol

Quarantining

 
Developing Symptoms of COVID-19 while at School

• If a child or staff member develops symptoms of COVID-19 while at the facility (e.g. fever of 100 °F or higher, cough, shortness of breath), this person will be immediately separated from the well people until the ill person can leave the facility.

 
Cleaning and Disinfecting after a Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Case

• Areas used by a sick person will be closed off and will not be used until after cleaning and disinfecting by a professional.

 
Notifying Health Officials and Close Contacts

• In accordance with state and local laws and regulations, school administrators will notify local health officials, staff, and families immediately of any case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

• We will inform those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms, and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop. 

• All children/staff sharing a room with the diagnosed COVID-19 person, must enter a 14 day quarantine period and monitor for symptoms.