Our Plan for living with COVID (Last Updated 03/04/22)

As promised I am writing to provide you with more information about the plans moving forward in terms of our response to COVID-19.

The Government is now advising that , “The population now has much stronger protection against COVID-19 than at any other point in the pandemic. This means we can begin to manage the virus like other respiratory infections, thanks to the success of the vaccination programme and access to antivirals, alongside natural immunity and increased scientific and public understanding about how to manage risk. “

As such the Government has withdrawn on 1 April 2022 our guidance - “Protective measures for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak”.

We are now expected to incorporate COVID-19 into our usual health and safety considerations. As I said before, please don’t let this worry you, as a childcare setting we have always had a comprehensive range of health and safety policies and practices well established to keep our community safe. So what the Government is now encouraging us to do is to bring our approach to dealing with COVID-19 in line with other infectious illness and disease. Clearly it is not the same, but just for an idea, when we look at norovirus (the sickness bug), we all know automatically it’s 48 hours off school to stop it passing on. Additionally we all know as staff that we have to keep our toys and equipment clean to stop any ‘bugs’ and ‘germs’ spreading. I hope that makes sense!

We have had a brand new piece of guidance issued to us by the Government - “Emergency planning and response for education, childcare, and children’s social care settings”. We have always had contingency plans in place whether it be emergency evacuations or serious incidents. We will be using the new guidance to strengthen current plans and to establish a new “Public Health Incidents” contingency plan - this is where COVID-19 will become, like other infectious diseases, incorporated into normal practice.

In practice this is how things will look moving forwards,

If anything changes to any of this, I will of course let you know. Likewise if you have any questions or concerns at all, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with me or speak to a member of staff during pick up and drop off.

Yours faithfully,

Rachel Marshall

Owner and Managing Director

Information Disclaimer

The information provided by Smiles of Quorn on this page regarding COVID-19 is for general informational purposes only. All information on this page is provided in good faith, however we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information on this page. Whilst every effort is made to provide up-to-date and present information on our website, there are times when this may not be possible. Any updates, significant information, or details on plans will always be sent to parents/carers directly via email.

If you are ever unsure on what to do if you or your develop symptoms or tests positive, then please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be more than happy to support you through the process.