As we enter into a new year, it is becoming increasingly clear that COVID is here to stay for a while longer. Yet life must go on, especially for our children whose early developmental years mustn’t be wasted in isolation.
Luckily, as reported, children have been least likely to suffer adverse effects if they catch COVID. Even though the risk of infection is low, it isn’t zero and in the interest of the health and wellbeing of Bright ELC families, we would like to err on the side of caution. To that end, we have adopted the COVID Safe Plan Victoria guidelines in preventing any potential infections.
What is Bright ELC’s COVID Safe Plan for families and staff?
Maintaining physical distancing is part of the COVID Safe Plan, and our centre isn’t big enough for families to visit all at once. We hate to turn you away, so before you visit, please check with our staff and inquire when is the best time you could drop by for a visit.
If any staff, children, or families are getting tested, or have been tested, for COVID, we advise them to stay put until their test results return a negative. Before entering the Bright ELC, all staff, children, and family members will have their temperature taken with a non-contact thermometer if they are suspected of having a fever.
In accordance with the COVID Safe Plan Victoria, our staff are encouraged to avoid public transportation and understand that they should isolate themselves for seven days if they develop COVID symptoms, come into close contact with the positive COVID case, or visit a COVID cluster.
These precautions also extend to scenarios where an employee, child, family member or visitor of the centre have a positive COVID test result or show symptoms. Staff will have to get tested as soon as possible and are only permitted back to the centre when they return a negative test result.
Should a child or staff develop COVID symptoms at the centre, we have a designated area where they are able to keep isolated from the others until their transport home arrives.
All visitors, parents, caretakers, and off-site staff who are entering the centre will be required to check in with the COVIDSafe QR Code to ensure that we are able to contact-trace any potential COVID infections.
Does Bright ELC practice physical distancing?
In accordance with the COVID Safe Plan for physical distancing, we have informed our staff to make the necessary changes to their plans and activities with physical distancing in mind. For starters, more learning activities will be conducted outdoors, which is great for the children, especially during summer!
Educators will avoid situations where children are required to queue, assemble in large groups or hold hands, and activities that pose a high COVID transmission risk are temporarily suspended. To reduce the chances of COVID infections from other families, children and their assigned staff members will remain in designated areas to avoid mixing of children and staff from different areas. Items used in activities will also be provided to the children rather than letting them select communal items themselves.
Likewise, under the COVID Safe Plan, children will not be using sharing plates during mealtimes, and a 1.5-metre distance between seating arrangements for children and staff will be maintained.
As the number of visitors to the centre will be limited, parents are encouraged not to enter the children’s environment when dropping off or picking up their children. They will have to wait to be handed their children or stay in the car to wait instead of lingering at the foyer.
How will Bright ELC keep the centre COVID safe and clean?
Being the first line of defence, the wearing of masks for families and visitors will be highly encouraged. Our centre will be stocked with essential masks, sanitisers, disinfectant wipes, soap, and hand towels.
As COVID is still highly transmissible from surface contact, our staff will be cleaning frequently touched areas and surfaces such as doorknobs and bathrooms – at least twice daily – with a whole centre cleaning at least once a day. Disinfectant surface wipes are provided for staff to clean surfaces and items.
The COVID Safe Plan on general hygiene also complements Bright ELC’s own hygiene standards with all staff and children’s bathrooms being well stocked with hand soap and instructions on how to effectively wash hands. Instead of disposable paper towels, our staff continue the usage of reusable cloth towels that will be routinely replaced and cleaned.
Considering that a steady supply of fresh air greatly reduces the chances of COVID infection, we have advised Bright ELC staff to take their lessons outside, open the windows to maximise airflow in the room or adjust the room’s air-conditioning to external airflow instead of recirculation.
With the guidelines of the COVID Safe Plan, we hope for your understanding and cooperation in ensuring that Bright ELC will be a safe and fun place for your children to continue and develop during these challenging times. Together we can protect families and the community.
