Guidance for education and childcare: coronavirus (COVID-19)

Introduction

This guidance applies to all schools, colleges, early years and childcare providers, including baby and toddler groups and those operating breakfast, after school and holiday clubs for children. Providers will also need to refer to the guidance for businesses operating during COVID-19 Winter Strategy.

The advice from the Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell (STAC) and the Medical Officer of Health is that it is safe for all children to return to full time education.

There is increasing evidence that both the incidence and the severity of COVID-19 in children is low, but they are able to catch and spread the virus.

The safety of children, staff and their families remain the absolute priority, therefore, children should return to their education and childcare settings ensuring that current public health measures can be maintained.

This guidance provides public health advice that applies across all child education and childcare settings, as well as specific considerations that apply only to particular settings as appropriate.

Each school, college, early years and childcare provider should use this guidance to produce a detailed plan for the arrangements that are in place which is specific to their setting.

COVID-19 infection rates in the local and international community will continue to be carefully monitored and any changes to the situation may result in changes to this guidance.  Any changes will be led by Public Health advice and provided in enough time for children, families, education and childcare providers to plan. Any changes will be made in consultation with settings and union colleagues.

Key principles of guidance:

• symptomatic children, staff and any other visitors are kept away from the setting
• that everyone attending the setting adheres to the public health advice on isolation and testing
  
• regular and thorough hand washing as well as enhanced cleaning must be in place
• that the number of people that each child comes in contact with is limited and the physical distancing guidance for your setting is applied appropriately
• that each setting must plan in advance how they are going to reduce the risk of spreading the virus
  

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

In May and June Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES) undertook an Initial Children's Rights Impact Assessment as part of the preparations to reopen schools.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

School Closures: CRIA Comment

Medical Advice to the Education Minister on Schools from STAC

​Document	​Date issued
​Health Advice on the Reopening of Schools January 2021	​30 December 2020
​Health Advice on the Continuation of Physical Schooling	​3 December 2020
​Letter to all parents carers on masks in schools	​16 November 2020
​Common Cold and COVID-19 Symptoms	​8 September 2020
​Executive memo of advice	​14 July 2020

Safety plans and risk assessments

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, settings will use a range of protective measures to create safer environments. This way, the risk of spreading the virus is reduced. These changes may look different in each setting as they will depend upon individual circumstances. They are all designed to minimise risks to children, staff and their families. 

Approaches we are asking all settings to take include: 

• updating the risk assessment. The assessment will address the risks of COVID-19 so that sensible measures can be put in place to minimise those risks for children, young people and staff 
• making sure that children and young people do not attend if they have symptoms of COVID-19 
• promoting regular hand washing for 20 seconds with running water and soap or use of of hand sanitiser (with 60 to 70% alcohol content). Ensuring good respiratory hygiene by promoting the catch it, bin it, kill it approach 
• cleaning more frequently to get rid of the virus on frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, handrails, tabletops, play equipment and toys 

An update of the site-specific workplace safety plan is required for each setting where staff are located. A workplace is defined as any place where people are required to work. As part of this update settings should regularly walk through their work area to make sure they have captured all aspects of the workplace and understand what control measures are in place to mitigate any risks. Settings should check that suitable signs and notices are displayed in the workplace to remind children and staff of hygiene requirements.  

CYPES Officers are available to support settings with the update to their site-specific safety plans and risk assessments. Settings must ensure that plans remain dynamic and changes are made as required. All settings should communicate their safety plans to parents. 

Sample risk assessment

Sample safety plan

Attendance

All children and young people should now attend their setting unless they are isolating or there are other reasons for absence (such as shielding due to health conditions).

Parents should notify their child's setting, as normal, if their child is unable to attend so that staff are aware.

Underlying health conditions and higher risk groups

Children and young people who are at high and moderate risk of illness from COVID-19 are encouraged to attend.

Children and parents who feel that it is not safe to return, owing to a child or young person's particular circumstances or medical condition, are advised to contact their child's specialist doctor to discuss their situation where they have not yet done so. If it's decided, following discussion between the doctor, child and parents or guardian, that the risk of returning outweighs the benefits, then the child is not expected to return.

Higher risk children should be cautious to follow physical distancing and other public health guidance and advice, where they are able to understand and follow this. For children not returning due to shielding, settings will make decisions about how best to support and educate them.

Physical distancing and limiting number of contacts

The current medical advice is that children are not required to maintain physical distancing while in their educational setting.

Staff should maintain at least 2 metres physical distancing between all adults and between adults and children wherever possible. Where this is not possible close contact is recommended to be kept to under 15 minutes. 

Settings should consider 2 metres physical distancing between adults in staff rooms and areas where staff congregate inside for over 15 minutes as part of their business continuity plans. This is because if a member of staff tests positive, they will be contact traced and all direct contacts, those within 2 metres for 15 minutes or more, would be considered a direct contact and would need to self-isolate.

Staff should continue to adhere to guidance from Public Health as to their own risk assessment for personal shielding, where applicable. This will be kept under review with Public Health.

Specific guidance for early years settings

Strict adherence to physical distancing is not possible for young children and early years' settings are not designed to have separation between all children and staff at all times.

It is therefore accepted that physical distancing will not always be possible between the children, and between the children and the staff.  However, physical distancing between individuals in different groups should be maintained wherever possible.

The following should be considered:

• children stay in the same group to avoid mixing during the day, or on subsequent days
• the group can be the whole class or room
• ensure that wherever possible children use the same room or area throughout the day and on subsequent days
• where there is more than one group within a room there should be a physical barrier (such as a partition) that prevents children from one group being able to easily interact with another group
  
• if possible, assign toilets to set groups of children and consider allocating specific areas of the outdoor space for each group
• it is preferable for the same staff to be assigned to each group and where possible they should not move between different groups of children.  It is accepted that in order to provide enough cover or to support a child, staff will need to go into more than one class or group, however, this number should be kept as low as possible 
• physical distancing of 2 metres between adults from different households should be adhered to, consider limiting the number of people in the staff room (adults within the school setting cannot gather in groups of more than 20 people)
  
• although it will not be possible for staff to maintain 2 metres physical distance from children in their allocated group, they should ensure they keep 2 metres away from all other staff, parents and children in other groups
• visitors to the premises should be kept to an absolute minimum
• where possible, create a one-way system for circulation, entering and leaving the buildings, using tape and signs to indicate the direction of flow/travel, no entry etc
• access rooms directly from outside where possible
  
• consider staggering or separating entry and break and lunch times where possible
• play equipment that cannot be cleaned between different groups of children should not be used (for example, soft play equipment)

While early years settings should ensure children are kept within groups and apart as much as possible, it is acknowledged that this will not always be achievable. The intention should be that mixing of groups is avoided wherever possible, and minimised where it cannot be avoided.

Within the Foundation Stage in primary schools it is recognised that for certain parts of the school day a whole Foundation Stage bubble / group approach may be required. It is important to minimise the amount of time this whole Foundation Stage group is together.

Specific guidance for primary schools

The 'bubble' approach continues to be recommended for primary schools. This means that children will be kept in a whole class size 'bubble'. While it is accepted that there will be some interaction within the group, interaction between different groups should be minimised. This allows the number of contacts each child has to be kept to a minimum.

While schools should ensure that groups of learners are kept within class group bubbles and apart within the school as much as possible, it is acknowledged that this will not always be achievable. The intention should be that mixing of class bubbles is avoided wherever possible, and minimised where it cannot be avoided.

Measures to keep pupils within class group bubbles and apart include planning for staggered and segregated breaks and lunches where possible. It may also include zoning areas of the site for use as social space.  

For two and three form entry schools it is recognised that for certain parts of the school day, notably at the beginning and end of the school day and during breaks and lunchtime, a whole year bubble approach will be required. It is important to minimise the amount of time class bubbles from across a year group are together. For example, if it cannot be avoided lunchtime and break times can be supervised in phases i.e. several classes of the same year group together. 

If more than one class is playing outside, it may be helpful to zone the play area and where possible to include a buffer area to help children know where to play safely. 

It is accepted that in order to provide enough cover, lunchtime supervisors will need to go into more than one class, however, this number should be kept as low as possible. 

Specific guidance for secondary schools and colleges

There is now no physical distancing requirement between children, however, year groups should be kept separate as much as possible. Maintain at least 2 metres physical distancing between all adults and between adults and children wherever possible.

Specific guidance for childminders and nannies

All the children that the childminder or nanny looks after are considered part of a 'bubble' and therefore it is understood that they will have contact with each other and share play resources while inside the private property. The number of children is limited to the number that the childminder is registered for or for the number of children the nanny is looking after.

Due to the flexible nature of childminder work it is understood that there are instances when there will be mixing of bubbles between the childminder and school settings, for example where wrap-around school care is provided or where a childminder looks after their own children after school.  Although the mixing of bubbles should be limited as much as possible it is accepted that in such instances it can occur. If the childminder looks after children that are also in school settings, when the child arrives into the childminder's house directly from school, they should change out of their school clothes and thoroughly wash their hands.

It is important that outside of the childcare setting both the childminder or nanny, and the children they are looking after, follow the physical distancing guidelines. 

Childminders and nannies should suspend trips that could expose the children to potential community spread of COVID-19 (shops, supermarkets, soft play areas) but children are encouraged to safely use outdoor spaces where physical distancing under the current Government guidelines permits. 

The childminder or nanny and the parents should discuss and agree their approach to physical distancing with the children. They should ensure that they are consistent in their explanation to the children and how they approach ensuring the children adhere to it. 

When outside a private house physical distancing with people outside of their household and not in their direct care should be maintained. The childminder and nanny should maintain physical distancing with family members of the children and others that they are not directly caring for.

Childminders and nannies should avoid taking children to places where there are lots of people and they should only meet up with people from outside their household where there is plenty of space to adhere to the 2 metre rule.

When out of the house regular handwashing should be maintained.  When it is not possible then hand sanitiser (with 60 % to 70% alcohol content) should be used although this should be limited to occasional use in pre-school children and only when there is no alternative available.

Specific guidance for breakfast, after school and holiday clubs and out of school activities

This guidance applies only to primary aged children and younger.

Given the age range (under 12) of children, as far as practical, the following approach should be followed to ensure that children and staff remain in a consistent bubble wherever possible:

• same group – children stay in the same groups at all times. Wherever possible different groups are to avoid mixing during the day, or on subsequent days. Where children attend irregularly and/or there is no pattern to their attendance in any given week they should be in the same bubble each time they attend
  
• same location - ensure that wherever possible children use the same room or area (this could be a sectioned off part of a hall) throughout the day and on subsequent days
• same facilities – if possible, assign toilets to set groups of children. Consider allocating specific areas of the outdoor area for each group
• it is preferable for the same staff to be assigned to each group and where possible they should not move between different groups of children
• settings should record which children are in each group, which location and facilities they are assigned to and which staff are associated with each group. This will facilitate contact tracing and cleaning should someone become symptomatic or test positive. It is accepted that in order to provide enough cover or to support a child, staff will need to go into more than one area, however, this should be minimised as much as possible

While breakfast, after school and holiday club settings should ensure that groups of children are kept within bubbles and apart within the setting as much as possible, it is acknowledged that this will not always be achievable.

Measures to keep children within bubbles (a maximum of 30 staff and children) and apart include: planning for staggered and segregated breaks and lunches where possible and may also include zoning areas within the setting for use as social space. The intention should be that mixing of bubbles is avoided, wherever possible, and minimised where it cannot be avoided.

Within breakfast, after school and holiday clubs it is recognised that for certain parts of the day, notably at the beginning and end of the day and during breaks and lunchtime, a larger bubble approach may be required. It is important to minimise the amount of time this larger bubble is together.

Where the use of shared play spaces occurs, e.g. the outdoor learning area, this can be accessible for periods of time provided appropriate sanitation and hand hygiene routines are followed.

Strict adherence to physical distancing is not possible for young children and breakfast, after school / holiday club settings are not designed to have separation between all children and staff at all times.

It is therefore accepted that physical distancing will not always be possible between the children, and between the children and the staff. However, physical distancing between individuals in different bubbles should be maintained wherever possible.

Where there is more than one group within a room there should be some kind of physical barrier (such as a partition or a row of desks) that prevents children from one group being able to easily interact with another group.

Staff and volunteers moving between bubbles or groups within a single setting and between different settings

It is recognised that certain staff / volunteers are required to undertake their role across an educational setting or within multiple settings. This may mean they will be required to move between bubbles or groups within a given setting or between different settings working with different children and different staff throughout the week.

This will apply particularly to teaching assistants, supply teachers, SEN and SEMIT professionals, specialist language teachers and department and agency staff, volunteers etc.  

Staff and volunteers should first consider whether they are able to undertake their work remotely. Staff and volunteers should only attend school/college if necessary. For example, if the purpose is to meet with parents or staff it should be established whether these meetings can be achieved remotely. It is recognised that working directly with children may require attendance at the setting.  

All those who are required to attend a setting in the course of their daily work must follow the guidelines outlined in the individual setting safety plan and risk assessment and adhere to strict physical distancing and hygiene rules, giving particular attention to the following:

1. Staff and volunteers should limit their movement between different bubbles or groups of children (in early years and primary schools), but where unavoidable staff should observe physical distancing as much as possible and strictly adhere to hygiene guidance. In secondary schools, a minimum of 2 metres physical distancing should be strictly observed. 
2. If moving between settings staff and volunteers should limit the number of contacts made with others in each setting, keeping these to an absolute minimum and if possible, for as short a duration as possible (ideally below 15 minutes). If this is not possible, due to the requirement to have an on-site meeting, then strict physical distancing at a minimum of 2 metres must be observed. 
3. Settings must record all contacts made by adults entering the school premises for contact tracing purposes. This will include contacts with both children and staff/volunteers. 
4. For staff moving between bubbles it is important to ensure good hygiene measures are followed before entering and then leaving the bubble or group. This will include hand washing or sanitising.
   

Mouth and nose coverings

The following guidance applies to early years settings, schools, youth clubs and higher and further education settings.

Children

Early Years settings:

• there is no requirement for children to wear mouth and nose coverings
• children over the age of 2 are free to wear mouth and nose coverings if they choose to do so
• no child under the age of 2 years or any child unable to remove a mouth or nose covering by themselves or with breathing difficulties should wear a face mask due to immediate health risk

Primary School:

• there is no requirement for children to wear mouth and nose coverings while in the school setting
• children over the age of 2 are free to wear mouth and nose coverings if they choose to do so
• no child under the age of 2 years or any child unable to remove a mouth or nose covering by themselves or with breathing difficulties should wear a face mask due to immediate health risk

Secondary school-aged and higher education:

Secondary school-aged students and those in higher education are strongly recommended to wear masks in class and lectures and in all areas of the school/college building indoors when moving around in corridors and communal areas, where social distancing cannot be maintained. This is particularly important in any situations that involve working in close proximity or being in the same place for an extended period of time, such as during longer lesson periods. This does not include when eating, drinking or undertaking PE.

Staff and all adult visitors 

All adult visitors to any school setting should wear a mouth and nose covering, this includes when dropping off and collecting children.

Early years settings:

• staff are strongly encouraged to wear mouth and nose coverings within early years settings 

Primary, secondary schools and higher and further education settings:

• all adults (including teachers, other staff and visitors) should wear mouth and nose coverings when moving around in indoor areas within the premises, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained
• in addition, mouth and nose coverings should be worn by all adults in classrooms when delivering or participating in any indoor lesson, presentation, talk, class or practical demonstrations to young people. It is recommended that clear face shields are used in preference to masks as these will aid communication, especially to those with hearing impairments
• for staff teaching and working with younger children (early years, Key Stage 1) if it is felt by the school or setting that the wearing of a mouth and nose covering will hinder communication then the head teacher or manager can agree that the staff do not need wear face coverings while teaching or working with children in the classroom/nursery

Exemptions

Exemptions can apply if the individual (adults as well as children) has a special need, disability or condition that would make it very difficult for them to wear a mouth and nose covering. This includes:

• if they cannot put on, wear or remove a mouth and nose covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
• if putting on, wearing or removing a mouth and nose covering will cause the person severe distress
• if the person is speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip-reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate

For example, if a child or young person has a serious respiratory condition, they may find it too difficult to breathe through a mouth and nose covering.

If a person has a learning difficulty, sensory processing disorder or an emotional and mental health condition, wearing a mask could be too overwhelming.

If a person has communication difficulties, speech impairment or finds it hard to express themselves with a mask on, especially if they are non-verbal, a mask would be difficult.

This is list is not exhaustive and there will be many other disabilities, including invisible ones, that would make wearing a mask very difficult. If wearing a cloth mask is problematic to health, causes distress or discomfort, then a clear face shield could be an alternative, which will still offer protection to others and the wearer.

Exemption cards will be available from the school for both members of staff and pupils. These can be applied for via the school office. Following a request for an exemption the school will provide the adult / child with the exemption card.

Guidance about how to put on mouth and nose covering and visors, and how to keep them clean

It is vital that mouth and nose coverings are worn correctly and that clear instructions are provided to staff, children and young people on how to put on, remove, store and dispose of mouth and nose coverings to avoid inadvertently increasing the risks of transmission.

A clean mask is required each day and it is suggested that students bring a spare mask with them as a back-up.

Safe wearing of mouth and nose coverings requires cleaning of hands before and after touching, including to remove or put them on, and the safe storage of them in individual, sealable plastic bags between use. Where a mask becomes damp, it should not be worn and the mask should be replaced carefully.

Guidance on wearing a mask or mouth and nose covering

Access to mouth and nose coverings

It is reasonable to assume that staff and young people will now have access to mouth and nose coverings due to their increasing use in wider society.

However, where anybody is struggling to access a mouth and nose covering, or where they are unable to use their face covering due to having forgotten it or it having become soiled or unsafe, educational settings should take steps to have a small contingency supply available to meet such needs.

No-one should be excluded from education on the grounds that they are not wearing a mouth and nose covering.

Staff are encouraged to bring their own washable masks. Each school setting will be provided with a supply of clear face shields to allocate to teachers and other staff as needed.

Each school will have a supply of disposable masks that it can also provide to staff and visitors should they forget their masks or it becomes soiled or unsafe.

Refusal to wear a mouth and nose covering

If a child refuses to wear a mouth and nose covering, without an exemption, then the school should deal with it in line with their behaviour policy.

Mouth and nose coverings on buses

Children over the age of 11 attending primary and secondary school will continue to have to wear mouth and nose coverings as a condition of carriage on school buses as well as on the public bus service. Anyone over the age of 11 going on a private minibus or coach will also be expected to wear a mouth and nose covering.

Symptoms and testing

Ensure that all staff and parents are aware of the symptoms of COVID-19.

If a child or a member of staff has symptoms they should not attend school.

If a child showing symptoms comes into the setting, staff should isolate the child and make arrangements to send them home.

A single designated room, or if possible, an outside area, should be provided as a defined contaminated zone and the child / staff member should be kept there until they are picked up.  Where possible, open windows to increase ventilation.

Call the parent or guardian, or nearest family member (in the case of a member of staff) to arrange collection. They should be advised to contact the coronavirus helpline on 0800 735 5566 as soon as possible. The helpline is available to support parents in determining whether or not the symptoms are likely to be consistent with COVID-19 and whether or not testing and isolating is required.

In an emergency, call 999 if they are seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk. 

Staff attending to the sick person should wear personal protective equipmet (PPE) before entering any contaminated zone and remain in PPE until they leave. 

If the sick person needs to go to the bathroom while waiting to be collected, they should use a separate bathroom if possible. The bathroom should be cleaned and disinfected using standard cleaning products before being used by anyone else.

After the designated room or contaminated area has been used the area should be cleaned by your service provider or in-house team in line with the cleaning strategy. PPE in line with the guidance is required. 

The member of staff that has helped the person who was taken unwell with symptoms should remove and securely dispose of the PPE and wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds. If they feel their clothes have been contaminated, by someone coughing or sneezing on them, they should change these. They do not need to go home unless they themselves are symptomatic.

If a child has symptoms, the setting does not need to inform other parents that a child is symptomatic.

If a child is absent from the setting with COVID-19 symptoms this should be recorded.

If an individual with symptoms receives a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result, the child/staff member will be advised to stay at home until they feel better.

If there is a confirmed case (a positive PCR test) then the contact tracing process will start.

Confirmed case within the setting

If someone within the setting receives a positive PCR test result then the following guidance should be followed:

• the setting should wait until they are contacted by the contact tracing team informing them of a confirmed positive case before taking any action or informing parents.  This will avoid any unnecessary panic or confusion arising from a suspected case that is later found to be negative 
• the contact tracing team need time to discuss individual circumstances with the confirmed positive case to establish their movements and who they have been in direct contact with
• after completing their conversation with the confirmed case, the contact tracing team may need to consult the infection control team to obtain advice on the cleaning process necessary within the setting
• the contact tracing team have all the emergency contact details for all the schools/colleges in the Island and will call as soon as they have the necessary information surrounding the confirmed case
• during this conversation the contact tracing team will explain that there has been a confirmed case within the setting
• if the confirmed case has not provided consent to share their name, the contact tracing team will not be in a position to divulge this
  
• the confirmed case will need to provide sufficient information in order to enable the identification of their direct contacts (those that have been within 2 metres for 15 minutes or more of the confirmed case during their infectious period)
• the contact tracing team will potentially request assistance from the setting in establishing the names and contact details of all the direct contacts of the confirmed case
• the contact tracing team will contact those individuals or parents of the children directly to provide advice on isolation and welfare and to offer them a PCR test
• the setting does not need to inform the direct contacts of the confirmed case – the contact tracing team are better placed to be able to offer the correct advice, offer reassurance and to book direct contacts in for a PCR test as necessary
• anyone who is not identified as having been within 2 metres for 15 minutes or more of the confirmed case during their infectious period without any PPE is unlikely to be identified as a direct contact
  
• although it is important that the setting communicates with their community in a timely manner to avoid speculation and concern, this must be undertaken in a carefully managed manner to provide accurate information, reassure parents and to make sure that the contact tracing team is not overwhelmed with phone calls from people that are not direct contacts 
• after the contact tracing team have called confirming the positive case within the setting, the setting should inform the CYPES Hub cypeshub@gov.je who can provide further support on how to manage the situation and communicate with parents
• a template letter has been drafted which settings may wish to consider using to inform their community
  
• the contact tracing team and/or infection control team will also provide advice to the setting in terms of any deep cleaning
• all individuals involved are requested to respect the privacy of the confirmed case

Isolation and contact tracing

Information for students, parents and guardians on contact tracing process and isolation

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 

PPE will not generally be needed in educational settings.

PPE should be available in each setting for use in the event of a child or member of staff becoming symptomatic and needing care prior to leaving the premises. Training on the use of PPE should be provided.

Specific guidance for childminders

Childminders should ensure that they have a single set of PPE available (consisting of disposable gloves, disposable apron and surgical grade mask). In the case of a child starting to display COVID-19 symptoms whilst in your care, you should put on the PPE and contact parents to collect their child immediately.

Children under the age of 11 are not required to wear cloth face masks and they are not recommended for children under the age of 2.

Follow the guidance on the use of cloth masks.

Hand washing and respiratory hygiene

Regular and thorough hand washing is essential for everyone. The following should be followed:

• regular and thorough hand washing by children, young people, staff and all visitors
• hands should be washed with soap and water for 20 seconds and dried thoroughly using paper towels
• as a minimum, children and young people should wash their hands, on entry to the setting, after breaks, before and after eating, after using any shared equipment / resources, and after sneezing or coughing and before going home
• ensure that help is available for children and young people who have trouble cleaning their hands independently 
• ensure that sufficient hand washing facilities are available
• hand washing is preferable to using hand sanitiser, however where hand washing is not practical or there is not a sink nearby, hand sanitiser with 60% to 70% alcohol content should be provided
• provide hand sanitiser (with 60% to 70% alcohol content) dispensers in prominent places around the setting, making sure these dispensers are regularly refilled
• Children with sensitive skin ( eczema or atopic dermatitis) should use emollients in generous quantities after handwashing  or using hand sanitizers. Parents or carers should be educated on how to recognise flare up of atopic eczema (increased dryness, itching, redness, swelling and general irritability) and seek medical treatment if it worsens.
• Hand sanitizers should not be used by children under the age of 12 months and for children under the age of 5 years there should be supervised use of hand sanitizer
  
• hand sanitiser is not recommended for very young children - thorough washing with mild soap and water should be used instead. 
  
• encourage children and young people not to touch their mouth, eyes and nose
• encourage the use of a tissue or elbow to cough or sneeze into and use bins for tissue waste ('catch it, bin it, kill it')
• consider how to encourage young children to learn and practise these habits through games, rhymes and repetition

Some children and young people will need additional support to follow these measures (for example, braille or with other meaningful symbols, and social stories to support them in understanding how to follow rules).

Cleaning

Cleaning practices will be reflected in the safety plan and will be in accordance with the Children, Young People, Education and Skills Cleaning Strategy. Schools and colleges will have site specific cleaning guidelines.

Cleaning strategies need to be regularly reviewed and if required, cleaning regimes enhanced to improve infection control and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Consider the following suggestions to increase cleaning across the setting.

1. The use of in-house staff with work being re-prioritised to support additional cleaning i.e. in-house cleaning staff, caretakers and site teams.
2. Re-prioritise cleaning contracts to support cleaning requirements, for example the re planning of specifications to focus on touch down areas, handles and horizontal surfaces.
3. Extend existing cleaning contracts (full-time cleaners) to support cleaning requirements.

There should be particular emphasis on regularly cleaning surfaces that are frequently touched such as door handles, switches, stairway railings as well as toilet areas.

Clean surfaces that children and young people are touching, such as books, desks, chairs, sinks, toilets more regularly than normal. 

Items such as towels, flannels and bedding must not be shared by children and washed daily in a hot wash (on a cycle of at least 60 °C and tumble dried if possible).

Ensure that bins for tissues and hand towels are emptied throughout the day.

It is recommended that staff in early years settings should get changed as soon as they arrive home from work and should wash their work clothes every day.

Ensure that toilets do not become crowded by limiting the number of children who use the toilet facilities at any one time. Switch off hand dryers and provide paper towels.

Specific guidance for childminders and nannies

• childminders and employers of nannies should ensure that the house (or the parts of the house the children / nanny will be using) is thoroughly cleaned with particular attention being given to regular touch points (door handles, light switches, handrails) and toilet areas before they come into the home each day. If possible, limit the rooms of the house that you will use in order to make cleaning easier
• toys and equipment that is handled by children should be sanitised daily. Toys and equipment that is used by children in different bubbles should be cleaned between use
• frequently used items should be cleaned regularly throughout the day (for example baby monitors and car seats etc)
• toys that cannot be sanitised should not be used
• after the children or nanny have left the cleaning (as detailed above) should be repeated to help protect those in the household

Cleaning strategy

Sample cleaning schedule

First aid and intimate care

Where a child/young person requires first aid and other essential care and it is not possible for them to administer it to themselves under supervision of an adult and it is not appropriate to wait for a parent to arrive, the staff member can get closer than 2 metres to the child. 

In such cases no additional PPE, other than that which would be normally recommended to complete the task, is necessary.

The staff member should be reminded to thoroughly wash their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds before and after attending to the child.

Shared resources

The use of shared resources should be reduced as far as possible.

• water fountains can be used to fill up water bottles but not to drink directly from. As a regular touch point these should be cleaned frequently
• limit shared resources and wherever possible and clean between the use by different children
• limit the resources that children take home and store each item for 24 hours before giving to another child
• prevent the sharing of stationery and other equipment where possible
• shared materials and surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected between users or groups / bubbles of users
• practical lessons can go ahead if equipment can be cleaned thoroughly between users
• where practically possible sports equipment that is held for extended periods of time (for example, rackets, bats) should be cleaned between users. This does not apply to items that are touched infrequently and for very short durations (e.g. tennis balls)
• children should be advised to wash their hands before and after any activity that involves shared equipment
• teachers marking books does not present a significant infection route, but teachers should store work taken from school separately and within year group / class bubbles
  

Ventilation 

All spaces should be well ventilated using natural ventilation (opening windows) or via ventilation units. Where it is safe to do so prop doors open (bearing in mind fire safety and safeguarding), to limit the use of door handles and to aid ventilation. Check to ensure all fire doors are closed at the end of each day.

Further guidance on ventilation

Visitors

Visitors to settings are discouraged and should be kept to a minimum.

All adult visitors to any school should wear mouth and nose coverings.

Consideration should be given to the benefits of the visitor attending and the measures that will be put in place to limit any potential spread of the virus, for example physical distancing, hand hygiene and keeping the visit duration to a limited time.

Any event that attracts external visitors to the setting, including parents or prospective parents and pupils, must follow the guidance for gatherings and events. This limits the maximum number of individuals gathering in an area to 20 for indoor settings. 

A register must be in place to record the contact details of all those that are on site each day such as parents, approved contractors and external agencies.

Visits by contractors should be scheduled for times when the setting is closed to children/young people wherever possible, where this is not possible children/young people should be moved from the area where work will be undertaken prior to arrival of the contractor and the area should be cleaned prior to readmitting the children/young people to it.

Deliveries and other contractors who need to attend the workplace should be given clear instructions of your requirements while they are on site. Deliveries and contractors should be asked to use electronic paperwork where possible. Hand sanitiser (with 60% to 70% alcohol content) should be available for staff after physically handling deliveries.

Returning after off-island travel

Parents and staff should consult the safer travel guidance before travelling off Island.

Children under the age of 11 are not required to pre-register or undergo PCR testing but must complete the same isolation period as every person aged 11 and over they travelled with.

Children returning to Jersey will not be able to attend school until they have completed the required isolation period. Children under the age of 11 will not be able to return to school until all the over 11s they travelled with have completed the required isolation period.

Household members of an individual that is isolating after returning from travel do not need to isolate themselves unless the traveller receives a positive PCR test result. Therefore, children that have not travelled themselves do not need to stay away from the education or childcare setting if a parent or household member is isolating due to return from travel.

Travelling to and from settings

Children, young people and parents are encouraged to walk or cycle where possible.

School buses can operate at normal capacity with the introduction of additional public health safety measures that Liberty Bus have in place.

Other private transport (such as minibuses or coaches) used by children during their time in educational or childcare settings can operate at full capacity.

If using public or private transport children will be required to adhere to the conditions of carriage set out by those operators.

Children over the age of 11 attending primary and secondary school will have to wear face coverings as a condition of carriage on school buses.  Children are encouraged to bring their own face masks but disposable face masks will be available to purchase from the driver.  A supply of free face masks will be made available in all schools for children not able to cover the cost.

Anyone over the age of 11 going on a private minibus or coach will also be expected to wear a face covering.

Exemptions

Exemptions can apply if the individual (adults as well as children) has a special need, disability or condition that would make it very difficult for them to wear a face covering.

Exemptions for masks

Opening hours and drop-off and pick-up

Most settings will return to normal opening hours. Settings may make changes to their start and finish times or introduce new drop-off and collection arrangements to keep children and families safe.

Start and finish times will be clearly communicated to parents and carers alongside any other new arrangements.

Daily drop-off, pick-up and safe access to the premises and reception area:

• settings should consider the safe access and egress of parents, visitors and contractors (signing in/out, access around the facilities and contact with staff)
• pick-up and drop-off procedures should be reviewed, including, signage and markings to ensure those accessing the school site remain physically distanced from other people
• settings must take responsibility for putting measures in place to ensure that parents and children maintain 2 metres physical distancing from other households when immediately outside the premises
• parents are discouraged from gathering at setting entrances and if appropriate should be encouraged to stay in their cars
• staggered start times may be required
• parents are not allowed to accompany their child into the setting but should say goodbye at the entrance

Gatherings and assemblies

Assemblies are strongly discouraged at this time.

Pupils are limited to gathering in their year group (however large that is) with appropriate levels of staff supervision, for example a whole year group can attend lunch, sports activities or be in the playground together. 

Wherever possible for primary school children, it is preferable that they stay in their class bubbles for as much of the school day as is practical.

It is acknowledged that in certain situations, for example extra-curricular sporting activities, children from different year groups may mix. 

The gatherings and events guidance does not apply to children within the school setting. The guidance for gatherings and events will apply to any event within a setting which includes staff or parents. Staff meetings and events to which parents or external visitors are invited should follow the guidance on events and gatherings. This limits the maximum number of individuals gathering in an area to 20 for indoor settings.

A whole year group may be brought together in the school hall in order to complete exams.  The following guidance should be followed:

• students displaying any of the main symptoms of COVID must not attend (as per the general guidance they should not be in the school setting)

• students from different classes / bubbles in primary schools should be separated by 2 metres where possible

• within a class / bubble / year group students should be 2 metres apart where possible

• ensure maximum ventilation of the space

• ensure strict hand hygiene

• ensure thorough cleaning of the room after the students have left / before any others use the room
  

Music

All singing and music lessons for children and young people can now be available to pupils, provided that appropriate health, safety and hygiene control measures are in place and are adhered to. 

This guidance applies to all those who provide singing and music lessons to children and young people who are in full time education. This information identifies how they can adapt their practices to significantly increase safety for their pupils, staff and others in the face of COVID-19.

This guidance is in addition to the general guidance for all businesses and the Guidance for education and childcare: coronavirus (COVID-19) which should be read and adhered to by all those offering music tuition to children and young people.

Guiding principles

Whether on a one-to-one or small group basis, singing, woodwind and brass music, is considered to be a higher risk activity, because of the very high risk of dispersing droplets and therefore of spreading infection. However, other instruments including keyboard, strings and percussion are considered lower risk.

A managed return to music and singing tuition for children and young people, whilst ensuring that public health measures are maintained, will benefit all concerned. However, the safety of pupils, staff and their families remains the absolute priority.

Singing/brass/woodwind among children and young people is permitted both indoors and outdoors, where overseen by an adult who is responsible for ensuring all public health guidance is followed. The number present, including any participants, spectators, teachers or organisers, should not exceed 10 at this time.

It is recognised that at this time it may not be possible to return immediately to delivering the full range of programmes that have previously been offered.  The following key principles should be followed.

As well as the guidance for all businesses  and Guidance for education and childcare: coronavirus (COVID-19), the following should be carefully adhered to:

• ventilation should be maximised – larger rooms are preferred, and window and doors should be open wherever possible
• rooms should be thoroughly cleaned after any session that involves singing, woodwind and brass before any further sessions
• physical distancing, at the very least, of 2 metres between those positioned side by side, including in school settings where physical distancing does not otherwise apply.
• 3 to 5 metres between any participants who are facing each other, or anyone else present including teachers or tutors
  
• cumulative time spent playing brass or woodwind or singing in any one session should not exceed 30 minutes
• there should be a 10-minute break after any one session before the room is cleaned (for aerosols to settle). This must precede any further singing, woodwind or brass sessions
• small group singing is permitted in early years (Early Years Foundation Stage) and primary (Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2) aged children within the group or class bubble (see details below)
  

A setting-specific risk assessment should be undertaken, with consideration given to:

• introducing staggered start and finish times to reduce congestion and contact at all times
• based on the size of each facility, determine how many pupils can use it at any one time in order to maintain the relevant physical distances between everybody
• introducing enhanced cleaning of all facilities throughout the day and at the end of each day
  
• ensuring good hygiene practices are in place
• ensuring that the use of shared equipment is avoided in some cases and minimised in other cases
• ensuring that all equipment is cleaned and disinfected regularly
• timetabling will need to be adjusted in order to ensure there is adequate time to clean instruments and the room in between lessons
• perspex screens, where practical, are recommended to provide additional protection to those in front of pupils particularly those playing woodwind and brass instruments

Instruments

• undertake an assessment of the types of instruments and associated equipment which may be safely shared by pupils and staff in order to limit the amount of shared resources
• limit the resources that pupils take home and store each item for 24 hours before giving to another pupil
• ensure that where sheet music is being used, each pupil has their own copy of the music. If this is not possible, consideration should be given to projecting words or music onto a screen
• if instruments or equipment are used by more than one person (e.g. stringed instruments, keyboard, piano, drum kit, tuned percussion, CDs, audio equipment, beaters and music stands), or taken in and reallocated (e.g. at the end of a whole-class programme), enhanced cleaning is required
• ensure that all instruments and equipment are effectively cleaned and maintained on a regular basis
• plastic piano and electronic keyboards can be sanitised with disinfectant wipes (unplug electronic equipment first). Do not spray them as residues may harm key mechanisms. It is a good idea to dry keys off afterwards. Ivory keys will be damaged by most disinfectant products. Clean them with a cloth dipped in soapy water and rung out; leave the residue on for thirty seconds and wipe with a dry cloth.  Handles and straps of percussion instruments and beaters should be wiped similarly
• for wooden instruments, follow manufacturers' instructions or test your cleaning product on an inconspicuous surface. You may want to wipe the chinrests of violins or violas, but it probably is not necessary (sweat is not thought to carry viruses). The neck and fingerboard and the lower end of the bow of all bowed strings may also be wiped
• knobs, buttons, sliders etc on ICT equipment, amplifiers, CD/MP3 players and so forth should be wiped with antiseptic wipes. Do not use sprays or soaked cloths, to avoid liquids getting inside equipment (always unplug from the mains before cleaning)
• after five days of not being played, normal cleaning of any equipment will suffice
• further advice on cleaning instruments can be found on the JMS website
  

Woodwind and brass music

• measures must be in place to prevent the sharing of mouth-blown instruments and mouthpieces
  
• for woodwind and brass instruments, ensure that they are properly cleaned and dried at the end of each lesson
• pupils should not be allowed to blow or tip water from instruments in the teaching room
• newspaper or paper towels (or anti-bacterial paper) should be provided for the venting of water keys and pupils should remove and dispose of their own at the end of the lesson
• after playing, woodwind instruments should at a minimum be dried in and out with swabs or pull-throughs to limit microbial growth
• fully drying even small brass instruments is not practical but it is extremely important to clean the mouthpiece using an appropriately sized mouthpiece brush, to ensure that all dirt and debris are removed
  

Early years and primary aged children  

Teachers and professionals involved in multiple singing / woodwind / brass sessions every day  

Ventilation

When undertaking a risk assessment and safety planning, facilities should consider how to improve/increase ventilation in order to achieve maximum air replacement/exchange rates which ensure that air containing respiratory droplets and aerosols is not recirculated.

This means:

• ensuring that any air handling systems replace and do not recirculate air
• using natural ventilation like windows and doors as much as possible
• having effective air filtration systems

If you wish to seek expert advice there are five mechanical and electrical consultants in Jersey: BGT, Ennis, Hartigans, Henderson Green and Jersey Energy.

Ensure there is adequate ventilation within the room to minimise the spread of COVID-19 through droplet or air-borne transmission. Wherever possible, all spaces should be well ventilated using natural ventilation (opening windows) or ventilation units. Consideration should be given to timetabling additional breaks to ventilate rooms.
Where possible conduct sessions outdoors.

Cleaning premises and equipment 

Wherever possible a designated room should be identified and used for the provision of music and singing tuition within the setting. Consider using outdoors wherever possible.
Normal cleaning frequencies will need to be increased depending on how often the facilities are used. For example, if there is a high level of usage, the normal cleaning frequency should be doubled. This will need to be on a case-by-case decision as cleaning frequencies may vary throughout the day depending on the number of users of the facilities. Hard surfaces that are touched frequently (for example door handles, taps, etc.) should also be cleaned more frequently in addition to standard cleaning procedures.

Cleaning strategy

Sports facilities

PE outdoors is permitted in accordance with the general sport guidance. 

Although indoor sport and activity venues/facilities closed as of 4 December, the operation of indoor school facilities and some off-site indoor facilities provided for school children are exempt from closure the use of these facilities is for children to fulfil their school curriculum and therefore only when used within the school day.

Indoor sport facilities can be used for low and moderate intensity sport and physical activity only. The highest level of intensity permitted is moderate during which, it feels like you can exercise for long periods of time and you are able to talk and hold a short conversation without being out of breath.

Rate of Perceived Exertion Scales which provides a full definition of both low and moderate intensity. For absolute clarity levels 1 to 5 are permitted. Level 6 and above are prohibited.

To help you with your risk assessment we define physical activity intensities as follows:

1 - Very light activity, anything other than complete rest

2 to 3 - Light activity, feels like you can maintain for hours, easy to breath and carry on a conversation

4 to 5 - Moderate activity, feels like you can exercise for long periods of time, able to talk and hold a short conversation

6 to 7 - Vigorous activity, on the verge of becoming uncomfortable, short of breath, can speak a sentence

8 to 9 – Very hard activity, difficult to maintain exercise intensity, hard to speak more than a single word

10 – Maximum effort, feels impossible to continue, completely out of breath, unable to talk

Low to moderate intensity exercise is considered levels 4 to 5 or lower i.e. 'very light activity', 'light activity' and 'moderate activity' would be considered permissible. Anything from 6 and above is considered high intensity and high risk for transmission and is strongly discouraged.

Indoor halls can be used for other non-physical activities, but cleaning must take place in line with the cleaning strategy and the relevant public health guidance followed.

Changing rooms and showers can be used following the general business guidance on communal showers and changing rooms, which details the cleaning processes that should be in place. Staff are reminded of the importance of strictly observing all mitigation measures particularly those regarding bubbles and hygiene within changing rooms / showers.

Community use of facilities

Setting facilities can be used by community users out of operating hours if the required cleaning procedures can be adhered to. 

Areas used by the group, for example hall and toilet facilities, should be cleaned before and after the external group has used the areas.  All other relevant guidance should be followed.

Catering

All settings providing catering are able to resume if they can demonstrate adherence to all public health guidance and specifically the guidance for safe food preparation during COVID-19. The provision of a meal service must form part of your risk assessment and you must demonstrate that physical distancing controls are maintained.

Children in different year groups should be kept separate as much as possible within the canteen area – they should eat in clearly separated areas of the canteen. Where it is not possible for children to queue for food in separate year groups, measures must be in place to ensure that individuals' queue 2 metres apart and that the duration of queuing is kept to a minimum.

Where it is not possible to provide a canteen service, pupils may all be required to bring a packed lunch or will be provided one by the caterer.

Staff rooms

Stagger staff breaks and encourage staff to physically distance in break rooms and when using shared spaces. Ensure the gatherings guidance (a maximum of 20 in total when indoors) is adhered to.

School leaders should consider 2 metres physical distancing between adults in staff room / areas where staff congregate inside for over 15 minutes as part of their business continuity plans. This is because if a member of staff tested positive, they will be contact traced and all direct contacts, those within 2 metres for more than 15 minutes, would be considered a direct contact and need to self-isolate for 14 days.

In addition:

• food can now be prepared in the staff room if strict hygiene can be assured, for example wiping surfaces and touch points after each use
• drinks can be prepared subject to strict hygienic precautions
  
• staff should only use their own utensils and wash these themselves
• the room should be well-ventilated
• staff should take their break in the same group or work bubble where possible
• put processes in place to regularly monitor and review the implementation of measures 
• ensure that bins for tissues and hand towels are emptied throughout the day

Headteachers should consider how inset and regular training will be delivered, being aware of the need for staff to physically distance and limiting the number of people involved to ensure the gatherings guidance (a maximum of 20 in total when indoors) is adhered to.

Staff can use dedicated staff shower and changing facilities following the general business guidance on communal showers and changing rooms, which details the cleaning processes that should be in place. Staff are reminded of the importance of strictly observing measures regarding hygiene within changing rooms / showers.

Extra-curricular activities

Settings that wish to offer extra-curricular activities can do so provided that:

1. After school activities are part of the schools' curriculum and for educational purposes
2. Wherever possible, the participants remain in the same bubble that they are in during the school day
3. All the mitigations set out within safety plans, risk assessments and this guidance are followed
   

School and nursery trips

School and nursery trips should not take place at the current time.

Interschool activities

Pupils from one school may attend another school as part of organised interschool activities, provided the following mitigations can be followed:

• guidance that applies within the school setting regarding hygiene, cleaning, limiting shared resources, transport, etc can be followed
• physical distancing requirements, as per the school setting, can be followed, with the additional requirement of minimising, as much as possible, contact with people not from your bubble, class, group or school
• activities that take place outdoors are preferred
• those organising such activities will also need to take account of relevant related guidance e.g. the guidance pertaining to  sport. Note: the maximum cap of 35 under 18 year olds taking part in outdoor sport  will apply to pupils where there is a mixture of pupils from different schools
• concurrent outdoor sporting activities can be held providing appropriate mitigations are followed. Please see sports guidance
• parent spectators at such events are not allowed, however, where parent volunteers are required to help / supervise this is allowed

The risk assessment will need to include mitigation measures that clearly address how the public health guidance will be adhered to at all times during the activity and specifically how any changes from the normal setting are communicated to the young people

It is acknowledged that while guidance permits interschool activities those responsible for organising and staffing such activities may decide against doing so, given the additional workload that is required.

Additional considerations for early years settings

Early years settings should consider the following:

• plan to support the forming of class/room sizes in individual physical spaces
• designated staff should be assigned to each group and meet required adult and child ratios
• the maximum number of children will be the equivalent of class or room size
• children and staff should remain in the same group with the same children every day where possible
• all ratios must continue to be met as per the Early Years Statutory Requirements 
• staffing ensures appropriate cover for break/non-contact times across the service
• no sharing of food, cutlery, crockery or self-service of food should take place
• outdoor spaces should be used by different groups at different times of the day
• sensory play equipment (inside or outside), should only be used by a limited group of children from the same bubble and should be replaced daily or stored and named for each child separately and then must not be shared by other children
• when using sensory play resources, such as sand, that cannot be cleaned or discarded daily, the setting must have a system in place which ensures the resource is used for one daily session only and is then quarantined for 24 hours prior to reusing
• water trays and troughs must be emptied and cleaned daily, paying close attention to hand hygiene and ensuring the sanitising of tools and equipment used at the start and end of the day and in between each use
• children must regularly wash their hands thoroughly and always before and after all messy play activities
• all frequently touched surfaces, equipment, tools and resources used for messy play are to be cleaned frequently and dried before they are used by a different group of children
• plan a range of resources that can be used within each group and stored separately from other groups
• if toys cannot be thoroughly cleaned, they should not be in use
• keep separate resources for your children where possible, for example mark making sets, painting tools, craft tools etc
• hard toys are preferred, as these can be wiped clean after play
• the condition of toys and equipment should be part of the monitoring process and any damaged item that cannot be cleaned or repaired should be discarded
• use outdoor space as much as possible for learning and recreation
• outdoor climbing frames can be used but children must wash their hands thoroughly before and after use
• for babies and younger children physical contact is necessary and essential for positive brain development. Ensure you follow the hygiene rules and ensure you minimise any risk with regular hand washing and ensuring daily personal hygiene is maintained 
• children should be supported in age-appropriate ways to understand the steps they can take to keep themselves safe including regular hand washing and sneezing into a tissue 
• children should be supported to understand the changes and challenges they may be encountering as a result of COVID-19 and staff need to ensure they are aware of children's attachments and their need for emotional support at this time
• equipment used by staff such as stationery, tablets etc. should be allocated to individual staff members where possible and cleaned regularly
  

Keeping staff safe

Ensuring all mitigations are in place and supporting all staff to follow the mitigations, keeps both staff and others safe. Furthermore, it reduces the risks of staff getting and transmitting COVID-19 and being isolated which also supports business continuity.

• use consistent bubbling of staff teams where possible to reduce risk of wider transmission
• staggering breaktimes for staff, reconfiguring seating and tables to optimise spacing and reduce face-to-face interactions in common areas, ensure separate cutlery is allocated for each member of staff and ensure regular sanitising of surfaces and touch points. Staff need to retain 2 metres at all times, including if taking outdoor breaks
• arrange for staff to arrive and leave separately or in bubbles and stagger times where possible
• offer higher risk staff alternative back of house tasks or quieter shifts where possible
• use digital platforms for meetings, debriefing and training. Maintain 2 metres distance, use well ventilated rooms or meet outside
• ensure the COVID risk assessment is regularly reviewed, shared and accessible to all staff. Managers and staff should make time for discussing safety plans ensuring they are understood and achievable as well as allowing individual staff needs to be raised and managed
  

Induction days

These can take place within the following guidelines: 

• new children and parents can attend but whenever parents are on site the total number of people (including staff and teachers) should not exceed 20
• induction days and the mitigation measures associated with them must be included in your risk assessment
  
• ensure that no children or parents that are symptomatic or are isolating for any reason attend the event
• the visits should not take place while the current nursery children are on site
• any areas of the setting that the parents and new children will be occupying for the event must be thoroughly cleaned both after the current nursey children have left for the day and after the visitors have left ready for the children to come back in the next morning
• physical distancing must be adhered to between different grown-ups from different households
  
• all those entering the premises should be asked to thoroughly wash or sanitise their hands on arrival
• limit the amount of time where all attendees are present in the same room – spend as much of the event outdoors as possible
• the setting should keep a record of all those attending for the purposes of contact tracing should the need arise 

Home visits

Introductory home visits by early years staff in the homes of new children can continue following the guidance for people working in other people's homes. 

Additional considerations for nannies

Nannies are able to work in their employer's home, providing that the relevant public health guidance is followed. 

An open line of communication between each employer and nanny is essential and each employer and nanny should consider their individual circumstances accordingly.

The employer must ensure that they also strictly follow the isolation guidance if they, or a household member, are confirmed as COVID-19 or have symptoms. Under such circumstances the nanny should not come to work until the isolation period has ended.

Employers should ensure that they have a single set of PPE available in the house for the nanny (consisting of disposable gloves, disposable apron and surgical grade mask). In the case of a child or the nanny starting to display COVID-19 symptoms while the nanny is at work, the nanny should put on the PPE provided by their employers and contact them to request their return to the home immediately. 

Live-in nannies

Nannies that live in the same property as the family are considered to be part of their household and the public health guidance should be applied as such. 

Shared nannies

Nannies can move between two families providing that all public health guidance is adhered to at all times. One nanny could work between two households and this would create a one nanny bubble. This would mean that the nanny could work in both homes and outings could take place with the children from within this one bubble. Group sizes are to be kept to a maximum of six children. While looking after children within their homes the nanny and the children in their care are considered part of a 'bubble' and therefore it is understood that they will have contact with each other and share play resources while inside the children's house and garden etc. 

Additional considerations for baby and toddler groups

Baby and toddler groups can now proceed if they are able to demonstrate adherence to the public health guidance. In addition to all guidance for early years settings, baby and toddler groups should consider the following:

• symptoms – settings should put processes in place to make sure that parents / carers do not attend the group if they, their children display symptoms of COVID-19 or has recently returned from travel and are isolating
  
• gatherings and events guidance – settings should follow the gatherings and events guidance, the maximum number of people who can attend the group (other than paid or unpaid staff) is 10 people. This includes children of all ages and adults
• collecting contact information - settings must ensure they record the details of all attendees and have this information available to share with the authorities should there be a confirmed case in the setting
• physical distancing – all adults should observe 2 metres physical distancing from anyone outside of their household and the setting should have a process in place to ensure that attendees adhere to this
• activities – groups should consider running activities that do not require the sharing of toys or equipment, for example where each child has their own toy / equipment and it can be washed before and after they have used it
• toys – settings should think very carefully about what toys/equipment is made available and wherever possible limit the number of items.  These should be restricted to things that have a hard surface that can be easily cleaned between users.  All toys should be cleaned between use by different children
• cleaning – as well as each setting having an enhanced cleaning regime, parents/carers should be encouraged to bring alcohol wipes along with them and asked to clean toys that their child/ren have touched before they are played with by another child

Communicating with parents and carers

Settings are advised to communicate directly with parents, children and young people on an ongoing bais. This will enable them to remain informed and able to discuss any anxieties or practicalities.

Display Government posters and signage in appropriate languages.

Tell parents that if their child needs to be accompanied to the educational setting, only one parent should attend, and physical distancing must be observed.

Tell parents, children and young people their allocated drop-off and collection times and the process for doing so, including protocols for minimising adult-to-adult contact (for example, which entrance to use and where possible parents to stay in their cars).

Make clear to parents that they cannot gather at entrance gates or doors or enter the site unless they have a pre-arranged appointment.

Specific guidance for early years and childcare settings

Parents using your service should be informed of the following:

• remind your child that they are expected to follow good hygiene practices - wash and dry their hands regularly, cough into their elbow, don't touch their face
• let your child know that they will see more cleaning
• talk to your child about why it is important that they do not share any food or drinks with others
• children should not be permitted to bring items from home into the setting unless absolutely essential for their wellbeing. Where this is the case items should be appropriately cleaned upon arrival
• ensure travel accessories including buggies, car seats and scooters are not left on the setting premises, but rather in external buggy shelters if necessary
• explain to your child why it's important that they must arrive and leave the grounds at their allotted time
• let the children know that parents are not allowed into the provision and they will say goodbye to them outside the door where they will be met by a member of staff they know
• at pick-up time talk to your child about trying to remember all their things and that you will be waiting outside to collect them. Staff will support this

Checklist for parents and carers 

1. Monitor your child's health and keep them home from school if they are ill

2. Teach and model good hygiene practices for your children:

• explain that they should wash their hands with soap and water frequently. As a minimum, children should wash their hands, on leaving home, before and after eating, after using any shared equipment / resources, after using the toilet, after sneezing or coughing and on returning home

• if soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitiser (with 60% to 70% alcohol content). Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty

• ensure waste (such as used tissues) is safely collected, stored and disposed of

• cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow and avoid touching your face, eyes, mouth, nose

3. Encourage your children to ask questions and express their feelings with you and their teachers. Remember that your child may have different reactions to stress; be patient and understanding   

4. Prevent stigma by using facts and reminding your children to be considerate of one another

5. Explain to your child why it's important that they must arrive and leave the grounds at their allotted time

6. Let younger children know that parents are not allowed into the provision and they will say goodbye to them outside the door where they will be met by a member of staff they know

7. Talk to your child about trying to remember all their things at pikc-up time

8. Let younger children know that you will be waiting outside to collect them

9. Coordinate with the setting to receive information and ask how you can support school safety efforts

Checklist for children and students

Know that you are not alone and talk to someone you trust, like your parents or teachers so that you can help keep yourself and your school safe and healthy.  Ask questions, educate yourself and get information from reliable sources. In a situation like this it is normal to feel sad, worried, confused, scared or angry.

1. Protect yourself and others

• wash your hands frequently, always with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• remember to not touch your face
• do not share cups, eating utensils, food or drinks with others

2. Be a leader in keeping yourself, your school, family and community healthy

• share what you learn about preventing disease with your family and friends, especially with younger children
• model good practices such as sneezing or coughing into your elbow and washing your hands, especially for younger family members

3. Don't tease anyone about being sick; remember that the virus doesn't follow geographical boundaries, ethnicities, age, ability or gender

4. Tell your parents, another family member, or a caregiver if you feel sick, and ask to stay at home

Contact and helpful videos

If you haven't found the information you are looking for, contact the CYPES Hub cypeshub@gov.je.

Helpful videos on the return of schools for parents and children:

• Senator Tracey Vallois explains the measures put in place for the re-opening of schools in Jersey
  
• d'Auvergne School - How schools have adapted during the pandemic
  
• Highlands: returning to college
  
• A message from schools around Jersey