| BACKGROUND |
MANAGEMENT POLICY
COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus that was originally identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO), has declared that COVID-19 outbreak as a ‘pandemic’- a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (effective 11 March 2020). This is mainly due to the speed and scale of transmission of the virus in countries around the world, including Australia. COVID-19 is transmitted from someone who is infected with the virus to others in close contact through contaminated droplets spread by coughing or sneezing or by contact with contaminated hands or surfaces. According to Department of Health, the time of exposure to the virus and when symptoms first occur is anywhere from 2-14 days.
Symptoms can range from a mild illness, similar to a cold or flu, to pneumonia. People with COVID-19 may experience:
• fever
• flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and fatigue
• shortness of breath
The Australian Government is constantly updating the current status of COVID-19 including health recommendations, travel restrictions, and a vast collection of resources and information to help people make informed decisions. As this information is changing rapidly, our Service is monitoring health alerts and implementing measures suggested by key health experts to minimise the transmission of COVID-19.
Moriac Preschool has a range of comprehensive policies in place to guide best practice in relation to health and safety, dealing with infectious diseases and maintaining a child safe environment. Our duty of care and responsibilities to children, parents, families and all staff to provide a safe environment is of utmost importance. The evolving nature of COVID-19 and the unprecedented steps required to protect our community as recommended by the Australian Government, has resulted in the development of a specific policy to assist our Service manage this pandemic
This policy will change as required to ensure the protective measures against COVID-19 as advised by our Government are implemented by our Service.
NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARD (NQS)
| QUALITY AREA 2: CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND SAFETY | |
| 2.1.1 Wellbeing and comfort | Each child’s wellbeing and comfort is provided for, including appropriate opportunities to meet each child’s needs for sleep, rest and relaxation. |
| 2.1.2 Health practices and procedures | Effective illness and injury management and hygiene practices are promoted and implemented. |
| 2.2 Safety | Each child is protected. |
| EDUCATION AND CARE SERVICES NATIONAL REGULATIONS | |
| 77 | Health, hygiene and safe food practices |
| 85 | Incident, injury, trauma and illness policies and procedures |
| 86 | Notification to parents of incident, injury, trauma and illness |
| 87 | Incident, injury, trauma and illness record |
| 88 | Infectious diseases |
| 90 | Medical conditions policy |
| 93 | Administration of medication |
| 162 | Health information to be kept in enrolment record |
| 168 | Education and care service must have policies and procedures |
| PURPOSE |
Our Service will minimise our staff and children’s exposure to COVID-19 by adhering to all recommended guidelines from the Australian Government- Department of Health and local Public Health Units to slow the spread of the virus.
We will implement practices that help to reduce the transmission of the virus including the exclusion of any person (child, educator, staff, parent, visitor or volunteer) that is suspected or has tested positive to having COVID-19. Moriac Preschool will implement effective hygiene practices as per our existing policies and procedures.
| SCOPE |
Moriac Preschool will provide up-to-date information and advice to parents, families and educators sourced from the Australian Government, Department of Health and state Ministry of Health about COVID-19 as it becomes available. Recommendations and health measures mandated by the Health Department will be strictly adhered to at all times.
| IMPLEMENTATION |
This policy applies to children, families, staff, management, and visitors of the Service.
Moriac Preschool is committed to minimise the spread of the COVID-19 virus by implementing recommendations provided by the Australian Government – Department of Health.
Our Service implements procedures as stated in the Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services (Fifth Edition) developed by the Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council as part of our day-today operation of the Service. We are guided by explicit decisions regarding exclusion periods and notification of any infectious disease by the Australian Government- Department of Health and local Public Health Units in our jurisdiction under the Public Health Act. COVID-19 is a notifiable condition in all states and territories of Australia.
In the event of any child, educator, staff member or visitor attending our Service who is suspected or confirmed to have the infection, the Approved Provider will contact their Public Health Unit.
This policy must be read in conjunction with our other Service policies:
• Illness and suspected infectious diseases procedure
• Incident, Accident and Trauma Procedure
• Medical Conditions Procedure
• Handwashing Procedure
• Cleaning Procedure
• Child and Educator Interaction Procedure
• Payment of Fees Procedure
MINIMISING THE TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19
Our Service has implemented risk management planning to identify any possible risks and hazards to our learning environment and practices. Where possible, we have eliminated or minimised these risks as is reasonably practicable. Effective 15 March 2020, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has made recommendations to the general public to help manage the spread of COVID-19. These measures include implementing good hygiene, self-isolation and social distancing. Our staff are committed to assist in infection prevention controls and have completed the Department of Health developed COVID-19 infection control training.
Moriac preschool will adhere to the regular updates imposed by the Victorian Government.
Masks will be worn by all staff when not teaching children directly
IMMUNISATION
Whilst there is no vaccination for COVID-19, we strongly recommend that all staff, children and families receive the seasonal influenza vaccination.
HYGIENE PRACTICES
• Moriac Preschool will ensure signs and posters remind employees and visitors of the risks of
COVI19 and the measures that are necessary to stop its spread including hand
washing and hand rub procedures and information about COVID-19.
• These will also be communicated to families through email, SeeSaw and social
media.
• All staff, Children, families and visitors will wash hands on arrival and departure
• Extensive and escalated cleaning checklists have been implemented at the preschool
which get completed twice daily.
THE APPROVED PROVIDER, NOMINATED SUPERVISOR, EDUCATORS, STAFF, FAMILIES AND VISITORS WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING:
EXCLUSION/ SELF-ISOLATION/ SELF-QUARANTINE
• effective 28 March 2020, any person entering Australia from any destination will be required to undertake 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (Australian Government)
• parents agree to an overall wellness check to be undertaken on their child when they arrive each day by an educator
• if any symptoms are evident during the wellness check, families agree to take their child home again until symptoms are gone
• any person who has been in close contact with someone who has a positive diagnosis must self-isolate for 14 days
• household members of a person who has a confirmed case (including children) of COVID-19 must also be isolated from the childcare Service and general public
• we will continue to follow the advice of the Public Health Unit in regards further information on a case-by-case basis as to the length and place of isolation.
• families must immediately advise the Service if they, or anyone in their family, develops any symptoms of the virus or receives a positive result of the virus whilst in isolation
• any person (employee, enrolled child, parent, caregiver, visitor or contractor) who is displaying symptoms such as: fever, coughing, sore throat, fatigue and shortness of breath, must seek urgent medical attention to determine if they need to be tested for COVID-19 and not attend our Service under any circumstance
IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE HYGIENE MEASURES
• Handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds whenever you cough, sneeze or blow your nose, prepare food or eat, touch your face or use the toilet is recommended.
• Our Service will adhere to National Regulation requirements and Government guidelines to ensure all educators, children, families and visitors to the Service implement best practice.
• Moriac Preschool will ensure:
o all employees, parents, children and visitors must wash their hands with soap and water or use the alcohol-based hand santiser provided upon arrival
o hands must be thoroughly dried using disposal paper and disposed of in the bin provided
o disposable tissues must be used to wipe noses, eyes or mouths and disposed of in the bin provided immediately after use
o hands must be washed following the use of tissues
o hands must be washed thoroughly using soap and water before and after using the toilet
o cough and sneeze etiquette must be used- cover your cough and sneeze with your hand or elbow
o educators and staff must adhere to our Handwashing Procedure at all times
o children are supervised when washing hands
o educators and staff must adhere to effective food preparation and food handling procedures
o educators will wash their hands or use alcohol-based sanitiser, before wearing gloves and wash their hands after wearing gloves
o educators and staff must adhere to our area specific and whole centre cleaning checklist for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and equipment (such as toys, puzzles, outdoor toys, bedding, playdough etc) follow the recommendations set out by Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services.
o equipment, resources and surfaces including high-touch surfaces- taps, door handles, light switches, nappy change areas and toys will be cleaned more frequently as required using detergent and water followed by disinfectant
o washroom facilities for employees have adequate supplies of soap, toilet paper and hand towel
SOCIAL DISTANCING IN CHILDCARE
• Social distancing is important because COVID-19 is most likely spread from person-to person through close contact with a person while they are infectious, close contact with a person with a confirmed infection who coughs or sneezes or from touching objects or surfaces (such as door handles or tables) contaminated from a cough or sneeze from a person with a confirmed infection and then touching your nose or mouth. (source: Australian Government Department of Health. Coronavirus disease)
• Social distancing in early childhood education and care is not feasible for educators to perform their job, however we will implement measures to minimise the risk of exposure as reasonably practicable.
• Marks to be made on the footpath outside of Kinder to guide families to social distance when arriving
Families will be asked to have only one member to drop off and pick up to limit amount of people.
• To reduce the spread of COVID-19 parents are reminded of the following:
o if your child is sick, do not send them to Moriac Preschool
o do not visit our Service if you or another family member is unwell
o sanitise your hands at regular intervals throughout the day
o avoid physical contact with other people who may be sick- such as older people and people with existing health conditions
o clean and disinfect high touch surfaces regularly (door handles, car seats, mobile phone, toys, dummies)
o promote strictest hygiene measures when preparing food at home and at the Preschool
o if using public transport, maintain physical distancing measures during any trip
SUSPECTED CASES OF COVID-19 AT OUR SERVICE •
As per our Illness and Suspected Infectious Disease Procedure we reserve the right to refuse a child into care if they:
o are unwell and unable to participate in normal activities or require additional attention
o have had a temperature/fever, or vomiting in the last 24 hours
o have had diarrhoea in the last 48 hours
o have been given medication for a temperature prior to arriving at the Service
o have started a course of anti-biotics in the last 24 hours or
o if we have reasonable grounds to believe that a child has a contagious or infectious disease (this includes COVID-19)
• If your child becomes ill whilst at the Service, educators will respond to their individual symptoms of illness and provide comfort and care.
o Educators will take your child’s temperature. If the temperature is above 37.5°C you will be contacted immediately and required to collect your child within 30 minutes. If you are unable to collect your child, an emergency contact person will be contacted, and they must collect your child within 30 minutes.
• Educators will attempt to lower your child’s temperature by:
o removing excessive clothing (shoes, socks, jumpers) o encourage your child to take small sips of water
o move your child to a quiet area where they can rest whilst being supervised
o Educators will wear disposable gloves
o Educators will keep accurate records of the child’s temperature, time taken, time parent/s were contacted, staff member’s name and time of collection.
o All information will be recorded in our Incident, Illness, Accident and Trauma Record. Parents will be required to sign this record upon collection of their child.
• Parents are reminded to ensure their contact details are current and emergency contact details are updated if required.
• Our Service also reserves the right to prevent employees, parents, family members or visitors to enter our premises if the Approved Provider or Nominated Supervisor suspects instances of COVID-19.
NOTIFICATION
The Approved Provider or Nominated Supervisor is mandated by law to notify the Public Health Unit or Health Information hotline on 1800 020 080 of any confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. In addition, the Approved Provider must also notify the Regulatory Authority in their state or territory within 24 hours. Management reserves the right to request employees to self-isolate if they suspect they have come into contact with someone who has a confirmed COVID-19 infection.
State and Territory specific information:
ACT Health- Latest information about COVID-19
NSW Health alert COVID_19
Northern Territory Government Department of Health
Queensland Health – Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
SA Health – Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Tasmanian Government Department of Health – Coronavirus
Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services – Coronavirus disease
(COVID-19)
Western Australian Government Department of Health – Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Source:
• Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2014).
• Australian Government Department of Health Health Topics Health Topics
Coronavirus COVID-19
• Australian Government Department of Health Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for
travellers https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-infectioncontrol-training
• Australian Government Fair Work Ombudsman Coronavirus and Australian workplace
laws (updated 13 March 2020) https://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/news-andmedia-releases/website-news/coronavirus-and-australian-workplace-laws
Journey Early Learning 2020
• Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment Information
for child care providers and services https://docs-edu.govcms.gov.au/node/53362
• Australian Government Federal Register of Legislation Child Care Subsidy Amendment
(Coronavirus Economic Response Package) 23 March 2020
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00295?utm_source=Facebook&utm_c
ontent=240320
• Australian Government The Treasury JobKeeper payment
• Fair Work Ombudsman Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws (2020)
https://coronavirus.fairwork.gov.au/coronavirus-and-australian-workplace-laws
• Guide to the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care
Services National Regulations.
• (2017).
• Guide to the National Quality Standard. (2020)
• National Health and Medical Research Council. (2012). Staying healthy: Preventing
infectious diseases in early
• childhood education and care services.
• Public Health Act 2010
• Public Health Amendment Act 2017
• Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 Victoria
• The Australian Parenting website Raising children
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/a-z-health-reference/coronavirus-and-children-in-australia
• Revised National Quality Standard. (2018).