Pyrford Preschool

Infection Control Policy

(Including Hygiene practice to prevent the spread of infection during COVID -19)

Pyrford Preschool is committed to ensuring that our setting is a safe and healthy place for all children, parents/carers, staff and volunteers.   We recognise that infections can spread quickly amongst young children so our efforts are to maximise control of infections through safe and hygienic working  practises.  Infection control procedures are adhered to as much as possible in accordance with DfE and Public Health England guidance. Reasonable adjustments are made for our setting.

It is the responsibility of the manager of the day to ensure that children/staff who have a contagious illness are excluded from the setting for the recommended time. Please see NHS exclusion guidelines by referring to: www.england.nhs.uk/south/info-professional/public-health/infection-winter/schools-nurseries where you will find the Exclusion Table which advises on the time period that a child needs to be excluded from preschool if they have an infectious condition and “The Spotty Book – Notes on infectious diseases in Schools and Nurseries” .

  1. In general, individuals who are known to be unwell with infectious diseases must not  attend preschool, although mild sniffles and colds need not necessarily prevent an individual attending.
  2. If a child has had sickness and/or diarrhoea, we operate a48hr exclusion policy and your child should not return to the Preschool until 48 hours after the last bout of illness.
  3. If a child becomes ill during care, parents/carers must be contacted and the child taken home if necessary. Please keep our records of your emergency contact details up to date.
  4. Parents should be requested to notify the setting if their child has an infectious disease.
  5. Staff members also have a duty to ensure the setting is aware if they are unwell or have been diagnosed with an infectious disease.
  6. The setting should notify parents if a significant risk to other children exists.
  7. The length of time an individual should be excluded from preschool depends on the type in infection they have had. If in doubt, please contact the Health Protection Team to discuss this. 
  8. Please note that you may have to take time off, or make other arrangements for your child’s care, if your child is ill.
  9. Please make us aware if your child is more susceptible to infection due to underlying diseases or treatment.
  10. If in doubt seek further advice from your Health Visitor, GP or the Public Health England Health Protection Team

Our prime concern is always for the health, safety and welfare of all the children and staff at the setting.  If children are unwell, they should be kept at home and a period of recovery allowed.  If you are in doubt about your child attending Preschool due to illness, please do not hesitate to contact Jen Don Carolis.

Date policy written:         Aug 2011Last review September 2022

Hygiene practice to prevent the spread of infection during COVID -19 ,

Update to Infection Control Policy – September 2022

It is no longer a legal requirement to test for COVID-19, however to prevent the spread of infection, if you feel unwell you should try to stay at home.

The COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings guidance is followed, specifically:

  • Surfaces that children and young people are touching, such as toys, books, tables, chairs, doors, sinks, toilets, light switches, are cleaned more regularly than normal;
  • All adults and children are told to:
    • frequently wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and dry thoroughly;
    • clean their hands before and after eating, and after sneezing or coughing;
    • are encouraged not to touch their mouth, eyes and nose
  • Tissues are available to wipe noses and children are normally encouraged to do this themselves with close adult supervision. Tissues are thrown into a bin which is emptied at the end of the 3 hour session.
  • Children are supervised with hand washing;
  •  Children are encouraged to learn and practise these habits through pictures, games, songs and repetition;
  • All spaces are well ventilated using natural ventilation (opening windows) or ventilation units where possible;
  • Doors are propped open, where safe to do so (bearing in mind fire safety and safeguarding), to limit use of door handles and aid ventilation;
  • Children wash their hands with soap before and after cooking or eating for no less than 20 seconds.  They are supervised by adults.
  • Additional alcohol-based sanitiser (that contains no less than 60 percent alcohol) is provided
  • Sufficient amounts of soap (or hand sanitiser where applicable), clean water, paper towels and waste disposal bins are supplied in all toilets and kitchen areas.
  • Bar soap is not used, liquid soap dispensers used instead.
  • Children do not share cutlery, cups, plates or food.
  • All utensils are thoroughly cleaned before and after use.
  • Continuously used play equipment is cleaned regularly.
  • Spillages of bodily fluids, e.g. respiratory and nasal discharges, are cleaned up immediately in line with Cleaning in non-healthcare settings guidance
  • Children are encouraged to cough or sneeze into their elbow and use a tissue to cover their mouths where possible, disposing of the tissue in specific bins.
  • Children clean their hands after they have coughed or sneezed.
  • Parents are asked not to bring their children to the setting or on the setting premises if they show signs of being unwell.
  • Children who have tested positive for COVID-19 should stay at home till their symptoms have gone, a minimum of three days.
  • Staff are vigilant and report concerns about a child’s symptoms to the manager of the day.
  • The setting is consistent in its approach to the management of suspected and confirmed cases of Covid.

The most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any of the following:

  • a new continuous cough
  • a high temperature
  • a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For most people, Covid will be a mild illness.  Children are likely to become infected with covid at roughly the same rate as adults, but the infection is usually mild. 

Date policy written:         May 2020 Latest reviewed: September 2022