fbpx

Rainforest Learning Centre

Metro Vancouver Daycares with Preschool and Before and After School Care

Announcements

Rainforest Learning Centre COVID-19 Safety Plan

Access to Child Care Facilities:

  • Caregivers , children , parents or management will not be permitted to enter the childcare facility if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or have travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days or have been in close contact with someone who has or who has been identified as someone who has a confirmed case of COVI-19
  • Caregivers with symptoms of COVID -19 will not be permitted to work in the childcare facility and must stay home and self-isolate until they have been assessed by a health care provider to exclude COVID-19 or other infectious disease and are symptom free.
  • It is required that parents are aware of the requirement for them to assess their children daily for any signs of symptoms of the common cold, influenza, COVID -19 or other infectious respiratory disease prior to drop off. Parents must keep their children at home until they have been assessed by a health care provider to exclude COVID-19 or other infectious diseases, and no symptoms remain.

IF A CHILD DEVELOPS SYMPTOMS WHILE AT CHILD CARE:

Staff must take the following steps:

  1. Identify a staff member to supervise the child.
  2. Identified staff member should immediately separate the symptomatic child from others in a supervised area until they can go home.
  3. Contact the child’s parent or caregiver to pick them up right away.
  4. Where possible, maintain a distance of 2 metres from the ill child. If this is not possible, the staff member may use a mask if available and tolerated or use a tissue to cover their nose and mouth.
  5. Provide the child with tissues, and support as necessary so they can practice respiratory hygiene.
  6. Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area.
  7. Avoid touching the child’s body fluids. If you do, wash your hands.
  8. Once the child is picked up, wash your hands.
  9. Clean and disinfect the space where the child was separated and any areas used by the child (e.g., bathroom, common areas).
  10. If concerned, contact the local public health unit to seek further advice.

Parents or caregivers must pick up their child promptly once notified that their child is ill.

IF A CAREGIVER DEVELOPS SYMPTOMS WHILE AT WORK:

Caregivers should go home right away where possible. If unable to leave immediately, the symptomatic caregiver should:

  1. Separate themselves into an area away from others.
  2. Maintain a distance of 2 metres from others.
  3. Use a tissue or mask to cover their nose and mouth while they wait for a replacement or to be picked up.
  4. Remaining caregivers must clean and disinfect the space where the caregiver was separated and any areas used by them (e.g., office, bathroom, common areas).
  5. If concerned, contact the local public health unit to seek further advice.

Pick Up and Drop Off:

  • Drop off and Pick-ups will occur outside of the childcare facility. Parents will not be permitted to enter the building.
  • Sign in desks will be set up outside of each of the program doors.
  • Parents are asked to fill out a health check questionnaire daily
  • Children will be greeted by a caregiver at the door
  • Caregivers will take each child’s temperature prior to entering the building
  • Children will be asked to wash their hands before entering the play area
  • Children will wash their hands before exiting the building at pickup time
  • Parents are asked to maintain physical distance from caregivers and other children and their family
  • Avoid close greetings such as hugs and handshakes

Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette:

All Caregivers and Children are required to wash their hands or use an alcohol-based sanitizer immediately upon entering the facility. Keep Hand Sanitizer out of the reach of children and supervise its use.

Caregivers are required to wash their hands regularly throughout the day, including:

  1. When they arrive at the workplace and before they go home
  2. Before and after handling food (raw, cooked, or pre-packaged), preparing bottles or feeding children
  3. Before and after giving or applying medication or ointment to a child or self
  4. After changing diapers
  5. After assisting a child to use the toilet
  6. After using the toilet » After contact with body fluids (e.g., runny noses, spit, vomit, blood)
  7. Before donning and after doffing personal protective equipment
  8. After cleaning tasks
  9. After handling garbage
  10. Whenever hands are visibly dirty

Support Children to wash their hands regularly throughout the day, including:

  1. When they arrive at the workplace and before they go home
  2. Before and after eating and drinking
  3. After a diaper change
  4. After using the toilet
  5. After playing outside
  6. After handling pets and animals
  7. After sneezing or coughing
  8. Whenever hands are visibly dirty

Provide education and direction to caregivers and children to:

  1. Cough or sneeze into their elbow sleeve or a tissue.
  2. Throw away used tissues and immediately perform hand hygiene.
  3. Not touch their eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

Physical Distancing:

Caregivers should maintain a distance of at least 2 meters from each other. Where it is not possible, for example when transferring a child from one caregiver to another, plan and communicate the work task in advance to ensure that time in proximity is limited.

It is not always possible for workers to maintain physical distance from children, and between children, when in care. Adhere to the principle of physical distancing where possible, by:

  1. Minimizing the frequency of direct physical contact with children.
  2. Forming several separate play areas in order to space children apart. Note that children who live in the same home do not need to maintain physical distance from each other.
  3. Creating smaller groups or cohorts of children and keeping these groups separate from each other.
  4. Minimizing the number of different workers that interact with the same child or group of children.
  5. Organizing snack/meal areas to space children apart.
  6. Organizing nap areas to space children apart and placing children head-to-toe or toe-to-toe.
  7. Including the use of outdoor space for various activities, including snack/mealtime, while adhering to physical distancing and hygiene principles.

Cleaning and Disinfection:

Remove toys from the workplace that have surfaces that are not easily cleaned, such as plush stuffed animals.

  • Ask parents to only bring personal comfort items (e.g., stuffed animals) if they are clean and laundered at the end of each day.
  • Remove unnecessary items from the workplace to reduce surfaces that could become contaminated.
  • Identify all common areas (e.g., washrooms) and frequently touched surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, cupboard handles, light switches, faucet handles, tables, chairs, toys).

General cleaning and disinfecting of the workplace should occur at least once a day.

Frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected at a minimum of twice a day.

  • Toys and objects that children have placed in their mouths should be set aside, for example in a “to be washed” bin, until they are cleaned and disinfected. Toy, objects, and surfaces known to have been in contact with bodily fluids should be cleaned as soon as possible and between uses by different children.
  • Clean and disinfect cots after each use, and launder crib linens between children. Do not shake the linens.
  • Clean and disinfect diapering stations after each use.
  • When holding young children, for example when feeding or rocking to sleep, use a blanket or cloth to cover clothing. Change blankets or cloths between children.
  • Wash blankets, face cloths, towels, and bibs between uses by different children.
  • Empty garbage containers twice daily
  • If a worker or child leaves the workplace due to symptoms of COVID-19, clean areas those individuals were in, including surfaces they may have touched, immediately upon their departure.
  • Maintain an adequate supply of cleaning and disinfection products and materials.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

  • Masks and gloves are available to any caregiver who wishes to wear them, but it Is not mandatory
  • Wear disposable gloves when cleaning body fluids (runny nose, vomit, stool urine) and when diapering.

Meals and Snacks:

  • Sharing of food or drink by caregivers or children is not aloud
  • All meals and snacks will be provided by parents
  • Children will provide their own water bottle to be washed daily
  • Reusable dishware, glasses and utensils must be cleaned and sanitized after each use
  • No self-serve or family style food service will be permitted
  • Children will not participate in food preparation
  • All meals are to be stored in the child’s own belongings. (Lunch kit) when being stored this area must be sanitized regularly. Food stored in fridge needs to be kept in a designated labelled area.

General:

  • Children’s belongings will be stored in their own backpack and removed each day
  • Toothbrush use will be halted
  • Ensure adequate ventilation and open windows when possible
  • Have children outside whenever possible, including play time, activity time, snack time and learning activities.
  • Sanitize high use items such as telephone, computer mouse, tablets, pens etc.