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Covid-19 Practices and Procedures

Dear valued Daycare Families,

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking every precaution to ensure that our Daycare remains a safe place for your children and our staff.

Every effort will be made to maintain the welcoming and caring environment that our Daycare has always sustained.

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Cleaning Our Childcare Home

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  • Frequently touched surfaces, (ie. door knobs, light switches, toilet and facet handles, table tops, etc.) will be cleaned throughout the day.

  • We will continue to regularly clean and sanitize the space, toys and equipment.

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Masks, P.P.E., and Hygiene

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  • Masks are not recommended for young children, especially children under the age of 2.  Children in Daycares are exempt from wearing masks.

  • As a Home Childcare Provider, I have secured and will sustain, the amount of P.P.E., and cleaning supplies needed to support my current and ongoing operation of my Daycare.

  • We perform and promote frequent, proper hand hygiene.  Hand washing using soap and water is recommended over alcohol-based hand sanitizer for children.​

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Records

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As a Home Childcare Provider, I will keep screening results, wellness checks and COVID-19 records for 14 days, at our Home Daycare.  (This amount of time was decided upon after talking to several people at The Ministry of Education and The Ministry of Health.)

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Testing Requirements

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If you or your child show any signs of the virus, we recommend that you have a COVID-19 test and we ask that you remain home. According to the Ontario government website:

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If you have symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, assume that you may have the virus and may be contagious.

Symptoms include:

  • fever or chills

  • cough

  • shortness of breath

  • decreased or loss of taste or smell

  • two or more of:

    • runny nose or nasal congestion

    • headache

    • extreme fatigue

    • sore throat

    • muscle aches or joint pain

    • gastrointestinal symptoms (such as vomiting or diarrhea)

If you have these symptoms, you must isolate:

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  • for at least 10 days if you are:

  • over the age of 12 and not fully vaccinated

  • immunocompromised

  • live in a highest risk setting

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  • Your isolation period begins the day after you noticed your symptoms or the day after you took a test (if eligible) – whichever came first. The day you first noticed symptoms or took the test is considered day zero.

  • If you reach the end of your isolation period and have a fever or other symptoms, you must continue to isolate until your symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if the symptoms affect the digestive system) and you have no fever.

  • If you feel sick but your symptoms are not in the list above, stay home until you feel better for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if the symptoms affect the digestive system).

 

 

​If Illness Occurs while at Daycare

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  • If a child becomes ill while at Daycare, they will be isolated and family members will be contacted to pick them up.

  • A staff member will stay with the child until a parent/guardian arrives. If tolerated and above the age of 2, the child will be encouraged to wear a mask and not interact with others.

  • All items used or touched by the child will be disinfected or cleaned.  All items that cannot be cleaned, (ie. paper books) will be removed and sealed in a container for at least 7 days.

  • If 2 or more staff or students become ill, the Program may be shut down for 5 days.

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If you/your child have travelled outside Canada we recommend that you follow all of the current government recommendations and rules for travel.

If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please remain home and take a COVID test.  For more information contact Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000 or your primary care provider.

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Staff Vaccinations

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Our staff have both received 2 vaccinations plus a booster.  We are currently at the maximum vaccinations for COVID-19.

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Drop off and pick-up procedures

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  • Parents/Guardians are to physical distance from other parents and children if they arrive at the same time.

  • Parents/Guardians are asked to physical distance, (when possible), from staff.

  • Parents are asked to stop at the door and not go past the screening area.

  • Hand sanitizer is available, at the Daycare entrance.

  • Personal items should be minimized.  If a child brings personal items they should be labelled, and will be kept in a designated area.

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Parent Fees

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There will be no charge to parents, if our Daycare is closed and they do not have access to a space. 

Parents are responsible to pay for days their children are not in attendance, because of illness, appointments or vacation.

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Space set-up

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  • The children are spread out in different areas, when possible. while still maintaining a safe, welcoming and caring environment.

  • Individual activities have been incorporated into our program.

  • Our Daycare centre has been re-designed to allow for cribs, playpens and beds to be 2 meters apart.

  • Our Daycare centre has been re-designed to encourage individual play areas.

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Air Quality

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We strive to have the best air quality possible in our Daycare.

  • We have an air-exchange on our furnace, that we run as necessary.

  • We have a heppa filter in our furnace.

  • We have an air purifier, that is used when and where needed.

  • We have several indoor plants, including a spider plant and pineapple plant, that clean the air.

  • We open windows, weather permitting.

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Equipment and Toy Restrictions

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  • We strive to provide toys and equipment, which are made of materials that can be cleaned and disinfected.

  • Toys that are mouthed are cleaned and disinfected immediately after the child is finished with it.

  • We have purchased new crayons for each child.  They are stored in ziploc baggies with their name and colour dot on it.

  • We have individual containers of playdough for each child with their name on it.

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Outdoor

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  • Children are encouraged to bring their own sunscreen.  Our preference is spray sunscreen to minimize contact, (rubbing in).

  • Our yard is large and allows for lots of space for each child.

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Food Provision

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  • We have changed our meal practices to ensure there is no sharing of food.

  • Utensils are used to serve food.

  • Meals and snacks are served in individual portions.

  • Dishes, utensils and cups are colour coded.  Each child has their own colour.

  • We ensure proper hand hygiene is practiced, when staff are preparing food.

  • Each child has their own highchair or chair.  They are not shared.  They are cleaned and disinfected after use.

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Links and Resources

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Early Years Portal

Ontario Ministry of Education

www.edu.gov.on.ca/chilcare/professionals.html

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Provincial Covid-19 website

https://covid-19.ontario.ca

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Public Health Ontario Resources Page

https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/diseases-and-conditions/infectious-diseases/respiratory-diseases/novel-coronavirus/publicresources

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Thank you for your co-operation, as we focus on being compliant with the rules and regulations outlined by the Ministry of Health and the government of Ontario.

It is our goal to provide a safe and caring environment for each child in our care.  We are always researching the safest ways of running our Daycare.  We appreciate parents' input into any way we can better serve the children in our care.

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Stay safe!

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