Here we have put together a list of frequently asked questions directly linked to Covid -19 to help answer some of your queries.
We are prioritising our time ensuring we have the effective measures in place to protect our staff and children but if you have any further questions, that aren’t answered on this page, please email Georgie at thelittlefireflyforestschool@gmail.com, who will update the questions and answers on this page regularly.
What to do if your Child has been asked to Self-Isolate for 10 Days.
If your child has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID then they will need to stay at home and self-isolate until for 10 days. This is in order to reduce the further spread of COVID 19 to others in the community. Please click here for the official government guidance. You and other members of your household can continue normal activities and do not need to self isolate provided your child does not develop symptoms within the 10 day self-isolation period. If your child is well at the end of the 10 days period of self-isolation, then they can return to usual activities and return to nursery.
If my child has to self isolate do I need to?
You and other members of your household can continue normal activities and do not need to self isolate provided your child does not develop symptoms within the 10 day self-isolation period.
What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19?
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must not come to nursery and should remain at home for at least 10 days from the date when their symptoms appeared. Anyone with symptoms will be eligible for testing and this can be arranged via https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.
All other household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 10 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’. Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection The 10-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill / starting showing symptoms. Household members should not go to work, school, nursery or public areas and exercise should be taken within the home.
If you require help with buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, or walking a dog, you should ask friends or family. Alternatively, you can order your shopping online and medication by phone or online.
Household members staying at home for 10 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community. If you are able, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period.
Do I need to wear a mask when collecting or dropping off my child, even if this is from outside?
We would like all parents during drop off and collection to wear a mask to provide another layer of protection for yourselves and the team. Regardless if you are dropping off or collecting from an outside area please wear a mask. The World Health Organisation published a statement on 21 August about children and face coverings. They now advise that “children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults, in particular when they cannot guarantee at least a 1-metre distance from others and there is widespread transmission in the area.”
We are asking that masks are worn as another layer of protection for yourself and for our team, especially at this time of rising cases of COVID-19. At times it may not be possible to self-distance when collecting the children from the parents especially the younger children.
There are no consequences for not wearing a mask when dropping off and collecting the children, this is just an additional safety measure we have introduced to protect yourselves and the team and like with all of our policies and procedures we would kindly ask you to follow them.
Do I have to wear a mask if I am exempt from wearing a mask?
No, we understand and respect that some people are exempt from wearing masks.
My child was asked to self isolate due to being in contact with someone with COIVD, they have been tested over the weekend and it has come back negative. Can my child attend nursery?
If your child has been asked to self isolate due to being in close contact with some positive then your child will need to self isolate for the full 10 days. Even if you get them a test and it was negative at the time of taking it, it doesn’t mean symptoms would arise in the 14 days.
My child has been displaying symptoms of COVID what do I do?
Your child will need to self-isolate until they have a COVID test which will determine next steps.
My child was displaying symptoms of COVID so I got them tested but the test has come back as Negative, can they return to nursery?
If your child has not been in contact with a confirmed case and has a negative result – yes they can return back to nursery providing they are well enough to attend.
I would like to return my child to nursery, what terms and conditions apply?
Exactly the same terms and conditions as applied before the Covid-19 pandemic now apply, so please refer to your original contracts.
Will regular termly invoicing be suspended for any reason?
No, invoicing will resume as it was before Covid-19 pandemic.
If The Little Firefly Forest School close the nursery my child attends, do I have to pay?
No, if the nursery is closed due to Covid -19 then fee's will not apply. We may ask parents for a small contribution to ensure their place is reserved and to cover the payment of unavoidable costs such as Tapestry, to ensure we can continue running post closure.
If my child is self-isolated (high-risk, advised, or voluntary) will I have to pay?
Yes. We still require payment for the place. However, if a family provides notice on the place we will do our upmost to fill the place quickly to reduce cost to families.
In the event of staff shortages and the nursery not being able to provide childcare, do I still have to pay?
We do not expect to have staff shortages at this time but if a staff shortage did occur, and we were not able to utilise our bank, casual colleagues, and our staff ratios to children were at risk, then we would be forced to turn children away and you would not be charged. We have never had to do this in the past, and have no expectation that we would need to in the future.
What happens if there is a confirmed case in my child’s nursery?
If a child or staff member develops COVID symptoms they will isolate from other children and staff at the nursery and we request they are collected asap. Parents will be asked to gain a COVID test for their child and keep the nursery updated with results as soon as they receive them.
The nursery will update you with details of a confirmed case of COVID-19. Further updates will be given if recommended by Public Health England (PHE) or Department of Education (DfE).
Will I be charged fees if my child has to self isolate for 10 days due to a positive COVID case in the setting?
No, if we have a confirmed positive case in our setting we will close. Parents will not be charged usual fee's but may be asked for a small contribution to cover unavoidable costs that ensure we can reopen when we can.
Is it safe to bring my child into a setting at this time?
The nurseries will follow the guidance given by Public Health England as per any other notifiable virus, such as measles, mumps and scarlet fever, and staff will spend more time on cleaning and hygiene, and less on administration, record keeping and audit during this period.
Children seem to be getting the virus very mildly but there are no guarantees of this and it is a worrying time for us all. Children with diminished immunity (letter from their GP) should be kept at home. Every effort will be made to be calm and positive at nursery, and to keep things as normal as possible, so that the children can be as relaxed and happy, as this is good for their immune systems and also for their education.