EMERGENCY RISK RESPONSE POLICY RESPONSE TO Covid-19 PANDEMIC 2020
Summary
This specific emergency risk response policy contains a summary of the risk, our risk response, business continuity plan and the impact on providing our services should widespread outbreak of Covid-19 occur in the UK and government action plans are put in place.
This includes our worst-case scenario risk response, and whilst we remain optimistic, this will ensure we are proactive and not just reactive in this ever- changing global situation. It will also ensure our pupils, their parents/carers and our staff are clear on their individual expectations, obligations and responsibilities.
Performatots Early Years Creative Learning Academy and ACTAcademy Stage School are taking the situation in relation to Covid-19 seriously, and our biggest priority is to keep our children and our staff safe, paying particular regard to those with high risk conditions or underlying health implications who regularly access our school.
It is everyone’s responsibility to follow all public official guidance in order to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus. The needs of staff, parents, visitors and children have all been considered in this guidance.
Our aim is to work together with the government to limit the impact of Covid-19 as much as possible and ensure we are able to sustain any forced closure as an independent business.
Services will continue as usual, until such time as the government enter the
‘Delay Phase’ of their action plan and officially restrict movement or social contact, or coronavirus is tested for and discovered within our schools.
Information follows on what controls and measures we have put in place within our building to date and what to expect in the event of a forced closure in the future, if the situation arises.
As an educational establishment, we are in daily contact with the Government, The World Health Organisation, Public Health England/ Scotland, NYCC and the Department for Education, taking all current advice and recommendations as the situation inevitably and unpredictably develops.
This policy may be updated as this unprecedented situation evolves.
CORONA VIRUS INFORMATION
What is Covid-19?
A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China in January 2020.
The incubation period of COVID-19 is between 2 and 14 days. This means that if a person remains well 14 days after contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus, it is unlikely that they have been infected.
The following symptoms may develop in the 14 days after exposure to someone who has COVID-19 infection:
• cough
• difficulty in breathing
• fever
Generally, these infections can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. There is no evidence that children are more affected than other age groups – very few cases have been reported in children.
HOW COVID-19 IS SPREAD
From what we know about other coronaviruses, spread of COVID-19 is most likely to happen when there is close contact (within 2 metres) with an infected person. It is likely that the risk increases the longer someone has close contact with an infected person.
Droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes (termed respiratory secretions) containing the virus are most likely to be the most important means of transmission.
There are 2 routes by which people could become infected:
• secretions can be directly transferred into the mouths or noses of people who are nearby (within 2 metres) or could be inhaled into the lungs
• it is also possible that someone may become infected by touching a surface or object that has been contaminated with respiratory secretions and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes (such as touching a door knob or shaking hands then touching own face).
There is currently no good evidence that people who do not have symptoms are infectious to others.
The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus.
Our Risk Response
IMMEDIATE INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES AT ACTAcademy and Performatots
• This policy has been displayed in our school and guidance issued to parents via our text and social media channels and if you have any particular queries relating to this policy, please email the school on either hello@performatots.co.uk or info@actacademy.co.uk
• Please advise us immediately if you feel any face to face contact may pose a high-risk threat to learner or staff.
• The NHS advice is to avoid anyone who is unwell, therefore we would really encourage you to be mindful of any respiratory infection symptoms (symptoms of a cold, fever or cough) and keep your child OFF their usual activities over the next few weeks.
• An enhanced cleaning regime is now in place, to focus on communal surface areas for the next 30 days, when we will review the situation.
• Increased hand washing procedures are in place for staff and children.
• Any visitors who are visiting the setting for more than a drop off are asked to wash their hands, on entry and hand sanitizer is available for all those entering the building.
• Signs are in place on all entrances to the building.
• All children are learning about the importance of hand washing in a fun and age-appropriate way.
• Unlike many businesses we cannot avoid bodily contact, or children touching their faces or mouths! However, during operation, we will be encouraging proper handwashing at regular intervals, especially around any snack
or mealtimes, using the toilet or going outside. Antibacterial gel stations are also in all toilet areas.
• We will be avoiding any contact with farm or wild animals during this time.
• Coughs and sneezes should be covered, and children are encouraged to catch their coughs and sneezes in tissues, which are placed in a bin, washing hands afterwards.
• All staff have been directed to read and understand updates to current control measures at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to- educational-settings-about-covid-19
PARENTAL OBLIGATIONS
• Please inform us of any travel plans and adhere to the government travel guidance as detailed on the Foreign Office and Commonwealth Country Advice Pages.
• We politely ask that any child who has travelled abroad stays away from ACTAcademy classes or Pre-school for a 5-day period to monitor for symptoms.
• Please ensure your emergency contact details are up to date.
• Please do NOT bring any toys or comforters into the setting from home.
• Please sanitize your hands, on entry to the building.
• Children suspected of not being well will be temperature checked during the day using the latest digital thermometers.
• Any child presenting with symptoms of any upper respiratory tract infection should remain at home until fully well, until further notice.
• Any child presenting with a raised temperature of 37.5 will be asked to stay at home to monitor any further symptoms. A normal temperature in a baby or child is 36.4.
• We really need to be vigilant to suspected illness. Please DO NOT bring your child to Pre-School if they have had Calpol or they do not seem themselves, these are first signs of your child becoming ill and they need to
be closely monitored at home to avoid the spread of germs.
• We only expect fully well children to attend their pre-school or stage school over the coming weeks as the situation progresses.
• Parents should be mindful that there is a high possibility of future closure and suspension of our services as the global situation progresses, and it would be prudent to explore options for their employers to allow them also to work remotely/from home in the event of school/nursery closures to prevent spread of infection.
We wholeheartedly support a cautious approach to attending Performatots or ACTAcademy at this time.
If you cannot/do not wish to attend Performatots Early Years Creative Learning Academy or ACTAcademy Stage School over the coming weeks, please inform us ASAP. This will aid us in the deployment and management of staff during the pandemic.
• School Office on 01423 202646
• hello@performatots.co.uk or
• Text the Duty Mobile Phone on 07984343944
SUSPECTED CASES INFORMATION
• Temporary isolation will be arranged should we have any concerns about anyone showing any symptoms of the virus, whilst further investigation occurs.
• Anyone showing signs of the virus SHOULD NOT be sent to a hospital, a GP surgery, Health Centre, or Pharmacists.
• Should anyone develop any symptoms they are advised to call NHS Direct on 111 and follow any advice given over the call (or 999 if they are seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk.)
Emergency Closure Information
A number of factors could cause us to temporarily close, including but not limited to:
• Forced proactive closure by the government
• Staff illness resulting in compromised ratios
• A number of suspected cases of the virus in our schools may force a reactive closure
• We are unable to source necessary resources for opening due to shortages (Eg soap, toilet roll, food for meals
etc)
As reiterated above, we want parents to be mindful that there is a high possibility of forced emergency closure and suspension of our services as the global situation progresses, and it would be prudent to explore options in advance for employers to allow parents also to work remotely/from home in the event of school/nursery closures to prevent spread of infection.
In the event of a temporary closure, we will inform families as soon as reasonably possible and aim to provide the following for our children and families whilst we are suspending face to face services:
ACTAcademy Stage School
• Training sessions and lessons will continue via the most appropriate channel for pupils to continue their learning and work at home. We will aim to use a wide media platform including pre-recorded YouTube tutorials and/or Video link/ Facebook-Live lessons.
• We will endeavour to ensure classes can continue via online learning, enabling pupils to engage in meaningful and developmental online workshops during any emergency closure.
• Tutors to set practical ‘homework’ for stage school pupils, where deemed appropriate to share with tutors and/or classmates via safe online learning platforms.
• Each student will have the opportunity to request a personal phone call home from a tutor to ensure they can access the learning materials and answer any queries they may have.
• Staff will be planning and teaching as usual via online methods. Some staff may have to take leave during this period, and we will endeavour to use the time to impact pupils’ future experiences at our stage school in a number of positive ways. E.g./ A makeover of the facilities, professional development opportunities or planning an extra event for the future during any period of self-isolation.
Performatots Early Years Creative Learning Academy
• We will aim to provide parents and pupils with a daily social media blog/vlog post from teachers, outlining ideas for play and learning and development at home, during a period of emergency closure.
• We will use our school website and other safe online platforms to share our home-learning with each other and ensure a sense of community as we all pull together to ensure a smooth and swift return to normal pre- school life.
• At Performatots Early Years Creative Learning Academy, we will aim to continue assessment of your child’s interests, learning needs and monitor progress via teachers having phone appointments or via video link/email with parents and pupils each week. This measure will also attempt to maintain the positive relationships between teachers and pupils in the absence of seeing them in person for any period.
• Two full-time monitored telephone lines to enable parents/pupils to directly talk to their child’s class teachers to discuss any achievements, challenges or answer any queries during normal operating hours.
• Teachers will either take leave during periods of emergency closure or be given training tasks and development projects to put plans into practice once we re-open. We aim to use any emergency closure time to invest in some concentrated staff professional development for your child’s teachers that will directly and positively impact the Pre-School’s future. Parents will be informed of investments in staff training and how this will impact their child’s future experiences at Performatots.
Conclusion
These measures and this policy have been written to ensure that we can sustain our wonderful independent school during an unprecedented period of global crisis and be able to return to business as usual at the very earliest opportunity. Usual fees are due as normal during any emergency closure outside our control that interrupts business, as per our ‘Force Majeure’ policy. If you wish to terminate your contract with us during any period of emergency closure, please speak to the school office for information on your specific notice period and terms and conditions. Please note that as we are full, places terminated will not be guaranteed to be available once any temporary closure is over as any available places will be offered to those on our current waiting lists. Pupils may however join the end of the waiting list for a place, in the hope one becomes available in the future.
Thank You for Your Cooperation
Thank you so much in advance for your continued support of our staff and school. We simply couldn’t do this without your support. We will keep you updated on social media and our website blog as the situation advances.