At CJ’s Little Pickles we promote the good health of all children attending through maintaining high hygiene standards and reducing the chances of infection being spread. We follow the Health protection in schools and other childcare facilities guidance which sets out when and how long children need to be excluded from settings, when treatment/medication is required and where to get further advice from.
Viruses and infections can be easily passed from person to person by breathing in air containing the virus which is produced when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. It can also spread through hand/ face contact after touching a person or surface contaminated with viruses.
We follow the guidance below to prevent a virus or infection from moving around the nursery. Our staff:
• Encourage all children to use tissues or into their arm when coughing and sneezing to catch germs
• Ensure all tissues are disposed of in a hygienic way and all children and staff wash their hands or sanitise once the tissue is disposed of
• Develop children’s understanding of the above and the need for good hygiene procedures in helping them to stay healthy
• Wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when changing nappies, toileting children and dealing with any other bodily fluids. Staff are requested to dispose of these in the appropriate manner and wash hands immediately
• Clean and sterilise all potties and changing mats before and after each use
• Clean toilets at least daily and check them throughout the day
• Remind children to wash their hands before eating, after visiting the toilet, playing outside or being in contact with any animal and explain the reasons for this
• Clean all toys, equipment and resources on a regular basis by following a comprehensive cleaning rota and using antibacterial cleanser or through washing in the washing machine
• Wash or clean all equipment used by babies and toddlers as and when needed including when the children have placed it in their mouth
• Store dummies in individual hygienic dummy boxes labelled with the child’s name to prevent cross contamination with other children
• Immediately clean and sterilise (where necessary) any dummy or bottle that falls on the floor or is picked up by another child
• Provide labelled individual bedding for children that is not used by any other child and wash this at least once a week
• Ask parents and visitors to remove all outdoor footwear or use shoe covers when entering the nursery.
• Where applicable wear specific indoor shoes or slippers whilst inside the rooms and make sure that children wear them as well
• Follow the sickness and illness policy when children are ill to prevent the spread of any infection in the nursery. Staff are also requested to stay at home if they are contagious.
In addition:
• The nursery manager retains the right of refusal of all children, parents, staff and visitors who are deemed contagious and may impact on the welfare of the rest of the nursery
• Parents will be made aware of the need for these procedures in order for them to follow these guidelines whilst in the nursery
• Periodically each room in the nursery will be deep cleaned including carpets and soft furnishings to ensure the spread of infection is limited. This will be implemented earlier if the need arises
• The nursery will ensure stocks of tissues, hand washing equipment, cleaning materials and sterilising fluid are maintained at all times and increased during the winter months or when flu and cold germs are circulating.
Hand Washing:
Hand washing is essential to ensure that contamination and infection carried on hands through activities such as toileting, nappy changing and general play is eliminated.
Staff should ensure that:
• All children are instructed on how to wash their hands properly and educated as to the importance of why we wash our hands.
• They are a good role model.
• Children wash their hands frequently throughout the day, particularly if they appear dirty, before eating, after blowing their noses, if they have been playing with materials that are susceptible to cross infection of germs e.g. sand, playing outdoors or after contact with animals.
• They supervise children’s hand washing on a regular basis to ensure that they are observing good practice.
Hand washing procedures:
1. Wet hands under warm running water.
2. Apply a small amount of liquid soap.
3. Rub hands together vigorously ensuring soap and water is applied to all surfaces of the hands. Be sure to rub between fingers, under fingernails and around the tops of the fingers, the palms and the back of the hands.
4. Rinse hands under running water.
5. Dry hands, preferably using dryer.
Toilet Hygiene:
Staff should enable children to understand the importance of good toilet hygiene in the elimination of cross-infection. The toilets will be cleaned each evening and checked throughout the day with soap being replenished when required.
Staff should:
• Check toilets in the morning before children arrive and regularly throughout the day to ensure that they are clean. If toilets have become soiled, staff should use the appropriate protective clothing (plastic apron and gloves) before cleaning. A separate mop and cloth should be used for the toilet area. The mop should be rinsed thoroughly and the cloth should be washed at a temperature of 60 degrees or more.
• Ensure that there is an adequate supply of soap.
• Ensure that children are supported in implementing good toilet hygiene procedures including using the toilet, flushing and hand washing and that staff are aware of which children require support within their room.
• Discuss with children the importance of good hygiene in the toilet area and ask them to report to staff if the toilets require to be cleaned. This will encourage children to consider toilet hygiene on an ongoing basis.
Nappy Changing:
Staff should:
• Ensure changing facilities are maintained in good order and to a high level of cleanliness with all of the appropriate equipment at hand.
• Ensure that they have access to all of the equipment they need to change a child’s nappy before beginning this process, including running water.
• Wash hands thoroughly before and after each nappy change (including after disposal of nappy).
• Wear a disposable apron and gloves (double gloves if soiled)
• Use a waterproof changing mat.
• Clean any surface that is soiled during changing with a detergent solution followed by a disinfectant and then dry the surface.
• Dispose of nappies safely by placing them in an individual nappy sack before placing them in a nappy bin that is also lined with a plastic liner.
Food and Kitchen Hygiene:
All staff responsible for food preparation and handling should receive appropriate training that includes storing, preparing, cooking and serving food safely and hygienically.
Staff should:
• Discuss with children the importance of ensuring that surfaces and equipment are spotlessly clean before use. Children can assist in the process of cleaning surfaces etc.
• Ensure that children wash hands properly before handling food and discuss with them why they need to do this.
• Wash salads and raw vegetables well to remove any traces of dirt or insects.
• Check used by dates on food and ensure that all packaging is intact before use.
• Keep perishable foods in the fridge.
• Clean and disinfect chopping boards regularly. • Ensure food is cooked right through before eating
Healthy Eating:
Nutritious food and drink are essential for our health and wellbeing. Staff will provide children with a variety of healthy food to engage them in healthy eating.
Staff should:
• Ensure that children have access to drinking water throughout the day and know that, if they cannot access this freely, staff will make this available if they ask.
• That they are aware of any children with special dietary requirements and that these children are catered for appropriate to their needs.
• Wash fruit and vegetables prior to consumption.
• Raise awareness of the Health and Wellbeing and Infection Control policies in keeping their children safe and healthy and ask them to contribute to this by ensuring that children don’t bring sweets, crisps or fizzy juice into the nursery.
Toys And Equipment:
Toys and play equipment are a source of fun and learning for children but toys that are inappropriate for the child’s age and stage of development or resources in poor repair can lead to injury. Further to this, toys that are frequently shared between children can become a source of infection.
Staff should:
• Ensure that any resources purchased are age and stage appropriate and carry the safety mark (CE, BS or BSI).
• Ensure that resources purchased are able to be cleaned.
• Check toys regularly for broken bits and rough edges. Discard any toys that are unsafe.
• Remove dust regularly. Dust can trigger asthma attacks and harbour germs.
• Clean toys as according to the toy rota and whenever they appear dirty or soiled.
• Clean hard, plastic toys by washing them with detergent and drying thoroughly.
• Disinfect hard plastic toys that cannot be washed.
• Launder dirty soft toys in a washing machine.
• Store toys in a clean container or cupboard.
• Sandpits to be raked and checked before use outdoors and changing the sand regularly.
• Carry out appropriate risk assessments on activities and the environment in which they take place.
• Clean and disinfect toys during an outbreak of illness.
• Immediately clean and disinfect toys that are contaminated with bodily fluids (e.g. blood, saliva, mucus)
• Destroy contaminated soft toys.
• Wash their hands after handling contaminated toys.
• Ensure that children wash their hands after playing outdoors, in the sand or water or in the ball pool.
• Replace soft modelling materials and dough regularly.
• Discourage children from putting toys into their mouths.
Floors, Walls and Furniture:
Staff are responsible for ensuring that any spillages are dealt with immediately.
Staff should:
• Wear disposable gloves to clean up bodily fluids or spillages.
• Use disposable towels to clean up the spill and dispose of the towels in a sealed plastic bags.
• After removal of spillage, clean the area with a freshly prepared solution of detergent and water.
• Wash hands after removing gloves
• Ensure disinfectant is stored in a locked cupboard
Immunisation:
Immunisation means using a vaccine to protect people from getting a disease. This is usually the safest protection for children as infectious diseases can be very serious and sometimes fatal. If people stop being immunised, diseases which are uncommon could become common again.
If children are immunised they are protected from infection and will help to protect other children too.
Management at CJ’s Little Pickles will:
• Check with parents/carers that children are registered with a GP and have received their vaccinations.
• Check that all staff are up to date with their vaccinations.
• Check that all female staff between 16-25 have received the double dose MMR.
• Remember that pregnant staff or staff with low immune systems may be at greater risk from infection.
Exclusion Periods:
A number of communicable illnesses require that children be excluded from nursery. The table below gives a guide to exclusion periods but the most up to date information can be found from the NHS website.
Chickenpox: For five days after rash appears and has scabbed
Conjunctivitis: None (but consult the CCDC if many children are affected)
Diarrhoea and vomiting: Until 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting
Hand, foot and mouth disease: Until all abrasions/sores are scabbed over.
Measles: For five days after rash appears
Mumps: For five days after onset of swollen glands
Ringworm: Until treatment is started
Rubella (German measles): For five days after the onset of the rash
Scabies: Until after first treatment
Scarlet fever: For five days after commencing antibiotics
Whooping cough: Until five days after commencing antibiotics or 21 days after onset of illness
Staff should:
• Inform parents/carers of the arising of infections in the nursery.
• Ensure that parents/carers know that they must contact the nursery if their child has any illness or condition.
• Regularly update contact numbers and children’s medical details.
• Ensure that emergency contacts are up to date.
• Keep abreast of current health issues.
• Seek advice from the local CCDC (Consultant in Communicable Disease Control). First Aid National standards state that the nursery should have a first aid box complying with the Health and Safety (First Aid) regulations 1981. The contents must be checked regularly against a list and replaced by a designated staff member.
Staff should:
• Wash hands thoroughly after performing first aid procedures.
• Clean up any blood spills immediately.
• Ensure that first aid training is updated regularly.
• Ensure staff are aware of the nursery policy on first aid procedures.