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COVID-19 Policy and Protocols

718 Waterloo Toddler Program Re-Opening

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PURPOSE OF DOCUMENT

This document outlines the policy and protocols for Montessori Academy of London’s re-

opening of the toddler summer program at 718 Waterloo St. It has been created in conjunction

with The Ministry of Education provided document titled “Operational Guidance During

COVID-19 Outbreak.”

In addition, this document was created with details provided from our Municipality from a Local

Operational Guidance document. The information contained in this document is “meant to

support partners in meeting requirements set out under the Child Care and Early Years Act,

2014 (CCEYA) and to provide clarification on operating child care programs with enhanced

health and safety guidelines and/or restrictions in place to re-open.

In some areas of Operational Guidance, enhancements to the Ministry’s Guidance Document

may be required based on the advice of the local Medical Officer of Health. Accordingly, the

Ministry’s Guidance Document and this Local Guidance Document have been used to create

the outlined policy and protocols contained below.

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PART 1: LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Licensing Processes and Renewals

Enhanced Local Requirements:

None at this time MA Requirements:

We have already completed our license renewal for 718 Waterloo as of April 28, 2020.

Inspections



Ministry staff must be screened prior to entering the building following the screening procedure below, wear PPE and follow any protocols requested by MA.

Maximum Cohort Size and Ratio



Toddler 1 can have a cohort consisting of a maximum of 8 students with 2 educators or up to 5 students with one educator, for two weeks.

Toddler 2 can have a cohort consisting of a maximum of 8 students with 2 educators or up to 5 students with one educator, for two weeks.

Any Special Resource staff do not count in the total cohort of up to 10 per room.

For July and August, due to the cohorting and staff requirement, the maximum amount of students in the entire toddler program will be 13 in total.

The cohorts will remain together throughout the day, and the two cohorts will have separate classrooms during indoor time.

The shared washroom space of these two classrooms will be used one cohort at a time and disinfected in between.

The cohorts will utilize different areas of the playground as currently fenced. Outdoor toys will be cleaned between cohort groups or designated toys will be provided for each cohort and cleaned after use.

The cohorts will have their cubby areas spaced apart.

Maximum Capacity of Building


None at this time

MA Requirements:

• None at this time

Staffing


None at this time

MA Requirements:

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Staff will only work at the 718 Waterloo location.

Supervisor and designates will limit their interactions between the two cohorts.

Supply staff will be designated to specific cohorts, unless due to maintaining ratios

and qualified staff, this is not possible.

Each cohort will have a qualified staff member.

Any staff with first aid certifications that expire after March 1, 2020 are temporarily

extended until September 30, 2020, however as soon as in person training is able to

resume, staff are expected to re-certify as soon as possible.

Not required to obtain a new VSC from staff or persons interacting with children where

the fifth anniversary of the staff or person’s most recent VSC falls within the

emergency period, until 60 days after the emergency period ends.

PART 2: HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Working with Local Public Health

Enhanced Local Requirements: We follow advice of local public health officials when establishing health and safety protocols, including how to implement the provincial direction that the max cohort size for each room in a child care centre consist of no more than 10 individuals.

See above section Maximum Cohort Size and Ratio

Health and Safety Protocols and Cleaning (see page 9 of Ministry’s Guidance Document)

Enhanced Local Requirements: Taken from Emergency Licensed Child Care Services Operational Protocols (a) Sanitization of the space, toys and equipment Daily cleaning practices include:

Twice daily disinfection of materials. This will occur during outdoor playtime and at the end of the day with Unitab. The end of the day cleaning will use an electrostatic sprayer of the entire classroom and all materials in it.

Cleaning high touch surfaces regularly throughout the day (twice minimum).

Any mouthed materials will be taken after use, placed in a bin and cleaned and disinfected before returning to a shelf.

Any materials that cannot be easily cleaned or disinfected, will be removed.

Any materials shared between cohorts will be disinfected between use.

The Supervisor or designate is encouraged to maintain close contact with those responsible for the cleaning to ensure that any specific tasks or concerns are communicated and addressed.

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Procedures: All products including cleaning agents and disinfectants must be out of reach of children, labelled, and must have Safety Data Sheets (SDS) up to date (within three years). Cleaning: refers to the physical removal of foreign material (i.e. dust, soil) and organic material (i.e. blood, secretions, microorganisms). Cleaning removes, rather than kills microorganisms. Warm water, detergent and mechanical action (i.e. wiping) is required to clean surfaces. Rinsing with clean water is required to complete the cleaning process to ensure the detergent film is removed.

Use detergent and warm water to clean visibly soiled surfaces

Rinse the surface with clean water (warm to tepid temperature preferred) to ensure detergent is removed

Let the surface dry Disinfecting: describes a process completed after cleaning in which a chemical solution is used to kill most disease-causing microorganisms. In order to be effective disinfectants must be left on a surface for a period of time (contact time). Contact times are generally prescribed by the product manufacturer. Any items children may come into contact with, requires a final rinse after the required contact time is observed.

For general environmental disinfection of high touch surfaces, large toys and equipment that cannot be immersed in a disinfectant solution, use either the Oxivir TB Ready to Use disinfectant wipe and allow the one minute contact time for disinfecting. OR

For cleaning (Dustbane) & disinfecting (Unitab) use as per main MA CCEYA manual procedures.

Disinfecting Toys and Surfaces:

Put on rubber or heavy-duty nitrile gloves and mask, if required

Spray or wipe product.

Any surface children may come in contact with requires a final rinse with a single-use paper towel (i.e. lunch tables, floor, toy shelves)

If the surface continues to be wet, you may wipe it dry with a single-use paper towel

Should any child present symptoms of COVID-19 (discussed further below), all toys and equipment accessed or potentially accessed by the child must be removed from the classroom and cleaned and disinfected as soon as possible.

Cleaning and Disinfection Frequency Requirements: (1) Clean and disinfect upon ENTRY to child care (for staff items): Any hard surfaces such as water bottles, travel mugs, cell phones, lunch containers (2) Clean and disinfect upon children's ENTRY to child care (for child’s items):

Any hard surfaces such as water bottles, containers etc. (3) Clean and disinfect frequencies for other surfaces and items: Cleaning and disinfecting routines must be increased for the following, as the risk of environmental contamination is higher:

Tables and countertops: used for food preparation and food service must be cleaned and disinfected before and after each use

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Spills must be cleaned and disinfected immediately

Handwash sinks/washrooms: staff and children washroom areas must be cleaned and disinfected at least two times per day (10 am and 2pm) and as often as necessary.

Floors: cleaning and disinfecting must be performed as required, i.e., when spills occur, and throughout the day, during outdoor play and end of day.

Outdoor play equipment: must be disinfected before use, and as required (e.g., visibly dirty). Any outdoor play equipment that is used must be easy to clean and disinfect

High‐touch surfaces: any surfaces that have frequent contact with hands (e.g., light switches, shelving, containers, hand rails, door knobs, sinks toilets etc.,) should be cleaned at least twice per day and as often as necessary

Hands must be washed before use of shared items: (e.g., phones, IPADs, IPODs, attendance binders etc.) or be disinfected between users.

(4) Clean and disinfect daily:

Low‐touch surfaces (any surfaces at your location that have minimal contact with hands), must be cleaned and disinfected daily (e.g. Window ledges, doors, sides of furnishings etc.)

Carpets are to be vacuumed daily when the rooms are available.

(5) Clean and disinfect as required: Blood/Bodily Fluid Spills: Using the steps outlined below, the surface must be cleaned first then disinfected:

1. Isolate the area around the spill so that no other objects/humans can be contaminated 2. Gather all supplies, perform hand hygiene, then put on single-use nitrile gloves 3. Scoop up the fluid with disposable paper towels (check the surrounding area for

splash/splatter) and dispose of in separate garbage bag 4. Clean the spill area with detergent, warm water and single-use towels 5. Rinse to remove detergent residue with clean water and single-use towel 6. Discard used paper towels and gloves immediately in a tied plastic bag 7. Spray the Agency selected disinfecting product in and around the spill area and allow

for the appropriate disinfecting contact time 8. A final rinse is required if children come into contact with the area 9. Remove gloves as directed and discard them immediately 10. Perform hand hygiene

Notes: o If the spill includes broken glass, ensure a brush and dustpan is used to pick it

up and discard. Disinfect the brush and dustpan after use. NEVER use your hands to clean up the glass

o If the spill occurs on a carpet, follow the above steps along with professional steam/wet cleaning the carpet.

(6) Cot cleaning, disinfecting and placement:

Cots must be labelled and assigned/designated to a single child per use

Cots must be cleaned and disinfected before being assigned to a child

High touch surfaces on cots must be disinfected at least twice per day and as often as necessary.

Cots must be stored in a manner which there is no contact with the sleeping surface of another cot.

Bedding must be laundered daily.

Cots must be placed with as much distance between them as possible and/or placed

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head to toe or toe to toe. Additional Infection Prevention and Control Practices For Hygiene Items

Water bottles must be individually labelled and stored separately (not touching each other), they must not be shared among children.

Label individual hygiene items and store them separately.

For creams and lotions during diapering, never put hands directly into lotion or cream bottles, use a tissue or single-use gloves. Upon arrival to the centre, wipe the cream/lotion container with a disinfecting wipe.

Checking expiry dates of cleaning and disinfectant products and following the manufacturer’s instructions will follow as per MA CCEYA Manual. (b) How to report illness

Parents/guardians will be called if child begins to show symptoms of COVID-19 while in the program. The child will be taken to the casa classroom or on the porch, to be isolated with a staff member. The staff member will put on PPE while they wait with the child if physical distancing is not possible. Parents are required to immediate pick-up the child. The staff member will call public health for further direction.

(c) How physical distancing will be encouraged Many physical distancing opportunities will be put into place. This may include the following:

Staggering drop-off and pick-up times of children;

Using physical cues (ie. floor markers) at screening area if multiple children/families arrive at the same time;

Utilizing smaller group settings;

Encouraging spots to move to for exploring in the classroom

Directing children as needed to different areas of the classroom

Identifying separate play areas and classrooms for cohorts

Alternating indoor/outdoor playtimes

Removal of chairs from tables

Identifying places to use items on the floor with mats that can be cleaned

Increase distance between sleeping cots or space head to toe or toe to toe

Staggering staff break and lunch times

Physical distancing of staff will be required in the building as best as possible while still completing work duties

Staff will use a receiving blanket over their clothes while holding toddlers

Staff will avoid getting too close to the faces of the toddlers where possible. Recognizing that our priority is the care and well-being of young children, there will be times maintaining the above will not be possible.

(d) How shifts will be scheduled, where applicable

Staff will be scheduled to work with the same partners as much as possible.

Staff will be assigned to the same cohort every day for two weeks at a time, unless away due to illness.

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Staff will cover off the full length of the program day.

(e) Rescheduling of group events and/or in-person meetings

There will not be any group events or in-person meetings.

Any required meetings with staff or parents will be completed by phone or zoom with the current classroom meeting id and password.

(f) Parent drop off and pick up procedures

Parents will be given a window of time for drop off and pick up. Any parent and child waiting at the main side gate, will stand on the markers provided on the sidewalk, so one family can enter at a time to complete screening, as well as pick up at the end of the day. They will exit off the porch towards the front of the building to provide one-way traffic flow.

If it is raining, parents will be met on the side porch by the main entry for screening and their child will be let into the building upon passing and follow above traffic flow. At the end of the day, the parent will ring the doorbell and their child will be taken to them for dismissal.

Health and Safety Protocols and Cleaning

Hand Hygiene: All staff need to maintain proper hand hygiene to minimize the spread of germs and contamination. Hand Hygiene is a general term referring to any action of hand cleaning. Hand hygiene relates to the removal of visible soil and removal or killing of transient microorganisms from the hands. Hand hygiene may be accomplished using soap and running water or a hand sanitizer. Hand washing with soap and running water must be performed when hands are visibly soiled. Hands carry and spread germs. Touching your eyes, nose, mouth or sneezing or coughing into your hands may provide an opportunity for germs to get into your body or spread to others. Keeping your hands clean through good hygiene practice is one of the most important steps to avoid getting sick and spreading germs. Ensure that employees and children are always practicing good hand hygiene when hands are visibly dirty and/or after:

Sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose

Using the washroom

Handling garbage

Handling raw foods

Outdoor play

Toileting/diapering routine

Handling soiled laundry or dishes

Handling soiled materials or other items

Coming into contact with bodily fluids

Coming into contact with any soiled/mouthed items

Gardening

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Staff will implement strict heightened hand washing practices. Alcohol based hand sanitizer may be used when hand washing is not possible. Hands should be cleaned using soap and water or hand sanitizer before and after:

Entering the school (starting a shift)

Screening children prior to their entry to the school

Before and after direct physical contact with children if possible

After each transition within the building, whenever possible

Preparing, handling, serving and eating food (children are not be permitted to self-serve food during the COVID-19 outbreak to reduce potential for contamination)

Touching a cut or open sore

Changing diapers

Accessing the bathroom

Glove use

Before and after giving medication

Communal sensory play activity

Handling or taking out garbage

Applying sunscreen or other ointment to a child

Before and after staff lunch/breaks

Exiting the school (completing a shift) When hands are visibly soiled, follow these steps for cleaning hands:

Wet hands

Apply soap

Lather for at least 15 seconds. Rub between fingers, back of hands, fingertips, under nails

Rinse well under running water

Dry hands well with paper towel or hot air blower

Turn taps off with paper towel, if available When hands are not visibly soiled, follow these steps for cleaning hands:

Apply hand sanitizer

Rub hands together for at least 15 seconds

Work sanitizer between fingers, back of hands, fingertips, and under nails.

Rub hands until dry Hand Hygiene Monitoring: To ensure that staff are using proper hand hygiene methods, supervisors will review hand hygiene practices on a regular basis and provide feedback to employees as required. Hand Sanitizing Information: When your hands are not visible dirty, an alcohol based hand sanitizer can be used. Hand sanitizers can only be used on children who are over the age of two and must always be used under adult supervision. Adults must ensure that the product has completely evaporated from the child's hands before allowing the child to continue their activity. Please ensure that written parent consent is obtained before applying hand sanitizer to any child. Glove Use: Gloves shall be worn when it is anticipated that hands will come into contact with mucous membranes, broken skin, tissue, blood, bodily fluids, secretions, excretions,

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contaminated equipment or environmental surfaces. Nitrite gloves are single use only. Gloves and Hand Hygiene: Hand hygiene shall be practised before applying and after removing gloves. Gloves shall be removed and discarded after each use. To reduce hand irritation related to gloves:

Wear gloves for as short as time as possible

Ensure that hands are clean and dry before wearing gloves

Ensure gloves are intact, clean and dry inside

Gloves are single use only, and must be task specific such as nitrile gloves for diaper changes

Note: remove gloves from wrist and peel inside out prior to disposal in a safe and secure location which cannot be accessed by children. Gloves when Cleaning/Disinfecting: The property manager will mix chemicals/products for the purpose of cleaning or disinfecting. Employees must wear these gloves when immersing anything in diluted disinfectant when washing materials. Covering Your Cough Procedure: Germs, such as influenza and cold viruses, are spread by coughing and/or sneezing. When you cough or sneeze on your hands, your hands carry and spread these germs. If someone is exhibiting symptoms including coughing and sneezing, they should be excluded from the school. Attempt to keep your distance (preferably more than 2 metres/6 feet) from people who are coughing or sneezing. Follow these steps to stop the spread of germs:

If you have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose when you cough, sneeze or blow your nose

Put used tissues in the garbage

If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve, not in your hands

Clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer regularly and after using a tissue on yourself or others

Guidance on the Use of Masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)


Advice of local public health regarding the use of masks MA Requirements:

Masks will not be worn by the toddlers while in program.

Masks will not be worn by the staff, unless: o the screening area does not permit physical distancing and when

accompanying children into the program from the screening area. See the screening section of this document for more information;

o when cleaning and disinfecting blood or bodily fluid spills if there is a risk of splashing.

o when caring for a sick child or a child showing symptoms of illness. See the section in this document on protocols when an individual is sick for more information.

When wearing a mask, you should wash your hands before donning the mask and before and after removing the mask as per HR Downloads COVID-19 training video.

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Notify the property manager when PPE or cleaning supplies are running low and need to be replenished.

Perform and promote frequent, proper hand hygiene (including supervising or assisting participants with hand hygiene). Alcohol-based hand sanitizer will not be used for the toddlers.

Screening for Symptoms

Enhanced Local Requirements: Advice from local public health office is to be used in regards precautions to have in place for screening. Below information was used from Emergency Child Care Protocols May 29 2020. Every staff member and child is screened prior to being admitted into the school (daily and if the child or staff leaves the setting and returns within the same day). Screening must include the questions outlined in the Health Screening Procedure (below), and the outcome of the screening of each staff member and child must be documented and retained. Identify/set up the location for screening:

o Parents are to pre-screen children at home, using the questionnaire below, including temperatures before arrival and record in an online document to prevent lines and waiting at the entry points.

o At entry, a passed screening and temperature will be confirmed from online document and attendance taken.

o If screening and temperature has not been recorded, screening will take place at the main entrance gate, with access to yard blocked or on the porch at the main entrance if raining.

o Entry will be at the main side gate and exit will be through the porch to maintain one-way traffic.

o Maintain a minimum of 2 metres distance between staff conducting screening and the person being screened or wear a mask and face shield.

o Visual guides will assist with physical distancing on the sidewalk in the event that a line-up forms while parents/guardians and their children are waiting to be screened prior to entering into the building/yard. Staggered arrival and departure times of staff and families will be given where feasible.

Signage identifying the screening process will be posted at entry points

Hand sanitizer at the screening table and will be available to staff/clients entering the building

Ensure Middlesex-London Health Unit resources are available for anyone who does not pass the screening

Health Screening Procedure: As noted above, every staff and child must complete the screening procedure (below) daily prior to being admitted into the school. Staff must follow the screening procedure for each person (staff or child) and record the outcome (pass or fail) in a log which must be stored and retained in a secure location each day. Agency Supervisors must ensure that they have staff available to fill-in shifts with little notice, in the event that a scheduled staff is sick and unable to attend work.

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(a) Questions are for staff and families (passive or active)

Greet everyone into the school with a friendly, calm manner. Request that only ONE parent/guardian enters the school with the child, and request that the parent/guardian use hand sanitizer.

“We don’t have a record of your passive screening at home, therefore we will be completing screening here for potential risks of COVID-19.”

1. Do you/the child, or any member of your household have any of the following symptoms: Yes/No (for each)

Fever (confirm temperature was taken before arriving at Centre) New or worsening cough Shortness of breath Sore throat Runny nose or sneezing Nasal congestion Hoarse voice Difficulty swallowing New smell or taste disorder(s) Nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain Unexplained fatigue/malaise Chills Headache

2. Have you/the child travelled outside of Canada within the last 14 days: Yes/No 3. Have you/the child had close contact with a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case?

Yes/No 4. Have you/the child had close contact with a person with acute respiratory illness who

has been outside Canada in the last 14 days? Yes/No

(b) How to Respond:

If the individual answers NO to all questions, they have passed the screening and their child can enter the building:

o “Thank you for your patience. Your child is cleared to enter the centre” (it is required that a staff person take the child to their classroom to avoid having parents/guardians enter the school beyond the screening area)

If the individual answers YES to any of the screening questions, or refuses to answer, then they have failed the screening and cannot enter the building

o “Thank you for your patience. Unfortunately based on these answers, I’m not able to let you enter the child care centre. Please review the self-assessment tool on the Ministry of Health website or the Middlesex-London Health Unit website to determine if further care is required”. Children or staff who do not pass the screening should be told to return home and self-isolate immediately.

o If response is for a staff member, also advise that the Supervisor will be notified immediately, and will follow up with that staff later in the day.

o If a child or a staff member is denied entry at screening, please refer to the section below titled “Actions to be Taken When Symptoms Displayed” for additional next steps and reporting requirements.

(c) Additional Steps when Screening Staff:

The first staff in the facility will answer the screening questions, fill in the online document and

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/#q0

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/#q0

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track their answers and then actively screen the second staff entering the building. The second staff in will confirm the first staff person’s answers once their screening is complete. The supervisor or delegate will assign the active screening schedule for each day. Staff who are experiencing any of the symptoms or who will answer “yes” to any of the questions on the screening sheets are expected to stay at home and report their absence to their supervisor. Staff will follow the MA’s return to work as per human resources policies or guidance from public health.

(d) Documentation of Screening: Documentation of the information received during screening must be recorded on the screening tracking sheet. A reminder note for all staff to review the screening procedure and check the screening tracking sheet should be entered into the daily log. The Supervisor or designate is responsible for ensuring that this information is managed and recorded as required. Children’s screening information will be documented in the child’s daily log. If the screening failed, it will be tracked on the Illness Tracking Log.

Attendance Records



Maintaining daily records of anyone entering the building and the approximate length of their stay (such as cleaners, people doing maintenance work, people providing supports for children with special needs, those delivering food).

Records are to be kept on the premises and up to date.

Records should include name, contact information, time of arrival/departure, screening result.

Testing Requirements


None at this time

MA Requirements: (http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/2019_covid_testing_guidance.pdf) Any staff presenting with at least one symptom or sign from the list below should be considered for testing for COVID-19. Symptoms List • Fever (temperature of 37.8°C or greater) • New or worsening cough • Shortness of breath (dyspnea) • Sore throat • Difficulty swallowing • New olfactory or taste disorder(s) • Nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain • Runny nose, or nasal congestion – in absence of underlying reason for these symptoms such as seasonal allergies, post nasal drip, etc.

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/2019_covid_testing_guidance.pdf

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/2019_covid_testing_guidance.pdf

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Atypical symptoms/clinical pictures of COVID-19 should be considered, particularly in children, older persons, and people living with a developmental disability. Atypical symptoms can include: • Unexplained fatigue/malaise/myalgias • Delirium (acutely altered mental status and inattention) • Unexplained or increased number of falls • Acute functional decline • Exacerbation of chronic conditions • Chills • Headaches • Croup • Conjunctivitis • Multisystem inflammatory vasculitis in children o Presentation may include persistent fever, abdominal pain, conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting and diarrhea) and rash Other signs of COVID-19 can include: • Clinical or radiological evidence of pneumonia Atypical signs can include: • Unexplained tachycardia, including age specific tachycardia for children • Decrease in blood pressure • Unexplained hypoxia (even if mild i.e. O2 sat <90%) • Lethargy, difficulty feeding in infants (if no other diagnosis) Guidance for Asymptomatic Individuals Contacts of confirmed positive cases: Asymptomatic contacts of a confirmed case should be considered for testing for COVID-19 as soon as possible after identification of the case and within 14 days from their last exposure. If they test negative and the contact becomes symptomatic, they should be re-tested. If the test result is negative, asymptomatic contacts must remain in self-isolation for 14 days from their last exposure to the case.

Protocols When a Child or Staff/Home Child Care Provider Demonstrates Symptoms of

Illness or Becomes Sick

Enhanced Local Requirements: Advice from local public health regarding testing and isolation of close contacts (when a child or staff displays symptoms or is ill) information below is taken from Emergency Child Care Protocols May 29 2020 To ensure the health and well-being of all children in care, children who become ill while attending the program will be required to leave. Staff must assess the situation to determine the need for pick up. Likewise, staff who become ill while working, will also be required to leave. Symptomatic Child:

If a parent/guardian contacts prior to attending the school, to advise that the child is displaying a symptom/symptoms, the parent/guardian should be told to contact their

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Primary Care Provider or the Middlesex-London Health Unit for further direction. The direction that is received by the parent/guardian should then be reported back to the school.

If the child displays a symptom/symptoms while they are in care at the school: o The child must be isolated immediately from all other children, with one staff, in

the casa classroom or outside on the porch. o The staff supervising the symptomatic child must wear Personal Protective

Equipment (PPE) including a mask, eye protection and gloves if physical distancing is not possible.

o The parent/guardian must be notified to arrange for pick-up of the child as soon as possible. If the parent/guardian is not reached, an emergency contact person will be contacted to pick up the child. Every effort must be made to keep the child comfortable until an approved person arrives to take him or her home. If it appears that the child requires immediate medical attention, the child will be taken to the hospital by ambulance and examined by a legally qualified medical practitioner or a nurse registered under the Health Disciplines Act. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 262, s. 34 (3).

o Thorough environmental cleaning of the space that the child was isolated within should be conducted immediately once the child has been picked up.

o Symptoms of illness will be recorded in the child's daily log and in the daily log as per the CCEYA.

o If the school suspects a child has symptoms of a reportable communicable disease, please report these immediately to the Middlesex London Health Unit at 519 663 5317 ext 9012, and complete the additional steps outlined under the heading “Reporting Requirements for any Suspected and/or Confirmed cases of COVID-19”.

o Staff and children who were in the same cohort/space as the child, will not mix with other care groups for 14 days.

o Staff should self-monitor for symptoms for the next 14 days. During this period they should avoid contact with vulnerable persons or settings where there are vulnerable persons (i.e., long-term care homes).

o Staff will inform parents/guardians of children who were in the same cohort/room of possible exposure, and should monitor their child for symptoms.

o Notify the Service System Manager as soon as soon possible if a child or a staff member has been excluded from care due to illness (at [email protected]).

Symptomatic Staff:

If a staff contacts the prior to attending the school to advise that they are displaying a symptom/symptoms, the staff should be told to contact their Primary Care Provider or the Middlesex-London Health Unit. The direction that is received by the staff should then be reported back to the school.

If the staff displays/reports a symptom/symptoms while they are on-site at the school setting, they should immediately leave the facility (see additional details below, under the subsection ‘Reporting Requirements for Suspected and/or Confirmed cases of COVID-19’ and under the section titled ‘When to Restrict/Exclude from Access’).

Symptomatic Child or Staff: Any child or staff with a symptom/symptoms must stay/return home. It is recommended that the symptomatic child or staff receive a COVID-19 test.

o If the COVID-19 test is positive: the parent/guardian of the symptomatic child

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or the symptomatic staff will be contacted by the Middlesex-London Health Unit regarding the positive test results and further direction. If required, the London-Middlesex London Health Unit will contact the school to begin contact tracing and provide further direction. For all positive cases, the Middlesex-London Health Unit must be consulted and provide clearance for the child or staff to return to the school.

o If the COVID-19 test is negative: the formerly symptomatic child or formerly symptomatic staff cannot return to the school until they have been symptom free for over 24 hours.

If the parent/guardian of a symptomatic child refuses to have the child receive a COVID-19 test, the child must remain in isolation for 14 days from the onset of the symptom(s) (unless longer is recommended by the Middlesex-London Health Unit) prior to returning to the centre.

If the symptomatic staff refuses to receive a COVID-19 test, the staff must remain in isolation for 14 days from the onset of the symptom(s) (unless longer is recommended by the Middlesex-London Health Unit) prior to returning to the centre.

Reporting Requirements for any Suspected and/or Confirmed cases of COVID-19: As outlined and communicated by the Ministry of Education (Licensing Branch), Agencies must follow the directions outlined below for any suspected and/or confirmed cases of COVID-19 for the following individuals:

a child enrolled at the child care centre

a parent/guardian of a child enrolled at the school

a staff of the licensee currently working at the school As also outlined and communicated by the Ministry of Education (Licensing Branch), when Agencies become aware of any suspected and/or confirmed cases of COVID-19 for any of the above individuals, Agencies must immediately conduct the following:

Notify the local Public Health Unit immediately and follow all direction they provide. Upon calling request to speak with the Middlesex-London Health Unit Child Care team investigator. Have the following information ready to share: age of child; symptom(s); and when the child developed the symptom(s);

Notify the Child Care Quality Assurance and Licensing Branch Regional Manager;

Notify all parents of children enrolled at the school

Notify your CMSM/DSSAB (Service System Manager) (at [email protected]);

Follow the regular Serious Occurrence (SO) reporting requirements (including submitting a SO report in CCLS and posting the SO notification form)

A “suspected case” includes, but is not limited to, the following circumstances:

Where a child or a staff answers ‘YES’ to any of the questions during the screening process and therefore cannot be admitted to the school; or

Where a child or staff reports and/or exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 (outlined above). As indicated above, staff must document the situation of a suspected or confirmed case in the Daily Communication Log and notify the Supervisor or designate immediately to ensure that this information is managed and recorded in the child’s file on the Ill Health/Potential Allegation Record and report the incident is reported to the Health Department, as necessary/appropriate.

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Contacting the Middlesex-London Health Unit: If your Agency is required to contact the Middlesex-London Health Unit to report a symptom, suspected case and/or to make an inquiry please note the following information from the Middlesex-London Health Unit:

To support Licensed Child Care Centres, there is a team of staff, Public Health Nurses, who have been assigned the Child Care Centres in the event follow up/support is required.

The Public Health Nurses are on two teams, rotating 7 days a week from 9am to 9pm.

The ‘on-duty’ team is accessible by phone at 519-663-5317 Ext. 9012 and any message left after 9pm, will be returned the next day.

Serious Occurrence Reporting


None at this time

MA Requirements:

Child care centre licensees have a duty to report suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. The licensee should contact their local public health unit to report a child suspected to have COVID-19.

The local public health unit will provide specific advice on what control measures should be implemented to prevent the potential spread and how to monitor for other possible infected staff members and children.

Where a child, parent, staff or home child care provider is suspected (i.e. has symptoms and has been tested) of having or has a confirmed case of COVID-19, licensees must report this to the ministry as a serious occurrence.

Where a room, centre or premises closes due to COVID-19, licensees must report this to the ministry as a serious occurrence.

Licensees are required to post the serious occurrence notification form as required under the CCEYA, unless local public health advises otherwise.

PART 3: OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE

PRE-PROGRAM CONSIDERATIONS

Communication with Families



This policy and protocol document is available on our website and is shared with families prior to the start of the program.

Due to summer enrolment, which is lower than the school year, we are able to meet all requests for the toddler summer program.

Conferences with parents that are required will be held by telephone or a zoom meeting.

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Parent Fees



Fees for the toddler summer program are less than the fees from when the school closure began.

Access to Child Care Spaces and Prioritizing Families


None at this time

MA Requirements:

We are able to meet the current demand for placement in the program.

Staff Training

Enhanced Local Requirements: Advice from Local Health Unit regarding any local training requirements (above what is required in the Ministry’s document) MA Requirements:

All staff are required to complete the HR Downloads Training: COVID-19 Employee Health and Safety Training and complete the accompanying quiz before beginning their re-entry into teaching in the program.

Liability and Insurance


None at this time

MA Requirements:

All families are required to fill in the Montessori Academy of London COVID-19 Waiver before starting any of our summer programs.

IN-PROGRAM CONSIDERATIONS

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures


None at this time

MA Requirements:

See page 8, Section f)

As much as possible, parents should not go past the screening area.

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Main entrances will have hand sanitizer and PPE available

Physical distance of 2 meters will be maintained during drop off and pick up, as best as possible

Personal belongings should be minimized. Any items brought must be labelled and kept in the child’s cubby.

Visitors


None at this time

MA Requirements:

No non-essential visitors will be permitted in the program.

There will be no volunteers or students in the program.

Ministry staff and other public officials (e.g. fire marshal, public health inspectors) are permitted to enter and inspect the premises at any reasonable time and follow screening procedures.

Space Set-Up and Physical Distancing

Enhanced Local Requirements: Taken from Emergency Child Care Protocols May 29 2020 Physical Distancing: We will use our space to create as many physical distancing opportunities as possible. This may include the following, while recognizing that physical distancing between children in a child care setting is difficult, we aim to maintain a welcoming and caring environment for children:

Staggering drop-off and pick-up times of children;

Using physical cues (ie. floor markers) at screening area if multiple children/families arrive at the same time;

Utilizing smaller group settings;

Encouraging spots to move to for exploring

Directing children as needed to different areas of the room

Identifying separate play areas and classes for cohorts

Alternating indoor/outdoor playtimes

Removal of chairs from tables

Identifying places to use items on the floor with mats that can be cleaned

Increase distance between sleeping cots or space head to toe or toe to toe

Staggering staff break and lunch times

Physical distancing of staff will be required at all times in the building

Staff will use a receiving blanket over their clothes while holding toddlers

Staff will avoid getting too close to the faces of the toddlers where possible.

Equipment and Toy Usage and Restrictions

Enhanced Local Requirements: Advice of local public health unit regarding the use of playground equipment onsite. MA Requirements:

See page 4, Section a) Sanitization of the space, toys and equipment

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Sensory materials provided will be for single use and/or labelled if applicable.

Program Statement/Activities



We will continue to implement our program statement, however there may be approaches outlined in the program statement that may not be possible due to current restrictions with current guidelines and protocols.

Outdoor Play


None at this time

MA Requirements:

Schedule outdoor play to allow cohorts to facilitate physical distancing and utilize separate play areas.

If play structures are to be used by more than one cohort, the structures can only be used by one cohort at a time and will be cleaned and disinfected before and after each use by each cohort.

Children will bring their own sunscreen. Teachers may provide assistance to apply sunscreen and should exercise proper hand hygiene when doing so (for example washing hands before and after application).

Interactions with Toddlers



When holding toddlers use receiving blankets over clothing and change the blankets between children.

Recognizing that physical distancing is difficult with small children suggestions to support physical distancing include:

o planning activities that do not involve shared objects; and, o when possible, moving activities outside to allow for more space.

Children must not share food, feeding utensils or cups,

Mouthed toys must be removed immediately after use for cleaning and disinfecting and must not be shared with other children.

Personal items must be labelled as much as possible with the child’s name to discourage accidental sharing.

Food Provision

Enhanced Local Requirements: Staff must ensure the following as it pertains to the preparation and serving of food:

Tables and countertops used for food preparation and food service must be cleaned and disinfected before and after each use

There is no self-serve or sharing of food or items at meal times.

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Utensils will be used to serve food and not shared.

Meals will be served in individual portions to the children.

There will be no food provided by the family/outside of the regular meal provision of the program (except where required and special precautions for handling and serving the food must be put in place).

Children should neither prepare nor provide food that will be shared with others.

Ensure proper hand hygiene is practiced when staff are preparing food and for all individuals before and after eating.

Where possible, children should practice physical distancing while eating.

Provision of Special Needs Resources (SNR) Services



The provision of in-person special needs services in the school will continue where appropriate.

Maximum capacity rules do not apply to SNR staff (consultants and enhanced

staff) on site (i.e., if they are not counted towards staff to child ratios they are not included in the maximum capacity rules).

Where SNR services are provided through external staff/service providers, parents will be informed and a record of attendance for contact tracing purposes.

All SNR staff must be screened before entering the child care setting, as per the protocol in the screening section above.

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