23.10.20

Dear Parents,

I hope you are all well, we miss you and the children!

Thank you for all your phone calls and kind enquiries about the health of the staff member who had COVID. She and her family are much improved. We really appreciate your kindness.

An update on the local area, I understand a lot of schools in Westminster have had to close year groups because of children and staff testing positive for COVID, that is, a year group bubble of 60 pupils at a time. One local school has had to self isolate two year groups of 120 pupils due to positive cases of COVID. Our school has two bubbles, in line with government guidance. As we are a small nursery , we have a total of 58 pupils on roll, we count as one year group, in contrast to bigger nurseries with 120-200 pupils, who may have several bubbles. We are lucky because we have the most amazing outdoor space and the children spend a lot of time in the fresh air.

 

As I stated previously, we still plan to open 2nd November. Our cleaning has increased workload for the staff tremendously but we will continue to sterilize toys and surfaces after morning and afternoon sessions. Areas are cleaned three times a day. Please help us by not allowing your child to bring in any toys from home. Thank you.

The advice from the government is that that the virus transmits from adult to adult rather than child to adult.

We did allow parents to come into the garden to settle their children as we felt it was not good for the child’s emotional health to be physically separated from their parent’s arms at the gate. I did have to remind some parents to wear masks, which, in a couple of cases was not well received. May I remind everyone, that whilst you may personally be exempt, that doesn't mean that you are immune.

Moving forward, I would like to ask parents and staff to remember to not hold conversations at the gate as the alley way is too narrow for social distancing between staff and parents. I acknowledge that this can be difficult, but request that you pass messages to your family worker via Michele or email. I have noted that parents are reminding each other to keep space, when lining up in the alley way, which is fantastic. Thank you. If you need to speak to the family worker please email us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

It feels instinctively wrong, to not be as physically available to our parents as we usually would be, especially as we are working with young children, but these measures are in place to keep us all as safe as possible.

 

A parent has requested assurance that this self isolation will not happen again. I cannot guarantee this, as the variables of a pandemic are not within my control. I can however, reassure parents that the cleaning has increased threefold by the staff, timetables have had to change, to accommodate this extra workload. Changes we have made in the last week of this term include; creation of an extra bubble for vulnerable children, shields to be worn by staff at the gate ,all meetings and conversations will be via phone or email for the foreseeable future, as the numbers across the UK are now in an upward trajectory, since we opened in September. We are as covid secure as possible.

A newsletter for the half term will be on the website on 23.10.20. Please look at the videos for home learning, your children may be happy to see their family worker providing online learning ( I know the staff enjoyed making the videos) .

We are excited to welcome the children back and thank you for all your support, have a safe and happy half term.

 

Regards

 

Rose Parle

Deputy Headteacher

Toilet Training

It is important for children to feel comfortable and confident in being able to use the toilet before going to school.

Typical developmental milestones.

By age 1, most babies have stopped doing poos at night

By age 2, some children will be dry during the day, but this is still quite early. In the 2 year old provision, nappy changing can be required by some children

By age 3, 9 out of 10 children are dry most days – even then, all children have the odd accident, especially when they're excited, upset or absorbed in something else .In the 3-5 Year old provision, children should bring a change of clothes.

By age 4, most children are reliably dry during the day.

Toilet Training Tips

https://ihv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/PT_Toilet-Training_V5-updated-link.pdf

1. When you’re ready to get going, start the day off by encouraging your little one to sit on the potty before or after breakfast.

2. You could put the potty in the bathroom and sit on the toilet yourself to show your child how it’s done.

3. Give your child lots of praise as you go through toilet training together.

Your little one needs lots of gentle encouragement and praise, as well as regular reminders to use the potty throughout the day.

4. Consistency is vital so it’s a good idea to have a few quiet days at home in the early days of toilet training. If you do have to go out, take the potty with you as it’s important to keep the momentum going. Your child will become confused if you put them in a nappy for convenience, sending a mixed message that it’s okay to ‘wee’ or ‘poo’ in their nappy sometimes.

5. Encourage your child to sit on the potty after each meal. Even if they don’t do anything it’s a good way to encourage bowel movement as digestion is followed by a natural reflex to go to the toilet. Sitting quietly on the potty, perhaps with a book to look at, is a good way to get children used to going on the potty to do a poo.

6. Some children prefer to use the toilet instead of a potty. The principles are the same.

It’s important to wait until your child is dry during the day before attempting night-time toilet training. Remember that night-time bladder control may take quite a bit longer to achieve, so be patient and wait until your child is truly ready for this next step (i.e. when your child is dry for several consecutive nights).

If toilet training isn’t going well and you and your child are getting frustrated, try not to worry. Leave it for another month and try again, taking it more slowly and perhaps use an incentive such as a reward chart. Your health visitor can help with common problems.

 

Potty training with a child with SEND

Some children with a long-term illness or disability find it more difficult to learn to use a potty or toilet. This can be challenging for them and for you, but it's important not to avoid potty training for too long.

The charity Contact has a parents' guide on potty training with a disabled child (PDF, 763kb). Visit the Contact website for further support and ways of getting in touch with other parents with a disabled child.

You can contact ERIC, The Children's Bowel and Bladder Charity, for information on potty training.

Date: 13.10.20

 

FOR PARENTS OF CLOSE CONTACTS OF COVID 19 at Mary Paterson Nursery School

 

Advice for Child to Self-Isolate for 14 Days

 

Dear parent or carer,

 

We have been made aware that we have a confirmed positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) at our Nursery.

 

We have followed the national guidance and have identified that your child has been in close contact with the affected adult. In line with the national guidance your child must stay at home and self-isolate until 26.10.20

If your child is well at the end of the 14 days period of self-isolation, then they can return to usual activities.

Other members of your household can continue normal activities provided your child does not develop symptoms within the 14 day self-isolation period.

 

Please see the link to: Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person

 

What to do if your child develops symptoms of COVID 19

 

If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19, they 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 .

People who do not have symptoms should not request a test unless this has been specifically requested by Public Health England or the local authority.

All other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. This includes anyone in your ‘Support Bubble’.

 

The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.

 

Household members should not go to work, school 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 14 days will greatly reduce the overall amount of infection the household could pass on to others in the community

 

If you are able can, 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

 

Please see the link to the PHE ‘Stay at Home’ Guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

 

 

Symptoms of COVID 19

 

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

 

· new continuous cough and/or

· high temperature and/or

· a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

 

 

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

 

If your child does develop symptoms, you can seek advice from the nhs.uk website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, or they are worsening you can seek advice from NHS 111 at https://111.nhs.uk/ or by phoning 111.

 

How to stop COVID-19 spreading

 

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19

 

Do

· wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds

· use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available

· wash your hands as soon as you get home

· cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze

· put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

Further Information

Further information is available at

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

 

Yours sincerely,

Rose Parle