PPE Usage
Government guidance is that PPE is not required for general use in early years settings to protect against COVID- 19 transmission.
See attached Gloucestershire Council Guidance Document
The only times when PPE must be worn, is listed below after the Good hygiene section.
General Good Hygiene
Government guidance on hygiene for all adults and children:
- frequently wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and dry thoroughly.
- clean their hands on arrival at the setting, before and after eating, and after sneezing or coughing
- are encouraged not to touch their mouth, eyes and nose
- use a tissue or elbow to cough or sneeze and use bins for tissue waste (‘catch it, bin it, kill it’)
It is also recommended to wash uniform daily at home at a minimum of 60 degrees C, the government guidance suggests putting clothes straight into the washing machine, washing hands thoroughly and then cleaning all surfaces touched e.g steering wheel, phone, keys, door handle, light switch, washing machine door and buttons, taps, soap dispenser. A good routine like this every day will ensure you minimise spread of infection at home.
When is PPE required?
We have identified 7 instances when staff will be expected to wear PPE.
1) Intimate Care
COVID-19 is transmitted in urine, faeces and vomit. Please remember adults and children can be asymptomatic of the virus (i.e. display no symptoms at all.)
If you are changing a nappy, helping a child change if they have had a toileting accident or have vomited, you must now wear two disposable gloves and a disposable apron. Both of these PPE’s must be removed and changed between EVERY child’s care.
2) Administering First Aid
COVID-19 is transmitted in blood. Please remember adults and children can be asymptomatic of the virus (i.e. display no symptoms at all.)
3) Management team 'walkabouts'
The management team member who is ‘on duty’, will be allowed to walk into every room. They must maintain social distancing where ever possible and will be required to wear a face covering. This member of staff will aim to not touch anything in the rooms! This will be unfamiliar to staff and children to begin with, so please attempt to re-assure children that this is not of concern and is still their usual friendly manager!
4) Caring for a child who is symptomatic
Anyone who is asked to care for a symptomatic child MUST wear PPE. This will include, disposable apron, disposable gloves, Medical Grade Face mask and eye protection (glasses or face shield). If the child is over 2 years, they will also be encouraged to wear a face shield. The children will be able to become familiar with the face shield in advance of possibly using it, so that it is not scary.
Eye protection and face shield will be sanitised after use.
5) In the kitchen
We have 5 star kitchens and already maintain the highest level of hygiene. However, all our hard work on having ‘bubbles’ will be wasted if our cook has the virus and spreads it onto the food through coughs. Government advice is that there is a very low risk and they believe that food sources are not an area of concern.
However, for our own peace of mind, all those who prepare food in the kitchen (not in a bubble – e.g. cutting snack in a room), will wear a face covering. The cook may choose to wear a disposable face mask for the whole period in work, this will be personal preference.
6) Manning the entrance
Ideally social distancing can be maintained between adults, at the entrances, when a child is being dropped off or collected from nursery. However, it is impossible to expect every child, including babies, to be able to be handed over with a 2m gap between adults. In this instance our priority is to protect the staff team, whilst also helping a small child accept a new carer will be looking after them. It has been agreed that staff will therefore wear a face shield (not optional). This will protect the staff from accidental coughs or sneezes from the parents and will also allow the child to see the full happy smiling face of the staff member. A face covering would not enable this. The transfer must still be as quick as possible, which will also reduce risk. Face shields, which will be personal, must be sterilised at the end of each day.
7) In the wider community
If the Government Guidance is that everyone should wear Face coverings out and about e.g. in shops where social distancing is not possible or on public transport, then NCN employees will be expected to follow these guidelines. As such a face covering will be provided to all working staff (colours may vary). It will be considered a disciplinary issue, if there is evidence that you have not followed all Government Guidance outside of work. This is to ensure the safety of all our staff and families. If you would like to make more for your friends and family, here is the instructions. 
Public transport (added 5th June)
The government has now issued a mandatory requirement for anyone using Public transport to wear a face covering, as follows
From 15 June, face coverings will be required while using public transport in England.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/face-coverings-to-become-mandatory-on-public-transport
Donning and Doffing PPE
This guidance document explains how to put on and take off PPE.
Reassuring children around PPE
Children will already be familiar with some PPE, however they may need reassurance when they first see new types. They should be able to handle sanitised PPE so that they become comfortable in it’s presence.
Children should be supported to understand the changes and challenges they may be encountering as a result of Covid-19 and staff need to ensure they are aware of children’s attachments and their need for emotional support at this time.