We are delighted to reopen fully from Wednesday 12th August. A full risk assessment has taken place and a number of measures have been put into place in line with Scottish Government guidance to ensure the safety of staff, children and their families.
These measures include-
- Enhanced hand hygiene and cleaning processes- all staff, children and visitors must wash hands or use sanitiser upon entering and leaving the building and frequently throughout the day
- Enhanced cleaning processes including additional cleaners on site, regular cleaning of all touch points, toilets and surfaces, all resources cleaned between sessions and regular electro-static spraying
- All visitors including tradespeople must make an appointment to enter
- We are caring for children in smaller groups and minimising contact between those groups- we will operate from two rooms with children no longer allowed to free flow
- Using two entrances- the main entrance for children in the Meadow Room and the Fire exit at the car park for the Willow Room with clearly defined routes in and out
- Modifying some of the ways we support learning experiences and the resources available such as providing more resources which can be easily cleaned
- Physical distancing between all adults in the centre, including with parents at drop off and collection times- parents are not allowed into the building at drop off and collection times, instead children are met at the door
- Maximising the use of outdoor spaces including the local woods
- Adapting our induction procedures to support transition into Glenwood for new/ unsettled children including more telephone dialogue with parents instead of home visits and the use of outdoors if required to settle children.
- No longer sharing outdoor clothing- children should come prepared with their own outdoor clothing. If you do not have suitable outdoor clothing we can lend you this, to be taken home each day
- A designated room in the event a child or member of staff is symptomatic with full PPE provided for staff
When you arrive at Glenwood things will look a little bit different. It is good to talk to your child about these changes so that they understand why their nursery and routine has changed. Children may be feeling anxious or worried about coming back to nursery or about staying at nursery on their own. You can help ease these feelings by talking to your child about their favourite things at nursery or people they may see.
We have created a Sway to support this which includes information, videos and photographs of the centre and the staff team. Induction to Glenwood.
We also have a Social Story for you and your child to read with the aim of the story being to familiarise your child with the staff who will be working with them and help build confidence as they begin Glenwood or as they return to a slightly different way of coming into nursery.
Here are some more resources you may find helpful.
Glenwood Family Centre – Emotional Intelligence
Healthier Minds – East Renfrewshire Council
We have painted some colourful markers on the ground to keep everyone at a safe distance. We used the colours of the rainbow leading into the main entrance and colourful shapes leading into the Willow entrance. Children will be used to parents bringing them into the building and signing them in as part of their routine, but as we maintain a safe environment for all we ask that parents don’t enter the building. Children will be greeted and signed in at the door by a member of staff. To ease congestion, we request only one parent in the nursery grounds.
Outdoors will be used for settling children if required at the start of their session and children may be outdoors when you come to collect them- a member of staff will meet you at the gate and sign in/ out your child.
When entering through the main door we ask that only one family approach the door at a time and other families wait at the small gate. This allows for parents/carers to exit back down the path and leave through the marked gate.
When entering through the Willow entrance please follow the markers on the ground, exiting down the ramp and leaving through the marked gate.
On entering the playrooms children will be asked to wash their hands and again before leaving the playroom to go home.
Our playrooms will also look a little bit different as they will be asked to stay in the one playroom instead of free flowing between rooms. We also won’t have as many resources out to play with at the one time, allowing us to rotate resources in between cleaning. Staff will be cleaning all resources once children are finished playing with them.
We will be following guidance issued by the Scottish Government regarding social distancing:
“It is not appropriate for young children to maintain models of physical distancing that would be suitable for older children, either practically or in terms of child development. In particular, it is not desirable or possible to implement strict physical distancing between young children or between a young child and their key worker.” (Scottish Government, May 2020)
Staff will still encourage children to observe social distancing through playing in ‘their own space’ and avoiding physical contact, such as hugs.
Children will regularly access outdoors and we ask that you provide suitable outdoor clothing each day. Each room has a defined area outdoors so that children from each room do not mix. If you do not have suitable outdoor wear please let us know and we can loan you nursery clothing which you can bring to nursery each day.(email: schoolmail@glenwood.e-renfrew.sch.uk or speak to staff)
Lunchtime and snack times will look different to your child with smaller groups eating at the same time. Throughout their day children will be encouraged to follow good hygiene practices including washing their hands, before and after outdoor play and before and after eating.
We will continue to take a play-based approach to learning with a strong focus on Literacy, Numeracy and Health and Well-being and lots of opportunities for children to take their learning outdoors. Glenwood Family Centre is very well placed to be able to do this and we will be continuing to use the woods in Eastwood Park for lots of our outdoor experiences.
In the event that our service is disrupted by Covid-19 in the future, such as in the event of a return to a local or national lockdown, we have contingency plans in place. This includes, if required, a blended model of learning with children attending part of the week along with remote learning through Google Classroom. In line with the schools, we would accommodate siblings in Glenwood on the same days as their siblings at primary school when possible. This may mean that children would attend on days which are not their usual pattern of attendance. If this plan is required, we will communicate this information to you as soon as possible.
