Returning to Glenwood- June 2020

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. Here are some resources you may find helpful.

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.

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 encourage children to observe social distancing through playing in ‘their own space’ and avoiding physical contact, such as hugs.

Children will still be accessing outdoors and we ask that you provide suitable outdoor clothing each day. 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)

If your child stays at Glenwood for a 3 hour session or longer we ask that you provide a healthy snack each day. Lunchtime and snack times will look different to your child, as we observe social distancing guidelines they will be spaced out around tables and we will have 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.

Some experiences/activities will also be different as we won’t be playing in groups, such as sand, water and play-dough. These experiences will be provided in individual trays and cleaned once each child is finished playing.

In line with phase 1 of the Scottish Government’s Covid-19 Route Map, we provide critical childcare provision for key workers and vulnerable children only along with transition support for our children who will be beginning primary 1.

Moving forward to August and beyond

You will know doubt be aware that there was an announcement made on 23/6/20 by the Scottish Government that it is hoped that pupils will return to school in August. East Renfrewshire Council have issued the following statement-

We welcome the Scottish Government’s announcement to aim for all pupils to return to school after the summer break. We look forward to welcoming back all children and young people on 12 August and will now to prepare and plan for this. Of course, we will inform parents if there are any further changes.

All the work carried out to prepare for blended learning and social distancing will be valuable as contingency plans and if we are required to move to this model at a later date.

As we prepare to return to Glenwood in August, and for our new intake to begin, new routines are currently being established and spaces in the centre are being altered to meet requirements. The building has been risk assessed and a number of measures are being put into place.

Some of these measures may be modified over the next few weeks as guidance for early years is updated.

Current 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
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 individual trays for sensory experiences instead of shared sand and water and 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
Putting modified procedures in place to support transition into Glenwood for new/ unsettled children including more telephone dialogue with parents instead of home visits, the use of outdoors and one designated space in the centre 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
No longer providing any food during this time – parents should provide all snacks, drinks and lunch in line with our healthy eating policy and in a lunch box with an ice pack
A designated room in the event a child or member of staff is symptomatic

While 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, adults within the centre will all be following Scottish Government social distance guidance.

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.

Throughout the summer, we will be adding information and photographs onto our twitter page, Google Classroom and nursery website. We have created a virtual welcome and tour of the nursery to share with your child; this will help prepare them for their return or as they begin Glenwood. We are also creating 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 for their return to a slightly different way of coming into nursery.

In the event that we are unable to open fully in August, 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.