Kids Connection Uplands - COVID 19

Child care centres can be operated safely by following public health principles like staying home when sick, encouraging physical distancing and minimizing physical contact, practicing hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette and frequent cleaning and disinfecting. COVID-19 has a very low infection rate in children and most children are not at high risk. 

Outdoor Spaces and Indoor Ventilation:

When the children arrive after school, we take them outside for some physical activity and fresh air.  This is when we have the highest amount of children, so they are able to play while social distancing,  We separate into two group, half the children are in the intermediate playground and the other half are at the primary.  All the children have use of the playground and field areas.  Children wash their hands after outside play.

While in side the gym fans are on at all times and while we are inside we will have an outside door open to increase airflow, while weather permits.

Cleaning and Disinfection:

We've removed all dress-up, pillows, stuffed animals toys and no longer have sensory bins,

Uplands school clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces multiple times a day during the school days, we do it on school closure days such as professional development days and spring break day camp.

All tables are cleaned before and after use.

All toys are disinfected weekly and we rotate bins of toys daily.  Children wash hands between stations.

Cohorting Children:

Children are in the same cohorts or learning group as they are during the day at school.  When they arrive from school every child is given their name tag with a colored sticker of their group.  We then separate the children into two groups, kindergarten to grade 2 and grade 3 to grade 5.  One group stays in the gym and uses the primary playground and the other group goes to the multi-purpose room and uses the intermediate playground.  All children wash their hands when they arrive to our program.

Physical Distancing and Minimizing Physical Contact:

Benches, where the children leave their belongs, have all been marked so they are spread out.  Signs are on the floor in the hallways directing where to walk.  Limit of one or two children (depending on which bathroom is being used) in the bathroom at a time.  Two mats for each play area with the toys placed in between, limit of two children in a play area,

Staff and children wear masks except while eating, drinking or during outside time.   Parents are asked to remain outside or in the door way when dropping off and picking up their child.  Staff sign in and out the children when arriving and leaving the program.

Food and Beverages:

Water fountains are available just to refill water bottles.

We no longer offer healthy snacks as an afternoon activity.  Parents must provide all snacks and lunches on a full day.

Tables are disinfected before and after eating and children wash their hands before and after eating.

Hand Hygiene:

Posting are in each bathroom reminding children and staff to wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  We encourage hand washing but hand sanitize may be used as an alternative.  

Children and staff wash hands when arriving to the school, before and after eating and after outside time.  Children wash hands when switching play areas,

Children and staff must wash hands after touching eyes, nose or mouth.

Personal Items:

Personal items such as backpacks, reusable food and drink containers (please label and clean daily) can be brought, as well as books.  We ask that children do not bring toys, blankets and stuffed animals from home.

Managing Illness at Kids Connection Uplands:

If a child becomes sick while in our care, we will call the parent to pick them up as soon as possible.  We will put out a mat away from the rest of the group but still visible where the child can lay or sit until the parent can pick them up.  While helping the child, staff will wear a mask and gloves if necessary.  Mat will be disinfected after the child leaves.