Nurseries At Harmony House
At Harmony House we have three great Nurseries located in Dagenham, Castle Green & Hornchurch.
To find out more about each location please click below.
Tax-Free Childcare Eligibility
According to gov.uk, families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:
· have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they may get up to £4,000 a year until they are 17
· earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average
· each earn no more than £100,000 per annum
· do not receive tax credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers
A full list of the eligibility criteria is available on GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare#eligibility
Curriculum
The curriculum is a general term for everything we want children to learn about and experience, and the way we encourage them to reach their full potential.
The “Early Learning Goals” are national agreed targets for children to reach by the end of the reception year in primary school. They outline everything a found child should know and understand by this time. The Early Learning Goals encourage the development of personal and social skills, early reading and writing skills, early number skills and understanding of the world, physical development, creative and spiritual development.
The curriculum is therefore to do with everything a child does, sees, hears or feels in planned and unplanned activities. Children learn through play and investigation, alone or in groups. In all activities your child is learning.
Activities are planned by staff to ensure every child is able to reach their full potential in all areas of development. A written record is kept of your child’s development, based upon daily observation and assessment by staff. You can see these records whenever you wish, and they are particularly helpful at Parents’ Evenings.
Many Children come here whose home language is not English. We value the richness and differences of different cultures, traditions and languages. Our staff include those who speak French, Spanish, Dutch, Lingala, Kinyarwanda, Twi, Turkish, Romanian, Polish, Lithuanian and Greek. Whilst recognizing the importance of a child becoming familiar with the English language, we encourage parents to make sure their child does not forget their parent tongue.
Activity plans and routines are displayed in all rooms and are available for parents to read.
Parent Partnership
It is our Aim to involve parents with their child’s learning and development as much as possible.
We hold regular Parents’ Evenings and encourage you to attend to discuss the progress of your child. All information relating to your child is available for you to see at any time. Staff are always on hand to answer any questions you may have and welcome comments from parents. There is a Parents Information Board outside each room that will inform you of what is happening within the Childhood Centre. You will also find information on the work your child is covering and advice on activities you may wish to try at home.
Regular events and outings are planned for the children and we welcome parents during these occasions. If you have some spare time and would like to help within the Childhood Centre, please speak to a member of staff. We welcome comments and suggestions from parents.
Risk Assessment Covid-19
Harmony House Nurseries
Hornchurch, Dagenham, Castle Green
| Activity/Person/Location | Coronavirus (COVID 19) | |||
| Manager | Claire G-Pandya (Hx) Christina Nantwi (HHD) Wendy Bugeja (C Green) | |||
| Date of assessment | 1st June 2020 Marie Kearns | Medium | ||
| Low | ||||
| Review date | Ongoing – Update in line with PHE & Government Guidance |
Focus on high quality hygiene, safety & well-being.
Actions for Educational and Childcare Settings Implementing Protective Measures Statutory Guidance Early Years Foundation Stage: Coronavirus Disapplication’sThe above guidance documents have been used as a reference when completing this risk assessment
| Risks | People | Control Measures | Actions by whom? | Review |
| Staffing | Children Staff Families | The CEO of Harmony House will remain in contact with all staff, those working and those who remain on furlough, and be aware of their well-being, health, and shielding requirements if appropriate. Clinically vulnerable individuals who are at higher risk of severe illness should take extra precautions or stay at home where possible. The personal circumstances of all staff will be considered in the timing of their return to the workplace.Those with health issues of their own, those who live with vulnerable people or elders and those who need to use on public transport will be protected for as long as possible.A return to work will be discussed and negotiated with all staff members firstReview number of available staff, children to attend and adherence to EYFS ratios. EYFS ratios will continue to be applied to group children. Ensure there for at least one person who has a current PFA certificate on the premises and available at all times when children aged below 24 months are present.Use ‘best endeavours’ to have one person with PFA on site when only children aged 2-5 are present. | CEO and Management Team | Review daily |
| Priority Children | Children Staff Families | Vulnerable children https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-peopleKey worker’s children.3-and 4-years olds.Places for the children in the above groups will be provided during the lockdownThese children will be given priority after June 1st, if there is a need to cap places in the setting.Contact LBBD Early Years & Childcare for advice. | Management Team | Review daily |
| Reduce Numbers of Children | Children Staff Families | Review number of available staff, children to attend and adherence to EYFS ratios.A reduction in the number of child places available will be considered if thought necessary after all hygiene and distancing measures have been put in place. | Management Team | Review daily |
| Shielding | Children Staff Families | Children and staff who have been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable due to pre-existing medical conditions are advised to shield.If a child or staff member lives in a household with someone who is extremely clinically vulnerable, (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19) it is advised they only attend a childcare setting if stringent social distancing can be adhered to and, in the case of children, if they are able to understand and follow those instructions. If stringent social distancing cannot be adhered to, it is not expected those individuals attend. They should be supported to learn at home.Clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable) people are those considered to be at a higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus. Few children will fall into this category, but parents should follow medical advice if their child is in this category.Staff in this category will be furloughed, or asked to work from home where possible . Children living with a vulnerable person, including those who are pregnant, can attend the setting. | Management Team | Review daily |
| Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Children Staff Families | Tell children, parents, carers, or any visitors, such as suppliers, not to enter the setting if they are displaying any symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). Display sign reminding parents, carers, or any visitors not to enter if they are displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). Staff and children should not attend if they have symptoms or are self-isolating due to symptoms in their household.Staff and children will be eligible for testing if they become ill with coronavirus symptoms, as will members of their households. | Management Team All staff | Review daily |
| Public Transport | Children Staff Families | Staff & families to be advised not to use public transport. If public transport cannot be avoided, attempts should be made to not use during peak times | Management Team | Review daily |
| Organisation | ||||
| Arrival & Departures | Children Staff Families | Allocate arrival and departure times for families to avoid congestion at entrance and reduce ‘pinch points.’Plan parents’ drop-off and pick-up protocols that minimise adult to adult contact.Children to be handed over to a member of staff at the door. If possible, the same member of staff who will be working with the child throughout the day. Family member not to enter the building. Families to be asked to maintain social distancing and not to gather at door.All staff, visitors and children to wash hands on arrival and departure for 20 seconds with soap and hot water.Only one family member to bring & collect child from setting. Families to be advised to avoid the use of public transport. Parent/carer to only enter the setting if they have a pre-arranged appointment, which can be conducted safely. | Management Team All staff | Review daily |
| Groupings | Children Staff Families | Consider organising family style grouping to reduce access to other parts of setting, staff, and children. Consider set/reduced attendance times for different groups. Group by key group, friendship, days attended, ratio etc. Group to play & eat with set staff as much as possible. Keep group together including staff assigned to a specific group– no mixing through the day.Avoid mixing on subsequent days, if possible. If possible, allocate two members of staff to a group to support well-being & hygiene.Allocate set times to access the outside area.Avoid larger groups of children mixing. Set aside specific space in setting for each group to play. Contact local authority if unable to achieve these small groups. | Management Team All staff | Review daily |
| Mealtimes | Stagger mealtimes.All staff and children to maintain usual hygiene routine of hand washing before & after eating.Space children and tables apart. | Management Team All staff | Review daily | |
| Reduce Movement Around the Setting | Minimise contact and mixing by altering, as much as possible, the environment (such as classroom layout) and routine (such as staggered times outside).Keep children in small groups 2 metres away from each other, when possible.In general groups should be kept apart, brief, transitory, contact such as passing in a corridor is low risk. | Management Team All staff | Review daily | |
| Shared Spaces | Reduce use of shared spaces such as soft play and eating spaces.Do not mix groups of pupils, stagger times of use and thorough cleaning of toys and surfaces between use by different groups.Plan with staff, availability of resources & activities for each group of children (daily).Stagger use of staff rooms and offices to limited capacity. | Management Team All staff | Review daily | |
| Hygienehttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings | ||||
| COVID -19 training | Staff | All staff to complete online COVID-19 training https://www.virtual-college.co.uk/courses//prevent-covid-19-free-trainingDisplay certification of completion. | Management Team All staff | Review daily |
| Infection Protection – Unwell Child | Staff Families Children | Minimise contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, do not attend the setting.If anyone becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature in an education or childcare setting, they must be sent home and advised to follow the COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection guidance. If a child is awaiting collection, they should be moved, if possible, to a room where they can be isolated behind a closed door, with appropriate adult supervision. Ideally, a window should be opened for ventilation. If it is not possible to isolate them, move them to an area which is at least 2 metres away from other people.If they need to go to the bathroom while waiting to be collected, they should use a separate bathroom if possible. The bathroom should be cleaned and disinfected using standard cleaning products before being used by anyone else.PPE should be worn by staff caring for the child while they await collection if 2 metres cannot be maintained (such as for a very young child or a child with complex needs).In an emergency, call 999. Do not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital.If a member of staff has helped someone who was unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, they do not need to go home unless they develop symptoms themselves (and in which case, a test is available) or the child subsequently tests positive. They should wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after any contact with someone who is unwell.Cleaning the affected area with normal household disinfectant after someone with symptoms has left. COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings guidance. | Management Team All staff | Review daily |
| Confirmed Case of Coronavirus in the Setting | Staff Families Children | If a child or staff member develops symptoms compatible with coronavirus, they should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 7 days. Fellow household members should self-isolate for 14 days. All staff will have access to a test if they display symptoms of coronavirus and are to be encouraged to get tested.If the child or staff tests negative, they can return to their setting and the fellow household members can end their self-isolation.If the child or staff member tests positive, the rest of the group within their childcare setting should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days. The other household members of that wider class or group do not need to self-isolate unless the child, or staff they live with in that group subsequently develops symptoms.The Nursery Manager must inform the appropriate department of Public Health England, and the CEO Harmony HouseIf other cases are detected within the cohort or in the wider setting, Public Health England’s local health protection teams will conduct a rapid investigation and will advise schools and other settings on the most appropriate action to take. In some cases a larger number of other children may be asked to self-isolate at home, where settings are observing guidance on infection prevention and control, which will reduce risk of transmission, closure of the whole setting will not generally be necessary. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings | Management Team All staff | Review daily |
| Reduce Spread of Infection | Staff Families Children | Follow updates & advice from Public Health England (PHE).Regular updates provided to all staff. Regular reminders and support for staff about following NHS guidelines to reduce the spread of the virus. Hand hygiene posters displayed in all areas including toilets & kitchens.Increase daily cleaning procedures.Hot water & hand soap/soap dispensers checked regularly. Social distancing.Staff or child with symptoms to be sent home to self-isolate. | Management Team All staff | Review daily |
| Cleaning | Clean frequently touched surfaces often using standard products, such as detergents and bleach.Thorough cleaning of the rooms; surfaces, books, light switches, toilets, door handles. Clean all equipment between uses by different groups.Ensure that wherever possible children use the same area of a setting throughout the day, with a thorough cleaning of the rooms at the end of the day.All soft toys to be removed from the settingDiscuss with cleaning contractors or staff the additional cleaning requirements and agree additional time to allow for this.Follow https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings | Management Team All staff | Review daily | |
| Hand Washing | Children Staff | All staff and children to wash hands more regularly throughout the day for 20 seconds with soap and hot water. All staff and children to wash hands on arrival for 20 seconds with soap and hot water.Staff to supervise hand washing for all children. Staff to ensure children dry hands correctly to reduce skin infections from wet hands.Display hand washing posters.Empty bins frequently. Staff to teach about hand washing in simple, clear child friendly language. Staff to reiterate and reinforce key messages throughout the day. Praise children for use of good hygiene routines. Sing songs to reassure children.Follow https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public | Management Team All staff | Review daily |
| Faces | Children Staff | Staff to teach children about avoiding touching faces (mouth, nose & eyes) in simple, clear child friendly language. Staff to reiterate and reinforce key messages throughout the day. . Praise children for use of good hygiene routines. | Management Team All staff | Review daily |
| Respiratory Hygiene(Coughs & Sneezing) | Children Staff | Ensuring good respiratory hygiene – promote the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach.Empty bins throughout the day.Staff to teach how to use a tissue or inside of elbow to catch coughs and sneezes, in clear child friendly language. Teach children to check in mirror that their face is clean of mucus.Staff and children to wash hands. Staff to reiterate and reinforce key messages throughout the day. Praise children for good hygiene routines. | Management Team All staff | Review daily |
| Two- Metre Social Distancing | Staff Families Children | Staff to remain 2 metres apart where possible, but to remain practical when working with young children. Staff & parents to model social distancing.Staff to teach children about social distancing in simple, clear child friendly language. Staff to reiterate and reinforce key messages.Staff to recognise that young children cannot be expected to remain 2 metres apart but to reduce mixing with other groups as much as possible. Staff room – maintain safe distancing during all breaks and stagger all breaks. | Management team All staff | Review daily |
| Toileting | Children Staff | Stagger group access to the toilets.Maintain and increase cleaning of bathrooms and toilets.Reduce group size of children accessing toilets. Empty bins frequently.Staff to supervise hygiene and handwashing. | Management team All staff | Review daily |
| Ventilation | Children Staff | Maintain good ventilation all the time – open windows.Open doors, if safe to do so, to prevent use of door handles. | Management team All staff | Review daily |
| Changing Nappies and use of the Bathroom | Staff Children | All staff to follow toileting and nappy changing procedures.Staff to wear gloves and aprons during nappy change. Staff to wear gloves and aprons when changing soiled clothing.Empty bins regularly. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings | All staff Management team | Review daily |
| Bodily Fluids | Staff Children Families | All staff to follow bodily fluids procedures, including removal of vomit, urine, and faeces, from a child and surfaces.Staff to wear aprons and gloves when cleaning the area. All items then placed in a nappy sack and put in the bin outside. The area to be cleaned with the correct chemicals. If a child has a fever or cough, follow https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings | All staff Management team | Review daily |
| Kitchen | Staff Children | Minimal access to the kitchen. All surfaces to be cleaned before & after all food preparation. Cook to always wear gloves and apron. To change gloves and apron whenever s/he leaves the kitchen.Mealtimes – all children and staff to wash hands before and after a meal or snack. | All staff Management team | Review daily |
| PPE | Staff Children | Majority of staff not required to wear PPE beyond what they normally need for work. Staff must follow setting procedures for all intimate care of gloves and aprons.PPE is only needed if a child becomes unwell with symptoms of coronavirus while in the setting and needs direct personal care until they can return home. A fluid-resistant surgical face mask should be worn by the supervising adult if 2 metres cannot be maintained. If contact with the child or young person is necessary, then disposable gloves, a disposable apron and a fluid-resistant surgical face mask should be worn by the supervising adult. If a risk assessment determines that there is a risk of splashing to the eyes, for example from coughing, spitting, or vomiting, then eye protection should also be worn.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings | All staff Management team | Review daily |
| Face covering | Staff Children Families | Wearing a face covering or face mask in the setting is not recommended. Face coverings should not be worn in any circumstance by those who may not be able to handle them as directed (for example, young children, or those with special educational needs or disabilities) as it may inadvertently increase the risk of transmission. | All staff Management team | Review daily |
| Personal Hygiene | Staff Children Families | Follow normal personal hygiene and washing of clothes following a day in setting.Staff and children should not wear jewellery in the setting.Staff should have their nails short, not wear false nails and avoid the use of nail polish when on duty.Children should be provided with indoor and outdoor shoes. | All staff Management team | Review daily |
| Hygiene Equipment | Staff | Maintain orders.Track orders. Staff report shortages to manager. Additional orders placed as required.Consider maintaining a small contingency supply.Contact local resilience forum if urgent need for PPE to operate safely. | All staff Management team | Review daily |
| Routinehttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings | ||||
| Outside Space | Children Staff | Use outside space as much as possible throughout the day.Revise routine. Use outside for exercise but no equipment to be used unless thoroughly cleaned between groups of pupils. Follow COVID-19: cleaning of non-healthcare settings | All staff Management team | Review daily |
| Equipment | Children Staff | Remove resources that cannot be easily be washed. Reduce the number of resources.Remove unnecessary items from play spaces and other learning environments where there is space to store it elsewhere.Rearrange play space.Clean play equipment between groups of children using it.Ensure multiple groups do not use play equipment simultaneously.Remove soft furnishings, soft toys and toys that are hard to clean (such as those with intricate parts).If possible, reduce the sharing of toys. Limit the amount of shared resources that are taken home and limit exchange of take-home resources between children and staff. Try to prevent the sharing of stationery and other equipment where possible. Shared materials and surfaces to be cleaned and disinfected more frequently. | All staff Management team | Review daily |
| Activities | Staff Children | Consider types of sensory and messy play provision to minimise infection. Avoid messy food play. Activities such as playdough, sand and painting should be used by only one set group. (These resources cannot be cleaned between groups, so if providing, each group will need its own resource.)Whilst trying to meet existing EYFS requirements as far as is possible there may be occasions where it will not be possible to provide activities and experience across all seven areas of learning for all children all of the time. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework–2/early-years-foundation-stage-coronavirus-disapplications | Management team All staff | Review daily |
| Attendance | Staff Children Families | No one with symptoms should attend a setting for any reason. Eligible children are encouraged to attend the setting, unless they are self-isolating, or they are clinically vulnerable (in which case they should follow medical advice). If someone in their household is extremely clinically vulnerable, they should only attend if stringent social distancing can be adhered to, and the child is able to understand and follow those instructions.Families should notify their nursery/school/college as normal if their child is unable to attend so that staff can explore the reason with them and address barriers together.Families and staff must adhere to quarantine rules as introduced by the Government in relation to retuning from foreign travelInform social workers when children with a social worker do not attend.Local Authority, on behalf of the Department for Education will continue to monitor attendance at early years settings, via the local authority. | Management team | Review daily |
May 2020
