CHILDCARE

Enrollment: Child Care Subsidy

Subsidy Application

• Hours of operation 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Children bring their own lunches.
• We have a cohort of 30 children: 26 preschool+4 infants. 
• We screen all staff and children daily.
• Parents drop off/pick up outdoors in play yard to reduce people coming inside the centre.
• All adults to wear masks inside the centre.

How do we isolate children who become ill?

• Everyone will be screened, so there are no ill children attending.
• If a child becomes ill during the day, we will do our best to isolate them in a separate room in accordance with good childcare practices.
• We will call parents or guardian to arrange pick up as soon as possible. Parents must be available to answer all calls from the centre.
• If the child will wear a mask, they should do so.
• If ECE staff are not able to be physically distant or the child requires personal care including diapering or toileting support, the childcare provider should put on full PPE.

If a staff member becomes ill.

• Ill staff members will not attend work and will contact the centre to ensure staff coverage.
• If staff becomes sick while at work, they should leave the centre immediately.   If this is not possible, affected staff will self-isolate and parents will be called to pick up the children.
• If a childcare staff is not able to self-isolate, full PPE equipment should be put on.
• In all cases, contact Health Links for additional information.

What is the process if a Thrive staff, child parent or guardian tests positive for COVID-19?

• Public health officials will advise and provide detailed instructions to anyone needing to self-isolate and will provide advice on what needs to take place.
• Public health will follow up with anyone who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, including childcare providers if applicable, and will advise on the appropriateness of isolation and when the discontinuance of isolation protocols can be considered.

How often would materials (toys, etc) need to be cleaned?

• If the childcare centre is absent of an ill child or worker, we will continue with routine cleaning practices.
• If someone becomes ill, Thrive staff will disinfect all of the toys/items that children have touched. We will limit sharing of many things, especially things that go in the mouth. 

What are the recommendations surrounding pick up and drop off time for programs? Should programs be restricting families from entering the premises?

• Thrive will implement procedures to minimize traffic during drop off and pick-ups to support social distancing.
• Parents will be directed to use hand sanitizer and/or wash hands upon approaching the entrance.
• All adults to wear masks.
• No one showing symptoms will be allowed to enter.

Thrive Child Care will follow social distancing.

• Social Distancing is the two-metre rule between people. It is important to note that social distancing advice is meant for interactions among staff and parents.  Social distancing may not always be possible for children.
• When working in a childcare setting:
• Children with no symptoms should continue to be treated as you typically would care for a child.
• We will arrange spaces to encourage more separation. We will space children to avoid close contact during meal and nap times and assign a designated chair and table for each child.
• We will use tape on the floor, hoops, mats or other items that can mark off personal space. Staff will organize play activities with a visual cue about how many children should be in that area.
  See the ELCC Practice Guide for additional suggestions.

How do we know if it is the flu or COVID-19?

We will ask people who are sick to isolate, monitor their symptoms, and if they worsen or do not go away, to consult a doctor or Health Links (204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257).

What are appropriate sanitizers/disinfectants?

Washing hands with soap and water is better than using hand sanitizer.

We may use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available.

• Washing hands regularly with soap and water is the best prevention against the virus, although hand sanitizer can be used. Staff will follow product directions.
• Children will be supervised when using hand sanitizers, as ingesting even small amounts of sanitizer can be fatal.

For nap time, we will use centre provided bedding.

Only well children should attend the Childcare Centre, so we will follow routine practices related to bedding materials. Staff will practice social distancing for laying out beds.

Information adapted from Manitoba Families Townhalls with Dr. Roussin ELCC General questions – April 16, 2020