Covid-19 Policies
Effective June 1, 2020
Last Updated: August 17, 2020
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the following policies will be in effect starting on June 1, 2020. All of the policies below are in addition to the regular Daycare Policies. For the safety of all our children and staff, all of the policies below will be strictly enforced. These policies will remain in effect until a vaccine is available, or until otherwise advised from the State Governor, Child Care Council of Westchester, or OCFS with new guidance.
Drop Off & Pick Up
1. PRIOR TO DROP – OFF
- Prior to drop-off, it is highly recommended a health check is complete at home.
- If your child has any sign of sickness (i.e., coughing, sneezing, fatigue, trouble breathing, chills, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, paleness, skin rashes, swelling), they will not be allowed to enter the daycare program.
- If ANYONE in your household has any signs of sickness, or is in quarantine, then you must keep your child home. This could include a grandparent, spouse, extended family member, or a visitor who is in your home and has been traveling to impacted states / countries.
- If you or your child had direct contact with any person with known Covid-19 or person under investigation for Covid-19, you will not be permitted to enter our daycare program.
- Please be sure to arrive with all the appropriate protective equipment (i.e., masks).
- Children must bring their own meals from home (we will provide snacks).
2. DROP-OFF POLICIES
- Upon arrival, if another family is dropping off, please wait until that family leaves before stepping out of your car. If you must drop off right away for time constraints, you must maintain social distancing (6 feet apart) and wear a mask when approaching.
- At drop-off, a staff member will receive your child and sign them in.
- At drop-off, a staff member will take your child’s temperature prior to entering daycare.
- Any adult, parent, or family member that is dropping off a child may NOT enter inside the daycare program at any time.
3. PICK-UP POLICIES
- Any adult, parent, or family member that is authorized to pick up a child may NOT enter inside the daycare program at any time. They must wait by the door / entrance and a staff member will bring them out.
Covid-19 Safety Protocols
Indoor & Outdoor
1. Outdoor Activities
- Children are encouraged but not required to wear face masks during outdoor activities.
- Employees are required to wear face coverings / masks at all times, including outdoors.
2. Group Sizes and Classrooms
- Groups of fifteen (15) children maximum. The restriction on group size does not apply to employees/staff. Although these are the maximum group sizes as per State guidelines, we will maintain group sizes smaller to maintain compliance with our License.
- New Classroom spaces have been implemented due to Covid-19. Once your child has been placed in a group, they will remain with that group and in the classroom space throughout the day.
3. Common Areas & Small Spaces
- Staff will prohibit the use of small spaces whenever possible
- Staff will increase ventilation with outdoor air to the greatest extent possible, such as keeping windows open, doors open, and having air filters turned on when indoors.
- Common areas, such as bathrooms and kitchen areas, will continue to be sanitized and cleaned thoroughly on a daily basis. Staff will schedule and coordinate so that only 1 group will use the kitchen area at a time.
Covid-19 Reopening
Reopening Procedures
1. Procedures
- If a group or the entire program is forced to close due to a Covid-19 spread or outbreak, we will close for a period of 14 days, which is being recommended by the state.
- During this time, staff will do a thorough cleaning of the daycare, including all common spaces and items normally used by staff and children during daycare.
- Once daycare program is able to open safely, we will notify clients of reopening procedures.
Covid-19 Disclosure
Disclosure Terms
1. Disclosure for Staff and Children
- If your child is sick with fever, they cannot attend daycare as it can easily spread.
- The client must notify the provider in advance (before the scheduled starting time) whenever a child won’t be coming to care due to illness or any other reason.
- A clearance letter from the doctor must be provided prior to your child returning to daycare.
- Failure to comply with the program’s illness policies may result in the termination of this contract.
Covid-19 Screening and Testing
Screening and Testing
1. Screening
- An employee, parent/guardian, or child/camper who screens positive for or exhibits symptoms of Covid 19 should not be allowed to enter the facility or area and should be sent home.
- If a child/camper or their household member becomes symptomatic for Covid-19 and/or tests positive for Covid-19, the child must quarantine and may not return or attend daycare until after quarantine is complete and no symptoms are apparent for 14 days.
- Allergies – With proof of allergies, child must have 72 hours without symptoms and without using any medication. Without proof of allergies, a child cannot return without a doctor’s note confirming that the child is safe to return to childcare. NO runny noses allowed! Children will not be able to enter daycare if they have clear evidence of a runny nose.
Covid-19 Closure: Terms of Payment
Child Care Rates and Fees
1. Client Self Quarantine Mandated
- If you, your child, or someone in your household is required to self quarantine and cannot attend daycare, daycare fees will continue to be due in the following order:
First week = 50% normal pay is due
Second week = 50% normal pay is due - If additional time after the second week is needed, the existing client contract will be void and a new contract will need to be agreed upon to maintain a spot in the daycare program.
2. Daycare Program Closure Due to Covid-19
- If the daycare program needs to close for everyone, daycare fees will continue to be due in the following order:
First week = 50% normal pay is due
Second week = 50% normal pay is due
Third week = NO fees are due
Fourth week = NO fees are due - If additional time after the fourth week is needed, the existing client contract will be void and a new contract will need to be agreed upon to reserve a space in the daycare program.
3. Testing Recommendations
- In the case that we receive confirmation of a positive Covid-19 case in our program, we would close for a period of 2 weeks for a thorough cleaning. During this time, we would highly encourage each family to get tested as well.