Mo's Montessori

4. Specific measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in our setting Play Pods Where possible the service will implement the DCYA recommendation to organise children and staff into 'play pods' which comprise of a group of children and 2 staff, who remain with that group of children as keyworkers each day and throughout the day as far as possible. The purpose of the 'play pods' is to limit the number of people a child and a staff member have contact with, to facilitate contact tracing and to support close, positive interactions between children and their adult caregivers. The service will determine the maximum size of the play pod. The department has advised that there is no evidence on which to define a maximum pod size but that they should be kept as small as is likely to be reasonably practical in the specific childcare context. Pod sizes may take account of regulations relating to maximum adult-child ratios for the different age groups. The department has also advised that there will no change to the adult-child ratios and space requirements for the different age groups and care categories under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 Where practical children from the same household will be in the same pod As far as possible, there will be no contact between two or more play pods (children and staff). Play pods will remain apart in separate or shared spaces including outdoors and at dropping off and picking up times. This will help to ensure that in the case of a confirmed Covid-19 case, only one play pod is affected and the service can still continue following disinfection, cleaning etc. Any decisions to close any part of the service will only be made in consultation with local public health staff. In as far as practical, the service will structure the play pods to have two adults in the pod which may reduce the need for other adults to enter the pod to provide relief for breaks. Within a play pod social distancing between young children is not recommended and, therefore, we will not expect children to social distance in our Service. In the event that a staff member has to move between play pods e.g. to cover for staff absences/breaks, staff must wash hands on entry and leaving a play pod and a record should be kept of this movement and should be kept to an absolute minimum. The service will manage the circulation and movement of children in their play pod between their room, the toilets, the outdoor area and any other areas of the service so as to ensure no physical contact with children or staff in other play pods in as far as possible The service will use markings on the ground and other ways to divide indoor and outdoor physical areas so as to support and guide children's safe movement within their 'play pods' and reduce contact with children in other groups.

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