This is an update following the Government’s recent announcement and conditional plans for early years settings opening to more children from early June, and contains details of proposed footprints@ childcare re-opening following the lockdown resulting from Covid-19.

In summary, subject to conditions below, ongoing advice and possible changes:

  • footprints@netherton will re-open on Monday 15th June 2020
  • footprints@hattonhill has been open for key workers since lockdown, and will open for others on Monday 1st June 2020
  • footprints@kingskids is still under review and remains closed for the time being

The debate surrounding education settings opening their doors to a wider group of children, continues to have a national focus and we recognise that it raises anxiety, concerns and questions for both the profession and parents. Whilst the national debate continues, the challenges of getting our early years settings open at some point still remains. .

As you are aware, since 23rd March, our Hatton Hill nursery has remained open only to children of critical workers and vulnerable children and our Netherton nursery closed. Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday 10th May, early years settings have been asked to reopen for all children.

The Government’s position is backed by current scientific confidence that children of all ages have less severe symptoms that adults, if they contract Coronavirus. Furthermore, their belief is that transmission rates from children to adults is limited. With this advice central to the Government’s decision, last week the Department for Education provided guidance to the education sector on the steps they should take to increase the number of children attending nursery. On this basis, the managers in First Steps and our nursery settings have been working hard to develop carefully considered action plans.

With this in mind, our footprints@ childcare is being guided by the following principles.

  • We have said we will continue to prioritise vulnerable children and children of key workers and our Hatton Hill will remain open.
  • The 1st June date for full reopening is the earliest date and an ambition, not a mandatory start date. It has been agreed that the process of full reopening will begin on 15th June for our Netherton nursery and the 1st June for our Hatton Hill nursery. Sefton Local Authority also support this view.
  • The guidance stating that maintaining bubbles from school into after school club presents a very significant challenge for Kings Kids, and therefore it remains closed until further notice
  • In our planning, the health, safety and welfare of children and staff is paramount. Detailed risk assessments will be undertaken by each setting prior to opening to additional children. These assessments will directly address risks associated with Coronavirus, so that sensible measures can be put in place to minimise those risks for children and staff.
  • Both nurseries will open only for the number of children they can safely accommodate.
  • In order to allow as many children as possible to attend. Nursery may offer places for only a certain number of sessions a week.
  • Paid sessions will only be considered if there is ample space to accommodate this.
  • In order to provide staff with the additional planning and preparation time needed, nursery may shorten the nursery week.
  • Nursery staff will remain in contact with all families whether they are able to attend or not.

It is also important to recognise that nursery will have limited and varying numbers of staff available and your child may not necessarily have their regular key worker.  Staff will be very conscious that routines and learning will be a little different and will be sensitive to the extra support some children will need. As part of the approach our nursery will also ensure the following measures are in place.

  • Carry our additional cleaning everyday so that when children leave, the spaces and resources that they have used are thoroughly cleaned to reduce to risk of the spread of the virus.
  • Ensure regular handwashing takes place throughout the day and on entry and exit.
  • Limit activities to use resources that can be cleaned easily and regularly.
  • Organise children in small groups or ‘bubbles’ with the same adults.
  • Reorganise furniture within nursery to encourage social distancing.
  • Impose 2-meter points or staggered times for drop off and collection so there is minimal adult contact and the recommended two-meter social distance guidance can be followed.
  • Visitors and additional adults will not be permitted into nursery rooms.

We would like to express our gratitude for your understanding and patience, as this process has taken a great deal of time and careful consideration.

We have already begun to undertake the process of personally contacting families regarding their intent to send their children back to nursery and will be contacting those families who have expressed this wish once again to confirm further arrangements and to share more detailed plans.  Please contact each footprints@ nursery for further enquiries or our main number – 0151 665 0160.

As a reminder, current health advice for Covid-19 is here

Finally, in a world that is currently full of confusion, we want to reassure you that your child’s safety and wellbeing, as well as that of our staff and our families is at the heart of our decision making.

The First Steps Management Team