The government have released their COVID-19 recovery strategy to rebuild the UK and at this moment in time the government are anticipating that early years will potentially be able to welcome back all children from the week commencing 1st June.
We had hoped that we would be able to re-open our doors in response to the discovery of a vaccine or drug-based treatment for the virus but regretfully this is not the case. While everyone in the country hopes for a breakthrough, we do understand the government statement that hope is not a plan and we do have to embrace change to survive in the different world we find ourselves in. The reality is that a mass vaccine or treatment may be more than a year away. Indeed, in a worst-case scenario, we may never find a vaccine. So, our plans for our nursery, like the government’s plan for the country, must countenance a situation where we are in this, together, for the long haul, while doing all we can to protect individuals and especially those who are more vulnerable and at risk.
Of course, before opening we need to make sure that we put protective measures in place to reduce risks to staff and children attending our nursery. It is important that we create a safe environment for everyone to return to. We will closely follow all the official guidance that we have available to us to help limit any risks. Minimising the spread of the disease through continuing good hygiene practices: hand washing, social distancing, reducing the number of social contacts and regular disinfecting of surfaces touched by others will be embedded into our routines and practice for some time. We will safeguard the nursery from anyone showing symptoms and from anyone who should be in household quarantine.
We cannot predict with absolute certainty what the impact of lifting the restrictions in phase one will be and so we cannot make definite plans for dates for reopening but we are in regular communication with all our families and we are taking individual circumstances and vulnerabilities into account when making our plans.
Wishing you all the best in these challenging times. Stay well.
