05/22/2020
The Early Learning Centers of Rhode Island
(Barrington, East Providence, Rumford, East Greenwich, and Coventry centers)
COVID-19 Reopening plan for June 1st, 2020
Parents will be called on May 26th at their emergency contact number by the director of their center. The director can answer any specific questions and will verify the family's intent to attend.
The Early Learning Centers of Rhode Island will begin implementing the following rules and requirements immediately:
Due to new government guidelines concerning isolated classrooms, scheduled/routine cleaning times, and for the general health and safety of the children and teachers, all ELC of RI centers will adjust their hours - Monday to Friday 7 AM to 5 PM.
No parents, or visitors will be allowed access into the center upon reopening on June 1st. Tours, repairs, deliveries, maintenance needs within the building will be conducted outside or before/after hours. ELC of RI teachers, staff, children, and state inspectors will be the only persons within the building during operation hours.
All adult persons are required to wear masks on the grounds of the centers. This includes wearing of masks on the parking lots, playgrounds, and within the buildings.
Drop-off and pick-up procedures/social distancing guidelines, and screening, families, and children upon arrival:
"Parking area teacher assisted drop off and pickup" will be implemented as of June 1st. Parents will call 10 minutes ahead to the ELC of RI centers before arriving at the centers for student drop off or pick up. Parents and students will remain in their vehicles until a staff member approaches to assist in the hand off of the children. Families getting out of their vehicles and waiting, will not be allowed as it can violate social distancing.
Any individual arriving at the center shall document their arrival and departure time on a log that must be kept onsite and available.
Any individual arriving at the center must complete a self-attestation form (wellness form), that has been developed and approved by DHS and Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), for the purpose of screening for symptoms of COVID-19.
Parents will sign their children in and out of attendance outside and the sign in roster and pen will be sanitized after each use. Parents will be verbal asked screening health question concerning their household and the health of the child. A response is required by law or the child cannot attend the daycare center.
Pick up procedures continued:
The staff member wearing personal protective equipment (masks and gloves), will transfer custody of the child, and it is required that parents wear their face masks during the exchange, and limit personal contact. The staff member will take the temperature of the parent and the student using a non-contact thermometer in order to screen for fever within the household. Staff members and children will use hand sanitizer on their entry and exit of the centers. Hand washing will of course be undertaken at designated times during the day, and before pick up and drop off using antibacterial soap.
Cleaning and sanitation protocols in adherence to CDC guidelines:
The floors of the centers will be cleaned with diluted chlorine bleach. Table tops, light switches, and objects to be handled will be disinfected with a Lysol alternative which is 99.9 percent effective on eliminating bacteria and viruses. The Lysol alternative is child and pet safe. The cleaning of the centers will be conducted before initial opening on June 1st, throughout the day, and during closing of the centers at night. Surfaces to clean include table tops, doork***s, light switches, counter tops, handles, cubbies, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets/sinks (Again, all objects touched by hand will be cleaned and disinfected with the Lysol alternative spray.) Outdoor play areas/playgrounds will also be cleaned and disinfected with the Lysol alternative between usage by different groups/classrooms.
Social distancing, group size, and sleeping /naptime set up:
Per government requirements, group size for infants will not exceed 8 infants and 2 teachers. Group size for toddlers, preschool. PreK, and school age will not exceed 10 students and 2 teacher. Each of these groups will have their own area and will not intermingle. Separation of groups will also be enforced through scheduled use of the playgrounds.
Naptime set up will place cots in such a manner that children do not lay face to face, and the cots will be placed as far apart as possible. Personal blankets and sheets used by the children will continue to be stored in 2.5 gallon zip lock bags when not in use. Parents are still responsible to launder their children's sheets and blanket over the weekend.
General illness policy:
Per CDC and DCYF/DHS guidelines, any staff member, parent, family member, or student showing signs of cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell should remain or return home. All persons arriving at ELC of RI centers as stated previously, will be screened with health questions and allow their temperature to be taken using a digital non-contact thermometer. Any staff or child with a temperature of 100.4 will need to remain home or, or be sent home, and quarantine for a minimum of 72 hours. DCYF, DCYF, and the health department will be monitoring and provided all updates concerning the health and well being of our children and staff.
Child illness policy in adherence to CDC guidelines:
ELC of RI will also monitor children at our locations for the new "Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). These symptoms while very rare, can be very deadly and require immediate attention when observed. These symptoms include: fever, rash, abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
Children that exhibit these symptoms at home should be taken to a hospital immediately. Children exhibiting these symptoms while at the centers will be isolated from other children and placed a separate room and allowed to lay down. The parents will be informed of the symptoms displayed by their child, and immediate pick up of the child by the parent must occur so the child can be taken to hospital for diagnosis and treatment. Any child showing symptoms of being sick will be isolated in the main office and allowed to lay down on a cot until a parent can pick them up. DHS and DCYF will be informed.
Hand washing guidelines for staff & children:
Staff members will first use hand sanitizing lotion upon arrival at the center in the entry way. Hand washing using antibacterial soap by staff members will also be completed after entering the facility checking in for work. Staff members will wash their before and after preparing food and drinks for children, and after assisting children with bathroom use or changing of diapers. During these tasks, staff will don a new set of disposable gloves after washing their hands. This practices were already in use, but this is being stated for clarity to parents and government agencies. Teachers will also set countdown timers in an effort to track times children and teachers in a room wash their hands. Children will wash their hands before and after meals, and after use of the rest rooms.
Children will be encouraged to hand sanitize their hands upon arrival at the center, and also encouraged to wash their hands with antibacterial soap after they store their belongings. Children will
Staffing plan/protocol for monitoring staff absenteeism:
ELC of RI staff will remain with the same classroom each day and be replaced by the same follow on teachers each day.
Any staff member feeling sick will remain home and report symptoms as soon as they present themselves. This teacher will be replaced by the teacher scheduled earlier or later in that room. Moving teachers from one group to another group is discouraged, and will only be used as a last resort. Tracking information of which teacher has covered which room, and the children involved will be logged for tracking information. If COVID-19 symptoms present themselves in staff or teachers the information will be provided to DCYF/DHS and parents of that daycare locations. The names of the staff and children involved will be provided to DCYF/DHS, but will NOT be released to the public to protect the privacy of those involved.
Gross Motor play:
Inside activities - While inside the facility, children will take part in gross motor play by undertaking activities such as, yoga, Simon says, and red light/green light games. No physical contact will occur. No other groups, or classes will mix or join another group during gross motor play.
Outside activities - While outside the facility (playground time), children will take part in gross motor play by undertaking activities such as, using play structures. running and races, yoga, Simon says, and red light/green light games. No physical contact will occur. No other groups, or classes will mix or join another group during gross motor play.
