Most people who are infected with Covid19 will experience mild symptoms, such as a cough and a fever, and will recover without the need for specialist treatment. Evidence suggests that children and adolescents are less likely to develop severe symptoms of the disease but can still transmit the disease to others.
The aim of this risk assessment is to reduce the risk of spreading Covid19 within the club as far as possible, by identifying and implementing measures that will help to keep staff, children and their families safe from infection.
| Risk assessment conducted by: Amanda Smith | Date of risk assessment: 22 July 2020 |
| Area for assessment | What is the risk? | Risk level (H/M/L) | What steps have you implemented to reduce the risk? | Risk level (H/M/L) |
| Venue | Emergency evacuation procedures – Fire First aid – Having adequate first aid supplies and First Aiders New cleaning practices to be maintained, which will decrease the risk of spreading Covid19 Communal room, e.g. staff rooms – ensuring social distancing is maintained. Waste building up, within the building, increasing the risk of infection Limited ventilation | M M M M M M | Each class with have separate meeting points in the playground. They will be escorted by their two supervising adults. All Children will exit via the car park exit should we need to vacate the premises. Each class will be maintained in their separate groups. Each class room will have its own first aid kits for ease of access. We will have at least 5 first aiders present at each session We have revised our daily environment check to include the new practices implemented. These checks are to be signed off by appointed individuals. This should ensure that the new practices are maintained. Staff will be having lunch with children in their class or in the playground. If staff are in need of a 15 mins break they are asked to take breaks out-doors Bins will be emptied twice a day, and be disposed of in the external waste management facilities Where possible, doors and windows will be kept open to improve ventilation within the building and therefore help reduce the risk of infection | L L L L L L |
| Movement around the club | Ensuring entrances are not causing people to congregate, preventing social distancing. Overcrowding in room and hallways Increased numbers at certain times of day, e.g. break and lunch, which could compromise social distancing Spread of virus due to numbers of people using the setting | M M M M | Implemented a one-way system, so staff and children enter the hall via the playground entrance and leave the hall entering their classrooms directly. We are using two entrances for children to access the club to prevent the reduction and risk of large numbers of people congregating at the main gates. And we are using text for parents to notify us when they have arrived for collection between 2.30 and 3.00pm Children will be grouped in a class of 15 with two adults. The hall will be used by one group at a time. Children will have lunch in their assigned classes. The playground will be separated into four spaces for lunch and break times. We will run activities outside, as far as possible | L L L L |
| Cleaning and reducing contamination | Use of play equipment for groups of children Sharing of resources and equipment and the risk of infection Sufficient Handwashing facilities Ensuring adequate time for appropriate handwashing Use of Toilets Contaminated surface spreading the virus Excess equipment and soft furnishings which cannot be easily sanitised Access to suitable supplies of cleaning materials Staff and children not understanding the need for good personal hygiene and handwashing | M M M M M M M M M | Children will wash hands on entry to the building before using play equipment and equipment will be cleaned after use, with sanitiser Children will clean hands between activities and equipment will be cleaned after use. This will be monitored and recorded Each class has washing facilities adequate for 15 children to take turns. We will also have access to sanitisers in each room. Additional time has been built into the schedule to allow for good handwashing techniques to be adopted. A member of staff of staff will supervise handwashing at the start of the day, during breaks and lunchtime. We use activities to demonstrate how quickly germs spread and how good handwashing techniques limit this – e.g. Glitter germs activity. Staff will monitor use of toilets and as far as possible, during the session. Children will ask to use the toilet. Staff will encourage children to use a policy of one in, one out. Frequently-touched surfaces, such as handles, door plates, light switches, table tops and toys will be regularly cleaned with anti-bacterial spray or wipes, before, during and after each session. Daily environment check will be signed off. Remove unnecessary furniture, equipment and soft furnishings and place into storage. The manager will source a suitable supply of cleaning materials and will find alternative suppliers as backup, should this be required. Stock takes will be undertaken on a weekly basis to ensure that suitable levels are maintained. Public health posters will be displayed throughout the club, to convey the importance of these measures | L L L L L L L L L |
| Staffing | Managers given suitable training to enable to address the changed situation with confidence Staff understanding the changes that have been introduced, and adopting safe practices Staff, child ratios increased to maintain additional cleaning etc. Are staff safe to work – including those with high risk factors, or other underlying health factors, or with vulnerable or shielding family members, or other increased risk factors – e.g. travelling to work by public transport Anxiety levels of staff, preventing them from attending work | M M M M M | Managers have accessed online Covid19 training Staff have been given childhood diseases training to address the changes and our daily environment checks will be updated to ensure that they don’t get overlooked. Recruitment process has started, to get additional staff, to meet the increased needs. Staff will be deployed in order to mitigate risks – i.e. those with increased risk will be deployed on kitchen duties, or outside. For those staff in the highest risk category, we will determine whether it is safe for them to return to work, or if they need to remain furloughed, until the risk subsides. Staff will be asked to remove their masks before entering the premises. They will be asked to wash their hands on entry We have bank staff available to cover where necessary, but will offer training and protective equipment as required to reduce the risk of infection for staff and help to alleviate anxiety levels. | L L L L L |
| Children | Children with EHCP Children unable to follow guidance Early years children not able to understand that they can’t mix with other groups within the setting – this may be a particular issue with siblings attending. Member of a group becoming unwell, with symptoms of Covid19 Protecting vulnerable children Children not remaining in their allocated groups Risk of infection when parents sign children in and out of the club Staff becoming symptomatic | M M M M M M M M | Discuss with parents, whether or not it is safe for these children to attend the club at this time. If it is safe then individual risk assessments will be undertaken and appropriate support measures will be implemented. Use child friendly approaches to explain the need to follow guidelines – e.g. glitter germ activity to promote good handwashing techniques. Discuss with parents, to ensure that rules are reinforced at home. If the child is still unable to follow the guidance, we may have to withdraw their place at the club. Early Years children will be located in a separate room, to limit the possibility of them mixing with the older children. If this happens, the child with symptoms will be separated from the rest of the children and their parents will be contacted to collect them immediately. Ideally the child will be kept in a well-ventilated location – Library, with the exit door opened. If the member of staff caring for this child is not able to maintain a distance of 2 metres, then personal protective equipment should be used – e.g. disposable apron, mask and gloves. These should be disposed of following government guidelines. When the child is sent home, they will be advised to self-isolate and to arrange for a test, via the internet at NHS.UK or by phoning NHS 119 A separate risk assessment will be undertaken in conjunction with the parents, before deciding if these children are safe to attend the club. Children will be separated by classrooms Dividers will be used to keep groups separate in the playground, but if a child repeatedly fails to stay within their group, we may ask parents to remove them from the club, and withdraw the child’s place for future sessions. A member of staff will sign children in and out Staff will all be given details of how to access testing services and will be advised not to come to work if they are symptomatic. If they do arrive at work, displaying symptoms of Covid19, they will be asked to go home and self-isolate for 7 days, or until the symptoms have gone. | L L L L L L L L |
| Transport | Managing social distancing whilst transporting children to the club Use of public transport | M | Parents will be asked to transport children during the holiday, and not lift share. If we go on outings, we will, as far as possible walk in small, appropriately spaced groups If staff and children have to use public transport, they need to wear facemasks, and should use hand sanitiser before entering and upon leaving the transport. | L |
| Provision of food | Spreading Covid19 during food production Cater staff understand the need for enhanced hygiene measures Proximity of children at snack time and risk of contamination of free to access foods | M M M | Kitchen facilities comply with the latest Covid19 guidance to reduce the risk of infection and contamination. Food that is produced on site complies with Covid19 health and hygiene guidance Catering staff have undertaken training to help them meet the increased risks presented by Covid19 Snacks will be taken in rotation, to prevent children from sitting too close together. Children will no longer be able to help themselves to foods during snack time unless they bring their own snack to the club. A member of staff serve the food to the children. | L L L |
| Communications | Parents, delivery drivers and other persons using/visiting the setting not understanding the revised procedures at the club | M | Posters will be displayed at entry points to highlight the changes we have implemented. Newsletters will be sent to parents, specifying changes to procedures | L |
| Supplier not understanding or complying with the new arrangements Failure to provide effective communication for staff and parents Parent aggression due to anxiety and stress | M M M | The manager will email all suppliers with information about changes to arrangements We will update our website, and Facebook page weekly, or more often, if new arrangements are implemented. We will provide regular newsletters for parents and update a daily noticeboard, which will be situated outside the entrance, to keep parents up to date with daily events at the club. Staff will have regular meetings and daily briefings to ensure that they are kept up to We will aim date to reduce this by keeping parents well informed, but should the situation arise, we respond in a calm and controlled manner in order to de-escalate the situation | L L L |
To reduce the spread of infection you should:
- Wash your hands regularly, using soap and water, for at least 20 seconds
- Use hand sanitiser, only If soap and water are not available,
- Use tissues, when sneezing or coughing and put them in the bin straight after use
- If there are no tissues, use the crook of your arm
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and face
- Clean and disinfect regularly touched surfaces and objects
- Maintain social distances, especially if someone appears to be unwell
- Do not attend the setting for 14 days, if you have been in contact with someone who has symptoms of Covid19