119.3 Pandamic Policy | Windsor Montessori

Pandemic Policy V3

Reference:

Regulations, 2008: (Regulation 46) and Licencing Criteria HS26; HS4; HS5 HS7; HS8.

Statement of Intent:

The welfare, safety and health of tamariki are paramount. We aim to create an environment where tamariki and kaiako affected by a pandemic event are managed effectively throughout its duration. Alongside our own action plan, we will follow all requests by the Ministries of Health and Education as well as any other Government imposed sanctions/legislation as a means of keeping all tamariki, whānau and kaiako safe.

Purpose:

The purpose of this operational policy is to meet the recommendations of the Ministry of Education to develop a pandemic plan in accordance with current ECE Regulations and Licencing Criteria.

In the event of a pandemic outbreak, Windsor Montessori will take the following measures in order to minimise the outbreak and to operate safely in accordance with current legislation:

Raise kaiako awareness of signs, symptoms and exclusion periods of such illnesses.
If kaiako suspect that a tamaiti/child is unwell or contagious, they will report this immediately to the Head Kaiako.
Details of any tamariki illnesses will be recorded.
The Head Kaiako will make contact with the Ministry of Education/local health authorities to receive further guidance and information.
Windsor Montessori will close/reopen only after receiving instructions from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education or the local health authorities.
Our emergency contact details will be regularly updated and a process in place for contacting families.
Any information from the Ministries of Health and Education will be displayed for parents/whānau/caregivers.
The preschool will maintain a regular cleaning of the preschool as well as end of term clean up.
Windsor Montessori will ensure the preschool has adequate emergency supplies of tissues, medical and hand hygiene products, and cleaning supplies. These may be difficult to purchase once a pandemic begins.
Windsor Montessori will ensure that all cases and status reports are notified to local health authorities and assist these authorities to track/trace ‘contacts’ of people showing symptoms.
Tamariki will practice hygiene habits with regular support from grace and courtesy lessons given by kaiako (blowing nose/use of tissues/washing hands etc).

Procedure:

In the case of an outbreak of a pandemic or the preschool being closed down under the request of the Ministry of Health, we will follow this procedure;

1. We will communicate with families immediately, following the guidelines from the Ministry of Health.

2. We will put up notices at all entry points advising people not to enter if they have pandemic symptoms.

3. We will display information from the Ministry of Health on pandemic outbreaks for

parents and staff.

4. We will record details of all staff or child illnesses.

5. A system will be implemented to manage tamariki and staff who become ill, involving

immediate isolation and sending home immediately.

6. We will continue to ensure regular hygienic cleaning and sanitation of the preschool, materials and equipment.

7. All internal spaces will be well-ventilated.

8. Kaiako will emphasise hand-washing and cough/sneeze etiquette with the tamariki

and display posters

9. Kaiako, tamariki and whānau will be informed of the importance of hand hygiene and workplace cleaning at all times, but especially during a pandemic. This will be done via newsletter, notice board and meeting time. Personal Hygiene measures will be reinforced as a way to minimise pandemic transmission.

10. During the pandemic period, we will not use playdough or shared kai/food.

11. If our preschool closes, parents will be notified, notices will be posted on doors and

relevant groups updated through text alert, e-mails, Story Park, Facebook and via our website.

12. We will follow all guidelines from the Ministries of Health and Education regarding when tamariki and kaiako can return to the preschool.

Social distancing as a Strategy to Protect Kaiako and Tamariki

During the ‘plan for it’ and ‘stamp it out’ phases of a pandemic, when the preschool is still expected to remain open or is operating in an unaffected area, the Head Kaiako will work to raise awareness of the importance of social distancing.
Contact with others in the setting will be minimised.
There will be no planned events involving large gatherings. E.g. whānau social events.
No excursions outside the preschool will be organised during this time.
A distance of at least 1 metre must be maintained between persons wherever practical.
Where possible, we will avoid meeting people face to face and use the telephone, or internet to conduct business.
Any unnecessary travel will be avoided and non-essential meetings/gatherings/workshops/training sessions will be moved to an online platform if possible or rescheduled to be conducted during a more appropriate time.
Kaiako will be encouraged not to congregate in areas where they socialise, such as the staffroom, rather to do what needs to be done and move on.
If a face-to-face meeting with people is unavoidable, the meeting time should be minimised, held in a large space or outside, with people sitting at least 1 metre away from each other.
Handshakes or hugging should be avoided.
Tamariki who are unwell must be kept at home.
Kaiako, parents and whānau who are feeling unwell will be advised not to come to the preschool.

Recovery Plan:

There will be a debrief of the pandemic event for kaiako and whānau.
We will ensure the preschool has been deep cleaned and disinfected.
We will only re-open when we have the capacity of kaiako to resume normal preschool operations.
Kaiako will continue to monitor and support tamariki and whānau.
Our Emergency Kit will be checked and restocked if necessary.

Date: May/June 2025

Review Date: May June 2027