Enhanced Measures for YCP during Covid-19

We are Open and looking forward to welcoming all of your kids! Please read our plan to keep our Staff and Families safe at this time. At this time, we are following Phase 1 Guidelines established by the State of Virginia and under guidance of the Virginia Department of Social Services and Virginia Department of Health. Ahy changes to updated procedures will be communicated to families asap and via email.

Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures

• Three separate Drop Off/Pick-up Zones will be established - Infant Room, Little Kids, Big Kids - children and staff will only uses these entry points throughout the day.

• Staggered schedules will allow for social distance of children as they enter and exit.

• Cars may remain on while waiting in line, once pulled up to drop-off/pick-up spot, please turn

  car off.

• For Drop-Off, parent is to remain in car with mask at all times:

  • Teacher will open car door and perform a health check - visual symptoms and temperature check.

  • Teacher will verbally confirm with parent that fever-reducing medication has not been given (failure to comply may result in termination of services) and child’s Morning Temperature.

  • Teacher will remove child from car with their bag (please make sure bag is placed by child’s feet.

  • Teacher will “Check-In” child and wave goodbye to parent.

  • Teacher will hand off child to Floater Teacher who will escort child inside to remove shoes,

    place tote in cubby, and use hand sanitizer before going to their classroom.

• For Pick-Up, parents are to remain in car with mask while Teacher approaches.

• Teacher will open door and place child in car seat, bag at their feet.

• Once teacher has walked back to door or gate, parent will buckle in child.

  Additional Health Measures

• Families will immediately inform YCP if any person in their family unit is exposed or infected with the COVID-19 virus (failure to comply may result in termination of services).

• YCP will inform every family if any staff, child is exposed or infected to the COVID-19 virus - staff will be required to stay home when sick, and any employee who becomes sick will be sent home.

• Regular health checks of children will be conducted throughout the day to look for symptoms of sickness.

• Student's temperatures will be taken three times daily - upon arrival, mid-day, and immediately before pick-up - any child with a fever over 100.4 (Ear/temporal lobe) will not be able to remain at the Center.

• Symptomatic individuals will be separated until they are picked up from the facility - if parent is not available to pick up child immediately, emergency contacts will be called (please make sure all additional contacts are up to date).

• Children must be free of fever for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing or symptom-altering medications, such as Motrin or Tylenol before returning to YCP. For any prolonged sickness (over 48 hours), we will ask for a Doctor’s note before returning to the Center.

• YCP will be divided into 3 indoor zones, where teachers and children will remain to prevent exposure between groups.

• If a parent, sibling, student, or staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19, their Zone will immediately close for 14 days - the rest of the Center will close for a 24-hour period for Professional Disinfecting Services.

• If a parent, sibling, student, or staff member has been exposed, but not diagnosed with COVID-19, their Zone will close for a 24-hour period for Professional Disinfecting Services and the exposed individual will be asked to not return to school for 14 days or until advised that they are safe to do so by their physician.

• Any school closures due to a COVID-19 diagnosis/exposure will be limited to the Zone your child is in.

  Social Distancing & Curriculum

• Social distancing will be practiced to the maximum extent possible while still allowing for the care of children.

• YCP will be divided into 3 indoor zones, where teachers and children will remain to prevent exposure between groups.

  • Infant Room - all entry/exits will occur on the side door of the Infant Room for staff and children (staff will only exit area for bathroom and kitchen access).

  • Little Kids, to include Flower, Froggy, and Butterfly - all entry/exits will occur via the Main Door.

  • Big Kids, to include Bumble Bee, Ladybug, and Grasshopper - all entry/exits will occur via the Main Door into multi-purpose area.

• Classroom settings will be limited to no more than ten individuals per room, with proper staff:child ratios maintained.

• For larger rooms, areas will be sectioned with clear barriers to ensure a minimum of six feet between groups.

• Groups will not be combined.

• Programming has been altered to increase distance between children, including staggered

  outdoor playtime, and activities that encourage distance between children.

• Small Group and Individual play will be promoted both verbally and by physically rearranging

  classrooms and areas.

• Floor and Table spaces will have clear markings that allow children to play with socially

  distanced spacing.

• Each child will have assigned seating at the tables for activities and meals.

• Children will be assigned a set of supplies for them to use weekly - supplies and toys will not be

  shared without being sanitized between use.

• Shared toys, books and learning aids will be considered single-use and removed after being

  used.

• Outdoor areas will be utilized by all groups staggered throughout the day, with time given for

  groups to transfer between spaces without exposure.

• Free Play will be encouraged outdoors and teachers will remind children to maintain

  appropriate distancing while still encouraging play with friends.

• Scheduling will allow for children to spend a majority of their day outdoors at Big & Little

  playgrounds, Porch Area, and Blacktop - weather permitting.

• No Morning Snacks will be provided, please make sure your child comes ready to participate.

  No outside food will be allowed at this time. (Infant Room excluded).

• Children will eat lunch and afternoon snack in individual classrooms (Bumble Bee and Butterfly

  rooms will eat in a separate area).

• Family style dining (for older groups) will be discontinued - staff will handle serving utensils and

  serve food to children to reduce the spread of germs. Sanitization Measures

  • Good Hygiene practices will continue to be emphasized including:
  • Children will wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer

  upon arrival, before meals or snacks, after outside time, after toileting or diapering, after contact with any bodily fluid, and after play time and prior to leaving for home.

• Shoes will not be allowed inside the classrooms. Children will be instructed to leave in their cubbies.

• Children will be reminded to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Surfaces in shared spaces (such as playgrounds and restrooms) will be cleaned and sanitized

  after use by each group.

• Objects and surfaces that are frequently touched will be regularly cleaned and disinfected

  (done throughout the day by staff and nightly by regular cleaning staff).

• A professional Disinfecting Service company has been hired to disinfect weekly and during

  all emergency closings when COVID-19 has been detected.

• Adequate supplies for good hygiene including clean and functional hand washing stations,

  soap, paper towels and alcohol-based hand sanitizer will be available and plentiful.

• Sheets will not be used for rest mats - mats will be sanitized daily.

• Sheets for cots will be washed daily and cots will be sanitized.

• Rest Blankets must go home and be washed before returning the next morning.

• Children under the age of 2 are not required to wear a mask.

• Children over the age of 2 will not be required to wear a mask, but per CDC

  recommendation can wear a mask IF they are able to properly maintain it (no excessive touching of face and proper removal). Parents may provide masks for their children if they desire. If so, we encourage practicing of mask wearing at home to allow children to feel comfortable. If child is observed to not be able to properly wear their mask, they will be placed in their totes to be taken home.

  Infant Room Procedures

• Many Infant Room procedures will continue as before - these strict protocols were previously designed to prevent exposure of communicable diseases.

• Social distancing will be practiced to the maximum extent possible while still allowing for the care of young children.

• Parents will not be allowed to enter the Facility.

• A Communication folder will be placed in your child’s tote bag - please fill out before arriving

  and teachers will place daily info sheets in the tote to take home.

• Specific requests and information will be emailed or called-in.

• Infant Room will not be able to store car seats at the Center.

• Room has been arranged to allow for 6’ between cribs.

• Crib Sheets, Exersaucer and Bouncy Seat covers will be washed daily.

• Soft toys have been removed and all hard toys will be considered single-use and placed in a

  bin to be sanitized.

• Staff will sanitize toys and high-contact surfaces throughout the day.

• It is not recommended that Children under the age of 2 wear a mask.

  Staff

• All Staff have been trained on specific COVID-19 practices and updated Policies.

• Staff have been trained on how to protect their Personal Health at YCP and at home.

• Scheduling of staff includes additional time for cleaning and disinfecting of classroom.

• Staff are required to wear a mask while at YCP.

• Staff will wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer upon

  arrival, before meals or snacks, after outside time, after toileting or diapering, after contact

  with any bodily fluid, and after play time and prior to leaving for home

• Additionally, staff will be instructed to wash hands/apply sanitizer every 60 minutes.

• Staff are being reminded to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Staff will not wear outdoor shoes inside their classrooms.

• Regular health checks of staff will be conducted throughout the day to look for symptoms of

  sickness.

• Staff will have their temperature taken three times daily and will be required to go home if

  they have a fever or COVID-19 symptoms where they will remain at home for 72-hours and will

  be required to present a Doctor’s note upon return.

• Staff at YCP receive paid sick leave and are encouraged to use it.

Welcome to February!

Valentine's Day Party - Children will exchange cards and enjoy special holiday treats on Wednesday, February 14th at 3:30pm (Both Houses.) Please look for sign-up sheets if you would like to bring in food items for the parties. All Valentine's cards must be given to teachers no later than the Monday, February 12th. Please do not include any candy or chocolate with your cards. We will email class lists by the end of this week. Children in the Infant Room will not be participating in the party.

Immunization Audit - We will be undergoing an Immunization Audit this month administered by the Health Department. If your child has recently had or is about to have their 12-month, 18-month, or 4-year annual check-up, please remember to bring in those immunization records.

Your Child's Place has a pro-vaccine Policy in place that requires all registered children to follow the Minimum Immunization Requirements that Fairfax County has put into place. These guidelines come directly from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control. If your child's Immunization Records are not kept up to date, we may ask that you keep your child at home until all records are submitted - our Licensing requires that we stay on top of your child's Vaccination Records at all times.

Updated Medication Policy - Please note our updated Medication Policy. We have revised to make the procedures and requirements easier to understand in an effort to minimize confusion.

One form must be completed for each medication. Multiple Medications cannot be listed on a consent form.

Prescribed Drugs shall be given to a child only in accordance with a signed Dr.’s order/authentic prescription, with the parent/legal guardian’s written consent

Please make sure all given medication is age-appropriate for your child (Specifically Infant/Under 2 vs. Child/Over 2.)

Forms are good for 2 weeks only, and doses after that period will require a new Consent Form.

Any Medication that does not have a current Consent Form will be discarded. Any Medications after the 2-week period will be discarded unless parents request a return.

When bringing in Medications:

• Please hand directly to a Teacher or Director. Please do not leave any medication in your child’s bag or cubby or on the Front Desk.
• All Medication must be given in original packaging, to include package insert or pharmacy printout.
• All Medication and Packaging must be clearly labeled with your child’s name.
• Over the Counter Medications used on an as needed basis (for general pain/teething/fevers associated with shots/etc.) must list specific times and be renewed every 2 weeks.
  • If your child is under the age of 2, these types of Medications can only be given with a Doctor’s Consent Form + parental consent form.
  • Children over the age of 2 can be given these types of Medications with just a parental consent form.

For severe Allergy Medications:

• Epipens and Benadryl may be stored for up to 1 year with a signed Dr.’s order/authentic prescription + parent/legal guardian’s written consent. These medications must be stored in original packaging.

Playground Gate - Please make sure that you close the gate behind you everytime you enter and exit the Playground.

Water Cooler - We would appreciate if parents could assist their children when using the Water Cooler and encourage them to use only one cup and try to limit water spills.

Events

February Monthly Activity Calendars and Lunch Menu are now posted online.

We will be OPEN Monday, February 19th (President's Day.)

Wear your PJs Day on Friday, February 2nd for Grasshopper, Ladybug, and Bumble Bee.

Ointment Policy for Outdoor Activities

Mosquito Repellent

The outdoor play area at Your Child’s Place is maintained regularly to keep clear of any standing water that breeds mosquitoes.  A regular monthly inspection of the outdoor play area is conducted for any sign of harmful insect nests or prevalence of mosquitoes. Additionally, we hire a professional pest service to apply a natural mosquito barrier spray every 2 weeks (and more often when there is increased moisture/rainfall.)

We ask parents to bring in mosquito repellent to be kept on hand for days when mosquitos may be particularly aggressive. Mosquito repellent will only be applied on an AS Needed basis. Teachers will not apply mosquito repellent each and every time children play outdoors. When to apply repellent will be at the discretion of the Director with input from Teachers.

Mosquito Repellents  must be accompanied by an Ointment Permission Form (see below.*)

Sunscreen

We understand that children need to be protected from direct exposure to the sun due to sensitive skin.  The outdoor play area at Your Child’s Place has been specifically designed to make use of the ample shade created by existing mature trees, and therefore, there is very little direct sunlight. The sun shines most directly on our playground in the afternoon and children may need sun protection at that time.

We ask parents to apply sunscreen at home before bringing their children into school. Sunscreen will be applied to your child for afternoon outdoor play only. We also recommend dressing your child in long-sleeved shirts and/or pants made of light/breathable fabric. We strongly encourage parents to bring in a sunhat for their children – specifically those that cover both the face and neck and will firmly stay on your child’s head as they run around. All outdoor water activities will occur in a shaded area and sunscreen will not be applied at that time.

Young Toddlers under the age of 2 years will only go to the playground once in the morning. Teachers may reapply sunscreen on them at that time, due to the sensitive nature of their skin. We will not take any children under 2 years out without a sunhat.

Sunscreen must be accompanied by an Ointment Permission Form (see below*.)

*Ointment Permission Forms are good for three (3) months and new forms will be required after the expiration date, if still needed.  Staff is instructed to use the specified ointment products supplied by the parents from the original containers labeled with the child’s name.  Staff must follow manufacturer’s instructions for age, duration and dosage. Ointments will always be applied to the staff member’s hands and then rubbed onto the child’s skin. Staff members without medication administration training may apply ointments, unless it is a prescription in which case the container must be clearly labeled, locked, and applied by a MAT-trained Staff member.

We will no longer be accepting any forms of Aerosol Sprays.

Please bring in Pump-Sprays or Cream for Mosquito Repellent and Sunscreen only.

Updated Closing Policy

YCP Closing Procedures:

Please find the following YCP procedures for closings and delays. On the days when YCP has a delayed opening, Morning Snack will not be served. Please make sure your child has been fed before bringing them. During severe weather, we always appreciate early pick-ups, so that staff and families may travel safely home. 

To check YCP’s status during an emergency, please go to:

·      YCP Twitter Account (@yourchildsplace)

·      YCP Home Page, the live feed at the bottom of the page.

Weather-Related Closings/Delays:

YCP follows the Federal Government (OPM) for closing and late procedures based on weather. The Center will remain open during liberal leave policies. If you are uncertain about a potential delay during school hours, you may call us on the day in question for verification. 

After hours, you can also go to OPM Current Status for up to the minute alerts on the Federal Government's operating procedures.

Emails will NOT be sent for standard OPM weather closings and late procedures.

Emergency Closings during a Federal Holiday:

If there is an emergency closing on a Federal Holiday where YCP is open, all Closings/Late Procedures will be at the discretion of the Director. Decisions will always err on the side of safety for our staff and families traveling to and from school. A decision will be made by 5:30am on the day of. 

Parents WILL receive an email stating any closing/delays for these types of unexpected emergencies only.

Do not check the OPM site during Federal Holidays as the status will reflect Normal Operating Procedures and not display Emergency Closures on Holidays.

Other Emergency Closings:

During all other emergency closings, including but not limited to Terrorist Alerts, the Center will observe Fairfax County Public School Procedures.  Please ask to see a copy of our Emergency Preparedness Policies and Procedures at the front desk for further information.

An email WILL be sent if YCP closes for localized emergencies.