Reopening After COVID-19: Updated Health & Safety Procedures

As we reopen our learning center, we are putting safety first to protect our families and staff.  All teachers and staff will go through training on health and safety practices. We continue to work closely with the Jefferson County Department of Health, and follow CDC guidelines and Alabama’s Department of Health plan to reopen Alabama child care centers. We have worked hard to make changes to allow us to provide a service for families. 

Changes you will notice when we reopen:
  • Temporary hour change. Our operating hours are temporarily changed to 7:30 am to 4:45 pm, with the same staff scheduled in the same classroom to reduce the spread of the virus. 
  • Social distancing. We’ll continue to practice social distancing as much as possible to reduce risk. To minimize potential exposure, children will continue to keep distance from children and staff in other classrooms. 
  • Handwashing and sanitizing. Everyone who enters the building will need to wash hands, and we’ll continue to incorporate handwashing into our curriculum. Hand sanitizer dispensers will be available at entry areas and throughout the center.
  • Increased cleaning & disinfecting. Staff will continue to clean throughout the day. Toys, playground equipment, and other high-touch surfaces will be regularly disinfected and rotated throughout the day. We will pause the use of sensory tables, large pillows or stuffed animals, and other materials that are difficult to clean.
  • Increased professional cleaning.  Professional cleaners will clean and sanitize daily. The center is also scheduled for a deep cleaning before the center reopens.
  • Stay home if sick. Children, parents and employees with flue-like symptoms or a 100-degree Fahrenheit or higher temperature will not be allowed to attend child care or work. If your child shows signs that would require them to be picked up, we require that an authorized family member do so within 60 minutes or less. children and employees will need to be fever and symptom free for 72 hours without a fever reducing medicine prior to return 
  • Parental drop-off and pick-up. We ask that only parents drop off and pick up to minimize exposure to multiple people. If this is not possible, we ask parents to call the center to make staff aware of alternate drop off/pick up designee. ​
  • Sick space. Centers will have a dedicated space where teachers can care for sick children while being separated from others until child is picked up.
  • Playground restrictions. Outdoor play structures will be utilized by one class at a time, with increased time between play to allow for cleaning.
  • Restricted classroom access. To minimize potential exposure, we will implement curbside pickup. Classrooms will be reserved for teachers and children only.
  • No visitors in the building. No visitors in the center to reduce spread of virus.
  • Field trips and events. All in-person program assemblies, special activities, field trips and program wide events will be canceled or postponed.
  • Restrictive Limited Care. To allow for Social Distancing in the classrooms during this time, we will be reducing the number of children we care for in each room based on the age and size of the classroom. During this time of restrictive limited care, please understand that we will be open from 7:30 am to 4:45 pm to allow our staff additional time to complete our enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols. We encourage parents to setup times to talk over the phone instead of in person (depending on the matter) during this time.
  • Temperature Checks: We will be checking the temperatures of all parents, students, and staff upon arrival. Each student will have a repeated temperature check during the day and at the end of each day. 
  • Naptime adjustments. Children will continue to sleep (without masks) six feet apart whenever possible and be positioned alternating head to toe or toe to toe. Bedding will be laundered nightly. 
  • Training Modules: Training modules for all staff on Maintaining a Healthy Environment and preventing transmission methods with a review of protocol for enhanced cleaning, introduction to new disinfectant products and review of proper hand hygiene.
  • Protective equipment. All teachers will be required to wear masks. Infant and toddler teachers will also wear smocks during close contact in the classroom.
  • Gloves: The use of gloves when wiping noses, assisting with toilet use, and cleaning.
  • Non-Contact Infrared Forehead Thermometers: Implementation of Non-Contact Infrared Forehead Thermometers that can be used on staff and children on entrance and exit of the center as well as intermittently during the day as needed.
  • Updated policies. Policies and procedures were updated to reflect these changes. Please see center Administrator for details.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures

Due to COVID-19, our center will be temporarily modifying our current Drop-Off and Pick Up procedures until further notice, please see here for details.