COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS
Your Child’s Health & Safety Is Our #1 Priority!
OUR COVID-19 SAFETY PROCEDURES
At Palm Academy, the health, safety, and welfare of the children we are granted the privilege of caring for have always been our top priority. We have remained open throughout the COVID-19 crisis, and have gained invaluable experience in how to successfully manage our family education and enrichment center while also keeping your children safe.
In order to mitigate health risks and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in our Fremont facility, we follow the daily guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Alameda County Public Health Department, and our licensing agencies. All of our teachers and other staff have been thoroughly trained in these guidelines. Read on to learn more about our COVID-19 safety protocols.
Cleaning & Sanitizing
- We have intensified our daily cleaning practices to include cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting, and ventilating the facility throughout the day and a hospital-grade deep cleaning every night
- We routinely clean and sanitize high-touch objects and areas, such as toys, supplies, games, doorknobs, countertops, desks, chairs, and playgrounds. The sharing of items has been limited, and all items are sanitized at the end of the day
- Touchpoints are thoroughly sanitized between classroom transitions
- All of our disinfectants and other cleaning supplies have been CDC- and EPA-approved to be effective against COVID-19
Infection Control
- All teachers and other staff must wear a face covering when at the facility
- Hand sanitizer stations have been installed throughout the facility
- All children and adults must wash hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if hands are visibly dirty and before/after eating, drinking, touching eyes/nose/mouth, toileting or diapering, and having physical contact with others
- All staff and children must practice good respiratory hygiene, including coughing/sneezing into their sleeve and covering coughs
Health Screening
- All staff and children are scanned and monitored for body temperature, both before entering the facility and twice throughout the day
- All children are monitored for signs of illness throughout the day, including red cheeks, chills, coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, and extreme fussiness
- Ill children and employees are excluded from the facility
- Any child or staff member who develops symptoms must put on a surgical mask, enter a separate room, and be sent home as soon as possible
- Ill children or staff cannot return to work or child care until they are well
Child Care Practices
- We have reduced our class capacity to no more than ten children in a room
- Activities and procedures have been adjusted to limit the sharing of items, such as toys, belongings, supplies, and equipment
- Playground time has been staggered between age groups/li>
- Different age groups no longer mix together
- Parent consultations will be held outside class times or by way of Brightwheel
Protocols for Parents
We are all in this together when it comes to the fight against COVID-19. In order to ensure that our Fremont child care center remains safe for everyone, we require that all parents institute the following measures:
- All parents must take the temperature of their child(ren) before dropping them off at Palm Academy and confirm that it is in a healthy range (below 100.4° F)
- All parents must be on the alert for signs of illness and keep any child who is sick at home
- Children cannot return to Palm Academy until a fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without medicine
GET PEACE OF MIND AT PALM ACADEMY
At Palm Academy, we understand that parents want to do everything they can to protect and enrich their children. That’s why we’ve committed ourselves to providing the same high-quality child care during the COVID-19 crisis that has made us Fremont’s leading early childhood education center for years. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about our COVID-19 safety procedures or Fremont child care center in general, please feel free to get in touch with us today.
