CLOSE TO HOME CHILDCARE, LLC COVID-19 POLICY

Close to Home Childcare (“CTH”) cares about the health and safety of the children and families in the program. CTH has been and will continue to follow all the recommended guidelines regarding COVID-19 provided by, but not limited to, the CDC, the PA Department of Health, the Chester County Department of Health and the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning (“OCDEL”).

CTH has a health and safety plan in place that includes, at a minimum, the following procedures:

– CTH will screen each child upon arrival and at various points throughout each day. The screening includes checking the child’s temperature, visually observing the child, checking for signs of illness and communicating with parents about each child’s health;

– Drop off and pick up will occur at the entrance and only the enrolled child may enter. Upon arrival to drop off your child, the parent will text provider from the vehicle and wait for the confirmation to meet at the door. If you arrive and see another family’s car in the driveway, please wait in your vehicle until that parent and/or family has left so that only one family is in the entrance area at a time. The child’s temperature will be checked, a visual inspection for any signs of illness will be conducted and provider will communicate with parents. Once the child is inside the facility, hand washing and/or hand sanitizing will be done immediately. For pick up, the parent will text about 10 minutes before arriving to allow time for the child to be ready to leave. Drop off and pick up need to be quick to help minimize exposure;

– CTH has implemented a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for illness. If your child has any symptom which could potentially be illness such as, but not limited to, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, etc., the child needs to stay home. Even if you think the symptom is due to teething, allergies, etc., out of an abundance of caution, any symptom is cause to stay home and/or be sent home from CTH;

– CTH is following the guidelines and requirements for masks; and

– CTH has implemented an increased cleaning and sanitation process which includes more frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing for all the children and provider. The cleaning and sanitizing of toys is done throughout the day as an item is used as well as at the end of each day. Tables, chairs and other shared items are cleaned and sanitized before and after use as well as other times throughout the day. Toys that are unable to be cleaned in this fashion have been removed from use. CTH also utilizes a portable air filtration unit with an internal UV light which the unit manufacturer claims enhances viral and bacterial eradication from the air.

The health and safety guidelines, recommendations and requirements for COVID-19 are frequently changing. Any updates or changes to CTH’s COVID-19 Policy will be posted and communicated to all enrolled families. For additional guidance and resources concerning COVID-19, please visit:

CDC:

PA Department of Health:

Chester County Department of Health: