Provider Resources - Print version

Health Protection Resources (including COVID-19) - Suitable for PVI providers only

Health Protection Resources (Infectious Diseases)

For guidance on preventing and controlling infections, including information on cleaning and managing outbreaks please see: Health protection in schools and childcare facilities [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities]

Please also see some useful resources below:

• Infection Prevention Checklist [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/39914/outbreak-control-measures-infection-prevention-control-check-list]
• Winter Illness in Children Guidance Leaflet [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/39917/winter-illnesses-in-children-leaflet-final]
• Winter Infections Covering Letter for parents [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/39911/winter-infections-covering-letter-2022-23]
• Norovirus Guidance [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/39913/norovirus-action-card-pdf]
• Should I keep my child off school leaflet/poster [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/39916/ukhsa-should-i-keep-my-child-off-school-guidance-a3-poster]

Signs and symptoms of COVID-19

Children and young people usually have a mild illness and most get better in a few days. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include:

• a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
• shortness of breath
• feeling tired or exhausted
• an aching body
• a headache
• a sore throat
• a blocked or runny nose
• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea
• feeling sick or being sick

The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu. 

Symptomatic staff and children in Early Years settings

Adults and children with symptoms of a respiratory illness should be recommended to stay at home until they are well and no longer have a temperature. National guidance recommends that children with only mild symptoms of a runny nose, sore throat, slight cough, who are otherwise well can still attend settings. When there is a known COVID-19 outbreak within the setting, having a lower threshold for individuals with milder symptoms may be considered.

Advise on other infectious diseases can be found here: Health protection in childcare settings [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities]

Managing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks in childcare settings

Early Years and Public Health colleagues are available to provide advice and support to settings / providers if needed. In the event you have rising case numbers or any concerns, please contact: Coventry’s Health Protection Team HPTeam@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:HPTeam@coventry.gov.uk]

In an outbreak situation, providers should aim to operate as normally as possible. Settings can choose to revise delivery models or increase COVID-19 security measures for a short period of time. Checklist for actions that can be taken in response to rising case numbers: COVID-19 Early Years Management Checklist [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/39920/covid-19-early-years-management-checklist]

Where there are high numbers of staff/children unwell with respiratory symptoms, but it is not clear if it is or isn't COVID-19, keeping parents informed and asking them to be vigilant for symptoms is recommended. A template letter is available: Letter for parents - close contacts in a provision February 2023 [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/39912/letter-template-for-parents-covid-cases-feb-2023]

Please see Emergency planning and response for education, childcare, and children’s social care settings [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-planning-and-response-for-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings], which outlines how early years settings should operate in the event of a significant public health incident.

Vulnerable individuals

There is no requirement for every employer to explicitly consider COVID-19 in their risk assessments. However, please ensure you are up to date with respect to risk assessments for individuals who are at higher risk of more serious complications from COVID-19, for example pregnant staff:

People at higher risk from coronavirus (Covid -19) [https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/]

COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk]

Vaccination

It is recommended that all staff take up the offer of a vaccine. Vaccines are our best defence against COVID-19. Vaccination makes people less likely to catch the virus and less likely to pass it on. Please encourage vaccine take up among staff / parents and eligible children.

Coventry Music Service - Wash Your Hands song

Coventry Music Service has worked in conjunction with one of the training providers to put together the following handwashing song Wash My Hands [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/32326/wash_my_hands] ( MP3 - 1.6 MB)

Coventry Early Years Transition overview

In order to support a consistent approach across the Early Years sector in Coventry, the Early Years’ Service has developed the ‘Coventry Early Years Transition Overview’. This will help strengthen relationships between providers and lead to a more focused and child-centred approach to all transitions.

The Coventry Early Years Transition Overview [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7514/learning-and-development] is available for all providers, either in a Word version or Excel spreadsheet.

Key contacts

• Safeguarding children [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/safeguardingchildren]
• Local Authority Designated Officer for Safeguarding (LADO) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/206/coventry_safeguarding_children_partnership/2628/local_authority_designated_officer_lado]
• Anti-Terrorism, hotline 0800 789321, Prevent referral form [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/6406/prevent-referral-form]
• General advice / support: Early Years Advisors. EYCentral@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:EYCentral@Coventry.gov.uk]
• Ofsted [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted] helpline, 0300 123 1231
• Workforce development and training, Kim West, 024 7697 5451
• Family Hubs, [/familyhubs] to make a referral to a Family Matters Meetings, talk to a Duty Worker to request family support or find out about the family services offered within Coventry.
• Family Information Directory, [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk] EYProviderfunding@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:EYProviderfunding@coventry.gov.uk] 024 7697 5451
• Coventry City Council Food Safety department, [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/foodbusinessadvice]08085 834333, ehcommercial@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:ehcommercial@coventry.gov.uk]
• Health Protection Agency, 0344 225 3567
  • About infectious diseases [https://www.gov.uk/topic/health-protection/infectious-diseases]
  • How to report a notifiable disease [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/notifiable-diseases-and-causative-organisms-how-to-report]

Early Years Data

Attainment data is gathered annually from childminders, playgroup/pre-school, day nurseries, and schools with a nursery class.

These providers are asked to submit data sets relating to funded 2 year olds and those children who will move onto reception class the following September.

Data gathered, is analysed and used to inform early years priorities in relation to narrowing the achievement gap.

Read the Early Years Data Summary Report 2019 - 2020 [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31666/early_years_data_summary_report_2019-2020].

Early Years Childcare Data Request Policy

If you require information on childcare data in Coventry, please submit your request [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/6618/coventry_early_years_childcare_data_information_request_policy] using the link at the bottom of the policy document.

Training and Development Plan

These documents aim to support early years providers in creating training and development plans and policies that encourage the development of the setting and all staff. They intend to highlight the importance of training and development to your business and to help you take a planned approach to workforce development. You will be led through a step-by-step approach to producing training policies, training plans and undertaking training needs analysis.

• Training and Development Plan Brochure [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/39279/training-and-development-plan]
• Training and Development Plan - exemplar sheets [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/39280/training-and-development-plan-exemplar-sheets]
• Training and Development Plan - blank sheets [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/39281/training-and-development-plan-blank-sheets]

Coventry’s Integrated Two Year Review - 'Together at Two' Progress Check

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) progress check, usually carried out by a child’s key person, is a statutory requirement for nurseries and childminders delivering childcare to two-year-olds within the EYFS framework. The health and development review, at age two to two-and-a-half, is part of the Healthy Child Programme, and is delivered by health professionals. Whilst we recognise that children perform better in familiar surroundings such as their home or nursery, the two-year progress check often takes place in unfamiliar surroundings, which means the child may not truly show what they can achieve. The integrated review will bring these two assessments together providing a more complete picture of the child.

All children aged two years who are in childcare should receive a ‘Together at Two’ progress check before their third birthday, this may take place in the home, nursery or childminders. More often they take place in a health centre or Family Hub.

We have outlined the process to promote the sharing of this information at the child’s ‘Together at Two’ Progress Check:

• The check should be completed by the child's key worker at the nursery, preschool or childminder.
• Ideally the check should be completed before the child has his/her two-year check with the Health Visitor.
• The check is designed to identify things they are doing well and things they might need help with.
• The completed two-year progress check must be shared with parents and any parental comments included.
• Parents will then share the completed progress check at their appointment with the relevant health professional.
• The Health professional can use the assessment provided by the childcare provider to support the healthy child check.

In the first instance the 2 - 2.5-year assessment should be completed. The 2.5 - 3-year check can be completed if you need to compare a child’s progress against the earlier check (2-2.5-year assessment) or where a child has started at your setting after their third birthday and you wish to access support from the health visiting team.

View the documents:

• Coventry’s Integrated Two Year Review – ‘Together at Two’ Progress Check [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/33627/coventry-s-integrated-two-year-review-together-at-two-progress-check]
• Integrated Health review - Consent Form [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/33258/integrated_health_review_-_consent_form]
• Together at Two - Integrated Review Tracker [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/33262/together_at_two_-_integrated_review_tracker]

Dance, Sing And Do Your Thing!

Early Years Providers in Coventry have exclusive access to 'Dance, Sing And Do Your Thing!'

Download your free digital resource from the Coventry Music Hub website [https://www.coventrymusichub.co.uk/resources] using the password all registered providers should have received by email.

If you haven’t received your password and are a current registered Early Years provider please contact eycentral@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:eycentral@coventry.gov.uk].

Please email music@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:music@coventry.gov.uk] if you cannot access this digitally and require a hard copy (CD and information cards) and we will endeavour to get these to you, as and when it is safe to do so. Hard copies are limited so will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Communication and language resources

A range of resources were devised in partnership with the Coventry Speech and Language Service [http://www.coventrychildrensslt.co.uk/]and Children's Services [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/31/children_and_families] to support children's communication and language

• Books and stories to share together [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/146/speech_and_language_development/2176/books_and_stories_to_share_together]
• Going out and about [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/146/speech_and_language_development/2177/going_out_and_about_together]
• What's the question [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/146/speech_and_language_development/2184/whats_the_question]
• Children's talking 0-5 [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/146/speech_and_language_development/2545/children_s_talking_0-5_years/3] - Chattercards and talking tips

Also access: 10 top tips for parents to support children to read [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/10-top-tips-to-encourage-children-to-read/10-top-tips-to-encourage-children-to-read] Short tips for parents of primary-aged children to make reading enjoyable.