Catch It, Bin It & Wash It - Sneeze Safe Program

As we anticipate an increase of colds and flu, our team will be regularly speaking to the children around the use of tissues, catching their coughs and sneezes, and reducing putting play resources in their mouths.

For your information, we have the following practices in place to minimise transmission of virus':

Children who present unwell with coloured discharge from their nose are sent home. A Medical certificate clearing the child to attend must be provided.
Children who present with temperatures climbing about 37.5 degrees will be asked to be collected within the hour. Unwell children are isolated from play with other children which requires one on one supervision which limits our learning capacity as a team. Please have considerations in place on the unlikelihood that you will be called. Children should not be given Panadol etc and sent to the Service.
Educators model and explicitly teach children how to catch their coughs and sneezes by turning their mouth and nose into their elbow fold.
Children are directed to wash their hands after coughing or sneezing into their hands or sucking on their fingers.
We sing the following song to remind children about the length of time they need to wash their hands with soap. Lyrics are below.
Play resources that are 'mouthed' by a child are placed in a red bucket for sanitising.
Bins are placed in bathroom areas or outside to reduce contamination amongst other bin usage.
Children whom have a sensory need to 'mouth' objects are asked to seek Allied Health support for oral seeking alternatives such as chewable tools.

Lyrics to 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat'

Wash, wash, wash your hands

Wash them everyday

In and out and inbetween

To keep the germs away - hey

(on hey we flick excess water into the tub and then dry our hands with paper towel.

For further information on the program please view the following website.

https://www.sneezesafe.com.au/en-au/parents-zone

Drink Bottles & Water

Each day our team are regularly reminding the children to hydrate. Each teams drink trolley's move with the children throughout the day to ensure they have access to water. At lunchtime drink bottles are monitored for topping up if required.

We ask families to ensure that their child's drink bottle is washed with hot soapy water each night and filled with fresh clean water. A recent news article highlights the importance of this hygienic practice.

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/reusable-water-bottles-hold-more-bacteria-than-toilet-seat-study-finds/news-story/54fccf860b79e28f61937582483db910

We ask families to only send water for their child to consume throughout the day. Milk and fruit boxes are requested to not be packed please.

Healthy Eating

It is always an exciting time to open up a lunchbox and see what is inside. We are often amazed at what is packed for the children to enjoy. A reminder that we are a 'Nude Food' school which means that we do not manage plastic waste from processed food products.

Foods that are often in these packages hold very little nutritional value, and with the busy learners we have they do require foods packed with goodness. We thank you for not sending along the following items in your child's lunchbox; chips, lollies, chocolate, high processed biscuits and cakes.

We thank you for your support in this area of your child's development. Already this year we have noticed a growth spurt in some of our children, so some extra food may need to be packed.

If you have any concerns around the amount of food your child is or is not eating, please contact your child's Lead Educator (Mrs Childs, Mrs Vanessa or Ms Shelly).

Extra Clothes & Gumboots

With the cooler weather, it is important that your child is changing into warm clothes if they participate in water or muddy play. We do have wet weather gear for children to wear, however sometimes the imagination and creativity of children can move faster than our educators can. In these moments, we ask that families ensure that there is a spare pair of clothes in your child's bag inclusive of pants, t'shirt, jumper and socks. We do have a supply of spare uniforms for further changes if required.

If you are yet to send a pair of gumboots along, please feel free to do so with them clearly labelled. Thank you.

Mother's Day Come & Play - May 10