Frequently Asked Questions

ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES FAQ’S

As always the health and safety of our children and staff is of the utmost importance to Sherpa Kids. As a trusted provider during COVID in our partner schools, we have effectively been adjusting our operational practices to incorporate new health and safety guidelines.

Out of Hours School Care

As a Trusted Provider during COVID-19, our Safe Practice Guide in accordance with the latest government guidance has continued to be successfully integrated across all club operations. As the new Academic Year approaches, we have developed our Out of Hours School Care Clubs Parent FAQ Guide to compliment our Safe Practice Guide which answers the common questions that we have received from parents and outlines how we are successfully integrating the new guidelines to ensure a Sherpa Kids Before & After Care Club is an engaging Safe Space for all this September…

In order to answer the below queries, we have been communicating and working closely with each school to ensure we are aligned to all schools processes, bubbles and procedures, with the safety of all children, staff and parents our key focus.

Will Sherpa Kids be accommodating the staggered times for school?

We have been liaising with our schools and we understand the change in school drop off and collection times, we can confirm, we will be accommodating these staggered times within wraparound care.

Simply book your session requirements (don’t worry if the times don’t align to the staggered times) and the children will be collected from our provision to their year group/class and supervision will be in place throughout).

Please note it would be great if you could update your details on our booking system with the children’s year group and class to make this process easier on site for collection from each class

Will Parent drop off and collection change?

To reduce the interaction, parents/guardians will not be required to drop off or collect inside the school – where possible our teams will collect from school gate or designated drop off/collection area specific to each school.

How will Sherpa Kids work within the schools bubbles?

While Early Years and childcare guidance does not require us to operate the same bubbles as the school – we are working with each individual school requirements in regard to their preference with regards to active bubble practice at their individual school. Whether this is through separate Year Groups, Key Stages or Segregated Areas we will implement the desired bubble strategy within our activity areas. All bubble practice will adhere to the current Early Years and Childcare COVID-19 requirements with each group size limited where required (no bubble will be greater than 30 children).

What activities with the children take part in?

We will continue to use outdoor activities as much as possible and schools have provided us with extra space to accommodate the bubble requirements where required, enabling us to restrict some equipment for specific groups, in addition we have increased our cleaning requirements with daily checklists and products.

What are the changes to food preparation?

We will be changing our menu and supplies to ensure we continue to provide each child with nutritious breakfast and lite bite but reducing and minimising children having to make contact with the food. We have adapted our food preparation and menu, all food preparation is in line with Health & Hygiene requirements. In our larger clubs we will be staggering snack times within each respective bubble.

What happens if a child or staff member becomes unwell or there is a case of COVID-19 – whether it’s a child or family member has attended or is attending the Before or After Care Club?

If a child is suspected to be ill and is awaiting collection, our staff members will find a suitable room where they can be isolated away from the other children taking part in the sessions. Depending on the age of the child the correct adult supervision will be maintained by our staff at all times.

If children need to go to the bathroom while waiting to be collected, they will be escorted to a different bathroom that is being used by the other children where possible. The bathroom used will then be cleaned and disinfected using standard cleaning products before being used by anyone else.

Where the child, young person or sta? member tests positive, the rest of their class or group within their childcare or education setting will be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days.  (1. Department for Education 2020 – Coronavirus COVID-19: implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings).

How do you know you can operate safely? 

As a Trusted Provider during COVID-19, Sherpa Kids have welcomed a multitude of families to their Summer Holiday Care provisions across the UK throughout the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in 0 reported cases of COVID-19 linked to Sherpa Kids Clubs.

Our operational processes have been tried and tested and all of our staff in operation will have completed a COVID-19 online training course demonstrating a typical day under the new measures.

How will Sherpa Kids ensure all proposed COVID-19 measures are enforced?

Our successful integration of refined measures as the Trusted COVID-19 provider has allowed us to drive renewed operational measures within the childcare industry. Our close work with the government and schools have allowed us to be agile to adhere to the latest government guidelines with our Holiday Care Operations that have welcomed many families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We have adapted our operating procedures for parents, staff and the delivery of activities as we approach the new Academic Year and the exciting relaunch of our Before & After Care Clubs. Please read our full Before & After Care Club Safe Practice Guidance here. In summary, we will ensure;

Clear signage

We will have posters and floor signs in place throughout venues for families to be reminded of the guidance measures and protocols, these include reminders to wash hands, clean resources and respecting personal bubble.

Contactless registration

We will continue to use tap in & out signing in tablets at each site, this will reduce waiting time and reduce contact.

Enhanced hygiene measures

For both children and staff, there will be increased cleaning measures put in place throughout the day for areas & equipment. Regular cleaning of the equipment and resources will ensure all equipment provided will always be ready and available to the children.

Staff training

All our staff will have completed a COVID-19 online training course a typical session under the new measures. (could incluce link here when complete)

Activities

We have adapted our themes, games and activities to increase distancing as much as possible but also ensuring children can still have as much fun, as well as reducing the need to share equipment.

How will the activities change due to COVID-19 safety measures?

Sherpa Kids are confident that the return of the clubs will be just as/if not more engaging than ever. Our brand new Term Time Themes sets out a scintillating array of themes that enables children to delve into new fantastical worlds each week! All themes, games and activities have been adapted to increase distancing as much as possible but also ensuring children can still have as much fun, as well as reducing the need to share equipment. Regular cleaning of the equipment and resources will ensure all equipment provided will always be ready and available to the children.

How will the drop off and collection work?

To ensure the pickup and drop off procedure runs smoothly – a queueing system with families requiring to adhere to the latest government social distancing guidelines will be in place at the sign in/sign out area. Further to this our new sign in/out procedure includes the use of tablets which will significantly reduce waiting time and reduce contact.