What Northampton nursery now looks like as it adapts to new measures and welcomes children back

The staff are doing everything they can to make sure it is still a positive experience for children
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A Northampton nursery has had to make adaptations to make sure the school is Covid safe as children are welcomed back.

St Mary’s Nursery in Towcester Road, Far Cotton, has been closed since the end of March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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On Monday (June 1), staff at the nursery welcomed back children of key workers, those who are vulnerable and those who will go to school in September and greeted them a cupcake treat.

Staff were excited to welcome children back to St Mary's on Monday (June 1).Staff were excited to welcome children back to St Mary's on Monday (June 1).
Staff were excited to welcome children back to St Mary's on Monday (June 1).

Despite new measures such as ‘bubbles’ of a maximum of six children and one allotted member of staff wearing gloves fetching snacks for the children, the staff at St Mary’s are determined to make sure the experience of attending to nursery is still a positive one.

Manager, Caroline Haywood, said: “We have created bubbles of very small groups, so there is a maximum of six children in a room at any one time.

“All the staff are working within the bubbles too, which means they do not mix at all.

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“Each bubble has its own room and its own equipment, even in the garden area.

New signs are being displayed around the nursery.New signs are being displayed around the nursery.
New signs are being displayed around the nursery.

“Children have got their own stationary packets now that we provided so they’re not sharing that either.

“And if any sharing of equipment does happen it is within the bubble.”

The nursery has welcomed back 15 children of the 70 who were on roll before the pandemic hit, so it is a very small proportion of the amount of children they would normally have in attendance.

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Physical aspects of the nursery have also had to be adapted in order to make the building as Covid safe as it can be and to accommodate the smaller groups.

Caroline said she had a tear in her eye she welcomed children back on Monday. They were also created with a cupcake treat.Caroline said she had a tear in her eye she welcomed children back on Monday. They were also created with a cupcake treat.
Caroline said she had a tear in her eye she welcomed children back on Monday. They were also created with a cupcake treat.

There are ‘do not use’ signs on certain toys, each bubble has its own cubicle and sink in the toilets and a lot of fabrics have been removed.

Caroline added: “In our art areas we are letting children pick what they want to use by pointing, then a member of staff with gloves on will get it for them, to make sure there are not different hands going in.

“With snack time, children usually get to self-serve but one member of staff is now serving, again with gloves on.

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“We are also talking to them about what is happening and reading them books that help them to understand, it’s just about talking to them in the right way.

Dropping off time is staggered and there are two metre markers that have been added.Dropping off time is staggered and there are two metre markers that have been added.
Dropping off time is staggered and there are two metre markers that have been added.

“We have timers on hand washing and all staff and children have to wash their hands on arrival.

“We’re also sanitising loads and doing extra daily cleaning.”

Although a lot has changed, the staff are still making sure the children get a positive experience, as they would have done prior to the pandemic.

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“It’s a lot, but we have tried to make it really positive and we’ve tried to make a nice environment,” Caroline continued.

“On the whole, we have a lot of space and a lot of space to spread out so we can socially distance.

“The environment is still the same and there is so much you can do if you think about it.

Some of the Covid books staff are reading to help children understand.Some of the Covid books staff are reading to help children understand.
Some of the Covid books staff are reading to help children understand.

“The parents also understand that the children are never going to always remain two metres apart.

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“We sent a lot of processes out to parents to make them understand that it has to be a two way thing, we need them to be on board.

“But most parents are confident and we are confident that we can get the children back into a routine, which everybody needs.

“The children can see the changes but we have tried to introduce them in the best possible way we can so it is positive and they are not affected by huge changes.”

St Mary’s is hoping to expand and welcome back two-year-olds by the end of the month.

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