We have been collectively watching the news, updating policies, implementing procedures and “Pivoting” for the last 18 months! Just as we were about to open our doors, everything came to a complete stop in March 2020, though we naively thought we’d flatten the curve and get back to our lives. Eighteen months later, we recognize that adjusting our expectations and doing our very best to support public health is all we really have control over.

Our facility will encourage staff to practice every day preventative measures such as frequent hand washing, refraining form touching your face, covering a cough or sneeze with an elbow, and practicing social distancing (keeping gat least 8 feet of distance between you and another person.

Twinkle Little Stars will follow the current requirements for cloth face coverings. These practices include:

• All  staff working within our facilities must wear cloth face coverings while at work
• Our center will follow DPH guidance regarding face coverings for children
• Facemasks will be provided to staff if they are not present upon arrival
• Twinkle Little Stars will provide access to hand sanitizer for staff
• Twinkle Little Stars will deny entry to anyone over the age of 12 who is not wearing a face covering, if one is not available to be provided to that person.

Ensuring a healthy environment at the Center requires the constant attention and commitment of all staff members. The Program meets State licensing requirements in regard to the preventive measures taken to guard against the spread of infection.

Safety practices will be integrated into the regular curriculum at Twinkle Little Stars Early Learning Center. Topics such as the following will be explored at the appropriate developmental age:

1. Safety habits on the playground
2. Safety habits in the Center
3. Riding safely in cars
4. Walking near or across streets
5. How to act with strangers
6. What to do near strange animals
7. “Stop, drop, and roll” if clothes catch on fire
8. Shelter in place

Fire drills are exercised monthly as required by the Fire Marshal. All teachers and staff are trained in fire and safety techniques.  Shelter in place drills are conducted several times a year.

A physical examination must be completed on all new children entering the Center. Physicals need to be completed within one year prior to the first day of attendance. Current physical and immunization records must be on file with the Center to ensure continued enrollment.

It is the parent’s responsibility to provide health records to Twinkle Little Stars Early Learning Center upon the child’s enrollment.  Parents must have their child’s physical and immunization records updated as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and be sure that the information is received by the Center. If a child is ill and unable to get his immunizations when needed, the parent must get a statement to that effect from the doctor and submit a copy of that statement to the Center Director. A tuberculosis (TB) test and a lead test are required.

All staff are trained to recognize the symptoms of common childhood illnesses.  The staff will evaluate the health of each child upon arrival at the Center during health check and throughout the day. In the event that a child should become ill during the day, he/she will be immediately separated from the other children with proper supervision. Twinkle Little Stars Early Learning Center has an isolation room for the care of a sick child until a parent/guardian or emergency contact can be notified that it is necessary for the child to go home. Please contact the center to notify us if your child has a communicable disease. This information is posted by number of cases per room so that staff and families can be proactive in the management and care for the other children.

Please make alternative care arrangements for your child in the event that your child becomes ill. This will help eliminate problems when a parent is asked to take his/her child away from the Center if he/she arrives sick or becomes sick during the day. If a child is sent home from public school due to illness, they are excluded from Center activities as well.  It will be necessary for parents to make other child care arrangements when their child has a fever. Parents or emergency contacts will be called so the child can be picked-up from the Center. Children with a fever or children who have been placed on prescription medication must not return to the Center until 24 hours have passed without a temperature and/or medication has been administered, and the physician provides written verification that the child has been diagnosed and poses no serious health risk to the child or to other children. Fever reducing/pain tolerance medication may only be administered with written physician documentation.

• COVID-19 Child Care Plan
• Parent Handbook