16 FebWhat are the key changes for ECEC services during the Feb 12 to 17 Vic ‘Circuit Breaker’ lock down?*

Service operation

• Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services, including kindergartens, are permitted to remain open for open for all children. This allows parents/carers to work, while ensuring continuity of education and care for young children.
• In order to remain open all organisations in Victoria must have a COVID Safe plan and implement it in their day-to-day operations. For Guidance on developing a COVID Safe plan CLICK HERE .
• Services should continue to follow the Victorian Government’s operational advice in relation to cleaning and disinfection, hand hygiene, physical distancing of 1.5 metres between adults, and air ventilation.
• services should not be going on excursions.
• Visitors should be limited to those essential for operations. New density limits of one person per four square metres now apply.
• ECEC services need to keep a record of the name, phone number, date and time of visitors who attend their service for more than 15 minutes. Electronic record keeping is strongly encouraged. The Victorian Government has developed a QR Code Servicewhich is free to use and can assist with record keeping requirements.

ECEC staff

• ECEC staff are considered essential workers.
• On-site supervision will be provided at schools for vulnerable children and children whose parents are considered essential workers, who cannot work from home and where no other supervision arrangements can be made.
• Essential workers do not require a permit or documentation for their children to attend on-site at their school or Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs.
• Permits are not required for staff, parents/carers and children who need to travel more than 5km to attend their ECEC service, school or OSHC program.
• Providers are reminded of the need to remain vigilant in the face of potential community transmission. If you or your staff are experiencing symptomsincluding fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose or loss or change in sense of smell or taste then get tested immediately and stay at home until you receive a negative test result.

Face masks

• While everyone aged 12 years and over must wear a fitted face mask indoors and outdoors (except when at their home or there is a lawful reason not to) ECEC staff do not need to wear a mask while educating or caring for children, but can choose to do so if they wish. Staff must wear face masks in indoor areas of the service when not educating or caring.
• A fitted face mask should cover your nose and mouth.
• Visitors to ECEC services must wear face masks at all times – this includes parents and carers.

Wellbeing

ELAA understands the challenges that COVID 19 has presented to ECEC providers and staff over the past 12 months – particularly Victorian ECEC services. While we anticipate the current ‘Circuit Breaker’ lock down will lift within anticipated Government timeframes, and ELAA will offer members all the support in terms of management advice and resources that we can, you may wish to access further support and resources for those experiencing adverse mental health symptoms during the current period. Supports include:

• Vic Department of Education and Training wellbeing webinars
• Mental health resources – COVID-19
• Beyond Blue
• Headspace
• Black Dog Institute

More information

• Please visit ELAA’s COVID 19 FAQ page regularly for updates on the ‘circuit breaker lock down’ and other COVID 19 related information.
• For the latest updates from VIC DET ensure you subscribe to their COVID 19 update emails
• Vic Government COVID-19 webpages for ECEC
• The Vic Department of Education and Training COVID 19 helpline is available weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm on 1800 338 663. If you need an interpreter, call 131 450 first.

*source – Victorian Department of Education and Training Early childhood education and care COVID-19 update