Operational guidance: in-program considerations
Drop-off and pick-up procedures
Licensees should develop procedures that support physical distancing and separate groups of children as best as possible – ideally separate entrances and exits (for example, children of one room enter door A and children of another room enter door B) or staggered entrance times. You may want to review the preparedness checklist developed by Public Health Ontario for school reopening, for helpful considerations.
All entrances should have ABHR with a concentration of 60%-90% available with signage demonstrating appropriate use (see how to wash your hands).
Alcohol based hand rub should not be accessible to children (within their reach) and children should be supervised when using the hand rub.
Consider using signage/markings on the ground to direct families through the entry steps.
Personal belongings should be labeled and kept in the child’s cubby/designated area (such as backpack, hats and mittens, etc.). While appropriate clothing for the weather (such as jackets, hats, sunscreen) should continue to come with the child, other personal belongings (like toys) should be minimized.
Child care centres may want to consider a specific policy/protocol for stroller storage if this typically takes place inside the child care setting (for example, designating a space outside of the child care setting, such as a storage shed so that parents do not need to enter the building to leave the stroller).
Physical activities
High and low contact activities are permitted as follows:
- masking is not required when playing high or low contact activities outdoors
- for children in grades 1 and above, masking is required for indoor activities where they can be safely worn. Masks may be removed during active participation but must be worn when not actively engaged.
Field trips
Field trips are permitted as per the Reopening Ontario Act. Children should be cohorted throughout the duration of the trip. Ratios must be maintained as set out in the CCEYA. Health and safety requirements set out in the guidelines and regulations (for example, masking, eye protection) and of the place being visited would continue to apply.
Keeping daily accurate records of individuals attending field trips (name, contact information, time of arrival/departure, transportation, location visited) is required.
Visitors and students on placement
All visitors to the program, including parents, students completing educational placements or others, are subject to the health and safety protocols outlined above. The number of visitors indoors should be limited to the ability to maintain physical distancing of at least two metres.
Licensees are expected to have a process in place to validate the screening of visitors and volunteers.
Use of video and telephone interviews should be used to interact with families where possible, rather than in person.
Ministry staff and other public officials (such as, fire marshal, public health inspectors) are permitted to enter and inspect a child care centre, home child care agency and premises at any reasonable time.
At the advice of the local public health unit, child care licensees may be asked to restrict visitor access.
Space set-up and physical distancing
Physical distancing between children in a child care setting can be difficult to maintain; however, it is an important strategy that should be encouraged whenever possible.
It is also important to maintain a welcoming and caring environment for children. Please see the document Building on how does learning happen? for more support and ideas on how to provide an engaging environment while physically distancing.
More than one child care or early years program or day camp can be offered per building/space as long as they are able to maintain separation between the groups/cohorts and follow all health and safety requirements that apply to those programs. Physical barriers (which begin at the floor and reach a minimum height of 8 feet) are not required if a distance of two metres can be maintained between cohorts.
When in the same common space (for example, entrances, hallways), physical distancing of at least two metres must be maintained between different groups and should be encouraged, as much as possible, between children within the same group by:
- spreading children out into different areas, particularly at meal and dressing time
- incorporating more individual activities or activities that encourage more space between children
- using visual cues to promote physical distancing
In shared outdoor space, children should stay within their cohort as much as possible, and physical distancing is strongly encouraged between cohorts.
Licensees and home child care providers are encouraged to increase the distance between cribs/cots/resting mats/playpens or place the children head to toe or toe to toe if the space is limited.
Recognizing that physical distancing is difficult with small children and infants, additional suggestions include:
- planning activities for smaller groups when using shared objects or toys
- when possible, moving activities outside to allow for more space
- singing is permitted indoors as follows:
- As much distance as possible should be encouraged and use of large, well-ventilated spaces should be prioritized.
- For children grade 1 and above, masking is required and as much distancing as possible maintained between individuals.
Ventilation
Licensees and home child care providers are encouraged to implement best practices and measures to optimize ventilation (see Public Health Ontario’s guidance: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems in Buildings and COVID‑19). Adequate ventilation should be provided by opening windows, moving activities outdoors when possible and through mechanical ventilation including HVAC systems.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVACs) and their filters are designed to reduce airborne pollutants, including virus particles, when they circulate through the system.
- Ensure HVAC systems are in good working condition.
- Keep areas near HVAC inlets and outlets clear.
- Arrange furniture away from air vents and high airflow areas.
- Avoid re-circulating air.
Equipment and toy usage and restrictions
Licensees and home child care providers are encouraged to provide toys and equipment which are made of materials that can be cleaned and disinfected (avoid plush toys) as much as possible.
Mouthed toys should be cleaned and disinfected immediately after the child is finished using them.
Licensees and home child care providers are encouraged to have designated toys and equipment (for example, balls, loose equipment) for each room or group of children.
If sensory materials (for example, playdough, water, sand, etc.) are offered, emphasis should be placed on hand hygiene before and after the use of materials.
Program statement and activities
Licensees are encouraged to continue to implement their program statement.
The ministry recognizes that there may be approaches outlined in the program statement which may not be possible due to physical distancing.
Licensees are not required to make updates to their program statement during this time.
Outdoor play
Licensees should schedule outdoor play by groups in order to facilitate physical distancing between cohorts as much as possible, however, children are not required to wear masks.
Licensees and home child care providers should find alternate outdoor arrangements (for example, community walks) where there are challenges securing outdoor play space. Providers should follow physical distancing practices when possible.
Children should bring their own sunscreen where possible and it should not be shared. Staff may provide assistance to apply sunscreen to any child requiring it and should exercise proper hand hygiene when doing so (for example, washing hands before and after application).
Interactions with infants and toddlers
Licensees should continue to encourage staff and home child care providers to supervise and hold bottles for infants not yet able to hold their own bottle to reduce the risk of choking.
Licensees and home child care providers should consider removing cribs or placing infants in every other crib and mark the cribs that should not be used in order to support physical distancing.
Recognizing that physical distancing is difficult with small children and infants, suggestions to support physical distancing include when possible, moving activities outside to allow for more space.
Children must not share food, feeding utensils, soothers, bottles, sippy cups, etc. Mouthed toys must be removed immediately for cleaning and disinfecting and must not be shared with other children.
Label these items with the child’s name to discourage accidental sharing.
Food provision
Licensees and home child care providers should follow regular food preparation guidelines.
Family style meals are permitted to operate provided that food handlers use adequate food handling and safety practices.
Ensure proper hand hygiene is practiced when staff are preparing food and for all individuals before and after eating.
Where possible, children should practice physical distancing while eating.
Provision of special needs resources (SNR) services
The ministry recognizes that children with special needs and their families continue to require additional supports and services in child care settings.
The provision of in-person special needs services in child care settings should continue where appropriate and licensees may use their discretion to determine whether the services being provided are necessary at this time.
Please work with special needs service providers to explore alternative modes of service delivery where in-person delivery is not possible.
All SNR staff must have their daily self-screening results validated on-site before entering the child care setting and must follow all health and safety measures that staff/providers follow, including having their attendance logged, practicing proper hand hygiene, wearing a medical mask and eye protection (as necessary) and maintaining physical distancing as much as possible.
Licensees and SNR service providers should work together to determine who will be responsible for ensuring SNR staff have appropriate PPE.
Where SNR services are provided through external staff/service providers, licensees and home child care providers should inform all families of this fact, and record attendance for contact tracing purposes.
Mental health
The ministry recognizes the detrimental impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on children’s mental health and well-being. The ministry’s Building on how does learning happen? supports the operation of early years and child care programs in Ontario during the COVID‑19 outbreak. It provides information on how early years settings can support the social and emotional health and wellbeing of children and families, in addition to safe and healthy environments.
Early years and child care program providers are also encouraged to collaborate with child and youth mental health agencies to support strong connections and make the best use of mental health resources and supports across the integrated system of care.