On Monday 2 May, updated
COVID-19 guidance for all ELC settings, including childminders, came into effect from the Scottish Government. Following the publication of the new guidance, we approached the Scottish Government for clarification on if a childminding setting can remain open when the childminder is well, but a household member may be unwell.
The Scottish Government has confirmed that as a result of progress in vaccination and suppressing the virus and as there is no longer specific advice to isolate and to not have visitors in the home,
this means that childminders can now continue to operate in this instance, with mitigations in place.
SCMA has been advocating for this position on behalf of childminders and we believe this is a positive development.
Childminders are reminded that:
- If you – as a childminder – have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and a high temperature or do not feel well enough to carry out your normal activities, you should close your childminding setting. You should also stay at home and avoid contact with other people, as per the guidance, until your symptoms subside, and you no longer feel unwell. You can then re-open your setting when your symptoms have gone, and you feel well again.
- If a member of your household has symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and a high temperature or does not feel well enough to carry out their normal activities, they should stay at home, and avoid contact with other people, until their symptoms have gone, and they no longer feel unwell. In this situation, provided that you – as the childminder – feel well, your setting can remain open with mitigations in place (see below).
If you as a childminder are well, but a member of your household is unwell, your setting can now remain open with mitigations in place.
People who live in the same household as someone with coronavirus are at the highest risk of becoming infected because they're most likely to have prolonged close contact.
However, taking the following actions would further help to reduce the risks of transmission, when you have someone in your household who has symptoms:
- The childminder should be vigilant for their own symptoms and try to stay away from the person who is unwell as far as is possible.
- The unwell person should try to stay away from other people in the household, particularly those who are visiting i.e., your minded children, to prevent spread outside the household.
- The unwell person should wear a face covering when using common areas such as the kitchen, halls or bathroom.
- Keep the common areas well ventilated by opening windows and doors to the outside.
- The childminder should try to increase cleaning and hygiene practices of these common areas.
- The childminder should notify the children’s parents or carers that somebody in their household is currently unwell and advise of the actions they are taking to reduce the risk of transmission, so that they can make an informed choice if they wish their child to stay away or take additional precautions.
- The childminder should try to reinforce the importance of hand, sneeze and cough hygiene for all children and adults.