Updated August 2021: Although COVID19 restrictions have eased, we continue to practice COVI19 safe measures.  This is our business decision.  We continue to risk assess all services and follow government guidelines as appropriate. 

Please familiarise yourself with safety information displayed at our venues.

A sample Risk Assessment is available here.

We are often asked about how our Support Groups differ to Parent and Toddler Groups.  This summary provides information regarding the operational differences.

Use of Lights

Where we use a range of lights in our sessions, we have carried out a risk assessment to understand the health and safety implications of doing so.

• What sort of lights do we use and how do we use them?

We only use lights that are from within the safe visible spectrum of 380nm to 780nm.  We do not use Ultra Violet light in any form.  Lights within the safe visible light spectrum include violet, blue, blue-green, yellow and red.

Blue light is mostly associated with smartphones, tablets and TV or computer screens.  Yellow and red lights are mostly associated with sleeping aids.

In our In The Dark sessions, Baby Raves and special events, we will use certified child safe lights alongside lights within the spectrum of 380nm and 780nm.  Some of these are flashing.

• Why do we worry about the lights that we use?

Babies have sleeping patterns during daylight hours.  Lights across the blue spectrum are known to impact sleep hormones and disrupt the sleep cycle.  However, we have not had any parents note any unusual changes to their baby's sleep patterns after using any lights in our sessions. 

Monitoring exposure; the distance from the light and length of time looking at a light within sessions, is also important.  The development of the retina within the eye is the important consideration.  However, there is no reasonably comparable research evidence to suggest that they are harmful to retina development.   Just remember to minimise how long your child looks into a light and how close they are to them.

Photosensitivity and photosensitive epilepsy is also an issue.  Lights flicker and flash.  If you find that your baby reacts to the light and you were not aware that your baby has this type of sensitivity, please seek medical advice immediately.

• How do we know what we know?

There's lots of information available via the World Health Organisation, NHS,

Find out more here.

The image above is sourced from this document.

Some interesting research about mums' and the use of lights here.

If you need more information, please do ask. 

Photograph Policy

There are lots of important things to consider and one of them is the taking of photographs in groups.  We only take occasional photographs during groups.  We know it is important to share what we do and to show mums what we do, but we respect your privacy and keep it to a minimum as a general rule.  We like you to come along and see for yourself, and be able to enjoy the group without any fuss. 

We generally don't take pictures of children's faces, blur out, if we catch them looking, and edit pictures with you, so you can decide what is right for you!  We have photo permission forms and ask for agreement if we do take one of a face and would like to use it on social media/website.  We respect mum's privacy.  BUT, we know that it's perfectly fine for many and we will share any that you want us to. 

We use commercially available stock photographs for many of our Facebook and Instagram posts.

We store photographs in a secure cloud file store.  Where photographs are taken on a personal device, they will be uploaded and deleted from the device.  These are not kept on personal devices.

From a Facebook and Instagram page that is 'public' these images can be used by them for any purpose and sold to third parties.  This is what underpins our decision to keep your photos off our public page.  We post to our private group as a means of sharing more and this falls under a different set of privacy conditions.  If you ever worry, please message and we will send you full details.

https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms

We ask families to be sensitive to others when taking photographs, so that they only take photographs of their own children.

Food Registered Business - @The Tots' Clubhouse and at venues.

We follow the Food Safety Regulations as advised by North Warwickshire Borough Council.

Hot Drinks

Our business will...

1) Make and serve hot drinks for families attending a group (free drinks)

2) Sell, make and serve hot drinks for families attending a group (paid-for drinks or included in the session price)

Food

Our business will...

1) Serve pre-made / pre-packed food for families attending a group (free food)

2) Sell and serve pre-made / pre-packed food for families attending a group (paid-for food or included in the session price)

Messy Play Food that is not pre-packed will only be prepared in the kitchen of The Tots' Clubhouse.

We will not be held responsible for food and drink that is not provided by The Tots' Clubhouse.  For example, if families or children share food that was prepared at their homes from a picnic, lunchbox or similar. 

Risk Assessment will be available upon request.

All links open in a new window

Guidance on food hygiene and how to run a safe food business (opens in a new window)

How to achieve a high food hygiene rating (FHRS score) (opens in a new window)

Information on the food safety management system safer food, better business (opens in a new window)

Food labelling and allergens guidance (opens in a new window)

Defining What a COVID19 Contact Is.

Defining a Contact - Government guidance

1) A person who has had face-to-face contact (within one metre), with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, including:

• being coughed on
• having a face-to-face conversation within one metre
• having skin-to-skin physical contact, or
• contact within one metre for one minute or longer without face-to-face contact

2) A person who has been within 2 metres of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes.

What we will do if we are contacted by Test and Trace about a positive COVID19 case.

1) We will provide details of customers likely to be impacted to Test and Trace representatives, where their details have been held for 21 days after attending a class.  This applies to any customer who has been within 2m of an infected person or may have come into contact with the virus through other means. 

2) Indoor classes (The Tots' Clubhouse): Should any staff member or customer test positive for COVID19, all customers who were in a class with the individual will be notified to look out for symptoms and get tested.  Customer details will be provided to Test and Trace representatives.  This impacts on all customers because there are some shared touch points and shared facilities (toilets).  Good building ventilation is provided, however, due to the nature of the building, air will circulate inside.

3) Marquee classes: Should any staff member or customer test positive for COVID19, only customers who were in contact with the staff member or customer at less than 2m will be notified to look out for symptoms and get tested.  Customer details will be provided to Test and Trace representatives.  This impacts on very few customers because there are few shared touch points and only one group shared facility, which is only used in an emergency.  The marquee is well ventilated in the fresh air.

4) Should there be a positive COVID19 case related to the family/friends of a staff member, that staff member will cease working and be tested.  Depending upon (2) and (3) above, customers will be contacted via Test and Trace.

5) In any event, classes will be suspended until required results are returned and premises/resources have been disinfected.  Classes will be suspended for a minimum of 72 hours after notification of a suspected case.  Where possible, another member of the team will continue to take classes, if a staff member is required to self-isolate for 14 or more days.

6) If a class is cancelled due to a suspected or confirmed COVID19 case (48 hours between test and results), we will provide refunds, if no alternative is provided.  Alternatives may include adding additional classes to the programme at a later date or swapping for another day/time.

*customer refers to any adult or child.

The key to good practice is to stay 2m from other people and try not to touch things that others have.  Wash your hands and sanitise regularly.  Use only the minimum facilities.

With everyone back at school, nursery, clubs, work and shopping, it is highly likely that we will have to execute this process many times.  It can be a shock if this happens to you and we know that you may panic.  Have a family member or friend to talk to about it, so that you can process what to do.   We are doing everything possible to keep you safe at our classes, but life will continue to challenge us along the way.