Update Jan 2022 - Coronavirus rules under Plan B. We want to remind you that we are doing our best to maintain a full service despite the Omicrom variant. Ofsted have made no changes to the staff-child ratio requirements. It is possible that we may have a few more staff absences and as a result a last measure we may have to move children to other rooms to help us cover our ratios, rather than stop children attending. Can we ask that all parents/carers respect the guidelines by ensuring that any child who has been tested positive or has been in contact with anyone positive please keep in isolation inline with the government guidelines. Please contact the nursery if you are not sure of the current rules
Update July 2021 - I am sure that you are all pleased to hear about 'Freedom Day' and the ease of mandatory restrictions, but as Boris has stated Covid has not gone away. We still need to be very vigilant to protect all associated with the Nursery. We will endeavour to maintain the same standards of additional cleaning and minimise contact between staff and parents or carers. We will continue to do lateral flow tests twice a week. Any specific changes regarding procedures and policies will be passed to parents and carers via Tapestry. In the meantime we will ask if anyone dropping off and picking up can where a mask wherever possible. Thanks all for your continuing support
Update Spring 2021 - We are still doing our best to trade as close to normal as possible. The Children are still in bubble groups, meaning they are staying with their assigned and avoiding mixing with other children outside the bubble. We have been supplied lateral flow test by the local authority, and staff are being encouraged to test twice a week and then we register our results on the government website. Many of the staff have had their first vaccination jab, but as this will not offer full protection, it does not stop us observing the same Covid avoidance policies
Update Jan 4 2021 - Just a note to say nothing has changed. As you are all aware, we are now in tier 4. Inline with government guidelines, we shall be opening as normal (or as near to normal as possible). We already have bubble groups in place for staff and children. The staff will be wearing PPE where appropriate, and additional deep cleaning routines will be continued. If you have any questions at all, please contact us by phone or email.
Update Nov 2020 - Dear all, we are still open and trading under our COVID 19 Restrictions. We are maintaining extra cleaning and bubbles for staff and children. We ask parents and carers to do there bit too. Please try to keep children from mixing with others outside the Nursery so we can keep the risk of bringing the virus into our settings. Thankyou and stay safe.
WE ARE OPEN. Both Knowle and Shirley are now open again. There are a few temporary measures in place to try to make the environment a little safer. We have new drop-off procedures at Shirley and extra cleaning and hand sanatizers. All children will be kept in peer groups called bubbles. Bubble groups will have dedicated staff with each bubble. PPE visors and gloves will be used for collection and drop off, but that will be removed once inside. We have non=contact digital head thermometers to check the temperature of the children when they arrive.
We are really glad to be open again and to see the children back again. It is likely that the policies will change over the coming weeks. Will all parents/carers keep an eye on Tapestry for notifications.
Update 26 May - As many Parents/Carers are aware, we are preparing to re-open in mid-June. Although we have not set an exact date we are in the planning stages. We have been reviewing government and local authority sources as well as looking to how Nurseries have re-opened in European countries to help us make the appropriate plans. Although not a complete list we are looking at the following to create an environment which is safe for Staff, Children and Parents and carers. We will not be operating at full capacity from day one and may have to review opening times to ensure that we can operate safely for all parties. We will be reviewing policies on a week by week basis. Existing parents will find Tapestry will be the best place for detailed information.
Areas Under Planning Review
We have tried to stay open for as long as possible but under the circumstances we feel the safety of the children, parents and staff come first. We are hoping we will be back to normal sooner rather than later. We are very upset it has come to this and will miss all the children greatly.
Please everyone follow the guidelines the government are setting as the quicker we do this the quicker we can get back to normal.
We are updating tapestry every day for you with activities and stories for the children. Please upload any activities and fun things the children are doing with you at home.
Stay Safe Everyone and See you all soon
Kind Regards
The Honey Pot Team.
Update 20 March: Dear all. We have tried to let everyone know, that we will be temporarily closing Knowle and asking Parents who are key workers to bring your children to Shirley from Monday. Shirley will be open for children of Key Workers Only The phone at Knowle will not be in use so please call Shirley on 0121 744 3180 for information. Thanks to all the Parents, and Carers for your patience and also a big thanks to all our staff who are very stressed and concerned at this time. We will try our best to give working hours to the staff where ever possible.
Things can chase very quickly so more updates will be on Facebook. Please ensure that if you feel that you may have any symptoms DO NOT come in so we can keep open for all the others who need our services.
Update 19 March. Inline with government announcements yesterday we are expecting we are likely to close on Friday. A number of Parents are key workers and have been asking about staying open. We will be in Contact with Solihull MBC today to see if we can stay open for children of key workers. We will obviously let you know if this is the case.
In the meantime if any Parent feels that they feel they fall in the category of Key Worker, can they please let the Nursery Know by phone or email
We are writing this to address any concerns regarding the current coronavirus outbreak. We know that children seem to be suffering fewer symptoms than adults, but we don’t want you to be taking home the virus and affecting your loved ones. The number one thing we can all do is wash our hands thoroughly and regularly. We have plenty of antibacterial cleaning products and have anti-bac hand sanitiser available at the entrances to our buildings. We would encourage all visitors to use this when entering the Nursery. Please ask if you wish to use our bathroom facilities to wash your hands.
13 March 2020 - Anyone who thinks that they, or family members are showing details of COVID-19 (New cough or hign temperature) should keep in self isolation for 7 days. DO NOT come to the Nursery. Please refer to government website for full details
Please be assured that we are in contact with Solihull Local Authorities regarding their position and responses. And will update this page if there are any updates we need to share with you. Any major announcements will also be placed on our Facebook page:
The policy at the moment remains the same as with other infections. If your child has a temperature, we ask that you do not attend the Nursery and contact NHS on 111. They will give you advise on what to do. If you have been in contact with anyone who has been affected by COVID-19, can you please contact 111 and not visit the nursery. If you have returned from a country listed on the government website you must self isolate for 14 days
Kind Regards
From the Management and staff
Further information:
Update July 2021 - I am sure that you are all pleased to hear about 'Freedom Day' and the ease of mandatory restrictions, but as Boris has stated Covid has not gone away. We still need to be very vigilant to protect all associated with the Nursery. We will endeavour to maintain the same standards of additional cleaning and minimise contact between staff and parents or carers. We will continue to do lateral flow tests twice a week. Any specific changes regarding procedures and policies will be passed to parents and carers via Tapestry. In the meantime we will ask if anyone dropping off and picking up can where a mask wherever possible. Thanks all for your continuing support
Update Spring 2021 - We are still doing our best to trade as close to normal as possible. The Children are still in bubble groups, meaning they are staying with their assigned and avoiding mixing with other children outside the bubble. We have been supplied lateral flow test by the local authority, and staff are being encouraged to test twice a week and then we register our results on the government website. Many of the staff have had their first vaccination jab, but as this will not offer full protection, it does not stop us observing the same Covid avoidance policies
Update Jan 4 2021 - Just a note to say nothing has changed. As you are all aware, we are now in tier 4. Inline with government guidelines, we shall be opening as normal (or as near to normal as possible). We already have bubble groups in place for staff and children. The staff will be wearing PPE where appropriate, and additional deep cleaning routines will be continued. If you have any questions at all, please contact us by phone or email.
Update Nov 2020 - Dear all, we are still open and trading under our COVID 19 Restrictions. We are maintaining extra cleaning and bubbles for staff and children. We ask parents and carers to do there bit too. Please try to keep children from mixing with others outside the Nursery so we can keep the risk of bringing the virus into our settings. Thankyou and stay safe.
WE ARE OPEN. Both Knowle and Shirley are now open again. There are a few temporary measures in place to try to make the environment a little safer. We have new drop-off procedures at Shirley and extra cleaning and hand sanatizers. All children will be kept in peer groups called bubbles. Bubble groups will have dedicated staff with each bubble. PPE visors and gloves will be used for collection and drop off, but that will be removed once inside. We have non=contact digital head thermometers to check the temperature of the children when they arrive.
We are really glad to be open again and to see the children back again. It is likely that the policies will change over the coming weeks. Will all parents/carers keep an eye on Tapestry for notifications.
Update 26 May - As many Parents/Carers are aware, we are preparing to re-open in mid-June. Although we have not set an exact date we are in the planning stages. We have been reviewing government and local authority sources as well as looking to how Nurseries have re-opened in European countries to help us make the appropriate plans. Although not a complete list we are looking at the following to create an environment which is safe for Staff, Children and Parents and carers. We will not be operating at full capacity from day one and may have to review opening times to ensure that we can operate safely for all parties. We will be reviewing policies on a week by week basis. Existing parents will find Tapestry will be the best place for detailed information.
Areas Under Planning Review
- Drop off and collection, including parking to minimise contact
- Additional cleaning requirements
- Hand washing facilities
- PPE for staff - (when to use and what to use)
- Restricting staff to a fixed small group of children (bubbles)
- Keeping children from mixing outside their bubble
- Risk analysis of which toys can be used
- Giving parent feedback (Tapestry)
We have tried to stay open for as long as possible but under the circumstances we feel the safety of the children, parents and staff come first. We are hoping we will be back to normal sooner rather than later. We are very upset it has come to this and will miss all the children greatly.
Please everyone follow the guidelines the government are setting as the quicker we do this the quicker we can get back to normal.
We are updating tapestry every day for you with activities and stories for the children. Please upload any activities and fun things the children are doing with you at home.
Stay Safe Everyone and See you all soon
Kind Regards
The Honey Pot Team.
Update 20 March: Dear all. We have tried to let everyone know, that we will be temporarily closing Knowle and asking Parents who are key workers to bring your children to Shirley from Monday. Shirley will be open for children of Key Workers Only The phone at Knowle will not be in use so please call Shirley on 0121 744 3180 for information. Thanks to all the Parents, and Carers for your patience and also a big thanks to all our staff who are very stressed and concerned at this time. We will try our best to give working hours to the staff where ever possible.
Things can chase very quickly so more updates will be on Facebook. Please ensure that if you feel that you may have any symptoms DO NOT come in so we can keep open for all the others who need our services.
Update 19 March. Inline with government announcements yesterday we are expecting we are likely to close on Friday. A number of Parents are key workers and have been asking about staying open. We will be in Contact with Solihull MBC today to see if we can stay open for children of key workers. We will obviously let you know if this is the case.
In the meantime if any Parent feels that they feel they fall in the category of Key Worker, can they please let the Nursery Know by phone or email
We are writing this to address any concerns regarding the current coronavirus outbreak. We know that children seem to be suffering fewer symptoms than adults, but we don’t want you to be taking home the virus and affecting your loved ones. The number one thing we can all do is wash our hands thoroughly and regularly. We have plenty of antibacterial cleaning products and have anti-bac hand sanitiser available at the entrances to our buildings. We would encourage all visitors to use this when entering the Nursery. Please ask if you wish to use our bathroom facilities to wash your hands.
13 March 2020 - Anyone who thinks that they, or family members are showing details of COVID-19 (New cough or hign temperature) should keep in self isolation for 7 days. DO NOT come to the Nursery. Please refer to government website for full details
Please be assured that we are in contact with Solihull Local Authorities regarding their position and responses. And will update this page if there are any updates we need to share with you. Any major announcements will also be placed on our Facebook page:
The policy at the moment remains the same as with other infections. If your child has a temperature, we ask that you do not attend the Nursery and contact NHS on 111. They will give you advise on what to do. If you have been in contact with anyone who has been affected by COVID-19, can you please contact 111 and not visit the nursery. If you have returned from a country listed on the government website you must self isolate for 14 days
Kind Regards
From the Management and staff
Further information:
- The coronavirus action plan was launched. This document sets out what the UK as a whole has done to tackle coronavirus / COVID-19, and what it plans to do next. See it here
- The Department for Education has launched a new helpline to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows: phone: 0800 046 8687, email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk (opening hours: 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday)
- Government advice for educational settings on what to do if a staff member or child has travelled to a risk area and/or is suspected of having coronavirus / COVID-19 is here