Plans for summer reopening (Covid-19) Service Update

Dear Parents and Carers and Awesome children,

Following the published guidance ‘Protective measures for out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak’ on the 1st July 2020, we are planning to re-open the adventure playgrounds we manage for the six week holidays and beyond. 

We have been working hard to ensure the plan we had been working on would be inline with any expected guidance and ready to implement at short notice.

It is clear from the Prime Minister’s update that the important role out-of-school settings (OOSS) such as adventure playgrounds play in providing enriching activities, giving children the opportunity to socialise with others outside their household and promoting their wellbeing. 

Therefore, rather than  attaching an unusually long document which goes through the updated guidance for us as a play provider and for you as parents/carers I have included a link below to the government published guidance.

Protective measures for out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Published 1 July 2020

Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Published 1 July 2020

We have produced a plan to re-open with measures in place, which is based on the current government guidance and the reality of children playing at an adventure playground. I feel with the ever changing Covid-19 measures that we must, for the safety of all in our community, take slow and cautious steps in our actions. The decision to reopen with a reduced offer this summer is based on the current guidance, and I am certain further changes may happen in the coming weeks so I ask for your patience at this time. 

We are not able to go back to our normal service and there is no perfect solution for facilitating the amount of children and young people who would access the adventure playgrounds over the summer holidays normally. Based on the current guidance, to reduce the risk of transmission between children and young people we are implementing a provisional booking system so we can create small, consistent groups, and of no more than fifteen children allocated to one staff member. 

Please click the link below if you would like to enquire about booking a place at any of the six adventure playgrounds we manage this summer. Enquiry bookings are also welcome from professionals and organisations supporting Islington Families.

Summer 2020 Adventure Play Enquiry Booking Form

We will be encouraging children in the small groups to practise social distancing in line with the government’s current guidance. As the risk of transmission is considerably lower outdoors, our summer offer will be outdoors only on the adventure playgrounds. 

The following are specific protective measures that will be in place during the summer offer due to coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which includes:

• Monitoring and minimising contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, or who have been advised by NHS Test & Trace to self-isolate do not attend the adventure playground.
• We will increase the focus on cleaning, keeping facilities and equipment clean – touch points (e.g. handrails and door handles)
• We have introduced signs and posters as regular reminders for children and young people to build awareness of a good hand washing technique, and  the need to increase hand washing frequency, avoid touching your face, and to cough or sneeze into your arm rather than your hand.
• We have provided more waste facilities and more frequent rubbish collection.
• We have provided outdoor hand wash stations in multiple locations on the playground with disposable paper towels.
• We have set clear use and cleaning guidance for toilets to ensure they are kept clean and social distancing is achieved

Communicating with Parents

• We will use technology to communicate with parents and carers digitally where possible.
• We will tell children, young people, parents, carers or any visitors, such as suppliers, not to enter the adventure playground if they are displaying any symptoms of coronavirus.
• We will encourage children, young people and parents/carers to avoid using public transport to get to the adventure playground. Encouraging children and young people to  walk or cycle where possible or only drive if necessary (provided they are only travelling with those from within their household).
• We plan to reduce contact between parents and carers when dropping off and picking up their children if necessary, for example by limiting drop off and pick up to one parent or carer per family and staggering timings.
• Our play offer will run between 10.30am and 5.30pm so the allocation of any required drop off and collection times to parents, avoids peak hours for public transport.
• As part of the confirmation of booking a place this summer parents,  children and young people will receive their allocated drop off(arrival) and collection times. 
• We will be asking all parents/carers who collect their children to stay outside the adventure playground’s main gate and to keep social distancing measures using the physical distancing makings on the ground as a guide. 
• We will be asking parents/carers who wish to speak to a member of staff to communicate by email  and  not to enter the site to approach staff. 

We all are longing for the government announcement when we can get back to normal and all Islington children can play freely with no restrictions on the adventure playgrounds together as a whole community – what a celebration that will be!

We truly appreciate all your support, love and patience in these hard and uncertain times that we are all facing. 

Most importantly – stay safe, keep playing and keep in touch with us in the meantime: 

Drop us an email 2020summeradventureplay@awesomecic.co.uk or comment on our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages 

For our adventurers who can not be with us for the full six weeks holiday: Go on our website under Playgrounds -> Adventurer’s Hangout to get inspired by our Fun Stuff , or to give us feedback, make a recommendation or share ideas for games, recipes or challenges – staying home doesn’t have to be boring!

We wish all our children & families well during this difficult period.  We will, of course, be checking in with you regularly through email, our website and phone – please contact us too if we can help.  We are all part of an extremely special community.