These additional requirements include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- A self-assessment form (which can be completed manually or online);<\/li>\n
- A declaration form declaring that the facility meets with the minimum health and safety standards;<\/li>\n
- A workplace plan in line with current lockdown regulations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
All ECDs will be required to conduct screening in terms of the existing health guidelines, and that every person who enters the facility must be screened.<\/p>\n
Any person with coronavirus symptoms must report them to a designated official immediately. This person must also be barred from entering the premises.<\/p>\n
The existing rules around sanitisers and masks must also be followed. However, children younger than 24 months will not be required to wear a mask.<\/p>\n
Children between two and five are ‘encouraged’ to wear masks, taking into account their age and developmental abilities.<\/p>\n
\nConditions for return<\/strong><\/p>\n
The directive also outlines a number of ‘conditions of return’ that a parent or guardian must follow to ensure that screening and tracking protocols are followed.<\/p>\n
Some of the main conditions include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- A child must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or, if not practically possible, by a person designated by a parent or legal guardian, every day when the child attends an early childhood development programme or a partial care facility and must be screened;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- In the case of a child who is twelve years or younger and accompanied by a designated person, the parents or legal guardian must provide the child with the required information for the purpose of the symptom screening;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- A parent, legal guardian or a person designated by a parent or legal guardian has a right to enquire from the early childhood development programme or partial care facility about the details of the measures that have been put in place;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- A child with a known underlying health condition that may place the child at a higher than normal risk category as defined by the Department of Health, may not return unless s a medical practitioner gives written authorisation that it is safe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The directive states that the following activities are expressly prohibited for the duration of the national state of disaster:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Outings and excursions;<\/li>\n
- Extramural facilities;<\/li>\n
- Activities implemented by an external party that are not part of the staff of the establishment;<\/li>\n
- Open days;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nProgramme-specifc conditions\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
The directive also outlines a number of ‘programme-specific conditions which must be followed by the various facilities.<\/p>\n
These are outlined in the table below.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Table-1.png\")
<\/a> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Table-2.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe directive also outlines a number of age-specific rules which have to be followed.<\/p>\n
- A child with a known underlying health condition that may place the child at a higher than normal risk category as defined by the Department of Health, may not return unless s a medical practitioner gives written authorisation that it is safe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- A parent, legal guardian or a person designated by a parent or legal guardian has a right to enquire from the early childhood development programme or partial care facility about the details of the measures that have been put in place;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- In the case of a child who is twelve years or younger and accompanied by a designated person, the parents or legal guardian must provide the child with the required information for the purpose of the symptom screening;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- A child must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or, if not practically possible, by a person designated by a parent or legal guardian, every day when the child attends an early childhood development programme or a partial care facility and must be screened;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n