Nursery group pledges to stay open for NHS staff

The nursery group has announced all its 30 settings will remain open during the unfolding pandemic, as around 27 per cent of its parents are employed by the NHS.

Among its settings, six are linked to hospital sites:

• Tops Winchester, based at Royal Hampshire County Hospital, where 50 per cent of parents are employed by the NHS
• Tops Portsmouth, based at Queen Alexandra Hospital, 62 per cent
• Tops Bournemouth, based at Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital, 51 per cent
• Tops Salisbury, based at Salisbury District Hospital, 75 per cent
• Tops Musgrove, based at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, 48 per cent
• Tops Poole, linked with Poole Hospital, 26 per cent

Over half of Tops settings offer a Hi5’s Club for primary school children, the spaces for which will be offered to all children when schools close, with priority given to children whose parents who work within the NHS or emergency services, the group promised.

Meanwhile, at Tops Winchester, a practitioner has developed arts and crafts bags for children in self-isolation, which the staff team will deliver to the doorsteps of families who are currently unable to attend the setting.

Cheryl Hadland, managing director of Tops Day Nurseries, said, ‘The service we provide means we are just behind the frontline, several of our nurseries are on hospital sites, and most of the rest look after children whose parents work in the NHS and emergency services. Therefore, our commitment is to stay open so that NHS staff can work.

‘It is important that we remain united and support each other in any way possible, and I am proud that we are able to help.’

CORONAVIRUS CASE

Meanwhile, a child has tested positive for coronavirus at Tops Day Nursery at Lakeside Business Park in Portsmouth.

A full deep clean has since been carried out at the childcare facility, and the site will remain open.

Amy Alderson, operations director for Tops Day Nurseries, commented, ‘Due to a high volume of suspected cases in the area, not all people presenting with symptoms are being confirmed medically by swab. This case was confirmed via a telephone consultation with a GP after discussing their symptoms.

‘Anybody presenting with a continuous cough or a temperature over 37.8 are being sent home to self-isolate for 14 days, as per government advice.

‘We have completed a deep clean at the setting, all parents have been informed and we are following advice from Public Health England.

‘As per Government guidance, we will remain open to ensure that we can provide care for the families that need us to.'