Health and safety protocols
Cleanliness and health have always been a priority at Brella. And now, we’ve introduced additional procedures to ensure the safety and health of all children and staff.
Masks
Children under the age of 24 months are not required to wear masks while at Brella. All parents are asked to wear masks at drop off and pick-up.
Teachers and staff wear masks at all times in the classroom and in our common areas.
Hand washing
Adults and children wash hands frequently and thoroughly during hand-washing routines incorporated into our regular class schedules.
Center cleaning
Our center is professionally cleaned and sanitized nightly by a CDC-trained cleaning team. Throughout the day, teachers and staff wipe down surfaces with CDC-approved, non-toxic cleaning products.
We encourage children not to share toys. Once a toy has been used, we remove it and sanitize it before it is returned to the room.
Our center uses a single-source HVAC system that pumps fresh air into the center. We have replaced all of our filters. Our carpets are anti-microbial.
Linens are washed daily. Clean linens are used for each child and immediately removed and replaced. Cots and cribs will be wiped down after every use.
Keeping our staff healthy
Any staff member showing symptoms of Covid-19 will be asked to stay home until symptoms subside and a negative test is received.
Our staff has been trained on all new health and safety protocols. Additionally, we have trained our staff on how to talk about Covid-19- it is our goal to alleviate any anxiety or concern children have.
We provide our staff with all necessary PPE as well as support during this time. We are grateful to them and invested in their physical and mental health.
Drop-off procedures
Please screen your child for any symptoms before leaving home. At drop off, we will take the temperature of every child before they enter the facility. We will use a disinfected, non-contact, infrared thermometer. We will also do a preliminary symptom check. Any child with a temperature over 100.4 F or exhibiting symptoms will not be able to join class.
At drop off, you will be greeted by your child’s teacher and have a brief moment to say goodbye. Your child will enter their classroom and you are free to go. We ask that parents move away from the drop off area to make room for other families, but you are welcome to stay close by.
Is child care safe? Is it important?
In no country have schools or child care centers been identified as a source of COVID-19 transmission.
Brown University economist Emily Oster found that, among 916 centers serving more than 20,000 children, just over 1% of staff and 0.16% of children were confirmed infected with the coronavirus.
"There are almost no recorded cases of child-to-adult transmission of COVID-19," says Elliot Haspel, an education policy expert and child care advocate
Twenty-two European Union member states have now re-opened child cares and schools in some capacity, and none have had COVID cases spike as a result. In fact, no nation in the entire world reports child cares or elementary schools as significant sources of transmission.
Child care provides unique opportunities for the emotional, social, and cognitive development of children. It is also an essential lifeline for many parents.
The effects of remote learning are the worst for young children, whose brains grow rapidly from in-person relationships and active, hands-on exploration.
"The social-emotional needs of children to connect with other children in real time and space, whether it's for physical activity, unstructured play or structured play, is immensely important for young children in particular." - Dr. Dimitri Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children's Hospital and editor-in-chief of the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
Parents and other caregivers who have lost childcare reported significantly higher rates of stress and anxiety, compared to those who have been able to continue using the same form of childcare.
Learn about our updated programming
Our classrooms have been redesigned to allow for immersive play experiences while also providing more room for social distancing.
Infant Care (3 months - 17 months): Licensed, loving care focused on early developmental milestones.
Toddler Care (18 months - 25 months): Licensed, educational experiences to help build confidence, compassion, and curiosity.
Preschool (26 months - 5 years): Full preschool experience, including a daily curriculum of art & STEM, imaginative play, storytelling, and movement.
