News

In line with national guidance and in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, on 23 March 2020, we took the difficult decision to implement visitor restrictions across the Trust, which included the Royal Devon and Exeter Maternity Services.

While we understand that restrictions to our maternity services are incredibly difficult for mums-to-be and their partners, COVID-19 is highly infectious and can have devastating consequences. Pregnant women have been included in the list of people who are classed as ‘at-risk’, which means they are considered to be more vulnerable than the general population. The restrictions we put in place reduced the footfall through our maternity services, helping us to limit the transmission of the virus and keep women and their babies safe.

Following the release of new guidance earlier this month, we have undertaken several risk assessments across our maternity services to see where partner and visitor restrictions could be further reduced.

Following this review, from 29 September 2020:
• one partner is able to attend the dating and anomaly scan
• if a woman is being induced, they can have a partner with them between the hours of 0900hrs and 1700hrs
• our staff will continue to contact partners and ask them to attend the unit if, due to pain or distress, support is required

As throughout the whole of the COVID-19 pandemic, if a woman is being cared for in a birth centre, labour ward or in theatre, they can have one birth partner with them. This is usually when they are in labour, having a caesarean or in the immediate postnatal period.

We understand this may still be difficult for mums-to-be and their partners, but we’d like to reiterate that if a mum-to-be is being induced and is in pain or distress, we will contact their partner and ask them to attend, regardless of what time of day it is.

We are unable to answer any individual comments at this time, but if you have any specific concerns about your maternity care, please speak to your midwife.

Please visit our website for more information: http://bit.ly/RDEmaternity ... See more

Job opportunity
West Exe Nursery School is an outstanding maintained School. We are looking for a passionate Early Years Practitioner to take a key-working role with our 2 year olds.
Closes Friday 31st July

https://www.devonjobs.gov.uk/education-support-school-posts-learning-support-assistant-west-exe-nursery-school/69296.job ... See more

Thank you for all your lovely comments.
Due to the current situation it has been really difficult for us to advertise in our usual way and it would be great if you could let your friends and contacts know about us if they are looking for nursery places for their children in September. We have a few places for 2, 3 and 4 years olds, both term time and all year around and can provide breakfast and after school club. Please see our website https://westexenurseryschool.org/ or ring 01392 279361 ... See more

West Exe Nursery School (or the ‘Special School’ as the children have named it)
As one of only two maintained Nursery Schools in Devon we have remained open throughout the lockdown period for all those children that met the government criteria.

From the beginning we were very aware that we needed to start planning for re-opening but in a different way. We are lucky to have an outstanding outdoor provision and quickly made the decision that it made most sense to move the entire School outside where research says the risk is very low.

We looked at our existing space outside and re-purposed some of it to make base camps for our children, whilst acknowledging that 2 – 4 year olds would not manage social distancing. The children have group time, snack and lunch in the base camps with their keyworkers but move around the outside play zones throughout the day, with more regular cleaning as we go. Our priority has been to ensure we have done everything that is practical to keep everybody safe, so we now have outside sinks installed for lots of hand washing and a policy of children not being able to attend if ill in anyway.

We shared the plan with the staff team and had a full inset day to allow staff to ask questions and talk through the practicalities of how things would work and share any concerns. We have debriefed at the end of every day to alter things as we go.

Over half our children are now happily back in School and we are expecting three quarters to be back before the end of term. Parents have been overwhelmingly positive about our plan and the feedback has been fantastic. ... See more

FREE TRAINING!!
These courses are for everyone who wants to be the best mum, dad, grandparent, carer that they can be. The Solihull Approach aims to improve emotional health and wellbeing by supporting relationships (http://soc.devon.cc/sDLmo). The courses are written by CAMHS professionals with other health and education workers. They are evidence based and accredited by the DfE

To access the course simply enter the access code TAMAR at http://soc.devon.cc/QeA68

Please feel free to share with your parents and other professionals.

#solihulltraining #training #free #Devoneycs ... See more

For all parents with 2 year old children.

Have your circumstances changed over the last few months, are entitled to claim some benefits, if so you may be entitled to 15 hours 2 year funding.

If you think this may apply to you please check online via the Citizen’s Portal

Take care
Becky ... See more

The Citizens Portal allows parents/carers of children, to make applications for school places (including in-year admissions), two year old funding and free school meals.

This has been handed in to West Exe Nursery School.
If it belongs to you please can you pop in and pick it up, if you know who's it might be can you let them know we have it.

With some families returning to childcare from 1st June, please be mindful that if parents have lost jobs, reduced hours etc, that they may now qualify for the 2 year old funding.

https://www.justchildcare.co.uk/30-hours-free-childcare-faqs/#1533203899760-ca84466e-ae65

We answer parent FAQs and give you practical information about 30 Hours Free Childcare, and how you can make it work for your family. Read our guide