Corby nursery keep busy as bees making germ-busting robots while key worker parents battle Covid-19

The manager of a Corby pre-school nursery has said how proud she is to support key workers during the coronavirus pandemic by caring for their children.

Busy Bees nursery on the Oakley Vale estate has kept its door open to parents and children of workers involved in key industries, the NHS and the other emergency services.

Usually 103 children attend the school in Charter Court off Butland Road but now the daily roll call has been reduced to around 15 children a day.

Rhonda Rowlatt, centre director of Busy Bees, said: "It's been a challenge. We've been keeping a routine with snacktime, baking and painting and we've been encouraging them to do lots of hand washing.

"We've upped our safety precautions and had a extra thorough clean. It's been quieter in the base rooms and much busier in the office. "

To safeguard the children, staff and parents children and staff have their temperatures taken to ensure they do not have a fever.

Staff have been issued with special PPE (personal protective equipment) and parents are not allowed into the main nursery base rooms.

The pre-schoolers have been kept busy with their usual curriculum alongside special coronavirus-related activities .

Ms Rowlatt said: "The children made a special germ-busting robot and have painted a rainbow for the outside. They have also coloured-in Postman Pat pictures to support the postal workers.

"It's business as normal and the children can play together and play outside where they are safe."

Children who are self-isolating at home or whose parents are not key workers have been kept in touch with their friends through social media.

The nursery still has capacity for more children of key workers even if they do not normally attend Busy Bees.

Ms Rowlatt added: "Busy Bees is a place of safety, to children, to families and colleagues especially in the challenging weeks ahead.

"Without the genuine care and compassion delivered by the staff at Busy Bees, the essential keyworkers would not be able to carry out their essential tasks and keep our country functioning for this I am immensely proud."