Nurseries should take soft toys away from children and discourage them from sharing crayons to stop the spread of swine flu, the government warned today.
The guidance for childminders, schools and nurseries on planning for a human flu pandemic, published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), advises against children sharing pencils and musical instruments.
The guide for childminders tells them: "Try to avoid children sharing soft toys as these are hard to clean adequately; you may find it easier to avoid using soft toys altogether.
"Clean hard toys after use as the virus can survive on hard surfaces."
The guidance for schools and nurseries says: "Discourage the sharing of pencils, crayons and pens during a pandemic. Encourage the wiping and cleaning of hands and objects when passing round objects like musical instruments or toys. Because of the difficulty in cleaning soft toys adequately, remove communal soft toys. Do not allow children to share wind instruments."
Schools should consider scrapping assemblies if several children are ill because this "brings children together in large crowds and in enclosed spaces", the guidance states.
A member of staff should be nominated to look after an infected child, but they should not sit within a metre of them, unless the child needs their help, it says.
If this is the case, staff should protect themselves with a disposable apron and face mask.
A spokesman from the DCSF said: "We are not suggesting taking all toys out of play settings, just to take care with the use of shared toys, which can be a way of spreading infection. This is about striking a sensible balance between continuing life as normal but also taking simple, common sense steps to protect children.
"The most important message is that parents should not take their children to play settings if the children have any flu-like symptoms."
The government has said it expects most schools and nurseries to reopen as usual in September, but that "some closures may be possible".
Deborah Lawson, a qualified nursery nurse and the chair emeritus of education union Voice, said: "There are some practical difficulties with this, but good nurseries will already have sound, robust infection control procedures which will stand them in good stead for any infection, including swine flu.
"Good infection control includes regular cleaning and disinfecting in the nursery."
It also emerged today that ministers have talked to the BBC about the corporation clearing its schedules for educational programmes if schools were closed because of swine flu.
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said: "The government drew up plans to deal with a flu pandemic more than 18 months ago, which give indications for contingency plans, including online learning and discussions with broadcasters including the BBC and Teachers TV."
Ministers have now begun those discussions, she said. A BBC spokeswoman said: "While it would be impractical to make new educational TV programmes in the time available, we would look at whether programmes of an educational or informative nature could interest children who are not at school."
University managers are meeting today to discuss what they should do if a swine flu pandemic peaks when students return in September.
John Cater, chief executive of Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire, said: "None of us know how intensive the virus will be. There are fairly clear indications that by September or October, there will be a substantial pandemic. There's little or no doubt that universities will be affected." He said the university was preparing to put hospital antiseptic handwash in its toilets and disinfect door handles twice a day.
