Soft Toys ‘Flu Risk’, Schools Told

Childminders and nurseries should take soft toys away from children to stop the spread of swine flu, according to official guidance.

Sharing pencils, crayons and musical instruments should also be discouraged, and school assemblies avoided in the case of a pandemic, it says.

The guidance is contained in documents published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families on planning for a human flu pandemic.

The guides, which apply to swine flu, give advice on reducing the spread of infection.

One, for childminders, says: “Clean hard toys after use as the virus can survive on hard surfaces.

“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.”

A second guide 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.”