Teach Early Years - Issue 14.2

diabetes diagnoses among children under five between 2018 and 2022. Researchers identified Covid’s disruptive impact on the immune system as a likely factor. Meanwhile, in the United States, up to six million American children are now estimated to have long-term symptoms due to Covid, making it the most common chronic childhood illness, surpassing asthma. Clean indoor air is one of the most powerful tools we have to reduce the spread of airborne viruses, including Covid, flu, RSV, measles, whooping cough, TB, meningitis, norovirus and many more. Air filters work The good news is, improving indoor air quality is easier than you think. High- efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are scientifically proven to remove nearly all airborne pathogens. And their benefits go beyond infection control. HEPA filters also capture allergens like pollen and dust mites, mould spores, and microscopic particles from traffic pollution, elements that are especially damaging to developing lungs. In a recent study in Finland, two daycares equipped with HEPA filters reported significant drops in staff and child illness. Absences fell by 30%, according to Dr Enni Sanmark from Helsinki University Hospital, who led the research. Unlike schools, which are sometimes constrained by rigid policies and hierarchical decision-making processes, most early years settings belong to the PVI sector. This gives us the freedom and flexibility to act quickly. We can do this, and we can do it faster than anyone else. It’s also worth noting that many early years settings also operate as businesses. Clean indoor air offers a competitive advantage; it helps our teams, our business continuity, and our “Clean indoor air should be a priority” T he early days of the pandemic were an extraordinary challenge for those in the early years sector. During lockdown, many settings remained open to support key worker families. Practitioners then juggled rapidly changing guidance, enhanced cleaning protocols, and the uncertainty of an evolving public health crisis, all while continuing to care for our youngest children. Cleanliness was a central focus. Settings increased surface cleaning, implemented strict hygiene routines, and followed new protocols to reduce transmission. But one crucial aspect was largely overlooked: the air we breathe. No amount of handwashing prevents us from breathing in viral particles. According to government Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) guidance, improving ventilation and monitoring indoor air quality is required. Yet in practice, how many settings are regularly checking indoor air? How many are actively improving it? It is a vital question, especially when you consider that children inhale around 10,000 litres of air each day. And yet, as physicist André Henriques from CERN once pointed out, if you asked a room full of adults what a child needs, clean air would probably not even make the list. It’s time that changed. Covid is still here Covid-19 continues to circulate at high levels all year round, causing repeated waves of illness and disruption. And contrary to popular belief, it does pose a threat to young children. In the year leading up to August 2023, 6,300 babies under the age of one were hospitalised due to Covid in the UK. It was found that 1% of all babies under six months old required hospital care, giving them a higher hospitalisation rate than adults over 90. And the risks aren’t limited to acute illness. A Swedish study recently reported a 62% increase in type 1 reputations. Parents want reassurance that their child is safe and healthy. Being able to tell families that you are actively monitoring and cleaning the air their child breathes sends a powerful message: we invest in and protect your children’s health. In a competitive landscape, that kind of reassurance is priceless. What you can do Monitor: CO₂ monitors are affordable and very easy to use. High CO₂ levels indicate that there is more of other people’s exhaled air in the room. Aim for levels at or below 800 ppm. Filter: Use HEPA air filters. Think of them as an immune system for your setting! Ventilate: Open windows and doors regularly; natural ventilation disperses viral particles. Communicate: Let parents and staff know what you’re doing and why. Sharing your efforts builds trust, credibility, and a sense of shared responsibility. Clean air is invisible, but its impact is not. It’s time we made it a visible priority in every early years setting. ANNE MCCONWAY IS A LECTURER IN EARLY CHILDHOOD, DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING Teachearlyyears.com 61