Children’s health and sickness

Statement of Intent

It is the setting policy to encourage and promote good health and hygiene for all the children in our care. The health and safety of children is of paramount importance. This includes monitoring the children for signs and symptoms of communicable diseases such as chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis, hepatitis, diarrhoea, vomiting and fevers of 101oF/38oC or over.

With the welfare of the sick child in mind and in the interests of the remaining children in the setting, if in the opinion of the staff a child is ill, then the parent/carer will be contacted and requested to collect him/her as soon as possible.

The staff of the setting must be convinced that the child has returned to good health before re-admitting him/her.

In the case of a serious accident or illness occurring then the parent/carer will be contacted immediately and the appropriate action taken. In the unlikely event of the parent not being available the senior staff member will assume charge and if necessary take the child to hospital along with all relevant details.

Aim

We aim to make children, parents and staff aware of health and safety issues and to minimise the hazards and risks to enable the children to thrive in a healthy and safe environment.

Methods

A list of illnesses, their incubation periods and exclusion periods from the setting is displayed in reception.

The setting reserves the right to exclude a child due to either an unknown or apparent illness.

Communicable Diseases

  • If a child has a communicable disease the child’s parent will inform the nursery ASAP after seeking medical advice.
  • The nursery will then phone the West Midlands East Health Protection Unit
    HPA West Midlands
    6th Floor
    5 St Philip's Place
    Birmingham
    B3 2PW Tel: 0844 225 3560 - Option 1
    Fax: 01212001579 (secure)

Email

  • Also phone Ofsted – 0300 123 1231 – Registration Number EY442807
  • The Health Protection Agency will then send letters out to all parents in the nursery. With this letter there will also be a fact sheet. This outlines what the communicable disease is, the treatment given if any and the incubation period.

A poster will also be displayed at the nursery outlining that the nursery has a suspected case or a diagnosed communicable disease.

Immunisations

When commencing at the setting, parents are asked to provide their child’s immunisation record and asked to inform us when their child is given a new injection so that we can update our immunisation records.

This information allows us to know which children are more vulnerable to certain illnesses and diseases. The Bridge Pre-school reserves the right to exclude a child if they are putting other children’s health and safety at risk by not having the appropriate immunisations at the suitable times.

Medication

When a child is prescribed medication they must have had a full 24 hours dosage as prescribed before returning to the setting. Whilst at The Bridge Pre-school, if possible, the child’s parent will administer the medicine. If not, Parents must sign a medication form giving details of the medicine, dosage and times to be administered.

When the medicine is administered, there should be a senior member of staff in charge and also aL3 member of staff present. The person in charge administering the medicine checks that the medicine, the dosage and the time is correct and sign once the task is completed. The witness must double check this and counter sign.

When the medication is given, the staff record this. On collection of the child, the staff must ensure the parent signs the form to acknowledge this.

The Bridge Pre-school is unable to administer non-prescribed medication. If a child has had Calpol on the day they attend the setting they will not be able to attend.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE - Minimum Periods of Exclusion from The Bridge Pre-school

Disease/Illness / Minimum Exclusion Period
Antibiotics prescribed / A full days dosage has been administered as prescribed by the doctor.
Chickenpox / 5 days from appearance of the rash and all pox are dry
Colds / None
Conjunctivitis / None (but consult the CDDC if many children are affected)
Diarrhoeaand vomiting. / 48 hours since last episode of sickness or diarrhoea
Flu / Until recovered.
Gastro-enteritis, food poisoning, salmonellosis and dysentery / 48 hours or until 2 clear nappies or for notifiable diseases, until advised by the relevant public health official
Glandular fever / None
Hand foot and mouth disease / Exclusion is not usually necessary (but consult CDDC if many children are affected)
Head lice
Pediculosis (lice) / Until appropriate treatment has been given
None. Treatment is only recommended if live lice are definitely seen. Close contacts should also be checked. All parents should regularly check their child’s hair for lice using a detection comb.
Hepatitis A* / Until 7 days after the onset of jaundice or other symptoms. Consult the CCDC.
Impetigo / Until the lesions are crusted or healed or 48 hours after commencing antibiotics.
Infective hepatitis / 7 days from onset of jaundice
Measles* / For 4 days after the rash appears.
Meningitis (viral)* / None
Meningococcal infection
Meningitis (bacterial)* / Until recovered from the illness
Until recovered but always consult the CCDC
Molluscum contagiosum (a skin infection) / None
Mumps* / Until the swelling has subsided and in no case less than 5 days after the onset of swollen glands.
Poliomyelitis / Until declared free from infection by the appropriate public health official.
Ringworm of body
Ringworm / Seldom necessary to exclude provided treatment is being given
Treatment (available from a pharmacist) is required but exclusion is not usually necessary.
Ringworm of scalp / Until cured
Scabies / Until after the first treatment. Household and close contacts must also be treated.
Scarlet fever * and streptococcal infection of the throat / Until 24 hours after commencing appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Shingles / Exclude only if the rash is weeping and can’t be covered. Notify vulnerable children and adults (reduced immunity) who may come into contact with child.
Slapped cheek disease / None
Temperature / If sent home ill, child must be off for a minimum of 24 hours or until temperature is normal without use of medication
Threadworms / None but the treatment is recommended for the child and household contacts.
Tuberculosis (TB)* / Always consult the CCDC
Typhoid fever / Until declared free from infection by the appropriate public health official
Vomiting / Child will be sent home and must be off for at least 48 hours from last bout of sickness
Warts and verrucae / None but verrucae should be covered in swimming pools, gyms and changing rooms.
Whooping cough ( Pertussis)* / Until 5 days after commencing antibiotics or 21 days after onset of illness if no antibiotic treatment.