EYFS: 3.44, 3.45, 3.46
At Growing Minds Montessori Childcare we promote the good health of all children attending. To help keep children healthy and minimise infection, we do not expect children to attend nursery if they are unwell. If a child is unwell it is in their best interest to be in a home environment with adults they know well rather than at nursery with their peers.
Our procedures
In order to take appropriate action of children who become ill and to minimise the spread of infection we implement the following procedures:
- If a child becomes ill during the nursery day, we contact their parent(s) and ask them to pick up their child as soon as possible. During this time we care for the child in a quiet, calm area with their key person, wherever possible
- We follow the guidance given to us by Public Health England (Health Protection In Schools and other childcare facilities) and advice from our local health protection unit on exclusion times for specific illnesses, e.g. sickness and diarrhoea, measles and chicken pox, to protect other children in the nursery
- Should a child have an infectious disease, such as sickness and diarrhoea, they must not return to nursery until they have been clear for at least 48 hours. We inform all parents if there is a contagious infection identified in the nursery, to enable them to spot the early signs of this illness. We thoroughly clean and sterilise all equipment and resources that may have come into contact with a contagious child to reduce the spread of infection
- We notify Ofsted as soon as possible and in all cases within 14 days of the incident where we have any child or staff member with food poisoning
- We exclude all children on antibiotics for the first 48 hours of the course (unless this is part of an ongoing care plan to treat individual medical conditions e.g. asthma and the child is not unwell) This is because it is important that children are not subjected to the rigours of the nursery day, which requires socialising with other children and being part of a group setting, when they have first become ill and require a course of antibiotics
- We have the right to refuse admission to a child who is unwell. This decision will be taken by the manager on duty and is non-negotiable
- We make information/posters about head lice readily available and all parents are requested to regularly check their children’s hair. If a parent finds that their child has head lice we would be grateful if they could inform the nursery so that other parents can be alerted to check their child’s hair
- If a child is unwell and requires paracetamol/ibuprofen based medicine we require them to stay at home until they are well enough to go about their day without the need for such medicine
- If a child develops a fever during the nursery day we will remove clothing first to see if their temperature returns to normal. If their temperature remains high after half an hour, we will contact a parent to request permission to administer a single dose of Calpol. If the child’s temperature hasn’t returned to normal after an hour, the child will need to be collected. If a child shows signs of improvement but then needs a second dose of Calpol i.e they are still unwell, they will need to be collected.
Please help us to keep the children and adults who attend the nursery safe by not sending in your poorly child. There are occasions when children or adults with a reduced immunity (cancer patients and pregnant mothers, for example) attend and we cannot risk them being exposed to certain illnesses.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The most updated government guidelines supersede this policy. At the time of updating this policy (see date below) the nursery procedures are as follows:
If a child has been administered with paracetamol/ibuprofen based medicine before attending nursery they will not be allowed entry. This excludes prescribed pain relief. It is important for parents to disclose any administration of paracetamol/ibuprofen based medicine to avoid any possible overdose.
If anyone in the setting develops a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, or has a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia), they will be sent home and be advised to follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. This sets out that they must:
- self-isolate for at least 10 days
- arrange to have a test to see if they have coronavirus (COVID-19)
Return to nursery will be reviewed on a case by case basis referring to current government guidelines.
Meningitis procedure
If a parent informs the nursery that their child has meningitis, the nursery manager will contact the Local Area Infection Control (IC) Nurse. The IC Nurse will give guidance and support in each individual case. If parents do not inform the nursery, we will be contacted directly by the IC Nurse and the appropriate support will be given. We will follow all guidance given and notify any of the appropriate authorities including Ofsted if necessary.
Transporting children to hospital procedure
The nursery manager/staff member must:
- Call for an ambulance immediately if the sickness is severe. DO NOT attempt to transport the sick child in your own vehicle
- Whilst waiting for the ambulance, contact the parent(s) and arrange to meet them at the hospital
- Redeploy staff if necessary to ensure there is adequate staff deployment to care for the remaining children. This may mean temporarily grouping the children together
- Arrange for the most appropriate member of staff to accompany the child taking with them any relevant information such as registration forms, relevant medication sheets, medication and the child’s comforter
- Inform a member of the management team immediately
- Remain calm at all times. Children who witness an incident may well be affected by it and may need lots of cuddles and reassurance. Staff may also require additional support following the accident.