Sick Child Policy
Ducklings adhere to the following procedure when excluding children who are unwell with an infectious disease.
· Parents or named guardian will be contacted if a child becomes ill whilst in the setting, and asked to collect their child.
· We do not provide care for children who are unwell, have a temperature, or sickness and/or diarrhoea, or who have an infectious disease.
· Children with headlice are not excluded (unless heavily infested, in which case parents will be contacted and asked to collect), but must be treated to remedy the condition.
· Parents are notified (sign will be placed on door) if there is a case of headlice in the setting.
· Parents are notified if there is an infectious disease, such as chicken pox.
· Good hygiene practice concerning the clearing of any spilled bodily fluids is carried out at all times.
· Parents are asked not to bring into the Playgroup any child who has been vomiting or had diarrhoea until at least 48 hours has elapsed since the last attack.
· Parents are asked to keep their children at home if they have any infection, and to inform the Playgroup as to the nature of the infection so that the Playgroup can alert other parents, and make careful observations of any child who seems unwell.
· Parents are asked to be considerate when returning children to the Playgroup following an infectious disease such as Chicken Pox, Mumps etc., and that the recommended isolation period is complete.
· Cuts and open sores, whether on adults or children, will be covered with a dressing.
· The local authority's medical officer for environmental health is notified of any infectious diseases that a qualified medical person considers notifiable. (Infectious Disease (Notification) Act 1889). Ofsted is also informed where this is the case. The full list is obtainable from www.patient.co.uk and includes common childhood illnesses such as measles.
A sick child who is awaiting collection by a parent or carer will be encouraged in to a quiet area of playgroup, and will be comforted accordingly by a member of staff. Parents are reminded that an emergency contact number is in place for circumstances like these. Their condition will be monitored closely.
Exclusion Period
· Chicken Pox 5 days from onset of rash
· German Measles( Rubella)* 5 days from onset of rash
· Hand foot and mouth Until disease has gone
· Impetigo Until sores are crusted or healed
· Measles* 5 days from onset of rash
· Ringworm Until treatment commenced
· Scarlet fever 5 days after commencing antibiotics
· Warts and Verrucae None, but should be covered if on feet
· Diarrhoea and vomiting 48 hours from last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting
· Conjunctivitis Until clear, advise parent to visit GP for treatment
· Head Lice None - treatment required from parent – however, we reserve the right to exclude a heavily invested child until treated, to contain the spread of head lice
· Mumps* 5 days from onset of swollen glands
· Tonsillitis None, but see GP for treatment
· Whooping Cough* 5 days from commencement of antibiotic treatment or 21 days from onset of illness if no antibiotic treatment
· 'Flu' (influenza) Until recovered
· Athletes foot None
· Cold sores (herpes simplex) None
· Molluscum contagiosum None
· Scabies Child can return after first treatment
· Slapped cheek/fifth disease None
· Shingles Exclude only if rash is weeping & cannot be covered
· Thread worm None
