Unwell children policy
Little Cherubs Nursery is not
responsible for providing care for children that are unwell, or “under the
weather”. Where a child that has been given Calpol, Nurofen or other pain
relief medication before being brought into nursery are considered unwell and
should not attend the setting on that day. They should only come to the setting
if they have not had any pain relief within the last 12 hours. If children
require Calpol or Nurophen they must remain absent for 12 hours before
returning to nursery. A child that is seen to be needing regular medication are
unwell and should remain absent. If parents do not abide by this, they are
responsible if their child’s health should staff need to administer Calpol in
an emergency.
If a child appears
unwell during the day, have a temperature, sickness, diarrhoea or pains,
particularly in the head or stomach, the key person calls the parents and asks
them to collect the child or send a known carer to collect on their behalf. The
unwell child must be collected immediately, at least within 1 hour. All parents
are required to inform the nursery if their child has been unwell out of the
nursery, if a child is not attending due to illness the parent/carer is
responsible for calling the nursery as soon as possible. Little Cherubs Nursery
can refuse admittance to children who are showing signs of being unwell or not
their usual self, have a temperature, sickness, & diarrhoea or a contagious
infection or disease.
On occasions children may become
unwell during the day whilst they are at Nursery. If a child develops any of
the following symptoms then the parent is contacted:
�
A body temperature of
38 �C or above or 35 �C or
below
�
Sickness (1 Bout)
�
Diarrhoea (2 Bouts)
�
A suspicious Rash
�
Considerably under the
weather
�
Lethargic
�
Discharge from the
eyes/ears
The parent is to be contacted by
the child’s key person who gives the parent full information of the child’s
Symptoms. The parent or a known carer is to collect the unwell child within an
hour of first contact. The parent may send a person to collect the child that
staff may have not met; if so then a password is to be agreed between the staff
calling and the parent. The staff member must get the name and description of
the person collecting the child.
Staff will contact the Emergency
contact persons provided upon registration if they have been unable to contact
a parent within 30 minutes of the child becoming unwell. A child with a body
temperature of 38 �C or above or 35 �C or
below may be given Calpol if the parents have not been able to be contacted
within 30 minutes. Parents have given permission for this during the point of registration.
A child’s body
temperature is taken using a digital thermometer, these are kept in the first
aid box in each room. A child with a temperature over 37.8 �C has it checked every
20 minutes and it is recorded on the app.
Whilst awaiting a parent or carer,
Staff will also do the following as they consider it to be required:
1.
Ensure the child is
dressed with one layer of clothing
2.
Keep the child away
from cold draughts
3.
Offer a loose blanket,
if needed
4.
To monitor &
record the child’s Temperature every 20 minutes
In extreme cases of emergency, the
child will be taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital which is St Peters
Hospital, Chertsey. The parent will be advised of this straight after an
ambulance has been contacted. The Manager/Deputy & child’s Key Person will
accompany the child to the hospital.
Parents that are advised to take
their child to the Doctor’s must do so and contact the nursery soon afterwards
to advise them of the Doctor’s diagnosis. Little Cherubs Nursery can refuse
admittance of a child to the Nursery if they have not been seen by a Doctor as
requested or have or have had any of the above symptoms or contagious
infection/disease.
If a child is given antibiotics parents must
start them as recommended by the Doctor and to keep them at home for at least
the following amount of time:
�
Internal medicines – these are medicines that the
children need to take orally or otherwise (antibiotics / eye drops / inhalers
etc). The child must have been taking the course of antibiotic for at least 48
hours before returning. The child must be well within themselves with eating,
sleeping and playing routines and no longer contagious. Little Cherubs Nursery
staff will not administer eye drops.
�
External medicines – these are prescription creams
(eczema treatments, fungal cream, etc). Children must have the medication
applied for at least 24 hours before the child attends the setting. They may
only return if they are well within themselves and are not contagious.
Parents and carers
must start antibiotics as soon as they have been prescribed as directed by the
Doctor, this is to ensure the child’s health and well-being are met and to
encourage the child to make a full recovery as soon as possible. Where a parent
or carer does not start antibiotics or medication needed as recommended by the
doctor it is considered as neglect and will be recorded as a safeguarding
concern.
Children that have suffered from
sickness or diarrhoea are asked to remain home for 48 hours after their last
bout to reduce the risk of spreading and to ensure the child is well hydrated
before returning nursery. The child must be well within themselves and have
gained their appetite back.
A parent that fails to collect
their unwell child at the request of the nursery, or repeatedly sends their
child into the setting unwell without seeing a doctor, will be seen as
neglecting their child’s needs. Staff will refer to the settings Designated Safeguarding
Lead (DSL) who will make a disclosure record and consider if a referral to
outside agencies is required. Parents will be informed of this action according
to the Safeguarding Children’s Policy.
The Nursery will follow the
‘Guidance of infection control’ from the Health Protection Agency on all other
infection’s and illness.
Exclusion periods
�
After diarrhoea and/or
sickness, parents are asked to keep the children at home for 48hours have elapsed
after their last loose bowel/sickness movement.
�
A child with a
temperature must remain absent for at least 12 hours, or 12 hours after their
last dose of Calpol.
�
Little Cherubs Nursery
will not administer eye drops but a responsible adult (appointed by
parents/carers) may return to nursery to administer these to the child.
�
A child that has
Chicken Pox must remain absent until ALL spots have crusted over, some scabs are
beginning to fall off and the child is well within themselves.
�
A child with that is
unwell and has a high temperature must remain absent until they have made a
full recovery and are well within themselves. Children that have had Capol must
remain absent for 12 hours after their last dose.
�
A child that has
received a positive COVID-19 test must remain absent for a minimum of 3 full
days and should only return when they are well within themselves.
�
If a child has head
lice they can return to the setting once they have been treated.
The setting follows guidance from
The Public Health England (PHE) which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities/chapter-9-managing-specific-infectious-diseases
Reporting a ‘notifiable diseases’
If a child or adult that has contact with the
nursery is diagnosed suffering from a notifiable disease the setting will seek
advice from the Health Protection Agency with compliance to RIDDOR (Reporting
of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.). When
medical confirmation has been received by the setting Manager or Deputy they
are responsible for ensuring that Health Protection Agencies and Ofsted are
formally informed as soon as possible with a minimum of 14 days. The advices of
these two agencies are then followed and parents are informed accordingly.
HIV/AIDS/ Hepatitis procedure
HIV Virus, like other viruses such as Hepatitis,
(AB & C) is spread through body fluids. Hygiene precautions for dealing
with bodily fluids are the same for all children and adults.
Single use vinyl gloves & aprons are worn when
changing children’s nappies, pants and clothing that are soiled with blood,
urine faeces or vomit. All soiled clothing is placed in a nappy bag for the
parent to take home. Spills of blood, urine, faeces or vomit are cleared using
mild disinfectant solution using disposable green paper towels, which are then
placed in the clinical waste bin/nappy bin. The area is then mopped using a
mild disinfectant, ensuring the mop is thoroughly cleaned after.
01932 348 348
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