SICK CHILD POLICY
Date policy was adopted:
Date of Review:
Signed on behalf of
OCTOBER 2015
OCTOBER 2016
W.Scanlan
SICK CHILD POLICY
We at The Wendy House Nursery feel that children need to be fit and well in order to get the most
from the setting. Children that are unwell should remain at home with the Parents/Carers as they
may be contagious to the other children at the nursery.
If a member of staff who has children at the nursery who are unwell, the child/ren will not
accompany their parent/carer to work with them and alternative child care arrangements should be
made.
Cuts or open sores, whether on adults or children should be covered with a sticky plaster or other
suitable dressing.
If for any reason a child is unwell whilst they are at The Wendy House Nursery we will ensure that:
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If a child needs to lie down an area of the room will be made comfortable and a bed made
up for the child to rest on.
A member of staff will be allocated to the child.
If a child is found to have an infectious disease during a nursery session the
Parent/Carer will be informed immediately and asked to collect their child.
The nursery has its own incubation and recommended exclusion period that all staff adhere
to.
IF A CHILD IS ILL PRIOR TO COMING TO NURSERY:
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Parents are required to telephone the nursery at their earliest convenience, as their child
may have an infectious disease, so other Parents/Carers will need to be notified.
Guidelines need to be followed and Parents/Carers cannot return their child to the nursery
until they are no longer infectious. This is because they could contaminate others.
PROCEDURE FOR VOMITING AND DIARRHOEA
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The Room Leader/Key person should ascertain the nature of the child’s sickness.
For diarrhoea the Manager/Assistant manager will contact the Parents/Carers after two
episodes of diarrhoea within one session.
The Parent/Carer is asked to keep the child at home for 48 hours after the last bout vomit
or diarrhoea.
PROCEDURE FOR A VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE
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If a child is suspected of having a high temperature the child’s temperature is taken using an
ear thermometer.
If the child’s temperature is above 38°C the Parent/Carer is called to advise them of their
child’s condition
The child is stripped down to their vest or nappy and a tepid compress is applied to the back
of the child’s neck to try and reduce the temperature.
Permission is sought via a telephone call to the Parent/Carer, to administer Calpol, if consent
has not already been given. Under no circumstances will Calpol be given, until
Parents/Carers are able to confirm that no Calpol has been administered to that child within
the last four hours.
In all cases where Calpol has been administered, a Calpol form will be filled in and will be
signed by the Parent/Carer when the child is collected, Information regarding the reason for
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administering Calpol, the time and dosage will be recorded in Daily Diary/Daily
Communication Sheets as appropriate, for parental information.
The Parent/Carer will be asked to collect the child, but if this is not possible then they will be
asked to telephone the nursery after 30 minutes. If there is no improvement after this
period, even when Calpol has been administered, the Parent/Carer will be required to
collect their child.
Ailment/Illness
Exclusion period/Treatment
CONJUNCTIVITIS
Must take to doctor to confirm and treat. Infection must be clear before a child
can attend Nursery
Can take up to 10-20 days for rash to come out, return to nursery when sores
have dried and scabbed over.
One clear week since last episode
CHICKEN POX
GASTROENTERITIS/
GASTRIC DISORDERS
MEASLES
MUMPS
SCABIES
IMPETIGO
SKIN DISORDERS
WHOOPING COUGH
DIARRHOEA
VOMITTING
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HAND, FOOT & MOUTH
SCARLET FEVER
TONSILITIS
ANTIBIOTIC MEDICINE
7-10 days from outset of rash.
10 days from outset of swollen glands.
24 hours after full course of treatment/until infection has cleared.
Children with impetigo should be kept from nursery until spots have dried up
and no longer leaking fluid. With use of antibiotics, impetigo usually heals within
a week.
5 days from commencing antibiotic treatment.
After a minimum of 3 soiled nappies, exclusion 48 hours
After 48 hours from onset
If we cannot maintain a safe temperature, a child will need to be collected for
his/her own safety.
There is a short four- to six-day incubation period between exposure and
development of initial symptoms (fever and malaise). A person is most
contagious during the first week of illness
Common treatment is a short course of antibiotics. Paracetamol can be used to
bring down the fever. Children should be excluded for five days after the start of
treatment, and kept away from other children as much as possible
Antibiotic treatment required, exclusion until infection clear
24 hrs exclusion after initial dose of antibiotic
ALLERGIES
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When a child is first enrolled into the nursery Parents/Carers are required to provide full
details of any allergies. The Wendy House Nursery requests full details of any allergy and
whether this is a severe allergy.
SEVERE is defined as ANY REACTION NO MATTER HOW MINOR
The parent will then need to complete a form listing the effects that their child’s allergy may
have, should they come into contact with something they are allergic to.
A medical plan will be obtained from the doctor
When the child attends the nursery they will be provided with a daily communication diary,
to aid communication of the child’s general health.
Details of the child’s allergy will be available for staff (out of view from other parents) at all
times in each of the rooms so that all staff are aware of the condition.
POLICY STATEMENT
The Wendy House Nursery undertakes to ensure that all aspects of the nursery policies and
procedures are kept under review and that they operate in a non-discriminatory manner.
The Management will ensure that any changes to this policy will be communicated to all employees.
The Management will ensure that all Staff, Parents/Carers, Voluntary Workers and others are fully
aware of the channels through which they lodge complaints and appeals on all matters.