Providers must have a procedure for responding to children who are ill or infectious, taking appropriate steps to prevent the spread of infection, and taking appropriate action if children are ill.

The framework says in section 3.45 that this procedure must be discussed with parents/carers.

-Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (2023)

Our policy

If your child becomes ill whilst in our care you will be contacted and asked to come and collect your child as soon as possible.  The reason for this is due to the other children in our care and the risk of infecting them or ourselves.  In some cases we may need to isolate them from the other children to prevent spread of infection.

You must inform us if your child has taken any medication before they are left in our care due to health and safety reasons.  We have a policy for administering medication, please see that for further details.

If a child has a temperature, they are kept cool, by removing top clothing and sponging their heads with cool water, but kept away from draughts. If the child’s temperature does not go down and is worryingly high, then we may give them Calpol or another similar analgesic, after first obtaining verbal consent from the parent where possible. This is to reduce the risk of febrile convulsions. Parents sign the medication record or use the online system when they collect their child.

In extreme cases of emergency, an ambulance is called and the parent informed.

Parents are asked to take their child to the doctor before returning them to the setting; we can refuse admittance to children who have a temperature, sickness and diarrhoea or a contagious infection or disease.

After diarrhoea, we ask parents keep children home for 48 hours following the last episode.

Some activities, such as sand and water play, and self-serve snacks where there is a risk of cross-contamination may be suspended for the duration of any outbreak.

If your child has started taking antibiotics, we require a minimum of 24 hours at home after commencement of medication.  (Some conditions require longer.)

Guidance on infection control in schools and other childcare settings

Reporting of ‘notifiable diseases’

If a child or adult is diagnosed as suffering from a notifiable disease under the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010, the GP will report this to Public Health England.

When we become aware, or are formally informed of the notifiable disease, our manager informs Ofsted and contacts Public Health England, and act[s] on any advice given.

Procedures for children with allergies

When children start at the setting we ask their parents if their child suffers from any known allergies. This is recorded on the Registration Form and transferred to the online system.

If a child has an allergy, we need to know the following:

The allergen (i.e. the substance, material or living creature the child is allergic to such as nuts, eggs, bee stings, cats etc).

The nature of the allergic reactions (e.g. anaphylactic shock reaction, including rash, reddening of skin, swelling, breathing problems etc).

What to do in case of allergic reactions, any medication used and how it is to be used (e.g. Epipen).

Control measures – such as how the child can be prevented from contact with the allergen.

Review measures.

This allergy information is recorded into the online system and is accessible to staff.