Legislation Links:
- Children Act 1989, 2004 and 2006
- Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988
In the event of a child becoming unwell whilst at Dolly’s Daycare we will apply the following procedures:
- The child will be looked after by a member of staff in a quiet area away from other children, if possible, to minimise the risk of cross infection, until the parent arrives.
- Meanwhile another member of staff will contact the parents/carers, explain their child is unwell, let them know the symptoms and ask for them to come and collect their child
- If neither parent can be contacted, the person(s) named on the child’s registration form as emergency contact will be contacted and asked to collect the child
- The staff member looking after the child will ensure the child is kept comfortable and calm if the child is becoming distressed
- First aid procedures, such as cold compress if the child has a temperature, will be followed if necessary
- If nobody on the child’s registration form can be contacted and the symptoms are worsening to worrying levels, the manager or deputy manager may contact the emergency services 111
In an emergency
- Staff will contact the emergency services arranging an ambulance to come to the day care
- A staff member who acts as first aider and/or the child’s key person will stay with the child
- The manager or deputy manager will contact parents and calmly explain the situation and ask them to come to the daycare or the designated hospital as required
- The child’s medical records will be photocopied to give to the paramedics if required
- If we are unable to contact the parents, the manager or deputy manager or the child’s key person will accompany the child to hospital
- Another member of staff will continue to try and contact the parents and emergency contacts
In order that the above is carried out, it is vital that parents keep Dolly’s Daycare advised of any changes to their child’s records, especially contact details.
It is our policy to follow these guidelines regardless of GP recommendations we have a duty of care to the staff, their families and the other users of the nursery.
We make it clear to all parents that if their child is known to have an infectious or communicable disease, the child must be excluded from Dolly’s Daycare until the end of the incubation and infectious period. An infectious disease is a disease that can be transmitted from one person to another whether it be air born or via contact.
For children who have hand, foot and mouth although GP’S say children can still return, we ask that all scabs have dried up the same as with chickenpox.
In regards to conjunctivitis the child is kept off until the eye has stopped weeping. The nursery will only admit the child back to nursery when the eyes are completely clear. The nursery will not apply eye drops for this.
Only other eye conditions will eyedrops be applied. For those children with continual runny noses are to remain at home until the constant running has stopped.as it is not fair on the other children and staff.
Parents/Carers are asked not to bring any child into the day care setting who has been vomiting or had diarrhoea until at least 48 hours has elapsed since the last attack.
We have a duty under the Children Act 1989, 2004 and 2006 to prevent the spread of infections and closely follow procedures and guidelines from Ofsted, The Health Protection Agency and The Department of Health.
We have a comprehensive list of infectious diseases that have incubation periods and parents will be advised accordingly. If there is any doubt or where there is no mention of incubation period, Dolly’s Daycare will seek advice from a local GP surgery.
We have a duty to follow the guidelines under the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988 and we will notify the Local Authority and Ofsted of any of the following communicable diseases:
- Acute poliomyelitis
- Anthrax
- Cholera
- Conjunctivitis’
- Diphtheria
- Dysentery
- Food poisoning
- Leptospirosis
- Malaria
- Measles
- Meningitis (meningococcal, pneumococcal, haemophilus influenza viral or other specified or unspecified
- Meningococcal septicaemia (without meningitis)
- Mumps
- Ophthalmia neonatorum
- Paratyphoid fever
- Plague
- Rabies
- Relapsing fever
- Rubella
- Scarlet fever
- Smallpox
- Tetanus
- Tuberculosis
- Typhoid fever
- Typhus fever
- Viral hepatitis (Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C)
- Whooping cough
- Yellow fever
- Leprosy is also notifiable, but directly to the Health Protection Agency (HPA)