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Illness and Infection Control Policy.
This policy was adopted on 30 August 2022 and is reviewed annually
It is the nursery policy to encourage and promote good health and hygiene for all the children in our care. This includes monitoring the children for signs and symptoms of communicable diseases such as Covid-19, Chickenpox, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningitis, Hepatitis, Diarrhoea, Vomiting and Fevers of 101°F/38.5°C or over.
Should your child be unwell or sick before the start of the nursery session, we would kindly ask you not to bring your child to nursery. Nursery is an environment for well children, and not suitable for a child who is unwell. This policy has been made with the best interests of the unwell child and all other children in mind.
- With the welfare of the sick child in mind and in the interests of the remaining children in the nursery, if in the opinion of the staff, a child is ill, then the parent/carer will be contacted and requested to collect him/her as soon as possible.
- We will endeavour to do all we can to comfort and reassure your child by taking them to a quiet place to rest whilst they are waiting to be collected. The staff must be convinced that the child has returned to good health before re-admitting him/her.
- Parents will be contacted and asked to collect their child as soon as possible.
- In the event of us being unable to contact parents, emergency contacts will be called.
- If a child is unwell at nursery an illness record form will be completed and the parent/carer will be asked to sign it on the collection of their child.
- A record of why a child was sent home will always be kept.
- We ask all parents to be honest with us as it is imperative that we are informed if a child has been given any medication before arriving at nursery or if he/she is taking medication on a regular basis.
- Any child on prescribed medication will be admitted to nursery in accordance with the medication policy.
- In the case of a serious accident or illness occurring then the parent/carer will be contacted immediately, and the appropriate action taken.
- In the unlikely event of the parent not being available the Nursery Manager will assume charge and if necessary take the child to hospital along with all relevant details. (See Accident and Incident Policy)
- Parents will be informed of any contagious diseases and any risk to pregnant women will be highlighted.
- In the event of a child or adult suffering from a notifiable disease e.g. Covid-19, meningitis, or in the case of food poisoning affecting three or more children, Ofsted, the Health Protection Agency and/or Environmental Health Officer will be informed and advice sought.
- Confidentiality in disclosure of all conditions will be respected.
- The nursery expects that all relevant medical history be disclosed
- If any staff member believes that anyone in the setting has had blood to blood/bodily fluid contact with a carrier of Hepatitis/HIV they should seek medical advice immediately
- Spillages must be dealt with, quickly and effectively
- Protective gloves and aprons must be worn
- Organic matter is cleaned up with disposal towels and/or cardboard and disposed of in the correct waste bin
- Care must be taken to isolate the area until it is cleaned
- External surfaces must be washed down with plenty of water
- Other surfaces must be washed with detergent and water and disposable cloths
- Surfaces must be rinsed and dried thoroughly
- Buckets/bowls are cleaned in fresh, hot soapy water and dried
- All protective clothing and other waste should be sealed in a plastic bag and disposed of in the correct waste bin
- Protective gloves and aprons must be worn
- Cover urine/faeces/vomit with paper towels or similar
- Clear up as high-risk fluids as above
- If a staff member is sick, the exclusion periods for relevant illnesses apply
- The staff member will discuss with the Management Team their wellness to return to work
- It is staff member’s responsibility to recognise and report changes in their own health and to prioritise the health and safety of the children in their care
- The on call doctor at the Health Protection Agency will be contacted
- If reported cases become more frequent, Environmental Health will be contacted
- All parents will be informed
- All parents will be asked to collect samples and to take them to their GP for testing
- All equipment in the nursery will be deep cleaned
- Any staff returning after being unwell are to be kept away from food preparation for an additional 24 hours
If a child or member of staff presents with symptoms of Covid-19 (a high temperature, a new continuous cough, a loss of or change to smell or taste) the following procedures will take place;
- Protective gloves and aprons must be worn(inc disposable apron, gloves and visor)
- Sick child will be kept at least 2 meters away from other children
- Parents will be contacted and asked to collect their child as soon as possible and to have their child tested for Covid-19
- Sanitise all surfaces and toys/tools in use prior to children using them again
- All remaining children to wash hands
- All protective clothing and other waste should be sealed in a plastic bag and disposed of in the correct waste bin
Exclusion Procedure for Illness / Communicable Disease
The minimum exclusion periods are shown below.
Disease / Illness | Exclusion and notes |
Antibiotics (Prescribed) | 24Hr Exclusion Can only return when well |
Athlete's Foot | None Athlete's foot is not a serious condition but treatment is recommended |
Chicken Pox & Shingles | 7 days from the onset of the rash, as long as the lesions have crusted over and child feels well |
Cold Sores (herpes simplex) | None Avoid kissing and contact with the sores. Cold sores are generally mild and heal without treatment |
Conjunctivitis | Until treatment has begun or the eye appears normal again. If an outbreak/cluster occurs, consult your local HPT |
Coronavirus (Covid-19)* | Children with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days, which is when they are most infectious. |
Diarrhoea | 48 hours from last episode of diarrhoea |
Diphtheria* | Exclusion is essential. Always consult with your local HPT. Preventable by vaccination. Family contacts must be excluded until cleared to return by your local HPT. |
Flu (influenza) | Until recovered Report outbreaks to your local HPT |
Gastro-enteritis, Food Poisoning, Salmoneliosis and dysentery | Minimum 48 hours. HPT contacted for advice |
Glandular Fever | None |
Hand, Foot & Mouth | Once the lesions have crusted over and child feels well. Contact your local HPT if a large number of children are affected. Stricter exclusions may be considered in an outbreak. |
Head & Body Lice | Until treatment has begun to contain live lice Treatment only recommended when live lice seen. |
Hepatitis A* | Exclude until seven days after onset of jaundice (or 7 days after symptom onset if no jaundice) In an outbreak of hepatitis A, your local HPT will advise on control measures |
Hepatitis B*, C* or HIV | None Hepatitis B and C and HIV are blood borne viruses that are not infectious through casual contact. Contact your local HPT for more advice |
Impetigo | Until lesions are crusted /healed or 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment Antibiotic treatment speeds healing and reduces the infectious period. |
Measles* | Exclusion until all clear from GP Preventable by vaccination (2 doses of MMR). Promote MMR for all pupils and staff. Pregnant staff contacts should seek prompt advice from their GP or midwife |
Meningococcal (al meningitis / septicaemia) * | Until recovered Meningitis ACWY and B are preventable by vaccination (see national schedule). Your local HPT will advise on any action needed |
Meningitis (due to other bacteria) * | Until recovered Hib and pneumococcal meningitis are preventable by vaccination Your local HPT will advise on any action needed |
Meningitis (viral) * | None Milder illness than bacterial meningitis. Siblings and other close contacts of a case need not be excluded. |
MRSA | None Good hygiene, particularly handwashing and environmental cleaning, are important to minimise spread. Contact your local HPT for more information |
Mumps* | Excluded until full recovery is made Preventable by vaccination with 2 doses of MMR. |
Plantar Warts | No exclusion. Should be treated and covered |
Poliomyelitis | Until declared free from infection by the appropriate public health official |
Ringworm | None once under treatment Treatment is needed |
Rubella (German measles) | 4 days from the onset of the rash and child feels well Preventable by vaccination with 2 doses of MMR. Pregnant staff contacts should seek prompt advice from their GP or midwife |
Scabies | Excluded until all clear from GP Household and close contacts require treatment at the same time. |
Scarlet Fever & Streptococcal Infection | Excluded until appropriate medical treatment has been given and in no case for less than 3 days from the start of treatment. A person is infectious for 2-3 weeks if antibiotics are not administered. In the event of two or more suspected cases, please contact your local HPT |
Slapped Cheek (Fifth Disease/ Parvovirus B19) | Kept away from nursery until well. Pregnant contacts of case should consult with their GP or midwife |
Temperature | Will be sent home and excluded until temperature has returned to normal level for a period of 24 hours without the need for medication |
Thread worms | None Treatment recommended for child & household |
Tonsillitis | None There are many causes, but most cases are due to viruses and do not need an antibiotic treatment |
Tuberculosis (TB) | Until declared free from infection by the appropriate public health official. Always consult your local HPT BEFORE disseminating information to staff/parents/carers Only pulmonary (lung) TB is infectious to others. Needs close, prolonged contact to spread |
Typhoid Fever | Until declared free from infection by the appropriate public health official. |
Vomiting | 48 hour exclusion after last episode |
Warts and Verrucae | None Verrucae should be covered in swimming pools, gyms and changing rooms |
Whopping Cough (pertussis) * | Two days from starting antibiotic treatment, or 21 days from onset of symptoms if no antibiotics Preventable by vaccination. After treatment, non-infectious coughing may continue for many weeks. Your local HPT will organise any contact tracing |
*Note: If an outbreak occurs, the exclusion period may be extended on the advice of Health Protection Agency.
The Nursery Manager has a duty to think about the majority over the minority and for that reason if your child has an infectious illness or poses a risk of contamination to other children due to their illness being contagious, we reserve the right to exclude the child from nursery until they are well.
Last modified 6mo ago