Illness Policy
At Little Acorns it is our intention to keep your children safe when they are in our care, promote good health and take the necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection and illness to other children, the working adults and others who live at our setting.
We realise that from time-to-time children may have slight cold symptoms that do not impact on their ability to engage with other children, the day’s events, and activities, with limited risk of the spread of infection. We assume that if a child is well enough to be here, then they will take a full and active part in the day’s events.
However, we also know that sometimes, symptoms are very bothersome for them, requiring that they take a range of over-the-counter medication, prescription medication, the need to rest, take extra sleeps and be comforted more than usual. When this is the case children can become distressed, may not want to have other children near to them and may not be able to manage the ordinary demands of the day. They may opt out of play opportunities, be unable to eat, and come into conflict with other children who want to play and share. We may find that their energy drains away and that their symptoms worsen.
In such cases it really is in the child’s best interests, and those of the others here, that they are at home being cared for by family. Whilst we have room for the children to sleep as part of their daily routine, unfortunately we do not have the room for a child/ren to take a room to themselves long term, to the exclusion of the other children. Also, due to ratios we are unable to allocate an adult to care for or nurse one child long-term, to the detriment of the other children in our care. Sometimes our routine also requires ‘pick-ups’ and ‘drop-offs’ requiring two adults to be fully attentive on their allocated role.
Our day is a full one with a range of planned activities and self-initiated opportunities and it can be very busy. Other children will be supported to understand that someone may not be feeling very well, but children will attend Little Acorns in order to play, be with friends and explore exciting opportunities. Having a very ill child at the setting, or more than one, can be stressful for both the patient and the other children who have come to play and learn.
Severe symptoms impacting on the ability to manage daily demands includes:
- Sickness and/or diarrhoea (Norovirus)
- Severe cold/flu like symptoms
- Headache.
- Very sore throat preventing them from swallowing, eating or sleeping.
- Persistent cough exasperated by movement, playing, or eating, consistent with COVID
- Earache - causing distress, inability to swallow and severe pain.
- Infected runny nose (yellow discharge); sneezing
- Severely blocked nose that prevents them from playing, eating, or sleeping. Generally, ‘ill’ or lethargic, making them feel listless, exhausted, unhappy and/or agitated. A general ‘malaise’.
- Very loose poo
- Tummy ache
- Mouth sores inside as ulcers, outside like impetigo, or a burning, stinging infection, (sometimes where they have previously been sick.) Can be linked to Hand, Foot, and Mouth.
- Fluctuating temperature, consistent with COVID
- Drowsiness, the need to be wrapped up in a blanket and sleep in a quiet place for an extended period.
- Aversion to light, people, noise. It is usually the sign of a headache, can be the sign of something very serious.
- Reliance on the use of a wide range of over-the-counter medication in order to be comfortable during the day.
- Stiff neck or sore neck.
- Rash, on its own or combined with other symptoms.
- Blistered fingers, feet, palms of the hands. Hand, Foot, and Mouth.
Some of these symptoms combined can have very serious implications and could be a sign of Meningitis or Septicaemia. Untreated they will have nasty and potentially life changing or fatal consequences. Be ready to spot the signs.
If a child is experiencing one or more of the above symptoms and is not improving, or indeed worsening, we will contact the parent to arrange for them to be collected as they need to be at home. If a child requires a selection of over-the-counter medication they need to be at home. If your child has been given Calpol to ease symptoms over the last 8 hours they need to be at home.
(For more information, please see ‘All About Bugs Policy’, NHS advice document on our website)
(For more information, please see ‘All About Bugs Policy’, NHS advice document on our website)
Inhalers should be accompanied by an action plan from either the hospital or the GP, indicating clearly how frequently it needs to be administered and how high the dose. This will also explain how to manage ‘weaning off’ the medication and will indicate signs and symptoms of the illness to look for. Using a traffic light system, it will describe what these symptom look like if they should deteriorate and will indicate the success of the illness management.
We regret that we will not accept a child with Conjunctivitis that still presents discharge from their eyes and who are using ‘over the counter’ remedies rather than being treated by prescriptions medication only. This is to minimise the risk of the transmission of an infection to other children, us, or members of our family. Young children find it very hard to participate in full activities if their eyes are heavily infected, they also require the adult to help them to prevent spreading it to other children.
If a child becomes ill in our care, we will assess them to see if they need to go home, and we reserve the right to decide if they are well enough to be here. When we contact you, we will need a prompt response and a quick pick up. Make sure you have discussed the possible arrangements before this is needed, who will come, how to share the responsibility, and what to do in an emergency. Please make sure your contact details are correct and are kept up to date.
We will discuss these arrangements with you during induction and transition before your child joins us.
If a child comes to the setting feeling slightly ‘under the weather’, we will explain in the first instance that we will monitor them for a short while and ensure pre agreed medication is administered. We will discuss the arrangements for the day and where you will be/who will most likely be available. If there are limited signs of improvement, or they appear to be worsening we will contact the parent to arrange to collect them. If they need repeated medication they need to be at home.
If your child is experiencing a range of symptoms as above, and/or you have needed to administer Calpol, then your child should not be here, they should be at home. Message us to say they are unwell.
We will do all we can to reduce the risk of the spread of illness at the setting generally, and while we are waiting for you to pick up we will do this by:
- Promoting handwashing in warm soapy water before eating, handling food and after using the toilet.
- Promoting the use of tissues for children with coughs and minor colds.
- Encouraging children to cough onto the back of their hand, or elbow.
- Encouraging children to wash their hands after coughing into their hands or blowing their nose and putting the tissue into the bin.
- Wiping noses that are runny, and by washing faces where appropriate with a personal flannel. (Each child will have a flannel at the start of the day, and separate cloth in the kitchen too, to wipe faces after eating.)
- Keeping other children away from an ill child if they have vomited and they are waiting to be picked up.
- Washing hands with warm soapy water and then adults will use anti-bacterial sanitiser where appropriate but not instead of hand washing.
- Using blue first aid gloves and blue disposable aprons to deal with spillages of bodily fluids. (Adults)
- Adults cleaning up body fluids immediately with a separate bucket and mop for hygiene reasons. (Adults)
- Wearing gloves for the changing of nappies, discarding them after each time we deal with first aid or changing nappies.
- Deep cleaning and keeping clean any affected toys or equipment.
- Using individual sets of separate washed bedding.
- Keeping ill children isolated from the others whilst awaiting pick up.
If your child has been sent home or been kept at home due to having an illness or an infectious disease, (such as a severe cold or stomach upset or sickness virus,) they will not be allowed to return until they have been free from illness symptoms for at least 48 hours from the end of their sickness symptoms.
NHS recommends for Norovirus that this is 48-72 hours from the end of shedding the virus. This is from the last time that they have either vomited or the last time that they experienced diarrhoea. The children are still infectious whilst shedding the virus and this can be up to 2 weeks.
NHS recommends for Norovirus that this is 48-72 hours from the end of shedding the virus. This is from the last time that they have either vomited or the last time that they experienced diarrhoea. The children are still infectious whilst shedding the virus and this can be up to 2 weeks.
We reserve the right to act on advice from the NHS or the Public Health England (PHE) regarding infectious illness information.
If a child in our setting becomes ill during the child-minded period, or whom we believe has an infectious illness or disease, for example a severe cold, flu-like symptoms as listed, a persistent cough; sore throat; earache; a severely blocked nose or sinus infection; difficulty breathing which is not alleviated with an inhaler; or a stomach upset; we will:
- Contact the parents as agreed to arrange for the immediate collection of the child.
- Ensure the child has a 48-72-hour period clear from being ill, as per Health Authority guidelines. (See All About Bugs policy), (See NHS Advice)
In light of the COVID pandemic, the setting has risk assessments in line with Government, Local Authority and PACEY recommendations. This is to help manage the virus, in its many and new forms, in the setting, and to keep children, adults working at the setting, and families as safe as possible.
The setting sent out regular guidelines, in line with changing circumstances, and this advice is still relevant. The COVID newsletters were archived on our website on our Newsletter page and within the NHS advice page.
If we believe a child in our setting is suffering from a notifiable disease, identified as such in the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988, we will act on advice given by the Health Protection Agency then we will inform Ofsted of any action taken and other information about the disease.
PHE Surrey and Sussex Health Protection Team (South East),
County Hall, Chart Way,
Horsham
RH12 1XA
Phone: 0344 225 3861 option 1 to 4 depending on area then option 1
Out of hours for health professionals only: please phone 0844 967 0069
County Hall, Chart Way,
Horsham
RH12 1XA
Phone: 0344 225 3861 option 1 to 4 depending on area then option 1
Out of hours for health professionals only: please phone 0844 967 0069
If one of the adults in our setting is ill, we will notify you either the night before or in the morning as soon as we can, so that you can make alternative arrangements if we need to close. (See Unexpected Closure Policy). This will be dependent on the nature of the illness and the ratios of adults to children. Our aim will be to keep everyone as safe as possible.
Please note,
If sessions are missed as a result of the child’s illness you will still pay.
If sessions are missed as a result of our illness/closure you will not pay.
(See Unexpected closure Policy)
If sessions are missed as a result of the child’s illness you will still pay.
If sessions are missed as a result of our illness/closure you will not pay.
(See Unexpected closure Policy)
We also recommend that you explore your child’s entitlement to a free flu vaccination (nasal spray) offered through your GP. These programmes are intended to help reduce the risk of the spread of illness in Early Years groups, settings, and nurseries. There is more information about this on the NHS Website and their accompanying guidance.
Please ensure that your child is registered with a local doctor, and a local dentist, and attend your child’s free, 6 monthly dentist check-ups. Its important to get a good relationship with your dentist at an early stage, so that when needed, the experience will be a more positive one, and problems will be spotted early too.
Please see Medication Policy, NHS Advice Page, All About Bugs, archived COVID Newsletters and updates, all on our website, Little Acorns Godstone – home.
Please ask if you want to see our COVID risk assessment.
Please ask if you want to see our COVID risk assessment.
In order to keep children and adults safe, to ensure the best experience at Little Acorns, and reduce the risk of the spread of infection we will need to work together in a culture of honesty. We thank you for your co-operation.
Date: December 2023
Signed: AOkane Date: 2.12.23
Signed: MOKane Date: 2.12.23
Signed: AOkane Date: 2.12.23
Signed: MOKane Date: 2.12.23