Children’s health and well being are the utmost importance to us at The Cradle
Nursery. We ask parents to keep their children at home if they are ill or have infectious disease,
and to inform the nursery as to the nature of the illness or infection. This will allow the nursery
to inform other parents if necessary. If a child becomes ill while at nursery, staff will call the
parent/carer to collect the child from Nursery as soon as they can. However every effort will be
made to support the child at the nursery till parents arrive.
Parent/carers are asked at registration if their child has any medical needs and a care
plan will be completed if required. It is the parent/carers responsibility to ensure that this
information is kept up to date.
Fees are still payable for absence due to illness/sickness.
Medication Procedures
If possible we would ask parent/carer to administer the medication themselves, if this
is not practical nursery will administer while following the Medication procedure
below. All medication must be handed to a member of staff and not left in a
child’s bag.
Only the Level 3 (Fully Qualified) staff are responsible for the administration of
medication to children, in their absence this will be done by the next appropriate person.
This includes ensuring that parental consent forms have been completed, that medicines
are stored correctly and that records are kept according to the following procedures:
- • The parent/carer must complete a medication form. No medication can be given to a child
without the written permission of a parent/carer. If a child has become unwell while at the
setting and its absolutely necessary to administer Calpol then Manager/ Deputy will try
to call parents and get consent on the phone prior to administering medication. A medication
form will be filled by a senior member of staff and parents will sign it as they come to collect
the child.
- • We understand that small children are vulnerable to infections/ illnesses and might feel
unwell suddenly while in our care. For working parents its not always possible to leave
work straightaway. For this reason we will administer Nursery’s own calpol if
necessary after speaking to parents and seeking their consent.
- • All other medication must be prescribed by the child’s GP doctor, dentist, nurse
or pharmacist and be in the original bottle, labelled with the child’s name and the dosage
and be in date. When we use the word “prescribe” we mean the medicine has been
recommended.
- • There must be an accepted health reason to give medication. Always check the temperature of
the child and look for other signs and symptoms.
- • All medication is kept in a locked cabinet in the office, or in the fridge (if requires).
- • Medication for use in an emergency such as an asthma inhaler of Epi-pen will be labelled
appropriately and kept in office and all staff is aware of that.
- • Children taking prescribed medication must be well enough to attend the nursery. If a child is
on prescription medicine the child must have had 48 hours at home before returning to Nursery.
- • Before giving a child medication the name, date and dosage on the medication is checked by
another member of staff.
- • When medication is given it will be recorded on the medication form and witnessed by a second
member of staff.
- • The form will be signed by the parent/carer at the end of the session.
- • The medication is to go home after each session.
The legal guidance allows us to give over-the-counter medication such as pain and fever
relief, nappy cream or teething gel. However we must have written permission beforehand from parents
and follow the same recording procedures as those for prescribed medication. We can only give
medication when asked to do so by a parent and if there is an accepted health reason to do so.
If a child becomes unwell at Nursery and develops a high temperature, Manager/Deputy
will call parents and take verbal consent (by telephone) and administer Calpol.
This is to prevent febrile convulsion and where a parent or named person is on their way to collect
child and prior written consent has been obtained at registration. The Nursery will hold a supply of
calpol on the premises which will be routinely checked to ensure it is in date. Alternative methods
such as removing excess layers of clothing will always be tried before administering Calpol.
Long term medication
If a child has long term medication a care plan and medication form will be completed by
the parent and a risk assessment form if required. All forms will be kept in a folder and stored
securely for future reference. If the administration of prescribed medication requires medical
knowledge, individual training is provided by the relevant member of staff by a health professional.
Where ever possible medication should be kept at nursery i.e if a child requires an
asthma inhaler an inhaler should be kept at nursery. Medication will be checked regularly to ensure
it is still in date.
Procedures for children with allergies
We have a dedicated Allergy and Allergic Reaction Policy which outlines the steps we
take to prevent and /or minimise allergic reactions.
Procedures for children who are sick or infectious
If children appear unwell during the day the nursery manager calls the parents and asks
them to collect your child, or send a known carer to collect on their behalf.
- • The nursery has a digital thermometer. Temperatures will be recorded on a Temperature Record
Sheet and appropriate actions taken including informing parents/carers.
- • If a child has a temperature, they are kept cool, by removing top clothing and kept away from
draughts.
- • If a child has sickness or diarrhoea whilst at the nursery they will be cared for by their key
person or most appropriate alternative away from other children. The nursery will be thoroughly
cleaned with antibacterial cleaner to minimise the risk of spreading to other children. If a
child has two episodes of loose bowl movements then parents will be called to collect the
child.
- • Parents are asked to take their child to the doctor before returning them to nursery:
the nursery can refuse admittance to children who have a temperature, sickness and diarrhoea
or a contagious infection or disease.
- • When children have been prescribed antibiotics, parents are asked to keep them at home
for 48 hours before returning to the nursery.
- • Parents and carers are asked not to bring into the nursery any child who has been vomiting or
had diarrhoea until 48 hours after the last attack.
- • There is a chart on the notice board containing information of diseases/illnesses. The
information includes the signs and symptoms, incubation period and length of time needed away
from nursery.
Infection Control
Viruses and infections can be easily passed from person to person by breathing in air containing the
virus which is produced when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. It can also spread though
hand/face contact after touching a person or surface contaminated with viruses.
The best way to prevent a virus or infection from moving around the nursery environment is to
maintain high hygiene standards in the nursery. To do this we will follow the guidance below:
- • Encourage all children to use tissues when coughing and sneezing to catch germs.
- • Ensure all tissues are disposed of in a hygienic way and children and staff wash their hands
or use antibacterial gel once the tissue is disposed off.
- • Develop children’s understanding of the above and the need for good hygiene procedures
in helping them to stay healthy.
- • Staff will all wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when changing nappies,
toileting children and dealing with any other bodily fluids. Staff are requested to dispose of
these in the appropriate manner and wash hands immediately.
- • All potties and changing mats are cleaned and sterilised after each use.
- • Toilets are cleaned daily and checked throughout the day.
- • Staff are to remind children to wash their hands before eating, after visiting the toilet,
playing outside or being in contact with any animal and explain the reasons for this.
- • All toys, equipment and resources will be cleaned on a regular basis by following a
comprehensive cleaning schedule and using antibacterial cleanser or through washing in the
washing machine.
- • All equipment used by babies and toddlers will be washed or cleaned as and when they need it
– this includes when the children have placed it in their mouth.
- • Dummies will be stores in individual hygienic dummy boxes labelled with the child’s name
to prevent cross-contamination with other children
- • If a dummy or bottle falls on the floor or is picked up by another child, this is cleaned
immediately and sterilised where necessary.
- • Individual bedding will be used by children and labelled. This will be washed at least once a
week and not used for any other child.
- • Parents and visitors will be required to remove all outdoor footwear when entering the rooms
where children may be crawling or sitting on the floor.
- • All staff and children will be required to wear specific indoor shoes or slippers whilst
inside the rooms, where applicable.
- • The nursery manager or most senior member of staff on duty retains the right of refusal of all
children, parents staff and visitors who are deemed contagious and may impact on the welfare of
the rest of the nursery.
- • Parents will be made aware of the need for these procedures in order for them to follow these
guidelines whilst in the nursery.
- • Periodically each room in the nursery will be deep cleaned including carpets and soft
furnishings to ensure the spread of infection is limited. This will be implemented earlier if
the need arises.
- • The nursery will ensure stocks of tissues, hand washing equipment, cleaning materials and
sterilising fluids are maintained at all times and increased during the winter months or when
flu and cold germs and circulating.
HIV/AIDS/HEPATITIS
- • HIV virus and other viruses such as Hepatitis (A, B and C) are spread through bodily fluids.
- • Single use non-powdered vinyl gloves and aprons are worn when changing children’s
nappies and clothing that are soiled with blood, urine, faeces or vomit.
- • Soiled clothing is bagged for parents to collect.
- • Spills of blood, urine, faeces or vomit are cleared using mild disinfectant solution and mops,
cloths used are disposed of with the clinical waste.
Immunisation
We recognise, where possible that the children are vaccinated in accordance with the
government’s health policy and their age. If children are not vaccinated, it is the
responsibility of the parents to inform the nursery to ensure that children/staff/parents are not
exposed to any unnecessary risks of any sort. The nursery manager must be aware of any children who
are not vaccinated within the nursery in accordance with their age.
Parents need to be aware that some children may not be vaccinated in the nursery, this
may be due to their age, medical reasons or parental choice. Our nursery does not discriminate
against children who have not received their immunisations and will not disclose individual details
to other parents, however we will share the risks of infection if children have not had
immunisations and ask parents to sign a disclaimer.
Information regarding immunisations will be recorded on children’s registration
documents and should be updated as and when necessary, including when the child reaches the age for
the appropriate immunisations.
Reporting of “ Notifiable Diseases”
If a child or adult is diagnosed suffering from a notifiable disease under the Public
Health (Infectious Diseases) regulations 1988, the GP will report this to the Health Protection
Agency, When the nursery becomes aware, or is formally informed of the notifiable disease, the
manager informs Ofsted and acts on any advice given by the Health Protection Agency.
