SICKNESS AND IMMUNISATION POLICY AND PROCEDURES

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POLICY STATEMENT

At Kidz Corner we aim to protect the health and well-being of children in attendance in the centre by ensuring that children are not brought to the centre when they are unwell, require a level of care that affects the teacher/child ratios, or are unable to participate in the centre programme (Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 Regulation 45 Premises and facilities standard: general (1) (a) (ii), (2). Regulation 46 Health and safety practices standard: general (1) (a), (b) and (2), Regulation 47 Governance, management and administration standard: general (1)(ii)(B), (2), Health (Immunisation) Regulations 1995.

  1. Parents are expected to keep children at home when they are unwell. A child who has any type of infection or requires a greater level of care than the centre can reasonably provide, without compromising the health and safety of the other children, will be considered unwell and unable to participate in the programme (Criteria HS26).
  2. A record of any illness that occurs at the centre will be kept in the Sickness Book. Information included will be the child’s name, date, time and description of illness, actions taken and by whom, and evidence of parental knowledge of the illness (Criteria HSA27).
  3. A normal temperature for a child is 36-37 degrees Celsius. Temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius and over are regarded as a fever (Regional Public Health). Any child who has a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius will be considered unwell and unable to attend the centre. If a child develops a temperature while attending the centre staff will carry out the following procedures until the child is collected by parents/caregivers.
  4. Pamol/Panadol/Paracetamol or any other medication will only be administered if it is prescribed for a specific condition. Pamol/Panadol/Paracetamol is not considered a preventative or as a treatment for colds or lack of sleep and will not be administered for those reasons.
  5. Parents are requested to notify the centre if their child is diagnosed with an infectious illness (Criteria HS26, Appendix 2).
  6. If a child is prescribed an antibiotic they cannot return to the centre until 24 hours after the commencement of the antibiotic.
  7. Children who become unwell at the centre will be isolated from the children and kept under observation. Their parents will be contacted/consulted as soon as possible about the care of the child and asked to collect them as soon as possible (Criteria HS27).
  8. Should a child present with symptoms of an unknown allergy (e.g. rash/welts) parents will be notified immediately. If symptoms are of a serious nature, e.g. anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction), medical attention will be sought immediately. (Please also see Allergy and Anaphylaxis Action Plan).
  9. Should a child consistently present with green nasal secretions and a phlegmy/congested sounding cough, parents will be advised to seek medical advice to determine whether an infection is present. If an infection is present and requires antibiotics the 24 hour exclusion period for antibiotics will apply.
  10. The centre will provide adequate facilities for isolating a sick child (Criteria PF27).
  11. Any child who has the symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea either at the centre or at home will be excluded from the centre until they have been symptom free for 48 hours.
  12. Staff will follow the Soiled Child Procedures for cleaning a child who has the symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea (Criteria PF26).
  13. All staff will carry out the correct procedures for maintaining hygiene in food-handling, toilet and nappy changing and First Aid (Criteria PF16, PF21, HS3, HS20).
  14. Parents will be notified of any infectious diseases in the centre by a “Health Alert Newsletter” along with any information supplied regarding the identified disease from the Regional Public Health. A notice will also be placed on the whiteboard next to the entranceway to the centre advising parents of the type of illness and the number of cases.
  15. The accompanying “Recommendations for inclusion or exclusion of children from Early Childhood Centres” (Appendix 2) form part of this policy.
  16. The recommendations for inclusion or exclusion of children from Early Childhood Centres also apply to staff. Staff members are expected to notify the centre of illness as soon as possible.

IMMUNISATION PROCEDURES

The Health (Immunisation) Regulations 1995 require Early Childhood Centres to keep an Immunisation Register for children born from 1 January 1995.

  1. Parents will be asked to produce their child’s immunisation certificate at enrolment, 15 months and 4 years of age, regardless of immunisation status. The certificate should be signed and/or stamped by an appropriate health professional. The Immunisation Certificate can be found in the Well Child – Tamariki Ora Health Book given to the parents of every child at birth.
  2. The centre will ensure that the Immunisation Register, either on paper or in computer format is up to date and clearly indicates the immunisation status of all children.
  3. All immunisation information will remain confidential.
  4. The Immunisation Register will be made available to Regional Public Health should there be a confirmed outbreak of a confirmed or suspected vaccine preventable disease. This will allow the Public Health Nurse or Medical Officer of Health to identify those children who have not been immunised (Criteria GMA12).
  5. The Centre will abide by all advice and decisions made by Regional Public Health with regards to exclusion. Children who are not immunised will be asked to stay at home in cases of infectious diseases.

Please note that your child does not have to be vaccinated to attend an early childhood centre, but we need to know their immunisation status.