Montessorieducare.co.nz

Rationale: It is the policy of Bright Start Educare to ensure the health and well being of all children
at our centre.
Standards:
 All reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that any child suffering from any infectious diseases listed in schedule 2 on the Health Regulations 1966 is excluded from the centre.  Any child suffering from any disease, ailment, illness or other condition may be excluded from attending the centre at the discretion of management for what is deemed an appropriate duration.  Any illness that prevents the child from participating comfortable in centre activities inside and outside may result in the centre requesting that parents keep the child home or remove the child from the centre until he/she is well enough.  The centre will isolate a child in the designated isolation area (the office beside the sleep room) where he/she will be closely monitored, until such time as a parent/caregiver/guardian/whanau member is able to collect them.  Parents will be called when a teacher deems, that their child seems unwell, requires one on one supervision or is unable to participate in centre activities.  Parents will be called if their child has a temperature. It is the policy of Bright Start Educare, that children with a temperature of 38C of higher will not be able to attend the centre.  At the discretion of the Team Leader, in the event of a dangerously high temperature when a child is in the care of the centre, the child will be stripped down, given a tepid bath or shower until such time as the parent/caregiver is able to come and take them from the centre.
Temperatures:
Pamol will not be given for temperature. If a child requires Pamol/Ibuprofen, to get/keep their
temperature down, they will need to stay away from the centre.
 Pamol will be administered at other times only when we are presented with a Doctor’s current
Antibiotics:

 Children who need a course of antibiotics, will be required to stay home until 24 hours after the
Head lice
Staff reserve the right to check a child’s hair if head lice is suspected. This will be done in the
bathroom to protect the child’s dignity. If a teacher detects head lice or nits (live eggs) in a child’s
hair, the parents/guardian will be called and the child will be sent home for an incubation period. The
incubation period is 24 hours after the initial treatment. The final treatment is usually required 7-10
days after the first. It is highly recommended that you comb through your child’s hair with a fine tooth
nit comb daily, and advice is sought from a doctor or chemist. If head lice is detected at home, please
advise the centre of what treatments have been given and when.
Diarrhoea and Vomiting:
 Children with diarrhoea and/or vomiting must remain out of the centre until at least 24 hours after the last appearance of the condition. Two loose bowel motions close together will be deemed diarrhoea and sent home immediately. If a child vomits while at the centre he/she will be isolated and parent/guardian/whanau will be called and they will be collected as soon as possible.
Conjunctivitis:
 If your child develops conjunctivitis, (yellow discharge from the eye) she/he must see a doctor and be kept at home until no discharge has been detected for at least 24 hours.
Colds/Flu:
 Children with continually green running nose or with constant cough/sneezing and irritability may be asked to be excluded from the centre.  Rash accompanied with fever or behaviour change, until a doctor has determined that the illness  Tuberculosis – until the child’s doctor or public health service advises that the child is non-  Strep Throat – until 24 hours after treatment has started and until 24 hours after the fever
 Oral thrush – until 24 hours after the first treatment.
 Cold sores – Children under the age of two are required to stay away from the centre for 24
 Scabies – until after treatment has been completed.
 Chickenpox – at least six days after the onset of rash or earlier if all the lesions have dried and
crusted. If teachers note fluid seeping from pox parent will be notified immediately.  Whooping cough – until 5 days or appropriate antibiotic therapy.
 Mumps – Until nine days after glands started swelling.
 For some vaccine preventable diseases, there is requirement to exclude un-immunised children who have had contact with a case of the disease. This applies to measles, diphtheria, and whooping cough, and would be arranged on the advice of the Medical Officer of Health.  Public Health Service exclusion guidelines will be followed for any conditions not listed above.
Please Note:
Bright Start Educare reserves the right to exclude any child from the centre who we do not deem well
enough to fully participate in all aspects of the centre.
Clothing:
 Parents/guardians and staff will keep children dressed in the appropriate way during changeable  Reasonable steps will be taken to ensure that every person working at the centre is in good health and not suffering from any infectious disease as listed in Schedule 2 of the Health Regulations 1966.  All Reasonable steps will be taken to prevent children being exposed to any person on the premises who is suffering from a disease or condition that can be passed on to children or is likely to have a detrimental effect on children. Refernces: Health and Safety in Employment Act Date Reviewed: 26/04/2010 Date Approved: 10/05/2010

Source: http://www.montessorieducare.co.nz/file/BSE%20Child%20Health%20and%20Wellness%20Policy%202010.pdf