Sickness and Exclusion Policy

Sickness and Exclusion Policy

Aim

This policy is to provide guidance on what to do if a child is unwell. As a general principle, children should not attend a group or session when they are ill. This is to ensure the welfare of the child that is unwell, and to be fair to other children and protect them from the risk of cross contamination.

In specific situations the appropriateness of attending a session or group will need to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Ultimately, the management team has the right to refuse admission to a child who is unwell.

Policy

TARKA aims to provide a safe, secure and healthy environment for all children attending the session or group and where possible avoid the risk of cross contamination, which could result in other children becoming unwell.

We will always follow the advice on contagious diseases published by the environmental health authority, for children with specific contagious conditions. If your child has a listed condition, they will not be permitted to attend the group.

If a child becomes unwell during a session, their parent(s) will be contacted and be asked to collect their child.

Should a child have an infectious disease, such as sickness and diarrhoea, they should not return to the group until they have been clear for at least 48 hours.

If a contagious infection is identified in the group, all parents will be informed to enable them to spot the early signs of this illness in their own child. All equipment and resources that may have come into contact with a contagious child will be cleaned and sterilised thoroughly to reduce the spread of infection.

It is important that children are not subjected to the rigours of the group which requires socialising, when they have first become ill and require a course of antibiotics. The staff within the group will not administer antibiotics or any other medication to children.

Transporting children to hospital.

If a child has a serious accident or becomes severely unwell at the group or during a session an ambulance will be called.

Whilst waiting for the ambulance, the parent(s) will be contacted, and arrangements will be made to meet them at the hospital or at group/session if this is more appropriate.

A member of the team will accompany the child taking relevant medical information, medication, and anything else deemed necessary, until parents are present.