1. Our aim

Children who are unwell should not come to TARKA. This protects the child who is ill, who needs rest and comfort, and helps stop infections spreading to other children, families and instructors.

Most decisions are straightforward, but some need to be made case by case. The TARKA team may refuse admission to a child who is unwell, and will always explain why.

2. When children should stay at home

We follow the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) guidance, Health protection in children and young people’s settings, on how long children should stay away. Common examples include:

Illness	When your child can return
Diarrhoea and/or vomiting	48 hours after the last episode
High temperature	When their temperature is back to normal and they feel well
Chickenpox	When all the spots have crusted over
Impetigo	When the sores have crusted and healed, or 48 hours after starting antibiotics
Scarlet fever	24 hours after starting antibiotics
Measles, mumps or whooping cough	Please follow your GP’s advice and tell us, as these must be reported
Conjunctivitis, head lice, hand, foot and mouth, colds	No need to stay away if your child feels well enough to take part

The UKHSA guidance is updated from time to time, and we always follow the latest version. If you are unsure whether your child should attend, please call the office on 020 7164 6281 before the session.

Antibiotics

Children who have just started a course of antibiotics should stay at home for the first 48 hours, so they have time to recover and any side effects can be noticed. TARKA instructors do not give antibiotics. Any other medication is only given as set out in our Health and Safety Policy, with a signed medication form.

3. If a child becomes unwell at a session

• The lead instructor contacts the parent and asks them to collect their child as soon as possible.
• The child is kept comfortable and supervised by an instructor, away from other children where possible, until they are collected.
• If the parent cannot be reached, we call the emergency contacts on the booking form.
• The illness is recorded on our booking system.

4. Infections in a group

• If a contagious infection is identified in a group, we tell all parents in that group, so they can look out for early signs in their own child. We never name the child who was unwell.
• Equipment and resources that may have been in contact with the infection are cleaned thoroughly.
• If we become aware of an outbreak or a notifiable disease, the DSL takes advice from the local UKHSA health protection team.

5. Serious illness or accident

• If a child has a serious accident or becomes seriously unwell, we call 999 straight away.
• While waiting for the ambulance, we contact the parent and agree whether to meet at the hospital or at the session.
• An instructor goes with the child in the ambulance, taking their medical information, any medication, and anything else needed, and stays with them until a parent arrives. The TARKA office arranges cover so that the other children remain safely supervised.
• The DSL is informed, and the incident is recorded on our booking system.

6. Instructors who are unwell

Instructors who are unwell with an infectious illness, including diarrhoea or vomiting, should not work until they are no longer infectious, following the same UKHSA guidance. They should tell the office as early as possible so cover can be arranged.

Next update: September 2027