Absence and illness

If your child is not coming in, please let us know as soon as possible, by email, phone call or text, with the reason, if you do not let us know, as part of our safeguarding practice, we will phone you.

You can either email clophillpreschool@gmail.com or phone Chris 07936 006381 or Carol 07763 785290.

If your child has an appointment and won’t be in please let us know in advance if you can or first thing that day.

If a child is poorly, all they really want is their parent, we therefore ask that if your child is feeling unwell, please don’t send them into preschool.

If you have given your child Calpol or any other medication before coming in (that we are not already aware of) please let us know when you drop them off.

No child or adult will be discriminated against because of illness or medical condition.

We treat all children as individuals and an holistic approach is taken to assess whether parents need to be called, safeguarding will be considered in all circumstances.

We cannot provide care for children, who are unwell, have a temperature, sickness and/or diarrhoea, or who have an infectious disease (other than HIV or Hepatitis B) for which the NHS states that a child must remain at home.

If a child becomes ill during a session, every attempt will be made to contact one of the people listed on their emergency contacts form, to arrange collection. The child will be cared for by First Aid qualified staff member until collected.

If a child or staff member has suffered from any diarrhoea and/or vomiting, they must not attend preschool until they have been free of these symptoms for 48 hours.

If a child presents with a rash, they should go to the doctor to ensure this is not chicken pox or any other communicable condition that the NHS requires children to stay out of preschool for.

If the child suffers from a communicable condition they should not come in until the risk of transmission has passed:

  • slapped cheek - children can come once a body rash appears and it has been confirmed by a doctor as slapped cheek

  • chickenpox - the spots must be scabbed over before returning

  • hand, foot and mouth - children are allowed into setting but again following diagnosis by a doctor

  • impetigo - is non contagious 48 hours after you start using hydrogen peroxide cream or antibiotics prescribed by your GP or when the patches dry out and crust over (if you do not get treatment)

  • scarlet fever - you can spread scarlet fever to other people until 24 hours after you take your 1st dose of antibiotics, you can then come in 48 hours after this as long as long as your child is well enough

  • measles - stay off preschool for at least 4 days from when the rash first appears

Children with head lice are not excluded, but must be treated to remedy the condition before being allowed back into setting.

This is a non exhaustive list and it should be noted that the majority of childhood illnesses, while they can make children feel poorly, sore and uncomfortable are usually not serious and leave no lasting impact. However, we do have some very vulnerable children in our setting for whom such an illness could be extremely dangerous, we therefore thank you for your vigilance in this matter.

  • Ofsted is notified of any infectious disease that a qualified medical person considers notifiable.

  • Fees cannot be returned due to absence. If the absence is prolonged due to illness or hospital admission, parent/carer should talk to a manager

  • If a member of staff becomes ill during a session, adequate staff cover will be organised enabling the staff member to go home if required. If they require assistance to get home or to seek medical attention, contact will be made with the necessary person from their emergency contact form, if no one is available a member of staff may support.

  • Staff need to see their handbook for advice on sickness pay.

Jan 24