Health/illness and emergency

It is Kiddiecare Nursery policy to encourage and promote good health and hygiene for all the children in our care. This includes monitoring the children for signs and symptoms of communicable diseases such as chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis, hepatitis, diarrhoea, vomiting and fevers of 101F/38C or over.

With the welfare of the sick child in mind and in the interests of the remaining children in the nursery, if in the opinion of the staff a child is ill, then the parent/carer will be contacted and requested to collect him/her as soon as possible.

The staff of Kiddiecare Nursery must be convinced that the child has returned to good health before re-admitting him/her, ensuring that the child has not had a temperature, sickness and diarrhoea or any other contagious infections for at least 48 hours. 

The nursery staff have the right to refuse a child if they feel they are not fit and well enough to attend the nursery.

If your child has been given any medication that brings down their temperature in the past 24 hours they will not be able to attend the nursery. 

In the case of a serious accident or illness occurring then the parent/carer will be contacted immediately along with the child’s GP and the appropriate action taken.  In the unlikely event of the parent not being available the senior staff member will assume charge and if necessary, take the child to hospital along with all relevant details.

The following procedures will be followed in the event of:-

Major Accident

At all times the staff must wear protective clothing (disposable aprons and gloves).

1 The manager will assess the situation and decide whether the child needs to go immediately to hospital or whether the child can wait for the parent/main carer to come.

a) If the child needs to go straight to hospital an ambulance will be called.  Then the parent/main carer will be contacted and arrangements will be made to meet the parent/main carer at the hospital.  A member of staff will accompany the child to the hospital, but will not sign for any treatment to be carried out.

b) If the child can wait for the parent/main carer to come, then the parent/main carer will be contacted and the child will be made as comfortable as possible. A member of staff will stay with the child until the parent/main carer arrives.

It will then be for the parent/main carer to decide whether to go to the hospital or not.

2. A report of the accident will then be recorded in the accident log, the log will be signed by the member of staff who initially dealt with the accident, the manager and then by the parent who will also keep a copy of the form. Each accident is to be recorded on a separate page to ensure confidentiality. 

3. Any accidents that occur in the nursery that lead to a child being hospitalised will be reported to OFSTED followed by a written report to both OFSTED and the local authority (Health and safety and safeguarding board) following the guidelines of RIDDOR . 

Minor Accident

At all times the staff must wear protective clothing (disposable aprons and gloves).

1 The injury is assessed by the keyworker and if necessary the manager is called.

2 The injury is then treated.

3 The child is then resettled back into the base room, and observed.

4 The incident is then recorded in the accident book and counter signed by the first aid responsible person. The responsible person is responsible for ensuring the correct treatment has been applied. 

5 Parents must then be contacted if the child has a head or face injury.

6 The accident book must be signed by the parent or carer upon collection of the Child and a copy to parent if requested.

7 If it is not the parent who collects the child a phone call must be made to the Parents to inform them of the accident.

8 The accident book/sheets are checked by the nursery manager on a regular basis to check for patterns.

9 On occasions while children are engaged in play/activities a child may have a minor accident that staff do not notice for example if a child used the toilet independently he/she may slip and bump their head on the toilet door and get up without crying wash their hands and then go back to their chosen activity. If a member of staff noticed that the child had a fresh bruise or bump they must follow the above procedure ensuring that they write on the accident form that accident was not seen. 

If the parents/career notices again the above procedure must be followed and accident form completed with statement accident not seen.

Accidents that happened at home or outside nursery care 

If a child comes into nursery with an injury this must be dealt with in a non-judgemental way (all children have accidents both in nursery and at home) 

  1. Ask parent softly oh dear what happened ensure you are smiling in a friendly manor  

  2. Complete an incident form with parent before they leave give copy if requested  

  3. Give completed form to your manager to be filed  

  4. If manager/key person is concerned arrange a meeting with parent to discuss.

  5. If  key person/manager has safeguarding concerns report to senior safeguarding officer (Cheryl Martin)