Exclusion Policy- Sickness, Infection, Hospital visits
Exclusion
Montessori Kindergarten Ilfracombe operates a strict exclusion policy in relation to all staff, volunteers and children who have encountered an infectious disease. Both staff and children must stay away from nursery for the minimum periods set out in the table below for each infectious disease.
The reason for this exclusion is to help to isolate the infection and prevent others from contracting it and risking an outbreak throughout the nursery, it is also appropriate that people who have been sick take adequate amounts of time to recuperate and regain their strength and bring their immune system back to a strong level.
If children are unwell and have visited a doctor who has prescribed or given medication for an illness, sickness, infection or other reason, then children must stay off of nursery for a minimum of 24 hours after beginning or taking the medication, this includes antibiotics. However, children may need to stay off for longer, depending on the specific condition. The table below sets out these minimum periods.
Exclusion Table
Athletes Foot
Do not exclude – recommend visit to pharmacy for treatment
Chicken pox
For 5 days from onset of rash.
COVID
For 5 days of positive test
Diarrhoea and/or vomiting
For 48 hours from last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting (ie the 48 hour rule applies).
E.coli O157
Exclusion is important for some children. Consult the HPU.
Flu.
Until recovered
Food poisoning
Until free of symptoms (diarrhoea and/or vomiting) for 48 hours.
Hand, Foot and Mouth
7 – 10 days, after fever has past and child feels well
Hepatitis A,
For 5 days from onset of jaundice for children under five
Herpes Simplex (Cold sores)
Do not exclude. Avoid contact with the sore/s
Impetigo
Until lesions are crusted or healed.
Measles.
For 5 days from onset of rash
Molluscum Contagiousum
Do not exclude (a self-limiting condition)
Mumps
For 5 days from onset of swollen glands.
Ringworm
Do not exclude but ensure treatment is commenced as prescribed by a GP.
Roseola (infantum)
Do not exclude
Rubella
For 6 days from onset of rash.
Scabies
Child can return after first treatment has commenced.
Scarlet Fever
For children who do NOT start antibiotics – exclusion for 3 full weeks from onset
For children who take antibiotics (recommended) 48 hours after starting antibiotics (from 1st dose)
Shigella (dysentery)
Exclusion may be necessary. Consult the HPU.
Shingles
Exclude only if rash is weeping, and exclude until weeping has ceased
Tuberculosis
For two weeks after treatment has started. HPU will advise on action.
Typhoid (and paratyphoid)
Exclusion is important for some children. Always consult with HPU.
Warts and verruca
Do not exclude. Must be covered if shoes off.
Whooping Cough
For 5 days from commencing antibiotic treatment. (Longer if antibiotics not started early).
Cryptosporidiosis
Exclude for 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea
Conjunctivitis
Until eyes have stopped discharging
Diphyheria
Exclude immediately and all members of family – contact HPU and undertake contact trace
Glandular fever
Until recovered
Head lice
Exclude until there are no live lice, treatment is required only where live headlice have been found
Meningitutis
Until recovered
MRSA
Do not exclude
Threadworm
Treatment required for affected child and family members. Exclude for 24 hours after first treatment is given
Hospital Visits
(Sickness, infections, A&E treatment)
Exclusion for 24-48 hours, to ensure the child is well and recovering.
Please follow any specific advice given by the Hospital/A&E for recovery, documents provided to the setting where applicable.
Any staff or parents who do not abide by the exclusion rules stated above or comply with exclusion requests from the management team, may be subject to disciplinary action or risk loosing their place at the nursery.
Please note, that no doctor’s letter or statements from other websites, agencies or authorities will override our Montessori Kindergarten ilfracombe’s Policies. The regulations set out in this policy provide the minimum exclusion periods we require when a child is sick or has an infection, or has started medication. This is our standard. No individual staff at Montessori Kindergarten Ilfracombe are authorised to override this policy.
Children with a high temperature
Children who experience a raised temperature (eg – over 37.4) must be excluded from nursery for a minimum of 48 hours AFTER the temperature has returned to normal. This may mean your child stays off of nursery after they appear ‘well enough’ to attend.
Clarification on exclusion periods
Whilst the exclusion periods are usually expressed as hours (eg – 24 hours, 48 hours etc)… to clarify children cannot return to nursery part-way through a nursery day. If for example their exclusion period expires at 12 lunchtime, they may not attend nursery for they afternoon, they need to wait until the next nursery day to attend.
After beginning antibiotics or any other medication given by a doctor, children must stay off gan for a full gan day (over 24 hours after starting the medication).
Children who have been given medication at home
Parents who have given children medication at home must always inform staff. This could be for any reason, or any type of medication. This includes antibiotics, prescribed and non-prescribed medication. In addition, any children who have been given medication designed to mask pain or temperature, such as Acamol, Neurofen, Novimol, Capol cannot attend nursery at all that day. This is regardless of the reason for giving such medication.