To ensure the highest quality of care for children attending a Centre, it is essential that parents inform staff of any health related problems upon enrolment.
Parents will be asked to fill out an ‘Individual Health Plan’ which outlines medical history, medical conditions, management plan, doctor’s contact details and a photo of the child. Furthermore, if a child has been diagnosed with asthma or anaphylaxis, parent are asked to fill out separate action management plans.
Allergies or chronic conditions which your child has, should be discussed with the Centre Supervisor, so that they are familiar with how they should attend to your child if necessary.
Children who have been diagnosed with ADHD, Autism, Developmental delays etc, may be eligible for specialised care within the Centre. We work in conjunction with KU Children’s Services and SDN Services who determine via assessment whether we are eligible for Government funding to allow us to employ extra staff members.
Illness & Infectious Diseases
Should your child become ill whilst at the centre you will be notified and asked to come to collect your child immediately. It is important that you collect your child promptly to minimize your child’s discomfort and to reduce the possibility of cross-infection with other attending children.
Your child may return to the centre providing that they are not contagious and are not undergoing the first two days of anti-biotic treatment. A doctor’s certificate verifying all illness information needs to be provided on return to the Centre.
Children suffering from infectious diseases (eg diarrhea, measles, mumps, chickenpox, and conjunctivitis) or if vomiting must be excluded from the service for the period of time specified by the NSW Department of Health guidelines. Consultation with your family doctor is recommended.
If your child is diagnosed as having an infectious disease, it is your responsibility to inform the Centre immediately.
Acute conjunctivitis
Redness of white part of eye and eyelids with discharge (watery mucus, pus).
Children must be kept at home until all discharge has ceased.
Chickenpox
Fever, runny nose, cough, fatigue and rash. Small raised rose-pink spots on scalp, face, trunk, arms, legs, inside mouth. Spots followed by small blisters.
Children must be kept home for a minimum period of 5 days after the first spot appears. Scabs must be dry before the child returns. Any child with an immune deficiency should be excluded for their own protection.
Impetigo
Small red spots quickly changing to blisters. Sores enlarge. become pus filled and crusted. Face and hands most often affected.
It is necessary for the child to stay home until all sores have healed unless they can be kept covered with a water tight dressing and a course of antibiotics has begun.
German Measle (Rubella)
Headache, slight sore throat, runny nose and fever. Small pink spots on face, arms and body. Enlarged glands in neck and behind ears.
Children must be kept home for a minimum of 4 days from beginning of rash.
Pregnant women coming into contact with the affected person must contact a doctor immediately.
Measles
Fever with sneezing, runny nose, and red watery eyes. Rash appears 4 days after early symptoms, spreading downwards over whole body.
Children must be kept home for a minimum of 4 days from beginning of rash.
Un-immunised children should be kept home until 14 days after the rash appears in the last case, or should be immunized within 72 hours.
Acute ear infection
Children require 48 hours of medical treatment before returning to the Centre.
Head Lice
Itching of scalp, lice on scalp and nits (eggs) firmly attached to strands of hair.
Children must be kept at home. Obtain special shampoo from Chemist.
Diarrhoea
A child who has watery stools should not return to the centre until he/she has been free of diarrhea for 24 hours. If however the child has an allergy or condition which causes diarrhea, this should be discussed with the Authorised Supervisor.
Vomiting
A child who is vomiting should be kept at home until the vomiting stops. Children must be free of symptoms for 24 hours and well enough to tolerate a light diet before returning to the Centre
Scabies
Itch over body, red rash especially in folds of skin. The child must be excluded until the condition is treated
Note: The Centre Supervisor keeps a library of all contagious diseases within the Centre
Immunisation
Childhood illness can often be life-threatening to your children. In the interest of the health of all children attending the Centre you are required to provide an immunisation certificate upon enrolment as required under the Public Health Act.
Should there be a medical, cultural or religious reason for your child not being immunised you are requested to present a doctor’s certificate or a statutory declaration stating the reason. Should your child not be immunized for either of the above reasons he/she will need to be excluded from the Centre, if a condition usually prevented by immunisation occurs.
Medication
Staff are not permitted to administer any medication. In the case of a persistent high temperature, medical attention will be sought. If the situation becomes serious the child will be taken to the doctor or an ambulance called.
Sun Protection
Children and staff are required to wear protective clothing when outside. This includes: hats, and shirts that cover their shoulders and necks.
Children will be asked to wear hats for outdoor play. Children who do not have a hat, must play in sheltered areas or stay inside.
Sun cream is available at each Centre. Children will be encouraged to apply this before going outdoors. Please speak to the Centre Supervisor if you would prefer your child not to wear sunscreen.
Safety of environment
Parents and visitors are asked not to smoke on the premises.
No animals of any sort will be permitted on the premises at any time.
The centre has an emergency evacuation procedure in place and it is practiced on a regular basis.
Staff conduct an ‘Outdoor Area Checklist’ each session to check for hazards in the outdoor environment.
A monthly Occupational Health & Safety checklist is conducted at each Centre to identify any potential hazards indoors and outdoors.
Maintenance requirements are communicated to our management office who arrange for trades people to attend to the matter.
There is at least one staff member with a 1st aid qualification at the centre at all times.
If an accident is deemed minor, first aid will be administered by a staff member.
If an accident is of a more serious nature, then first aid will be administered, a parent contacted to collect the child, or an ambulance called.
