Hygiene, Sickness, and Infection Control Policy. Effective March 2025

This policy is part of our ‘System of controls’, it has been formulated using information from the Suffolk Health Protection Team, NHS Direct, the Statutory Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and is part of the Nursery’s Health and Safety documentation. Further information for health can be obtained from NHS online advice and the NHS 111 service. 

 We aim to safeguard the health of Nursery children, parents, and staff through: - 

• Clear and comprehensive Risk Assessment, Policies and Procedures. 

• Effective communication with parents 

• Teaching the children about how to keep healthy and developing their competence and independence in self-care routines.

• Rigorous hygiene and infection control practices. 

• Exclusion of children and adults who are unwell for nursery. 

• Prompt and appropriate identification and exclusion for illness/treatment of infections 

Policy: - 

• The Nursery Management Team ensure that all staff have appropriate resources and knowledge through induction procedures, policies, training, meetings, and memos. 

• The Nursery manager will ensure that all parents receive details of this policy. 

• The Nursery Management Team will keep a record of illness’ and will use this information to ensure appropriate hygiene measures within the Nursery, information for parents and to determine if there is a need to gain advice from the Health Protection Team or report to Ofsted. 

• The Nursery Management Team ensure that there is a team of in house ‘bank staff’ to assist in covering staff absence due to illness wherever possible. 

• Nursery staff ensure that all areas, equipment, and resources are clean through efficient hygiene practices (schedules, risk assessment) and routines. 

• Nursery staff ensure that they follow Nursery Procedures for effective hand, toilet and nappy hygiene whilst maintaining the highest quality of care for all Nursery children. 

• Nursery staff help to raise the children’s awareness of good hygiene practices by consistently teaching them about the importance of hand washing, cleaning teeth, nose wiping and disposal of tissues (catch it, bin it, kill it), spread of infection through coughing and sneezing and using the toilet correctly. 

• Nursery parents are requested to ensure that their children are fit and healthy to attend Nursery, to inform the Nursery if their child has been unwell and to collect their child from Nursery if they become ill. 

Dizzy's Day Nursery aims to provide an inclusive environment and does not wish to exclude children for health reasons unless absolutely necessary. The Nursery works collaboratively with parents, emphasising open communication and information sharing. We understand that children may experience various symptoms, such as loose stools caused by teething or food intolerances, which might not warrant time off. However, Dizzy's Day Nursery reserves the right to refuse admission to any child who appears unwell, sick, or unfit to participate in the session upon arrival. If a child becomes unwell during their time at the Nursery, parents or carers will be contacted and required to collect them promptly. 

Nursery staff and management do not have medical training beyond Paediatric First Aid. Decisions are made on a best judgement possible given the information to hand with a view to the wellbeing of the individual child and all of the other children. A medical professional should be contacted by parents wishing to gain medical advice/information. 

Children must be kept away from the Nursery if they are suffering from the following: 

• Chicken Pox – children must remain away from the Nursery from five days from the onset of the rash/spots. The spots must be dry before returning, meaning that in severe cases, children may need longer than five days off before they can return. 

• Mumps – children must remain away from the Nursery until five days after the swelling first appeared. 

• German measles- children must remain away from the Nursery for six days after the onset of the rash. 

• Sickness – children must remain away from the Nursery until well again and must be symptom free for a minimum of 48 hours. 

• Diarrhoea – children must remain away from the Nursery until well again and must be symptom free for a minimum of 48 hours. 

• Other contagious illnesses which put others at risk – please seek advice from the Nursery or consult a doctor. 

• Antibiotics – children with infections requiring antibiotic treatment can attend their Nursery sessions, as long as they are well enough in themselves. Staff can administer antibiotics that are prescribed by a doctor provided that the first dose is administered away from nursery and the child kept away from nursery for the first 24 hours of treatment. 

If a child becomes unwell during their time at Nursery, a member of staff will contact the child’s parent/carer to take the child home. 

If a child needs to take prescribed medicine whilst in the care of Dizzy’s Day Nursery, the following procedure applies: 

• A first dose of antibiotics must be administered by the child’s parent and the child kept away from nursery for the first 24 hours. 

• Medication is handed over to a member of Nursery staff and recorded on a medicine form by the child’s parent/carer. The parent/carer must give written details of the dosage and times. This must be signed by the parent/carer and the time of the child’s last dose must be recorded. 

• Medicines must be clearly labelled with the prescription label, and the expiry date checked. The spoon or syringe needed must be supplied with the medicine. Nursery does not supply medicine spoons or syringes.

• Medicines will be stored in a medicine compartment in the fridge. 

• Medication will be administered by a member of staff with a minimum Level 3 qualification and witnessed by another member of staff. The time will be recorded and signed. 

• At the end of the child’s session, the parent/carer is required to take the medicine home and will be asked to check and sign the medicine record. 

Please note that nursery does not administer paracetamol or ibuprofen medications without a written diagnosis and care plan for the child. 

Children who need paracetamol or ibuprofen medication before arrival at nursery are not generally considered fit and well enough to attend. Please seek advice before setting off for nursery.

Children are classed as vulnerable due to their young age. It is important to remember that very young children cannot communicate their symptoms, but with a temperature, infection, upset tummy or teething pain, they can feel very unwell indeed. Children cannot ‘muddle through’ the way that adults often do. They need sufficient time to rest and for their systems to recover before returning to nursery. 

Management and staff at Dizzy’s are fully aware of the pressures caused to families when a child requires time away from the Nursery due to illness. However, whilst being sympathetic, we must also safeguard the health of all Nursery users. Parents who wish to contribute to this policy can speak to Liz, Sam or Charley.