Policy statement

We provide care for healthy children and promote health through identifying allergies and preventing contact with the allergenic substance and through preventing cross infection of viruses and bacterial infections.

Procedures for children who are sick or infectious

• If children appear unwell during the session – have a temperature, sickness, diarrhoea or pains, particularly in the head or stomach – the manager calls the parents and asks them to collect the child, or send a known carer to collect on their behalf.

• If a child has a temperature, they are kept cool by removing top clothing, sponging their heads with cool water, but kept away from draughts.

• Temperature is taken using a forehead thermometer or ‘fever scan’ kept in the first aid box.

• The child is taken to a quiet area, made comfortable and regularly monitored until collected.

• In extreme cases of emergency, the child should be taken to the nearest hospital and the parent informed.

• All details of action taken are recorded on an incident form.

• Parents are asked to take their child to the doctor before returning them to the club; the club can refuse admittance to children who have a temperature, sickness and diarrhoea or a contagious infection or disease.

• We follow the government guidelines for health protection in schools and other childcare facilities:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/health-and-safety-in-schools

Nits and head lice

• Nits and head lice are not an excludable condition, although in exceptional cases a parent may be asked to keep the child away until the infestation has cleared.

• On identifying cases of head lice, all parents are informed and asked to treat their child and all the family if they are found to have head lice.

Oral Medication

• Asthma inhalers are regarded as "oral medication" Oral medications must be prescribed by a GP or have the manufacturer’s instructions clearly written on them.

• The club must be provided with clear written instructions on how to administer such medication.

• All risk assessment procedures need to be adhered to for the correct storage and administration of the medication.

• The club must have the parents or guardians prior written consent. This consent must be kept on file.

Procedures for children with allergies

• When a child starts we ask their parents if their child suffers from any known allergies. This is recorded on the Registration Form.

• If a child has an allergy the form will include the following details:

• The allergen (i.e. the substance, material or living creature the child is allergic to such as nuts, eggs, bee stings, cats etc).

• The nature of the allergic reactions (e.g. anaphylactic shock reaction, including rash, reddening of skin, swelling, breathing problems etc).

• Any medication used and how it is to be used (e.g. Epipen).

• We do not allow nuts or nut products to be used within the clubs.

• Parents are made aware so that no nut or nut products are accidentally brought in, for example in packed lunches during the school holiday club.

Life-saving medication & invasive treatments

Adrenaline injections (EpiPens) for anaphylactic shock reactions (caused by allergies to nuts, eggs, etc.) or invasive treatments such as rectal administration of Diazepam (for epilepsy).

The club must have:

• written consent from the parent or guardian allowing staff to administer medication; and

• proof of training in the administration of such medication by the child's GP, a district nurse, children’s nurse specialist or a community paediatric nurse.

• Prior written consent from the child's parent or guardian to give treatment and/or medication prescribed by the child's GP.

• Club Manager to have the relevant medical training/experience, which may include those who have received appropriate instructions from parents or guardians, or who have qualifications.

Reporting of ‘notifiable diseases’

• If a child or adult is diagnosed suffering from a notifiable disease under the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988, the GP will report this to the Health Protection Agency.

• When the setting becomes aware, or is formally informed of the notifiable disease, the manager informs Ofsted and acts on any advice given by the Health Protection Agency.

HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis procedure

• HIV virus, like other viruses such as Hepatitis, (A, B and C) are spread through body fluids. Hygiene precautions for dealing with body fluids are the same for all children and adults.

• Single-use vinyl gloves and aprons are worn when changing children’s pants and clothing that are soiled with blood, urine, faeces or vomit.

• Protective rubber gloves are used for cleaning after changing.

• Soiled clothing is bagged for parents to collect.

• Spills of blood, urine, faeces or vomit are cleared using mild disinfectant solution and cloths used are disposed of.

• Tables and other furniture, furnishings or toys affected by blood, urine, faeces or vomit are cleaned using a disinfectant.