Illness and Infectious Diseases

The spread of infections in the early childhood environment is facilitated by crowding and microbial contamination of the environment, as well as the unhygienic behaviours and greater exposure of young children. Our service will minimise children's exposure to infectious diseases by adhering to all recommended guidelines from relevant authorities regarding the prevention of infectious diseases, promoting practice the reduce the transmission of infection, ensuring the exclusion of sick children and educators, supporting child immunisation and implement effective hygiene practices.

We aim to provide a safe and hygienic environment that will promote the health of the children. As the care needs of a sick child cannot be met without dramatically reducing the general level of supervision of the other children, or risking other children's health, parents will be asked not to bring sick children to The Glennie OSHC, and to collect children who are unwell. If their child is unwell, it is often most appropriate to keep them at home. A child who is sick, will not be able to perform well and is likely to spread the illness to other children and staff. Please make arrangements to care for this child at home if they are not well.

INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO COVID-19

All care and consideration will be given to the child who becomes ill while at OSHC. When a child becomes unwell at the service, parents will be contacted to collect him/her as soon as possible. Where it is not practical for their child to be collected straight away, the emergency contact will be required to collect them from the service.

Children with infectious diseases will be excluded from the service for the period recommended by the Department of Health. A record of each child's immunisation status will be kept in their personal file. The service follows the guidelines set down by the National Health and Medical Research Council for the period of exclusion from the service for infectious diseases.

It is crucial that all children's records contain up-to-date details of their health needs. Parents are responsible to ensure that these records are regulary updated. In the case of children who suffer allergic and/or anaphylactic reactions or are asthma sufferers, it is imperative that we are advised of the necessary steps to be taken to deal appropriately if an emergency should arise.