Rationale

Kindercare is committed to providing an environment that protects the hauora, marutau, and wellbeing of tamariki, whānau, and our team. Because of the high risk of spread of infection in group care, we are unable to care for sick tamariki at Kindercare.

Policy

Tamariki must be cared for at home if they have any of the following symptoms:

• High temperature
• Inflamed throat or eyes
• An unidentified rash
• An upset stomach, vomiting or diarrhoea

Tamariki who develop a temperature while at Kindercare:

• Temperatures over 37.5° will be monitored at 20 minute intervals, and recorded on the “Fever and Action Taken” form.
• Before seeking the Centre Director’s permission to arrange for the child to go home, temperatures of 38° or above will be reported to the Centre Director/Supervisor and monitored from first symptoms, as no further symptoms/sickness may occur. While continuing to monitor the child’s temperature, team members will follow the first aid procedure to try and bring the child’s temperature down (Refer to Guideline / Checklist— Fever in Children).
• Tamariki who have vomited and/or had diarrhoea, either at Kindercare or at home, must be excluded from the centre for a period of at least 48 hours from the last episode of vomiting/diarrhoea. At Kindercare, we use the Ministry of Health’s Infectious Diseases Chart to determine exclusion. In some circumstances of prolonged or communicable illness, we may request a doctor’s clearance before a child may return to our care in the centre.
• If a child becomes ill during the course of the day, and/or has a temperature which stays at 38˚C or above, a parent will be notified to pick up their child or arrange for their child to be picked up as soon as practically possible— ideally this would be within 30 mins, but our expectation is within the hour.

To contain the spread of infection and best support the sick child, they will be taken out of their room and settled comfortably in a cot or bed, preferably in the office, where one of our team will care for them, until the child is taken home.

If a child is unable to attend Kindercare due to illness, we advise whānau to notify the centre by 8:30am. A doctor’s release statement must be presented if the illness is communicable because this helps us to provide a safe and healthy environment in the centre, for everyone.

Note: It is not uncommon for preschoolers and infants to have an isolated case of vomiting/diarrhoea due to a change in diet, car sickness, anxiety/excitement or teething. If this happens, before seeking the Centre Director’s permission to arrange for the child to go home, our team must first inform the Centre Director or Centre Supervisor, and then monitor from first symptoms, as no further symptoms/sickness may occur.

These isolation and exclusion requirements and criteria apply to all Kindercare team members as well.

Last review date: 13 October 2021