Polykids - Child Health

Exclusion of children with infectious diseases from the Centre is sometimes necessary where there is potential for further spread of infection. The health of other children and teachers is a prime consideration.

National guidelines:     

Te Whariki - Well-Being- Goal 1: Children experience an environment where their health is promoted.

NELP: Priority 1: Ensure places of learning are sage, inclusive and free from racism, discrimination, and bullying.

Licencing Criteria (2008) Administration of Medicine (HS28), Sick and or Soiled Tamariki Procedures (HS30), Serious Injury, Illness and Incident Notification Procedure (HS34), Positive Guidance Procedure (C10).

As a Centre we follow the guidance of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health – we acknowledge that the Centre is a group learning environment in which we provide care and education. 

Our duty of care is to maintain high levels of well-being for Tamariki, and for all who participate within our Polykids community.

Adults and tamariki will make every effort to protect those in the Centre environment from contracting infectious diseases. 

Our standard processes include handwashing, hand sanitisation, coughing into their elbow and the disposal of tissues immediately.

The use of paracetamol or ibuprofen is prohibited for the treatment of fever or pain relief – and will only be administered when in conjunction with a medical plan advised by a G.P.  An example of this would include children with a history of febrile convulsions.

Children should be kept home when they:

• Seem unwell and have no interest in activities or play.
• Have little energy and want or need to sleep or rest for long periods.
• Cry easily, are irritable or in pain.
• Constantly want to be held and comforted.
• Require antibiotics for bacterial infection (excluded 24 hours from the first dose)
• Have a fever (38°C and above).
• Have suffered from a seizure or febrile convulsion, we request a 24 --hour standdown period.
• Need to be given paracetamol within the home environment to control pain or fever (24 hours exclusion from the administered dose).
•  Fever (38°C and above) a 24-hour stand down is required to ensure that the fever is under control. When paracetamol has been administered within the home environment to control fever, children will not be permitted to attend the Centre. This takes into consideration the well-being of the child and others within the learning environment.

• The child has any of the following conditions: unusually persistent crying, difficulty breathing, distressing and persistent coughing, and other signs of severe illness.
• Illness prevents the child from participating in programme activities.
• Illness results in greater care than we can reasonably provide without compromising the health and safety of other children.
• Chicken Pox - at least until all the lesions have dried and crusted.
• Conjunctivitis – A 24-hour exclusion and until treatment has commenced and there is no discharge from the eye.
• Croup – children should remain at home until after the fever is gone and they’re feeling better.
• Diarrhoea - No child with diarrhoea should attend until 48 hours after the last normal bowel motion.
• Head lice - until treatment has commenced (treatment may include chemical treatments as well as natural remedies such as combing).
• Impetigo (School Sores) - until 24 hours after treatment has begun and sores are not weeping. Sores on the torso, legs and upper arms must be hygienically covered to be able to attend the Centre.
• Mumps - until 5 days after facial swelling develops, or until well.
• Rash - A child displaying an unidentified rash will need to be checked by a doctor and requires medical clearance to return to the Centre.
• Scabies - until after 24 hours after treatment has been commenced.
• Strep Throat - until 24 hours after treatment has begun, and until 24 hours after the fever has stopped.
• Threadworm - until treated.
• Tuberculosis - until the child’s doctor or public health official advises that the child is not infectious.
• Vomiting - A child should not return until 48 hours after the last episode of vomiting
• Whooping Cough - until treatment is completed or advised by a doctor that the disease is no longer communicable.
• When a disease is vaccine-preventable, there is a requirement to exclude unimmunised children who may have had contact with other infected persons. This applies to Measles, Diphtheria, and Whooping Cough and would be arranged on advice from the Medical Officer of Health.

Public Health Service exclusion guidelines will be followed for any conditions not covered above.

• Public Health Service exclusion guidelines will be followed for any conditions not covered above.
• Individual health plans will be written for children who suffer from ongoing conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, allergies, or other medical conditions as required.
• We reserve the right to request a medical certificate from a health professional before a child can return to the Centre.

The following basic First Aid treatment will be administered to bites, grazes, and cuts. 

Positive guidance strategies will be used to encourage children to have injuries sanitised, children do have the right to refuse the cleaning process.

•  When the skin is grazed or broken, the skin will be cleansed with warm water and a mild soap solution, then followed with saline solution. A cold compress will be applied to reduce swelling.
•  When the skin is not broken, a cold compress and arnica cream will be applied to reduce swelling.

Note: Arnica cannot be applied to broken skin.

This Policy has had full consultation with parents and Polykids staff.