Staying Healthy in Child Care - National Health and Medical ...

Exclusion of sick children and staff
Excluding sick children and staff is probably the most important way of limiting the
spread of infection in the child care centre. The spread of certain infectious diseases can
be reduced by excluding a person who is known to be infectious, from contact with others
who are at risk of catching the infection.
Parents may find an exclusion ruling difficult and some parents may place great pressure
on the director to vary from the centre’s exclusion rules. Often these parents are under
great pressure themselves to fulfil work, study or other family commitments. This may
lead to stress and conflict between parents and centre staff.
The best way to avoid conflict is to have a written policy that clearly states the centre’s
exclusion criteria. This policy should state the minimum periods recommended by the
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). This policy should also state
any additional conditions or exclusion periods your centre may have. Give the policy to
all parents and staff when they first join the centre.
Directors should not be influenced by letters from doctors which allow the child back into
care, unless the child’s condition fulfils the criteria for return to care. Sometimes doctors
make different diagnoses for children in the same centre with illnesses that appear
similar. Your local public health authority should be able to help you with these situations
or when you are in doubt about exclusion.
Whenever you exclude a child take the opportunity to review your infection control
techniques with all child carers. In particular, check hand washing is being done as
recommended in this book.
Involvement of parents
Provide parents with a copy of the centre’s policies on immunisation, medication,
infection control (hygiene) and exclusion when the child is enrolled. Encourage parents
to return and discuss these policies with you. The exclusion policy is the policy most
likely to cause concern. Make sure that parents understand why the centre has an
exclusion policy.
Most parents will appreciate your attempts to prevent illness in their children. In
particular, it is important that parents support the centre’s policies on cleanliness. Ask
parents to encourage their children to wash their hands on arrival at the centre and when
leaving.
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Draft for Public Consultation