Health Guidelines
*If your child is sent home sick/ill two times within one week then you will be asked to provide a medical consent document from your child’s physician stating they have been cleared to return to school. This will help eliminate the spread of germs. *
Allergies - Identify your child’s allergies on the information sheet at the time of enrollment, or if new, as soon as they are discovered. Protect your child from exposure to allergens by clearly identifying the allergen and your child’s response to the allergen. If your child requires emergency medication (i.e. epi pen) we will need a copy of the child’s Individual Health Care Plan which has been signed by the doctor. This plan should clearly state o symptoms to watch out for o treatment of possible side effects of the medication o consequences of the failure to treat o steps to follow to ensure the maximum effectiveness of the Health Care Plan Parents are allowed to train the staff in their child’s Health Care Plan if they choose.
Colds - Please keep your child home if he/she has a new cold and a fever, a productive cough, chills, lethargy, or irritability accompanies it.
Conjunctivitis – This is very contagious. Keep your child home until the drainage stops. He/she may return to school with the antibiotic ointment/drops, accompanied by a doctor’s note, after being on the ointment/drops for 24 hours.
Coughs - Children with congested productive coughs should not be at school. Please have chronic coughs checked by a doctor.
Chicken Pox - Please report any exposure to this virus so that we can inform other parents. Child may return to school when all scabs are dry. (7-21 day, incubation period).
Diarrhea - Your child will be sent home if he/she develops diarrhea and has two passes of it while at school. He/she may return to school after he/she can tolerate a regular diet and has not had diarrhea for 24 hours.
Ear Infections - Your child may return to school if he/she is taking antibiotics, is comfortable, and fever-free without medication for 24 hours.
Fever - Your child will be sent home if he/she develops a fever. He/she may return when he/she has had no fever for at least 24 hours without medication (i.e. Tylenol or Motrin). Consult a doctor if a rash accompanies the fever.
Impetigo - The same guidelines as for conjunctivitis also apply to impetigo. Please watch closely for scabs, rashes, pustules, or sores. This is extremely contagious but can be cured quickly with prompt treatment.
Insect Bites - Please tell us if your child is likely to react badly to certain types of insect bites. Please put this information on the information form.
Lice/Nits - This is an alarming and misunderstood problem and is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States. Lice are easily treated and do not indicate unhealthy or unsanitary conditions. We will notify parents if lice enter the school. Please notify the director if your child has head lice. Our policy is the children will be sent home if staff sees lice/nits. If the child is sent home with lice or nits, then the child must be out of school for a minimum of 24 hours and complete treatment before returning. Upon returning to the program the center Director will inspect the child’s head before returning to the classroom. If lice/nits are still present children will be turned away. A second treatment MUST also be done 10 days after the initial treatment. Any lice/nits found will result in the child being sent home and/or denied entry.
Sore Throat or Strep - Strep infections are most contagious the day before symptoms appear. Your child may return to school when he/she has been on proper medication for 24 hours, has no fever, and is feeling well.
Sunburn – We use the same guidelines for sunscreen as for insect repellent.
Tick/Splinter Removal – If a staff member finds a tick on your child, they will carefully remove it with the techniques shown in First Aid class. They will place the tick in a Ziploc baggie, and they will give it to the parents at pickup time. Splinters that are easily visible will be removed. Teachers will wash the area with soap and water and will apply a band aid. Prior to a staff member removing the tick or splinter you will be notified, and the parent will give us verbal permission or refusal to remove.
Vomiting - Your child will be sent home if he/she vomits. He/she may return to school after he/she can tolerate a regular diet and has not vomited for 24 hours.
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease- If your child develops symptoms of hand foot and mouth they must be kept home for 1 week (7 days). Children with hand foot and mouth are most contagious the first week of when the symptoms start. For the health of all the children in our center it is very important the child remains out of the school, so this disease does not spread.
Pneumonia: If your child is diagnosed with pneumonia by his or her primary care provider, the child must be kept out of school for 1 week (7 days) from day of diagnosis and initiation of medical treatment. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, and the child requires extra rest and attention when this infection is acute (the first week). The child must be able to participate in normal school activities to return after 7 days.
Influenza A&B (Seasonal Flu): If your child is diagnosed with Influenza A or B by his or her primary care provider, the child must be kept out of school for 1 week (7 days) from the start of treatment and diagnosis. Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that most children will recover from but can be deadly in high-risk populations including young children. For the safety of all children at the center, the child must be out for 7 days to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to other children in the center. The child must be able to participate in normal school activities to return after 7 days.
COVID-19 Exposure/Symptoms: We will follow the latest updates from the CDC.