Updated policy will take effect May 1st, 2010
Illness
In accordance with state licensing regulations any child, while in attendance, that shows signs or symptoms of an illness or communicable disease shall be quarantined (within sight and sound of a director or non-teaching staff member) until such time that a parent can be contacted and remove the child from the center.
Symptoms can be, but are not limited to: a sore throat, swollen/watery eyes, fever of a 100 degrees or more in children over the age of 6 months, a fever over 99.8 degrees in children under the age of 6 months; lice; cough; skin rash; diarrhea; vomiting; green discharge from the nose; or other indicative signs. Any child that exhibits odd or out of character behavior and who cannot participate in normal classroom activities will be observed for further evaluation and the parents or legal guardian of that child may be called to pick up their child. We are not licensed to care for mildly ill children with symptoms.
The parent, legal guardian or appointed emergency contact will have one hour to pick up their child from the school. A child will have a mat and quiet activities while waiting to be picked up. Infants may be comforted through holding and rocking or placed in a pack and play in the director?s office for isolation while waiting to be picked up. Any child that is diagnosed with a communicable disease will be excluded from the program for a minimum of 24 hours observation time and/or 24 hours of receiving antibiotics. Please note that if your child is sent home after 12:00 pm, they will not be permitted to return the following day. A child must be monitored at home or other place of care for a minimum of 24 hours to ensure that the symptoms of illness are no longer present. Some symptoms of illness may be more prevalent at certain times of the day and this observation time allows the parent/caregiver a chance to observe the child throughout an entire day/night. It is not likely that your child will be symptom free at the time of pick-up; therefore, it is not likely that your child should return 24 hours after the time of pick-up. Please be responsible when following this policy, keeping its intentions in mind when deciding when your child is well enough to return to Kids? Safari. We understand that having an ill child can cause stress to a family and cause a parent or family member to miss work. We believe that when all families comply with these policies, the chance of children contracting a communicable disease is decreased and will allow you to go to work and carry on with every day responsibilities as usual. We appreciate your compliance with these policies and your effort in keeping Kids? Safari a safe and healthy environment for all children, staff and families.
In accordance with state licensing regulations any child that shows signs or symptoms of illness or communicable disease while in the care of a parent or guardian (at home, grandparent’s house, etc) may not enter the school or be involved with any school activities until such symptoms are no longer present for a period of no less than 24 hours without medication such as pain relievers and fever reducers or there has been 24 hours of received antibiotics. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for notifying the center if their child is absent due to illness.
In the event that a communicable disease has been diagnosed for any child or staff member, it will be immediately posted using the "Exposure Notice" and will be placed upon the parent and classroom information boards. The name of the person who is sick will not be posted and will be kept confidential. In the event that a communicable disease has been diagnosed, the classroom, including toys, furniture, and other equipment of the child, will be cleaned and sanitized with a department- approved disinfectant to prevent the further spread of disease.
A child that has been ill with infectious hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, or tuberculosis must have a written doctor's permission to return to the school.
A child who has head lice must be NIT-FREE before returning to school. Upon returning to the school the child must be thoroughly checked for any remaining nits or lice by a director or staff member trained in recognition of lice before the child may return to his or her classroom. The classroom of the child concerned will be thoroughly cleaned and vacuumed immediately and all non-washable items will be bagged and sealed for a period of no less than three weeks.