Illness Policy for Children:
- Fever: Children must stay home if they have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. They can return once they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- Cough and Cold Symptoms: Children with severe coughing, runny nose, or sore throat should stay home to rest and recover. They can return when symptoms significantly improve or as advised by a healthcare provider.
- COVID-19: If a child tests positive for COVID-19 or shows symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, they should follow the latest local health guidelines regarding isolation and testing before returning.
- Other Contagious Illnesses: For any illness that is contagious, such as strep throat, flu, or chickenpox, children should stay home until they have been cleared by a healthcare provider to return, to prevent spreading the illness to others.
Guidelines for Returning:
- For most illnesses, children can return to the program when they have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours, without medication, and feel well enough to participate in activities.
- A note from a healthcare provider may be required for return after certain contagious diseases or as per specific health guidelines.
Objective: The aim of this policy is to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all children by preventing the spread of illness. We appreciate the cooperation of all families in adhering to these guidelines.
This policy is designed to be straightforward, focusing solely on the conditions under which children should stay home due to illness, without any reference to staff or other factors. It’s based on general public health advice and should be adaptable to most settings. Always ensure that your policies comply with local health authority guidelines and regulations.