Below is a guide to help families identify when their child should not attend Woodlands Long Day Care & Kindergarten.
1) Panadol & Nurofen:
- If you have administered Pandol and Nurofen, both Medications mask symptoms but do not cure the infection and it will spread.
- More Information Here
2) Fever/Temperature Above 37.5 Degrees:
- Fever is a rise in body temperature above the normal temperature, usually caused by infection. Normal body temperature is around 37°C (give or take a degree, depending on individual differences). There may also be minor fluctuations over the course of the day and night. How to take take an accurate temperature:
- Age: any age
- Aim the thermometer at the center of the forehead.
- Stay less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) away. Do not touch the forehead.
- Do not move the thermometer.
- Press the measurement button
- More Information Here
3) Consistent Coughing:
- In most children, acute coughing is usually due to a viral upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) such as a simple head cold with bronchitis or croup. Less often, but still common, pathogens can involve the lower respiratory tract system causing bronchiolitis, whooping cough, or pneumonia.
- More Information Here
4) Continuous Runny Nose:
- There are many things that can cause your child’s nose to constantly be running. From common issues such as colds, the flu, sinus infections, allergic or non-allergic rhinitis to structural issues including enlarged turbinates, enlarged adenoids, congenital septal deviations, or choanal atresia.
- More Information Here
5) Sore Throat:
- The most common cause of a sore throat (pharyngitis) is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. A sore throat caused by a virus resolves on its own. Strep throat (streptococcal infection), a less common type of sore throat caused by bacteria, requires treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications.
- More Information Here
6) Swollen Glands:
- Glands (known as lymph glands or lymph nodes) swell near an infection to help your body fight it. Sometimes a gland on just one side of the body swells. You might also have other symptoms, such as a sore throat, cough or high temperature.
- More Information Here
7) Diarrhoea:
- Diarrhoea is an increase in the frequency, runniness or volume of the faeces. Acute diarrhoea may be a symptom of an infection of the digestive system (gastroenteritis) which is usually caused by a virus but sometimes is caused by bacteria or parasites.
- More Information Here
8) Vomiting:
- In most cases, though, vomiting in children is caused by gastroenteritis, an infection of the digestive tract. Gastroenteritis, often called the "stomach flu," usually is caused by common viruses that we come into contact with every day. Besides causing vomiting, it also can cause nausea, belly pain, and diarrhoea.
- More Information Here
9) Unusually Tired & Lethargic:
- A busy schedule, not getting enough sleep at night and even being hungry can all make a child tired. But if a child is consistently feeling tired, especially when he or she is getting enough sleep, it is a good idea to talk about it with a paediatrician. In some cases, tiredness may be a sign of an underlying problem.
- More Information Here
10) Exclusion Periods
The minimum period of exclusion from primary schools and children’s services for infectious diseases cases and contacts is attached below.
Additional Information
Woodlands Related Policies
Once the above symptoms have been cleared please bring your child back to Woodlands to continue their development and education. For more information relating to Children's Health & Safety please view the following Woodlands Policies.
- Woodlands Sick Children Policy (QA2): https://woodlandelc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/900001706066-Sick-Children-Policy-QA2-
- Woodlands Immunisation and Disease Prevention Policy (QA2): https://woodlandelc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/900001706286-Immunisation-and-Disease-Prevention-Policy-QA2-
- Woodlands Infectious Disease Policy (QA2): https://woodlandelc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/900001706246-Infectious-Disease-Policy-QA2-
Frequent Asked Questions:
Will Attending Woodlands Long Day Care & Kindergarten Help My Child's Immune System?
You’ve probably heard that children who go to daycare or kindergarten get sick more often — but is there a bright side to all the sniffles and colds? Does exposure to more children at a young age actually help your child develop better immunity?
At birth, a child's immune system is immature. Your child does have some inborn protection, largely thanks to antibodies he or she was exposed to in utero. Breastfed babies also benefit from the antibodies in their mother’s milk. But an infant’s immune system really starts to strengthen when the baby/child is exposed to bacteria and viruses in the environment. Yes, these pathogens will sometimes make your baby/child feel lousy, but they also prompt the production of natural antibodies so he or she can better fight off infections in the future.
That means children who attend Woodlands Long Day Care & Kindergarten will likely have a stronger immune system by the time they start school.
Why should my child be excluded from Woodlands when they are ill?
Children come into contact with many other children and adults in an early education and care service environment, which can result in the contracting of infectious illnesses.
Health and regulating authorities recommend, and in some cases require Woodlands to exclude ill children from the Campus. Woodlands Long Day Care & Kindergarten work to prevent the spread of illness by minimising the transmission of infectious disease from one person to another.
All children, staff and families at the service benefit from the practice of excluding ill children. Unwell children need additional individual comfort and attention that is difficult to provide within the Woodlands environment. Ill children can also recover more quickly if they can rest and be cared for at home, ensuring the infection is less likely to spread to other children, families and staff.
Why do children sometimes become ill when they are in an early learning service?
Children are more susceptible to picking up illnesses when they first start Child Care or Kindergarten because they come into contact with more people than they do in their own homes and are exposed to a range of infections they may not yet be immune to.
To promote children’s healthy growth, learning and development, staff nurture children and encourage them to play and explore their environment. Through play, nurture and exploration, children in Child Care or Kindergarten have close physical contact with others and their environment. Therefore children can be exposed to infectious illnesses through physical contact with other children, adults, toys and surfaces or through airborne illness such as coughing or sneezing.