The health of the children, families, and staff is very important to us. Part of our responsibility to the children is to care and protect them from illness whenever possible. Such aspects are included in parent education programs. Should your child arrive or become ill at school, we will notify you immediately so that you may pick him/her up or make arrangements for someone else to care for your child. If neither parent can be reached, we will call the next person on the emergency list. This form must be completed and returned before your child’s first day of school. Please update this list immediately when there are changes, so that we may contact you in the event of an emergency. If your child will not be attending school or there are any communicable diseases in your home, please inform us so that we can be alerted to any symptoms that may arise at school. Also, please share information that will help us better care for your child (ex. child complaining of tummy ache or threw up over the weekend, etc.) Due to our concern for all of the children enrolled at the school there are certain guidelines that we require all parents to observe. In some cases, if your child needs to be seen by a doctor, you will be required to submit a signed report from your doctor before your child can return to the preschool. This is to insure that a child does not return when he might be in danger of exposing another child to an illness. Some contagious illnesses are no longer contagious after the child has been on medication for 24 hours. Even with all our precautions, children do get sick. We wash our hands regularly and disinfect toys and surfaces in order to minimize the spread of germs. Every attempt is made to keep toys and play areas sanitized. There are times a child needs to be with the parent for both physical and emotional comfort. There are also some illnesses that by law exclude children from attending school, which is also a part of parent education.
List of Illnesses That Exclude Children from Attending Preschool
* Heavy nasal discharge/mucous of any color (the first two to three days of mucous are contagious)
* Sore throat
* A fever over 100 degrees orally (lack of fever does not necessarily mean the child is well enough to attend)
* Any un diagnosed rash or skin eruptions
* Diarrhea-runny, watery, or bloody stools
* Vomiting
* Sore throat with fever and swollen glands
* Constant cough and/or severe coughing whooping sound after coughing
* Muscle aches
* Pink eye and or eye discharge-thick mucus or pus draining from the eye
* Yellowish skin or eyes
* Unusual irritability or lethargy
* Difficulty breathing
* Mouth sores
* Lice and/or nits
* The mildly ill child should be excluded if s/he is unable to participate in normal activities, of if child needs more care than can be provided by teacher
For any of the above symptoms, children will be allowed to return to school after 24 hours of being symptom-free. Children sent home from school with vomiting, diarrhea, or fever must be free of symptoms for a full 24 hours before returning to school. Please keep your child at home for at least 48 to 72 hours (2 to 3 days) after the onset of cold symptoms. This gives the child a rest period to recover and limits the possibility of them spreading their illness to other children. Children taking prescription medication such as antibiotics for contagious illnesses or conditions must have taken them for a full 24 hours before returning to school. If your child is well enough to be at school, she or he is well enough to participate in all class activities, including outdoor, sand and water play. Daily outdoor activity is very important for young children. It is our policy that children who are well enough to come to school are well enough to go outdoors. The fresh air and movement is something that each child needs daily for their wellbeing and healthy development. Kids Collective will not take children outdoors during inclement weather. If your child contracts lice, please be sure to follow treatment protocol. ALL nits and lice must be removed from head before child is able to return to school.
If your child needs to take prescribed medicine during the day, the state requires parents to complete a “Medical Release Form.” The form includes the prescription name, dosage, time of dosage and physician’s name. Parents must sign the medical release form before any medication will be administered. The medicine must be in the original container. Some nonprescription topical medicines may be administered with a parental verbal permission. These include sunscreen and insect repellent.
The children will be spending time outdoors every day. Please be sure to apply sunscreen before arriving at school and leave a bottle of sunscreen labeled with your child’s name. We will reapply additional sunscreen as needed.
Policy for Sick Staff
In the event that a teacher becomes sick or has another emergency, parents will be notified as soon as possible. The teacher/director will make every effort possible to secure a substitute teacher to care for children enrolled in the program. On these days, parents must pay normal tuition. The substitute teacher will have been fingerprinted, had a background check and have experience in working with children. This substitute teacher will lead the class until the teacher is able to return to work.
Emergency Plan
We have on hand supplies for 48 hours should a disaster occur. In a Ziploc bag with your child’s extra clothes, please include a personal note and a family photo that will comfort your child in the event of an emergency. Please keep your emergency cards updated. In case we need to evacuate, a note will be posted indicating our relocation site and parents will be contacted as soon as possible. All families will receive a written emergency plan and procedures the first week of school.