Illness Policy

We have an illness policy in effect to insure every child a healthy, safe and supportive experience, protect the health of everyone in the group assist program staff in meeting all children's needs, and protect the rights of the family and child.

Sick Child Policy

Parents should not bring a child who is sick to school. If a child cannot participate in the normal activities of the day, including outdoor play, then the child must stay at home. If a child requires medication such as Tylenol to make them comfortable to be at school, they should remain at home.

Guidelines for Inclusion/Exclusion of Ill Children

A child must be kept home, or will be sent home, for the following:

  1. The child does not feel well enough to participate comfortably in the program’s activities.
  2. The staff cannot adequately care for the sick child without compromising the care of other children such as if a child is requiring one on one care and support from an educator.
  3. The child has any of the following symptoms, until the exclusion period has been reached, a health care provider determines that the child is well enough to attend and the illness is not contagious.
       4. Fever accompanied by behavioral changes and other sign or symptoms of illness (e.g. decrease in normal activity level such as wanting to lie around or tiring easily).
A fever is defined as having a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. A child must be free of a fever for 24 hours before they can return to the Center. This means the child is free of a fever without the aid of any fever reducing medications. If a child is sent home with a fever, he/she must not return the next school day.
  1. Sign or symptoms of possibly severe illness such as persistent crying, extreme irritability, uncontrolled coughing, difficulty breathing resulting in changes of color (cyanosis…blueness; flushing…overly red), wheezing, lethargic
  2. Diarrhea: changes from the child’s usual stool pattern – increased frequency of stools, looser or watery stools, stools that run out of the diaper, or inability to get to the bathroom on time
  3. Vomiting: two or more times in a 24- hour period
  4. Mouth sore with drooling
  5. Rash with a fever or behavioral change
  6. Pink eye with discharge of white or yellow, may be accompanied by crusts in the corner of the eye. (All discoloration must be gone from the eye before the child may return to school.)
  7. Itching that may be extreme, on the head or body, noticeable mite, lice or other infestation
The child has received any of the following diagnoses from a health care provider, until treated and/or no longer contagious AND has received clearance from a pediatrician to attend group care:
  • Infectious conjunctivitis (pink eye) – until 24 hours after treatment has begun
  • Scabies- Until cleared by physician after one or two courses of treatment is complete and no crusting of skin or scabs remain.
  • Head Lice, or other infestation â€“ until 24 hours after treatment and child is free from nits
  • Impetigo â€“ until 24 hours after treatment is begun. All areas must be covered.
  • Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease- until five days after the diagnosis from a doctor and all blisters in the mouth are gone and blisters on hands and feet are scabbed over.
  • Other communicable diseases as determined by the physician and/or Department of Public Health
The final decision to exclude a child from the Center is made by the staff of St. John’s Children's Center.