Jolly Toddlers understands that it is difficult for a parent to leave or miss work, therefore it is suggested that alternative arrangements be made for occasions when children must remain at home or be picked up due to illness. The purpose of our sick policy is to reduce the spread of illness among children and to encourage full recuperation of sick children before they return to school. We depend on parents to assist us in maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all of our children.

 

We reserve the right to send home any student who shows signs of illness at school. Any student who becomes ill at school will be made comfortable until his/her parent can be notified and the student is picked up from school. A parent must pick up the ill child within one and a half hours of notification. A sick child must stay home where he/she is most relaxed and comfortable.

Children may be sent home if they have any specific symptoms as listed below. In addition, a child must be free of all of these specified symptoms for at least 24 hours before he/she can be returned to school. These symptoms are as follows:

1. Fever accompanied by other symptom (temperature of 100F taken by mouth, 99F under the Arm. or 101F taken by ear using “rectal” equivalent.

2. Any rash suspicious of contagious childhood disease.

3. Vomiting accompanied by other symptoms (fever, rash, diarrhea, crankiness, etc.….)

4. Diarrhea accompanied by other symptoms (fever, rash, diarrhea, crankiness, etc.….) or uncontrolled diarrhea (stool runs out of diaper or child unable to get to toilet in time.)

5. Any skin rash, lesion or wounds with bleeding or oozing of clear fluid or pus.

6. Conjunctivitis also called “pink eye” with white or yellow discharge.

7. Mouth sores with drooling.

8. Any condition preventing the child from participating comfortably in unusual program activities.

9. Any illness or condition requiring one-on-one care.

10. Scabies, head lice, or other infestations.

11. Constant, uncontrolled nasal discharge or constant uncontrolled productive cough (raising phlegm).

12. Any contagious illness which is reportable ** to the Department of Public Health.

 

After a child was absent or sent home for any of the above reasons and in order to return to Jolly Toddlers, the child must have been seen by a doctor and received a note to indicate that the illness is no longer contagious and if applicable, following conditions must be met:

 

1. A child must be free from fever, vomiting, and diarrhea (without symptoms) for a full 24 hours.

2. Any child prescribed an antibiotic for a current bacterial infection must take the prescription for a full 24 hours before returning.

3. A child must be able to participate comfortably in all usual program activities, including outdoor time.

4. The child must be free of open oozing skin conditions unless:

             1.  A health care provider signs a note stating that the condition is not contagious, &

             2. A bandage without seepage or draining through the bandage can cover                                      the involved area(s).

1. A child excluded because of lice, scabies, or other infestation may return 24 hours after treatment has begun with a note from the doctor* stating that the child is larvae or nit free.

2. If a child was excluded because of a reportable** contagious illness, a doctor’s* note stating that the child is no longer contagious is required to readmission.

 

 *   The note must be from a physician who is not related to the child.

 ** Each state publishes a listing of communicable disease (such as measles, tuberculosis, whooping cough, COVID-19, etc) which must be reported to the Department of Public Health upon diagnosis.