Epidemic and Pandemic Policy
Last Updated April 2022
Statement of Intent
Roydon Early Years intends to use this policy to provide precautionary measures to minimise transmission risks of disease in the setting during an epidemic or pandemic. It also states ideas for continuity of business if allowed.
Legislation and leading authorities which have guided and influenced this policy are:
Coronavirus Act 2020, Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Government Briefings, Public Health England (PHE) and World Health Organisation (WHO). Advice from but not limited to, The Secretary of State, The Chief Medical Officer, Local Authority (LA) and Department for Education (DfE). The policy also has regard to Ofsted and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidance where appropriate.
Aim of Policy
This Policy defines and assists the operating arrangements in place within the pre-school that assures compliance to the Government and leading bodies requirements with relation to the outbreak of a pandemic such as Covid19. This information builds upon our current procedures for areas such as Safeguarding, Child Protection and Equality and Diversity, however new practices may emerge as the situation continues. The policy and considerations may evolve and be built upon as the situation deepens and new precautionary measures have been introduced and practices have been reflected upon.
Method
As early years providers we ensure to continue offering very high standards of practice of childcare and education. The fundamental principles to be outlined in this policy are set out to ensure physical distancing is enabled and implement good hygiene practices as well as avoiding coming into contact with infected children and adults or anyone displaying symptoms. It states the protective measures put in place for children, parents and staff as best as possible to ensure the risk of transmission is reduced. We will continue to follow our other policies as long as they do not conflict with this policy and be guided by the EYFS as best as we can. The main areas we will be considering are:
Children
Attendance
“Early Years and Primary aged children cannot be expected to remain 2 metres apart from each other and staff” (Taken from guidance on Gov.UK)
Workforce
Attendance
Training
Parents
Physical distancing
Visitors
Travel
Hygiene and Health & Safety
Hand Washing
Added September 2020
Please work with us to keep everyone safe. Some of the ways to do this when children have colds are.....
Added January 2021
Temporary change to our illness policy
Our aim is always to keep your children as safe and as healthy as we can. With this in mind we have made the decision to ask that any child with a cold which is causing sneezing and a constantly running nose, is kept away from pre-school for a minimum of 48 hours - longer is the sneezing and running nose continues.
We do totally understand that this may cause some parents problems with regards to working etc, and although we do not in 'normal times' ask children to stay off for colds, we just feel that with things as they are at the moment, and with Covid spreading so quickly and freely via children, this is the best decision to make.
Added March 2021
All households of children who attend schools and pre-schools are now eligible to take part in home testing twice weekly. It's really easy to order tests and it's definitely worth doing if you can - just follow this link 👍https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rapid-lateral-flow-testing-for-households-and-bubbles-of-school-pupils-and-staff
Added August 2021
Covid testing and self isolation – All staff will continue to complete Lateral Flow Tests (LFT’s) twice per week. Although, government guidance changed on 16th August and now stipulates that isolation is only required by anyone who tests positive for Covid or any close contact of a positive case if they are over 18 and unvaccinated, staff will continue to stay away from the setting for 10 days if someone within their household tests positive for Covid – this is to minimise the risks of transmitting Covid within the setting. We would ask you to please do the same – if anyone in your household tests positive for Covid, we would really appreciate it if you could keep your child home too.
Added November 2021
Covid testing and self isolation – All staff will continue to complete Lateral Flow Tests (LFT’s) twice per week. If someone within their household tests positive for Covid they will test every day before coming to work – this is to minimise the risks of transmitting Covid within the setting. We would ask you to please do the same if anyone in your household tests positive for Covid.
Added January 2022
If staff have been in contact with anyone with Covid, they will take a test every morning before they attend the setting, for 7 days. It is really, really important that if your child has a cold, cough or temperature, they must be kept home until they have a negative test or until they are well again.
People without symptoms.
If someone in the household tests positive then all others in the household need to do a lateral Flow test every day for the next 7 days.
People with symptoms.
You must take a PCR test as soon as possible after symptoms show and you must self isolate straight away.
If you test positive.
Whether you test positive by a lateral flow test or a PCR test, you must self isolate straight away and report the test online - it would be really helpful if you could forward the confirmation email to [email protected] please.
You can take a lateral Flow test on the 5th day of your isolation, you then take another test no less than 24 hours later. If both of these tests are negative then you can come out of isolation. If you continue to test positive, then you must continue self isolating until you get 2 negative tests results at least 24 hours apart, or until you have completed 10 days of isolation.
Added 24th February 2022
As of today it is no longer a legal requirement to self isolate when someone tests positive for Covid. However, it is still recommended to do so. Therefore, until 1st April at the earliest, we will continue to follow government guidance and ask that any child who shows symptoms of Covid completes a Covid test. If your child tests positive, we ask that they do not attend pre-school until they have received 2 negative lateral flow tests and are back to full health. We also ask that no adult who has tested positive for Covid attends the setting please. This is a link to the most up to date guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-sets-out-plan-for-living-with-covid And, this statement is copied from that link: "The legal requirement to self-isolate ends. Until 1 April, we still advise people who test positive to stay at home. Adults and children who test positive are advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least five full days and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received two negative test results on consecutive days."
Although the government have also removed the requirement for Early Years staff to test twice per week, all staff here will continue to test weekly until 1st April as well.
Added April 2022
The legal requirement to test and self isolate with Covid has now been removed, however, our highest priority is always the health and safety of the children, staff and families who attend the setting, with this in mind, we still follow government guidance, the updated guidance on respiratory infections, including Covid-19, can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19 . Following this guidance, we ask that any adult who has tested positive, or shows symptoms, of Covid-19 does not attend the setting for 5 days after the day they test positive, or from the onset of symptoms if not taking a test, this includes parents and staff “If you have a positive COVID-19 test result, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days after the day you took your test.” The guidelines for children are that they stay away for 3 days, or longer if still feeling unwell “If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test, if they can.” We have children and members of staff who are in the ‘highly vulnerable’ category and catching Covid could very seriously impact their health and lives, so we would really appreciate your support and honesty with this. As our sickness policy has always stated, please do not under any circumstances send your child to pre-school if they have had Calpol/Paracetamol in the last 24 hours.
Last Updated April 2022
Statement of Intent
Roydon Early Years intends to use this policy to provide precautionary measures to minimise transmission risks of disease in the setting during an epidemic or pandemic. It also states ideas for continuity of business if allowed.
Legislation and leading authorities which have guided and influenced this policy are:
Coronavirus Act 2020, Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Government Briefings, Public Health England (PHE) and World Health Organisation (WHO). Advice from but not limited to, The Secretary of State, The Chief Medical Officer, Local Authority (LA) and Department for Education (DfE). The policy also has regard to Ofsted and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidance where appropriate.
Aim of Policy
This Policy defines and assists the operating arrangements in place within the pre-school that assures compliance to the Government and leading bodies requirements with relation to the outbreak of a pandemic such as Covid19. This information builds upon our current procedures for areas such as Safeguarding, Child Protection and Equality and Diversity, however new practices may emerge as the situation continues. The policy and considerations may evolve and be built upon as the situation deepens and new precautionary measures have been introduced and practices have been reflected upon.
Method
As early years providers we ensure to continue offering very high standards of practice of childcare and education. The fundamental principles to be outlined in this policy are set out to ensure physical distancing is enabled and implement good hygiene practices as well as avoiding coming into contact with infected children and adults or anyone displaying symptoms. It states the protective measures put in place for children, parents and staff as best as possible to ensure the risk of transmission is reduced. We will continue to follow our other policies as long as they do not conflict with this policy and be guided by the EYFS as best as we can. The main areas we will be considering are:
- Minimising contact with individuals who are unwell
- Maintaining personal and respiratory hygiene (handwashing, catch it, kill it, bin it)
- Ensuring cleanliness of the environment (especially frequently touched surfaces)
- Minimising general contact (limiting numbers)
- The use of Protective and Personal Equipment (PPE)
- Testing
Children
Attendance
- Only children who are symptom free or have completed the required isolation period should attend the setting.
- Providers may consider taking temperatures of children during a session if we feel they are symptomatic
- Extremely vulnerable children should continue under government advice (to shield).
- Families who attend at least two settings should choose only one for the remainder of the term to ensure their contact with others remains small.
“Early Years and Primary aged children cannot be expected to remain 2 metres apart from each other and staff” (Taken from guidance on Gov.UK)
- Smaller amounts of children in the whole setting may be advised or preferable. As we usually run to capacity most days this could be achieved by, but not limited to:
- A temporary cap on the number of children in the setting at any one time – groups of up to 15 children (Advice received from Norfolk County Council)
- Temporarily limiting funded hours per child, ensuring all children have access to some preschool time.
- Changing children’s hours
- Only allowing the older children or those moving to Primary school to attend.
- Prioritising children such as those who are vulnerable, those with special educational needs, those from households where both parents work (or work full time)
- The take up on places may be small so there may be no need to change children’s hours.
- The use of indoors should be restricted as much as possible and outdoor spaces should be utilised as much as possible
- A phased return may be best to ease their transition back into preschool if the preschool has been closed for quite a while or only open for critical workers.
- During sunny weather, long lasting (8 hour or 12 hour) sunscreen should be applied by the parents / carers before the child arrives at the preschool. T shirts covering shoulders and leggings would be preferable to minimise how much top up of sunscreen the preschool staff will do.
- Children will be required to bring a bag on their first session that holds a full change of clothes, named bottle, sun hat, indoor shoes, sun cream and sun hat – these items will be transferred into a ‘Bag for life’ and will be kept at the setting and the original bag returned at the end of the day. If anything needs replacing, we will inform parents and ask that items are brought in at the next session. This will limit items coming backwards and forwards, therefore reducing the risk of cross contamination.
- Children should be supported in age appropriate ways to understand the steps they can take to keep themselves safe including regular hand washing, coughing into an elbow, using a tissue and adopting a catch it, kill it, bin it regime.
- Children should be supported to understand the changes and challenges they may be encountering as a result of Covid-19 and staff need to ensure they are aware of children’s attachments and their need for emotional support at this time.
- EYFS framework will continue to be delivered through play and adult led activities.
- Free access to drinks will no longer be available – to limit children using each other’s bottles. We will ensure that drinks are offered very regularly throughout the session though.
- Parents need to provide a packed lunch as usual – lunchboxes will be sanitised before entering the preschool and items will be put on plates for the children at lunchtime so lunchboxes can be kept away from food areas.
- The main hall will be set out with activities and resources on tables spread out around the room, this will help restrict the number of children together in a small space.
- Certain behaviours will be discussed with parents – such as spitting and unwanted close physical contact etc. If we feel that these behaviours could have a negative impact on staff or other children we will discuss temporarily reducing, or as a last resort, stopping sessions, in order to keep everyone safe
Workforce
Attendance
- Staff should only attend preschool if they are symptom free, have completed the required isolation period or achieved a negative test result. All staff and their household are eligible for testing if they display symptoms.
- Consideration should be given to limiting the number of staff in the preschool at any one time to only those required to care for the expected occupancy levels on any given day
- Staff hours, days they work and length of day may change in order to meet childcare demands and considerations within this policy.
- Staff who work at two or more settings should choose only one for the remainder of the term to ensure their contact with others remains small.
- Staff will complete a risk assessment before opening to address any risks from the virus, ensure sensible measures are in place to control risks.
- Staff to be informed of measures in place and sign a disclaimer to state they have read and understood the preschool policies and procedures.
- Emergency revisions to the EYFS may have been implemented which provides some flexibility on ratios and qualifications to make this feasible.
- Staff have been advised by the government not to wear PPE such as facemasks during their day, but should continue to wear PPE at the usual times such as intimate care and wear disposable gloves and apron if completing one to one care and if supporting an ill child a face mask and visor should also be worn if a 2 meter distance cannot be maintained.
- After dealing with an ill child who displayed symptoms the staff member should continue to wear PPE and clean the affected area with disinfectant.
- All PPE should be removed and disposed of following current government guidelines, the staff member should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds.
- The staff member who supported the unwell child does not need to go home unless they are developing symptoms themselves.
- Social distancing must be maintained during breaks. This may be achieved through a range of strategies including the staggering of breaks
- Staff may be required to be in charge of specific rooms or areas including the outdoors to minimise their contact with surfaces etc. This includes potentially working from one particular table if table top toys are available. Staff will be responsible to ensure appropriate cleaning takes place and enough ventilation is in the room such as opening windows. If doors are open ensure the safety of the children is maintained.
- Staff members should avoid physical contact with each other including handshakes, hugs etc.
- Staff to wear fresh, clean clothes for each session.
- Advise staff to remove their work clothes and change into clean ones before leaving the setting, then shower and wash clothes when they arrive home
Training
- Where possible, meetings and training sessions should be conducted through virtual conferencing.
- All staff members must receive appropriate instruction and training in infection control and the standard operating procedure and risk assessments within which they will be operating.
- Online training may be available to allow their training levels to be maintained if appropriate.
Parents
Physical distancing
- Only parents who are symptom free and or have completed the required isolation periods will be able to drop off or collect their child.
- Aim to minimise the ‘pinch points’ during the day and limit drop off and pick up to one adult per family.
- Staggering the drop off and collection timings where possible will avoid a queue of families waiting to enter preschool.
- Arrange drop off and pick up at the preschool back entrance to avoid parents entering the preschool unnecessarily.
- When parents are waiting to drop off or collect their child, physical distancing should be maintained in a safe area sticking to government social distancing policies.
- Consider allowing some parents to enter the preschool for the purpose of a settling in session if not doing so would cause a child distress, this could take place in the outdoor environment. The provider should consider measures to minimise contact between the parent and other children and staff members.
- If the child is too distressed perhaps a delayed start to their preschool entry may be preferred or half hour settling in sessions without their parent.
- Parents should receive clear communication regarding the role they play in the safe operating procedure and all measures being taken to ensure the safety of their children and themselves.
- Parents should inform preschool of their circumstances and if they plan to keep their child away, this helps preschool to conform to our safeguarding policy.
- Parents may be needed to support the running of the preschool by providing extra resources and consumables the preschool may not be able to source or afford such as cleaning wipes or products, tissues etc. This is to ensure the safe running of the preschool is not hindered by lack of equipment and resources.
- If any forms need to be seen by parents – such as accident, incident, medication etc – parents will instead be informed via the phone (call or text) and on Tapestry, and the conversation will be documented on the form so to avoid close contact between parents and staff
Visitors
- Attendance to the setting will be restricted to only children and staff as far as practically possible and visitors should not be permitted to the preschool unless essential (e.g. essential building maintenance).
- Where essential visits are required these should be made outside of the usual preschool operational hours where possible.
- As far as possible parents and carers should not enter the premises.
Travel
- Wherever possible staff and parents should travel to preschool alone, using their own transport or if possible, walk.
- If public transport is necessary, current guidance on the use of public transport must be followed.
- Parents should be encouraged to ensure they do not leave travel accessories including buggies, car seats, scooters in the setting premises or grounds – if a buggy needs to be left at the setting, please leave it near the metal back fence. If raining, we will move this indoors.
- Outings from the preschool into the local community should be restricted to ensure mixing with members of the general public does not happen.
Hygiene and Health & Safety
Hand Washing
- All children and staff must wash their hands upon arrival at the setting for at least 20 seconds.
- Children and staff members should be encouraged to wash their hands frequently, this includes before and after eating food, after visiting the toilet or playing outdoors, after sneezing, blowing their nose or coughing into their hand and dealing with unwell people.
- Bodily fluid spills should follow the correct procedures as normal.
- An enhanced cleaning schedule must be implemented that includes furniture, surfaces and children’s toys and equipment and all staff are responsible in their area of work.
- Communal area, touch points and hand washing facilities must be cleaned and sanitised regularly and cleaned thoroughly at the end of each session.
- A deep clean may be needed after a child has become ill in the area they were waiting.
- All waste must be disposed of in a hygienic and safe manner following government guidelines.
- Tissues must be immediately disposed of and placed in a bin with a bag, lid and foot pedal.
- Bodily fluids must be double bagged and disposed of in a bin with a bag, lid and foot pedal.
- All items within the setting requiring laundering must be washed in line with NHS laundry guidelines.
- Items such as towels, flannels and bedding must not be shared by children.
- The setting and all activity should be risk assessed before opening or going ahead to address the risks from the virus and due consideration given to any adaptations to usual practice. Sensible measures should be put in place and policies and procedures followed.
- It is expected that would include, but not be limited, to the suspension of learning experiences involving shared materials which are not easily washable such as malleable materials (dough, clay) and the suspension of the sharing of food and utensils.
- Cut down on the available resources out in the preschool.
- Remove anything which cannot be easily wiped down or washed at the end of the day.
- Government guidance is that PPE is not required for general use in early years settings to protect against COVID- 19 transmission.
- PPE should continue to be worn and disposed of as normal for nappy changing, one to one care and the administration of first aid.
- If a child shows symptoms, staff should wear a face mask, visor, disposable gloves and apron if a 2-meter distance cannot always be maintained. PPE should be disposed of following government guidelines
- Where premises have been temporarily closed during the lockdown period or where they may need to temporarily close during future lockdowns appropriate Health & Safety checks should be conducted prior to reopening including legionnaires checks.
- Keep windows open where possible to ensure good levels of ventilation. If doors are opened ensure the children safety is maintained with locked gates.
- Children should not be permitted to bring items from home into the setting unless absolutely essential for their wellbeing. Anything that is brought in from home should remain in the child’s bag on their peg.
- All resources required for play and learning experiences of children should be regularly washed and/or sterilized. Any resources which are difficult to clean should be removed.
- Equipment used by staff such as stationary, tablets etc. should be allocated to individual staff members where possible and cleaned regularly.
- The preschool should ensure an adequate supply of essential supplies and contingency plans such as additional suppliers are in place to minimise the impact of any shortages of supplies.
- The preschool will not be able to operate without essential supplies required for ensuring infection control.
- A monitoring system for the usage of PPE is essential to ensure that a supply of stock is available to all who require it as and when required to meet the operational needs of the setting. When stocks are low, other options may be considered, such as the use of washable tabards and facemasks. These items will be washed at a high temperature in accordance with relevant guidelines and separate to any other preschool washing.
- In case the supply of food is interrupted, procedures must be implemented to ensure the appropriate food alternatives are sourced and normal food safety and hygiene processes are followed.
- In the event of a child developing suspected coronavirus symptoms whilst attending the setting, they should be collected within 20 minutes – if a parent does not feel they will be able to do this, they will be asked to nominate someone who can.
- Whilst waiting for the child to be collected they should be isolated from others in a previously identified room or area. A window should be opened for ventilation.
- The area should be thoroughly cleaned, immediately if the area cannot be left unvisited, and if the area can be left unvisited then cleaned after 72 hours.
- The person responsible for cleaning ideally should be the person dealing with the unwell child and should continue to wear their PPE. This should then be disposed of according to current government guidelines.
- If a child shows symptoms at the setting, parents will be asked to enquire about their child having a test – If the child is under 5, this can be done by calling NHS 111. If the test comes back negative, the child can return as soon as they are well. If the test comes back positive, we suggest the rest of the family get tested. The child can return after 14 days.
- In the event of a staff member developing suspected coronavirus symptoms whilst working at the setting, they should return home immediately and isolate at home in line with the NHS guidance. They should also follow current testing advice for themselves and their household.
- If a child or adult who has attended the setting is tested positive, the setting will close for 14 days and a test is suggested for all those who have attended.
Added September 2020
Please work with us to keep everyone safe. Some of the ways to do this when children have colds are.....
- Do not send children if they are unwell in themselves.
- Do not send children if they have been given Calpol/Paracetamol in the last 12 hours - this will mask the symptoms of a temperature.
- Under no circumstances must you send children if they, or anyone in the household, have a cough or temperature, or if they (or anyone in the household) have had a cough or temperature in the last 14 days.
- Please do reinforce the importance of personal hygiene - coughing or sneezing into the arm, washing hands regularly, supporting children in wiping their own noses etc.
Added January 2021
Temporary change to our illness policy
Our aim is always to keep your children as safe and as healthy as we can. With this in mind we have made the decision to ask that any child with a cold which is causing sneezing and a constantly running nose, is kept away from pre-school for a minimum of 48 hours - longer is the sneezing and running nose continues.
We do totally understand that this may cause some parents problems with regards to working etc, and although we do not in 'normal times' ask children to stay off for colds, we just feel that with things as they are at the moment, and with Covid spreading so quickly and freely via children, this is the best decision to make.
Added March 2021
All households of children who attend schools and pre-schools are now eligible to take part in home testing twice weekly. It's really easy to order tests and it's definitely worth doing if you can - just follow this link 👍https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rapid-lateral-flow-testing-for-households-and-bubbles-of-school-pupils-and-staff
Added August 2021
Covid testing and self isolation – All staff will continue to complete Lateral Flow Tests (LFT’s) twice per week. Although, government guidance changed on 16th August and now stipulates that isolation is only required by anyone who tests positive for Covid or any close contact of a positive case if they are over 18 and unvaccinated, staff will continue to stay away from the setting for 10 days if someone within their household tests positive for Covid – this is to minimise the risks of transmitting Covid within the setting. We would ask you to please do the same – if anyone in your household tests positive for Covid, we would really appreciate it if you could keep your child home too.
Added November 2021
Covid testing and self isolation – All staff will continue to complete Lateral Flow Tests (LFT’s) twice per week. If someone within their household tests positive for Covid they will test every day before coming to work – this is to minimise the risks of transmitting Covid within the setting. We would ask you to please do the same if anyone in your household tests positive for Covid.
Added January 2022
If staff have been in contact with anyone with Covid, they will take a test every morning before they attend the setting, for 7 days. It is really, really important that if your child has a cold, cough or temperature, they must be kept home until they have a negative test or until they are well again.
People without symptoms.
If someone in the household tests positive then all others in the household need to do a lateral Flow test every day for the next 7 days.
People with symptoms.
You must take a PCR test as soon as possible after symptoms show and you must self isolate straight away.
If you test positive.
Whether you test positive by a lateral flow test or a PCR test, you must self isolate straight away and report the test online - it would be really helpful if you could forward the confirmation email to [email protected] please.
You can take a lateral Flow test on the 5th day of your isolation, you then take another test no less than 24 hours later. If both of these tests are negative then you can come out of isolation. If you continue to test positive, then you must continue self isolating until you get 2 negative tests results at least 24 hours apart, or until you have completed 10 days of isolation.
Added 24th February 2022
As of today it is no longer a legal requirement to self isolate when someone tests positive for Covid. However, it is still recommended to do so. Therefore, until 1st April at the earliest, we will continue to follow government guidance and ask that any child who shows symptoms of Covid completes a Covid test. If your child tests positive, we ask that they do not attend pre-school until they have received 2 negative lateral flow tests and are back to full health. We also ask that no adult who has tested positive for Covid attends the setting please. This is a link to the most up to date guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-sets-out-plan-for-living-with-covid And, this statement is copied from that link: "The legal requirement to self-isolate ends. Until 1 April, we still advise people who test positive to stay at home. Adults and children who test positive are advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least five full days and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received two negative test results on consecutive days."
Although the government have also removed the requirement for Early Years staff to test twice per week, all staff here will continue to test weekly until 1st April as well.
Added April 2022
The legal requirement to test and self isolate with Covid has now been removed, however, our highest priority is always the health and safety of the children, staff and families who attend the setting, with this in mind, we still follow government guidance, the updated guidance on respiratory infections, including Covid-19, can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19 . Following this guidance, we ask that any adult who has tested positive, or shows symptoms, of Covid-19 does not attend the setting for 5 days after the day they test positive, or from the onset of symptoms if not taking a test, this includes parents and staff “If you have a positive COVID-19 test result, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days after the day you took your test.” The guidelines for children are that they stay away for 3 days, or longer if still feeling unwell “If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test, if they can.” We have children and members of staff who are in the ‘highly vulnerable’ category and catching Covid could very seriously impact their health and lives, so we would really appreciate your support and honesty with this. As our sickness policy has always stated, please do not under any circumstances send your child to pre-school if they have had Calpol/Paracetamol in the last 24 hours.