General Welfare Requirement: Safeguarding and Promoting Childrens Welfare The provider must promote the good health

of the children, take necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection, and take appropriate action when they are ill

1.16 Managing children with allergies, or who are sick or infectious Rainbow under 5s Emergency plan for a Human Influenza pandemic
Policy statement Closing the setting for a period of time. The Government may advise that group childcare settings in affected areas should close to pupils on child welfare grounds, to reduce the spread of infection among children. The local authority will inform all settings in its area when their area is affected and the decision to close will rest with the chair person of the playgroup, advice should be heeded from the local authority and the department of health to ensure and safeguard children's welfare. If the setting needs to be closed during a session and the chair person is not available the decision will rest with the play leader in charge. Other factors that may contribute to closing are too many staff on sick leave. If both the play leader and deputy are ill then the setting will be forced to close. If settings close to children, staff in line with all workers from other sectors should still come in to work, unless they themselves are ill, caring for dependents or authorised by the chairperson to work elsewhere e.g. from home. Other duties may be found for example paperwork, organisation of resources, or cleaning toys etc in the playroom EYFS key themes and commitments

A Unique Child
1.2 Inclusive practice 1.4 Health and wellbeing

Positive Relationships
2.2 Parents as partners

Enabling Environments

Learning and Development

Re opening of the playgroup The chair person will seek advice from the local children's service and health authority regarding any action that needs to be taken regarding re opening, for example only opening for a small number of children who have had pandemic flu and recovered, the decision needs to take into account any advice and is the chair persons responsibility. (In the chair persons absence this responsibility is with the play leader.) Infection control The sick child policy and procedure should be followed if a child becomes ill with suspected flu symptoms. To minimise any infection hard surfaces should be cleaned well. Any used tissues placed in either nappy sacks or bags and placed in the bin. Hands should be washed with soap and water and dried using paper towels. Children should be encouraged to put hands over mouths when coughing and sneezing. Any ill staff should not attend the setting and should remain at home until recovered. Communicating with parents during a pandemic Ensure all contact details are up to date at all times. Communicating advice on closures/reopening to staff, parents and children, Will be using any of the following: text-messaging or telephone email parents volunteering to phone others local radio TV stations

This policy was adopted at a meeting of Held on Date to be reviewed Signed on behalf of the management committee Name of signatory Role of signatory (e.g. chair/owner)

name of setting (date) (date)