Illness

Parents must inform the service if their child is unable to attend through illness and, in line with the service infection control policies, inform the service of the nature of any infectious illnesses. Parents must sign permission forms for the administration of routine or emergency medication and should be aware that the service will query instructions for administration of medication should they exceed recommended dosage, frequency or give any other legitimate cause for concern (e.g. children being medicated without prescription or known health conditions). Emergency contacts numbers should be provided, including the child's GP and other health professionals regularly involved in their care. Any allergies the child suffers must be listed in the information provided to the service, including dietary substitute information where needed ( e.g. only soya milk). Staff may need to undergo specialist training for the administration of certain types of medication.

Infection control: Health Protection Scotland. Infection Prevention and Control in Day Childcare Settings. Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, 2011.

This guidance covers all day care facilities for children (except schools) including nurseries, day-care centres, playgroups, creches, children's centres, childminders, after-school clubs and holiday clubs. Day care facilities for children in this document will also refer to those based in schools. This document provides guidance and advice on preventing and controlling infection for staff who work with children in childcare facilities (day-care) and childminding services in Scotland.

All people who care for children in childcare settings have a 'duty of care' to provide a safe environment for children in their care.

Medication

Many children will at some time need to take medication while attending daycare or childminding services. For many this will be short-term, perhaps finishing a course of medication. Other children may have medical conditions such as asthma that if not properly managed could limit their access to the service. Some children have conditions which require emergency treatment e.g. severe, allergic conditions. This guidance from the Care Inspectorate provides information on record keeping, storage and administration of medication using a child centred approach.