Frequently Asked Questions

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Please contact us if your child is not well enough to attend their scheduled session.

If your child develops symptoms while at preschool, or if they seem to become more unwell, we will contact you and ask you to collect them. It’s important that we have up-to-date contact information, and that a nominated adult is always available to collect them if necessary.

Chickenpox   

Please keep your child at home for at least 5 days from the onset of the rash and until all blisters have crusted over. 

Diarrhoea and/or vomiting   

Please keep your child at home for 48 hours after their last episode. Longer absence may be needed if your child’s illness was caused by certain bugs such as E. coli.

Cold and flu-like illness (including COVID-19)   

You child should stay at home until they no longer have a high temperature and feel well. Follow the national guidance if they’ve tested positive for COVID-19. 

Impetigo   

Children should stay at home until their sores have crusted and healed, or 48 hours after they started antibiotics.

Measles 

Do not attend for 4 days after the rash first appeared.

Mumps   

Do not attend for 5 days after the swelling started. 

Scabies 

Children can attend once they’ve had their first treatment.

Scarlet Fever   

Children can attend 24 hours after they started taking antibiotics. If you decline treatment for your child, or they cannot take antibiotics, they must not attend until fully recovered from all symptoms.

Whooping Cough 

Children can attend 48 hours after they started taking antibiotics. If you decline treatment for your child, or they cannot take antibiotics, they must not attend for 21 from the onset of symptoms.

Other common childhood illnesses

Some illnesses are common in childhood, and are highly contagious before symptoms appear. Therefore, keeping them off doesn’t prevent the spread of the illness, so if your child feels well and able to participate, they can come to preschool. But, please make sure you let us know about their condition so that we can advise other parents:

• Hand, foot and mouth 
• Glandular fever 
• Tonsillitis 
• Threadworms 
• Slapped cheek
• Head lice 

If your child has nits, please let us know so that we can advise other parents to monitor and/or treat their children.

If your child’s condition isn’t covered by this list, and for more information, please see the UK Health Security Agency’s advice on school exclusion for illness.

We understand that there are circumstances beyond your control that may prevent you from getting to us on time, such as traffic problems or emergencies. Please call us as soon as you can to let us know if you are going to be late.

Yes, we can. The medication needs to be clearly labelled with your child’s name and dispensing instructions, and in its original packaging.

Yes! Ideally, your child will come to preschool wearing sunscreen on a hot day, as applying cream to a large group of children is time-consuming and challenging! But, if they need a top-up, or if the sun comes out unexpectedly, we can help them to apply cream. Please send suncream in clearly marked bottles. Due to potential allergies, we can only apply the cream that you have supplied.

Yes! We love a birthday celebration! However, due to allergies, we would ask that only shop-bought cakes and treats are provided, and that they are in their original packaging with the ingredients listed.

We love cuddles! We understand that we might be the first taster of time away from parents and extended family, and that very young children might need the care and nurture that family would otherwise provide. We can give your child all the cuddles, handholding, and reassurance they need to feel safe and at home.

All our staff are first aid trained. Bumps and falls are a daily occurrence in a preschool setting! If your child has a minor injury that can be treated by us, we will do so and let you know at pick-up. If we are concerned that your child may need to be seen by a doctor, we will call you immediately. In a medical emergency, we will call for an ambulance.