Little People Child Care
 

610-434-2301


 

Sickness

Illness

1.  If a child is absent for three or more consecutive days due to illness, a doctor's note is necessary for the child to return to school.

2.  The full tuition will be due even if your child is out of school for an illness, except if you want to take credit days for them.

Hospitalization

1.  Credit days can be used for hospitalization.  The parents will not be charged if the hospitalization and recuperation time exceeds the credit days.  It will then be treated as a temporary withdrawal, with the same rules governing.

2.  If a child is hospitalized for any reason, a doctor's note is necessary for the child to return to school.

Policy relating to illness of children and infectious diseases

After researching the control of infectious diseases in a Child Care Center, the following guidelines have been developed, based on the requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and the Allentown Board of Health.  These guidelines have been adopted by Little People.

In a child care setting, children under the age of 5 years are still in the process of developing an immune system; consequently, they will be sick from colds, viruses, flu's, etc. until they build up their immune systems.  According to statistics, children under the age of 3 may average two illnesses a month which ill require a doctor's care.

It is a fact of life that any time your child(ren) first come in contact with a large number of other people.  They will be sick much more frequently when first enroll in any type of school situation.  After a period of time, usually a few months, you will see them get sick much less often, although in the beginning that may be small comfort to you.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Bureau of Child Development Programs, Regulations for Child Care Centers, section 170 under Child Health:

     ...The Child Care Center staff shall have the option to deny care to ill children on any given day, or to request that a child be removed from the facility if the child is determined by the Child Care staff to be too ill to remain in the facility for the remaining period of the day; and at that time the Child Care staff shall notify the parent immediately that the child must be removed from the Center..."

To minimize sickness in our Child Care Center by preventing the spread of germs,  we must exclude those children who show symptoms of illnesses and diseases to include, but not limited to, the following:

  • Cold with rash

  • Cold, not acting well enough to participate in activities, crying or lethargic, may or may not have a fever.

  • Cold with a temperature of 101*

  • Cough with a temperature of 101*

  • Bronchitis or croup

  • Fever with rash

  • Rash, any type of skin eruption

  • Pink Eye/Conjunctivitis

  • Strep Throat

  • Diarrhea or loose bowels; two loose bowel movements within a two-hour period

  • Diarrhea with a temperature of 101*

  • Communicable Diseases: Chicken Pox, Mumps, etc.

  • Vomiting; vomits twice within two hours

  • Vomiting and Diarrhea

Children sent home due to the above MUST be seen by a physician.  A note from the doctor on a prescription pad identifying the illness/disease and stating that the child is not contagious and may return to school is required in order for the child to be readmitted. 

Children having a temperature of 101* and above will only be able to return to school after their temperatures have been normal for 24 hours.

Children who have chronic colds, coughs, diarrhea and vomiting may require a physical re-evaluation by a Physician and Laboratory work (blood tests, stool samples, etc.)

We will do our best not to make you pick up your child(ren) unless they are really sick; we recognize the fact that most of our children are in Child Care because their parents must work, and we will not call you without due cause.  Sometimes, if the only symptom is fever, up to 101*, we will call you and ask if it's okay to give them Tylenol and let them rest for a little while - usually that will bring the fever down.  If not, we will then ask you to pick up your child.

Adhering to the above will greatly decrease the breeding of infectious germs in our Child Care School, thus promoting the health and welfare of all the children in attendance.

ALL PARENTS MUST HAVE ALTERNATE CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN WHEN CHILDREN CANNOT ATTEND SCHOOL DUE TO ILLNESS OR DISEASE.

For parents who do not have relatives, friends or neighbors to provide alternate care, try contacting local colleges, nursing schools, senior citizens agencies, or call TOT-INFO (868-4636).

Medicine Policy

In many situations, we will be able to administer most non-prescription medicines, provided that we have your signed authorization, daily, and clear instructions filled out and signed on the Medicine Permission Slips provided in each classroom.

Prescription medicines may be administered by Little People staff, provided that we have clear and specific doctor's instructions AND provided we feel comfortable with the low risk involved.  Since we do not have trained medical personnel on staff, there may be situations where we do not feel comfortable administering certain medications.  We always reserve the right to decline administration of medication for any child at any time.

All of our personnel receive training and certification in First Aid an CPR and keep their certification current as a requirement of employment.  We will provide First Aid in those situations where it is required and we feel capable of providing it.  For more serious or questionable situations, two staff members will bring the child to the Muhlenberg Medical Center on Schoenersvile Road.  We will always call the parent when doing so, and give them the option of meeting us there.

Insurance

All children are required to be covered under some type of Sickness & Accident Insurance.  This can be either through a group or individual policy or by a Medical Assistance Card.  Our Liability Insurance Carrier has a very narrow definition of Medical Coverage for the children in attendance here, and will not pay for the routine bumps and bruises which may necessitate a visit to the emergency room of a hospital.

If an accident involving your child does occur, we will normally call you and explain the nature of the problem, and then two of us will transport the child to Muhlenberg Hospital Center which is only a few minutes away.  Generally, it's not serious, but we would rather be cautious in those types of situations and take preventative measures.

WE DO REQUIRE THAT ALL PARENTS HAVE ACCIDENT COVERAGE FOR THESE TYPES OF ACCIDENTS.  THE SCHOOL WILL NOT PAY FOR MEDICAL COST INCURRED BY VISITS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.