Health and safety is of the utmost importance to our team to keep our children happy, healthy and safe. Every effort is taken to ensure that hands are washed regularly, and shared resources and spaces are cleaned throughout each school day. We rely on every parent to support us in our efforts by following the guidelines outlined below and informing the school of an illness that could be impactful on our community. When our community is informed of any infectious illness cases, no names are disclosed to protect the family’s privacy.
| DISEASE OR CONDITION | EXCLUSION OF CASE |
| Chickenpox | Exclude until all blisters have dried (usually 5 days) |
| Cold sores | Young children and others unable to comply with good hygiene practices should be excluded while lesion is weeping. Lesions should be covered by a dressing where possible. |
| Common cold | Exclusion is not necessary, but a person with a cold should stay home until he or she feels well. |
| Diarrhoea | Exclude until no diarrhoea for 24 hours. |
| Diphtheria | Exclude until medical certificate of recovery from SA Health’s Communicable Disease Control Branch is received following at least two negative throat swabs, the first not less than 24 hours after finishing a course of antibiotics and the second, at least the next 48 hours later. |
| Food poisoning | Exclude until well – no vomiting or diarrhoea for 24 hours. |
| Glandular fever | Exclude until well. |
| Hand, foot and mouth disease | Exclude until all blisters are dry. |
| Head lice | Exclude until appropriate treatment has commenced and all traces removed. |
| Hepatitis A / E | Exclude until medical certificate of recovery is received, and until at least 7 days after onset of jaundice or illness. |
| Hepatitis B / C / D | Exclusion is not necessary. |
| Influenza and influenza-like illnesses | Exclude until well. |
| Measles | Exclude until 4 days after the onset of the rash. |
| Meningitis (bacterial) | Exclude until well and has received appropriate antibiotics. |
| Meningitis (viral) | Exclude until well. |
| Mumps | Exclude for 5 days after onset of swelling. |
| Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection | Exclusion is notnecessary. Keep home if child has a fever. |
| Ringworm | Exclude until the day after appropriate treatment has commenced. |
| Rotavirus infection | Exclude until no vomiting or diarrhoea for 24 hours. |
| Rubella (German measles) | Exclude until fully recovered or for at least 4 days after the onset of the rash. |
| Salmonellainfection | Exclude until no diarrhoea for 24 hours. |
| Scabies | Exclude until the day after appropriate treatment has commenced. |
| Scarlet fever | See streptococcal sore throat. |
| School sores (impetigo) | Exclude until appropriate treatment has commenced. Any sores on exposed surfaces should be completely covered with a dressing. |
| Shingles | Exclude until blisters have dried up. |
| Streptococcal sore throat (including scarlet fever) | Exclude until the person has received appropriate antibiotic treatment for at least 24 hours and feels well. |
| Toxoplasmosis | Exclusion is notnecessary. |
| Typhoid, paratyphoid | Exclude until clearance has been given by a doctor or SA Health’s Communicable Disease Control Branch. |
| Viral gastroenteritis (viral diarrhoea) | Exclude until no diarrhoea for 24 hours. |
| Whooping cough | Exclude from childcare, school or workplace and similar settings until 5 days after starting antibiotic treatment, or for 21 days from the start of any cough. |
| Worms | If diarrhoea present, exclude until no diarrhoea for 24 hours. |
Child Abuse
Responsibility of staff
- To identify suspected child abuse or neglect or worst forms of child labour.
- To record incidences of suspected child abuse.
- To report to authorities regarding suspected child abuse in accordance with the Children’s Act, Act 38 of 2005, by completing the notification – First Report Implications (Refer to Form22).
- To refer cases to the local Department of Social Welfare or Child Welfare Agency.
- To facilitate disclosure where appropriate.
- To support the child throughout the process.
- To facilitate preventative measures/ programmes through life skills education.
- Monitoring aspects such as days and times absent and note whether (if the child does not disclose directly) they reflect patterns such as late arrival in poor condition (could indicate forms of child labour).
- Information will be handled in confidence.
- Staff may be subpoenaed to appear in court to give evidence.
Head Lice
Head lice are common in schools, so please check your child’s head regularly. Look for lice and nits on the scalp, behind the ears, and around the nape of the neck. It’s rare for lice to be in eyelashes or eyebrows. Kindly inform your child’s teacher if your child has lice. Parents are requested to keep their child at home until all traces of lice and eggs have been removed to prevent the transfer to other children.
HIV/AIDS
All situations where blood is exposed are handled with the assumption that the blood could be infected with HIV. Blood is handled with extreme caution. Skin exposed accidentally to blood is washed with soap and running water. All bleeding wounds, sores, breaks in skin, grazes and open skin lesions are cleaned immediately with running water and/or antiseptics and covered with a plaster. Learners are taught to never touch blood or injuries of peers; they must notify a staff member to assist the injured learner. Learners are taught not to prick themselves or any other learner/staff member with any sharp objects.
Hygiene
Please ensure that your child is bathed and dressed in clean clothing daily. Check that bags, shoes and lunchboxes are cleaned regularly. Please note that zipper lunch bags, backpacks and shoes clean well in the washing machine.
Injuries at School
All our staff members have first aid training, which is renewed every three years. Should your child sustain an injury at school, one of our staff members will treat the injury. Should an injury require an explanation, parents will be notified, outlining the injury and treatment given. If an injury occurs and the child shows signs of concussion or requires x-rays or stitches, parents will be called to fetch their child immediately. In case of emergency, we are also contracted to Emergency Medical Care Response who are on call.
Infectious Illnesses
Please keep sick children at home, especially if they have a fever or an infectious illness. We are unable to make special arrangements for sick children e.g., keeping them indoors. Any medicines should be handed in at reception, with instructions about dosage and completion of the Medication Consent Form. If your child is taking antibiotics, please keep them at home until the course is complete or until your child is no-longer infectious as per the advice of your doctor.
