Health

Separation Anxiety

At a young age your child doesn’t have a strong sense of time, this means they are unsure of when you will return once you leave. 

For some children goodbyes are full of tears, screams and tantrums- this is a completely normal and healthy part of development.

Separation anxiety decreases as a child ages, but similar feelings may return for short periods of time throughout their childhood, examples of when anxiety returns can be linked to illness and stress that a child may be experiencing.

Preparing your child before they start nursery can greatly reduce any separation anxiety they may feel when you leave.

Top tips for a tear-free goodbye

• Introduce the concept of nursery before they start- this can be done through storytelling or drawing pictures
• Be patient during your child’s settling-in sessions.  We are trying to familiarise them with their new surroundings, this is a very daunting time in a young child’s life and we want to make it a very positive experience.
• When it’s time to leave, say goodbye.  Reassure your child that you will be back to collect them.  As tempting as it seems to ‘sneak out’ this risks your child’s trust in you.
• Once you say goodbye, leave promptly.  A long farewell scene will reinforce that nursery is a bad place.
• Don’t linger around.  The longer you stay, the harder it becomes for your child to separate from you. 
• Create your own ritual.  We advise that once your child is settled, to leave them at the door to come in on their own.  Some parents and carers create a ritual that they do and they keep this consistent every day the child is in.  Some examples of rituals include a special handshake, one last hug or a wave once they have hung their coat up.
• Transitional objects.  Sometimes children may need extra support, and this is ok.  We ask parents and carers to bring in a transitional object from home to help your child settle, this could be a special blanket or toy.

We also want this experience to be positive for the parents and carers.  If you feel guilty or worried about leaving them at nursery the children will more than likely pick up on these feelings.  The calmer and more assured you are, the more confident your child will feel.  Please speak with a practitioner about these feelings you are having.

Medication

If a child needs to receive regular, prescribed medication whilst at nursery, full written details must be provided, and the medication clearly marked with the child’s name and dosage instructions. Attending the nursery whilst on medication will be at the discretion of the Nursery Leader.

Parents/carers will have to fill out a medication form before medicine can be administrated, they will be contacted before liquid paracetamol is given. However, if a child’s temperature becomes exceptionally high and a parent/carer cannot be contacted, then liquid paracetamol will be administered. This will only be after all other methods of relieving the temperature have been attempted e.g. tepid sponging. Please note paracetamol will not be administered unless the child has a temperature exceeding 37.5 degrees.

If you have administered any medicine to your child before they have come into the setting, please inform a member of staff.

Sickness

Children should not attend nursery if they are suffering from sickness, diarrhoea, an infectious illness or have any unspecific rashes (until diagnosed by a doctor). If a child becomes ill whilst at nursery, their parent/carer will be contacted and informed of their child’s illness, they will also be asked to collect the child. If parents/carers are unavailable, other authorised contacts will be called. In the event of an emergency, the child will be taken to the nearest hospital, accompanied by a senior member of staff until their parent/carer arrives.

In general, children may attend the setting as soon as the chance of passing the illness on has gone. Please do not send your child back to the setting for a full 48 hours after any sickness. If you are unsure, please ring and speak to the Nursery Leader.  Please contact the setting if your child is absent, on the number below;

Fordbridge Childcare Plus office: 0121 779 8040 (ext. 3)

If your child has been sick or has had diarrhoea in the last 24 hours please do not bring them back to the setting until 48 hours after their last episode. 

Head Lice

If we notice that a child who is in our care has head lice, we will inform the parents/carers on collection.  We will advise them to treat not only the child’s hair but also all members of the immediate family. For health and safety reasons, children with long hair should have it plaited or tied up.

We understand fully, the frustrations faced with this issue, but if we adhere to all children with long hair having it tied back, educate your child about how lice are transferred from one person to another and treat all members of your immediate family, then we can at the very least keep the situation under control.

Nappies and Toilet training

It is very important not to rush your child into using the potty or toilet, As parents/carers it is often presumed they are ready as they approach two years old, however they can be often older than two, it is important to remember that not all children are the same developmentally.

When and how to help your child learn to use the potty or toilet will depend on how emotionally ready your child is, as well as your own beliefs and values about toilet training. There is not a right way or a right age that toilet training must begin. 

At Fordbridge Childcare Plus We work in partnership, so that your child has continuous support and information is shared between the setting and home about your child’s nappy changing and toilet training in a way that suits the parents and meets your child’s needs. Parents/carers are expected to be fully engaged in the process of toilet training and tips and strategies will be shared to help with this at home.  In return we will offer your child continued support that compliments what is happening at home. 

If your child wears nappies, please make sure there are nappies in their bag each day they are in the setting.

All practitioners at Fordbridge Childcare Plus will work in partnership with you to create a smooth transition from nappies to big boy/girl pants.

When you feel your child is ready to begin toilet training, please speak with your child’s key person so that we can support your child and yourself in the process.  Your child will also need at least two sets of spare clothes in a named bag.

Allergies

At Fordbridge Childcare Plus we are aware that children may have or develop in the future, an allergy resulting in an allergic reaction.  Our aims are to ensure allergic reactions are minimised or, where possible, prevented and that staff are fully aware of how to support a child who may be having an allergic reaction.  Can we please ask you to notify us if you are aware that you child has an allergy of any description and we will make sure that we follow our procedures for dealing with this in the setting.

You are requested to inform the setting of any food, medicine, activity or any other circumstances that may cause your child to have an allergic reaction/allergy.  You must provide details, in writing, of the severity of the reaction/allergy and must continue to inform nursery of any changes/progress to the condition in writing, when they become aware.  You are requested to inform Nursery of any changes to all information retained on file in the nursery. 

As the number of children with nut allergies is increasing in the UK, with support of parents we aim to keep the nursery environment nut free.  You are requested not to send food or empty food packaging into the nursery.  You are also requested not to use creams, sun creams, oils etc on your child that may contain nut oil.  Fordbridge Community Primary School is also a kiwi- free zone, please ensure no Kiwi fruit is sent in your child’s lunch bag.

Please make sure that the allergy form is completed within the induction pack and during your child’s settling-in session, take time to inform a practitioner of any allergies your child may have.

Healthy Eating

We monitor our snack menu constantly in order to find interesting foods which are not only nutritious but are tasty and pleasant for young children to eat. We ensure that children have fresh milk, fruit and vegetables daily for snacks. 

As we are a healthy setting please can you refrain from giving your child sweets before coming into the setting and also using them as a reward to get your child to come into nursery.

If your child is staying for a whole day, please provided them with healthy alternatives in their lunch box.

Your child will have the opportunity to participate in healthy eating activities, where they will prepare and sample many different healthy snacks.

Outside agencies

As Early Years Practitioners, we work closely with outside agencies to provide the very best start to your child’s educational life.  If you have any concerns regarding your child’s development, please do not hesitate in speaking with a practitioner.

SEND

Children with SEN have different needs, but all children with SEND are welcomed at our setting.

We will undertake to use our best endeavours, in partnership with parents, to make the provision required to meet the SEND of children at this setting.