Gingerbread’s exclusion from the Centre policy adheres directly to the Federal Government’s Children’s Health and Medical Research Council recommendations, in the interest of all children in our Centre, as quoted below:

"Excluding sick children and staff is one of the three most important ways of limiting the spread of infection in the child care centre (Ref. Preventing the Spread of Infectious Disease, and Immunisation policies). The spread of certain infectious diseases can be reduced by excluding a person who is known to be infectious, from contact with others who are at risk of catching infection.

Parents may find an exclusion ruling difficult and some parents may place great pressure on the director to vary from the Gingerbread’s exclusion rules. Often these parents are under great pressure themselves to fulfil work, study or other family commitments. This may lead to stress and conflict between parents and centre staff.

Directors should not be influenced by letters from doctors which allow the child back into care, unless the child’s condition fulfils the criteria for return to care. Sometimes doctors make different diagnoses for children in the same centre with illnesses that appear similar. Department of Health, Public Health Unit, should be able to help you with these situations or when you are in doubt about exclusion.

THE NEED FOR EXCLUSION DEPENDS UPON:

• The ease with which infection can be spread
• The ability of the infected person to follow hygiene precautions, and
• The severity of the disease

THE EXCLUSION PROCEDURE
 

• Identify when symptoms or a medical diagnosis fit a condition with an exclusion period
• Refer to the table (NHMRC folder, p7) for the recommended minimum periods of exclusion, and
• Advise the parents or staff member when they may return to the centre.

These are recommended MINIMUM periods of exclusion based on risk of infection, but a child or staff member may need to stay at home longer than the exclusion period to recover from an illness.