When children are sick, they should usually be taken care of at home. However, for chronic or longer term conditions children may need to be given medication whilst at nursery. The following procedure outlines the nursery’s policy on administering medications:
Administering medicine
- Painkillers such as Acamol/ Nurofen is NOT allowed to be given at nursery, and children who have been given fever reducing medication (for whatever reason) may not attend gan
- Medication designed to lower children’s temperatures cannot be given, as this could mask important indicators that a child is sick or unwell. Children who have taken this type of medication (what for whatever reason) may not attend nursery
- Antibiotics can only be administered by the nursery for a chronic condition, and in line with the policy details below.
- For the first 24 hours of taking ANY medication, including antibiotics, children must be taken care of at home. Additionally, children MUST be excluded from nursery in accordance with the exclusion policy
- Any medication given to children MUST be their own.
Medication Policy
Policy Aim:
To provide medication to children who need it, in compliance with the Daycare Standards and regulations.
Compliance:
The policy adheres to the regulation, set out in the National Daycare Standards in relation to what medication can be administered by daycare staff:
Introduction
At Rainbow Nursery, we are committed to supporting the health and well-being of all children in our care. This policy outlines our approach to managing and administering medication for children aged 3 months to 5 years, in compliance with Israeli law for daycare settings.
General Guidelines
- We do not administer paracetamol (e.g., Acamol) or nurofen-based medications within the nursery. Children who have been given paracetamol or nurofen-based medication may not attend daycare until a minimum of 8 hours has elapsed.
- Parents should administer chronic medications outside of nursery hours whenever possible.
- Parents must inform the nursery if they have administered any medication to their child before the day starts.
- The nursery may only administer medication for chronic conditions, which cannot be administered outside of nursery hours
Definitions
Chronic Condition: A health problem or disease that is persistent or long-lasting in its effects. These conditions are generally not cured completely but can often be controlled with medication or other treatments. Examples include asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and severe allergies.
Administration of Essential Medications
In cases where medication must be given during nursery hours, we follow these procedures:
Authorisation and Documentation
- We require a written recommendation from a specialist doctor for any medication or essential nutritional supplement to be administered at the nursery.
- The recommendation from the doctor must specifically state that the medication should be administered at nursery and by nursery staff, and why
- Parents must provide written consent, authorising our staff to administer the medication or supplement.
Staff Training and Responsibility
- Our staff will undergo appropriate training by healthcare professionals to identify life-threatening conditions and administer medication or supplements correctly.
- Parental consent will explicitly delegate the authority to administer the medication or supplement to our nursery staff.
Medication Supply and Storage
- Parents are responsible for supplying medication or supplements in the original packaging, clearly labelled with the child’s name, expiration date, and dosage instructions.
- We store all medications and supplements in a secure location, out of children’s reach.
Conditions Requiring Medication
We may administer medication for various chronic conditions, including but not limited to:
- Severe allergies (e.g., food allergies requiring epinephrine)
- Asthma
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Chronic conditions requiring regular medication (where medication cannot be given before or after daycare hours)
Antibiotic Medication
- Antibiotic medication will only be administered by nursery staff for chronic conditions if it is essential and cannot be scheduled outside of nursery hours.
- For all other antibiotic medication (relating to infections that fall outside the definition of a chronic condition) parents must administer this outside of nursery hours, or by the parents at the daycare
- Where the nursery is responsible for the administration of medication, parents must provide a written recommendation from a doctor and written consent for the administration of antibiotics.
Unwell Children
When children are unwell and on medication, they are best cared for at home. This ensures they receive the rest and attention they need to recover fully.
Emergency Medications
- Our staff will administer life-saving medications (e.g., epinephrine for severe allergic reactions) as per the specialist doctor’s written instructions and with parental consent.
- We will also administer essential nutritional supplements required for specific health conditions following the same procedures.
Parent Responsibilities
- Inform us immediately of any changes in the doctor’s instructions regarding medication.
- Ensure an adequate supply of medication or supplements is available at the nursery.
- If medication needs to be administered for a non-chronic condition during the day, parents must come to the daycare to administer it.
Medication Procedure
- Parents complete the online Rainbow medication form.
- Parents upload the doctor’s recommendation to the form.
- Parents provide written permission and instructions for medication administration.
- Nursery staff verify all documentation and store medication appropriately.
- Staff complete a medication administration form for each child requiring medication.
- Staff record and sign each time medication is administered.
Medication Form
The Medication Form must be completed prior to leaving the medication with the nursery team Click here to access the form.
Compliance and Review
We will review this policy annually to ensure compliance with current Israeli laws and regulations and to incorporate any updates in medical guidelines.
By following this policy, Rainbow Nursery aims to provide a safe and supportive environment for all children, ensuring their health needs are met responsibly and legally.