Nursery infection control policy

At The University of Dundee Nursery Ltd we promote the good health of all children attending through maintaining high hygiene standards and reducing the chances of infection being spread. 

Viruses and infections can be easily passed from person to person by breathing in air containing the virus which is produced when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. It can also spread through hand/face contact after touching a person or surface contaminated with viruses.

We follow the guidance on Infection Prevention and Control in Childcare Settings (Day Care and Childminding Settings) given to us by Infection Control Team Scotland and the exclusion criteria from the ‘Childcare and Childminding Settings’ guidance on exclusion times for specific illnesses, e.g. sickness and diarrhoea, measles and chicken pox to protect other children in the nursery.

Our staff:

• Encourage all children to use tissues when coughing and sneezing to catch germs
• Ensure all tissues are disposed of in a hygienic way and all children and staff wash their hands once the tissue is disposed of
• Develop children’s understanding of the above and the need for good hygiene procedures in helping them to stay healthy
• Wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when changing nappies, toileting children and dealing with any other bodily fluids. Staff are trained to dispose of these in the appropriate manner and wash hands immediately afterwards
• Clean and sterilise all potties and changing mats before and after each use
• Clean toilets at least daily and check them throughout the day
• Remind children to wash their hands when they arrive at nursery, after messy play, before and after eating, after visiting the toilet, before they go home, playing outside or being in contact with any animal and explain the reasons for this
• Clean all toys, equipment and resources on a regular basis by following a comprehensive cleaning rota and using antibacterial cleanser or through washing in the washing machine
• Wash or clean all equipment used by babies and toddlers as and when needed including when the children have placed it in their mouth
• Store dummies in individual hygienic dummy boxes labelled with the child’s name to prevent cross-contamination with other children
• Store toothbrushes (where applicable) hygienically to prevent cross-contamination
• Immediately clean and sterilise (where necessary) any dummy or bottle that falls on the floor or is picked up by another child
• Provide labelled individual bedding for children that is not used by any other child and wash daily
• Where applicable wear specific indoor shoes or slippers whilst inside the rooms and make sure that children wear them as well
• Follow the sickness and illness policy when children are ill to prevent the spread of any infection in the nursery. Staff are also requested to stay at home if they are contagious.

In addition

• The nursery management retains the right of refusal of all children, parents, staff and visitors who are deemed contagious and may impact on the welfare of the rest of the nursery
• Parents will be made aware of the need for these procedures to ensure compliance with these guidelines whilst in the nursery
• Periodically each room in the nursery will be deep cleaned including carpets and soft furnishings to ensure the spread of infection is limited. This will be implemented earlier if the need arises
• The nursery will ensure stocks of tissues, hand washing equipment, cleaning materials and sterilising fluid are always maintained and increased during the winter months or when flu and cold germs are circulating.

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