Childcare attendance, exclusion and infection prevention — formative SAQs

SAQ 1 (10 marks)

A parent of a 2-year-old in full-time childcare asks for advice after the centre sent the child home with diarrhoea and vomiting. The child is now drinking well at home. [9]

1. List the three principle-level reasons a child should be excluded from childcare. (3) [11] [12]
2. Outline the infection-prevention measures you will recommend for the centre and the household. (4) [3] [4]
3. How will you decide the return-to-care timing for gastroenteritis, and what must you avoid in any certificate? (3) [11] [12]

Model answer

1. Exclude when the child is too unwell to participate; when staff cannot provide care without compromising others; or when a pathogen-specific infectious period still applies under local guidance. [11] [12]

2. Emphasise hand hygiene after toileting/nappy change and before food; environmental cleaning of bathrooms and mouthed toys; stay home while symptomatic; avoid sharing cups/towels; staff should not work while infectious; reinforce immunisation as structural prevention. [3] [4] [1]

3. Map to the local exclusion table symptom-free interval (often framed around 24–48 hours free of diarrhoea/vomiting — quote the current local source, do not invent). Certificate should state clinical facts and the criterion used; do not claim absolute non-infectiousness, invent negative tests, or prescribe antibiotics solely for clearance. [9] [11] [12]