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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nursery/Pre-school temperature - illness policy?

109 replies

Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 20:45

Not really an AIBU. Do the ones you use specify a temperature at which the child will be sent home? Children aged two to four. Thanks 🙏

OP posts:
Original poster
Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 21:24

Oh and I also lost a close family member to sepsis so don’t tell me I haven’t lived it, hun.

OP posts:
KnittyNell · 19/01/2025 21:24

User457788 · 19/01/2025 21:21

Good for you - thats not the norm at all.

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Absolute rubbish.
You clearly know little about children’s health and childcare. 😄

Original poster
Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 21:23

User457788 · 19/01/2025 21:21

Yes she has - twice. A UTI both times. Totally normal to have a temp that high with a UTI. What you're reading in a book doesn't always collate with real life hun. My dad recently had sepsis and was in intensive care - his highest temp was 40 degrees. So honestly until you've got your own kids and lived it - you're the one talking nonsense and I'm relaying you real life experience.

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I have my own children! Three of them in fact. When I said I don’t have a little one I meant I don’t have nursery aged children and haven’t for quite some time. You are mistaken about your child having a temperature of 45.

OP posts:
KnittyNell · 19/01/2025 21:22

Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 21:19

Sorry what are you talking about? Pretty sure your child has never had a temp of 45 degrees, that is hyperthermic! Sepsis is also a worry with an infection and a temp. I’m glad I don’t look after your kids.

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Absolutely.
They wouldn’t get past my doorstep.

User457788 · 19/01/2025 21:21

KnittyNell · 19/01/2025 21:21

The raised temperature often occurs before symptoms present themselves.
I won’t accept children until their temperature has retuned to normal for 48 hours, I have a duty of care to all of the children in my care, their families and also myself and my assistant.

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Good for you - thats not the norm at all.

User457788 · 19/01/2025 21:21

Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 21:19

Sorry what are you talking about? Pretty sure your child has never had a temp of 45 degrees, that is hyperthermic! Sepsis is also a worry with an infection and a temp. I’m glad I don’t look after your kids.

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Yes she has - twice. A UTI both times. Totally normal to have a temp that high with a UTI. What you're reading in a book doesn't always collate with real life hun. My dad recently had sepsis and was in intensive care - his highest temp was 40 degrees. So honestly until you've got your own kids and lived it - you're the one talking nonsense and I'm relaying you real life experience.

KnittyNell · 19/01/2025 21:21

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The raised temperature often occurs before symptoms present themselves.
I won’t accept children until their temperature has retuned to normal for 48 hours, I have a duty of care to all of the children in my care, their families and also myself and my assistant.

Original poster
Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 21:19

User457788 · 19/01/2025 21:15

Yep which my kids don't/have never had. Even twice when my daughter had a UTI and had a temp of 45 degrees. She was fine 🙂 so I guess it depends on the kid. A temp of 38/39 is barely a temp and not one I'd worry about febrile convulsions with (they are also rare anyway).

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Sorry what are you talking about? Pretty sure your child has never had a temp of 45 degrees, that is hyperthermic! Sepsis is also a worry with an infection and a temp. I’m glad I don’t look after your kids.

OP posts:
User457788 · 19/01/2025 21:18

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KnittyNell · 19/01/2025 21:16

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User457788 · 19/01/2025 21:15

Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 21:13

Because there is such a thing as febrile convulsions.

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Yep which my kids don't/have never had. Even twice when my daughter had a UTI and had a temp of 45 degrees. She was fine 🙂 so I guess it depends on the kid. A temp of 38/39 is barely a temp and not one I'd worry about febrile convulsions with (they are also rare anyway).

User457788 · 19/01/2025 21:13

KnittyNell · 19/01/2025 21:12

Yes! Four children, seven grandchildren and forty years working in childcare and early years… is that enough?

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Then you must understand that a temperature isn't the end of the world 99% of the time in kids.

Original poster
Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 21:13

User457788 · 19/01/2025 21:12

Why wouldn't they be able to get hold of us? My phone is either in my hand or on my desk in front of me on loud all day long,, same with my husband whose number they also have? Why would they 'blue light' a child to hospital with just a temperature 😄 mumsnet is so hysterical sometimes.

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Because there is such a thing as febrile convulsions.

OP posts:
Piccalow · 19/01/2025 21:13

Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 21:07

We are a community pre-school not a private nursery so it isn’t a money making business

Give them repeated newsletters then crack on with testing temperatures at the door if it persists.

KnittyNell · 19/01/2025 21:12

User457788 · 19/01/2025 21:11

Yeah course I would. Kids get temps with a cold even, whats the issue? Have you had/got little kids? A temperature is not always a bad thing - it's your bodys way of fighting stuff off - its a good thing sometimes particularly if they're well in themselves.

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Yes! Four children, seven grandchildren and forty years working in childcare and early years… is that enough?

User457788 · 19/01/2025 21:12

jannier · 19/01/2025 21:06

Then if they can't get hold of you call an ambulance child gets blue lighter etc there is incomplete medical history and your child won't be given the correct treatment and could be overdosed. Your child spreads their bugs to others including staff and if found out you could be given immediate termination. Great plan.

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Why wouldn't they be able to get hold of us? My phone is either in my hand or on my desk in front of me on loud all day long,, same with my husband whose number they also have? Why would they 'blue light' a child to hospital with just a temperature 😄 mumsnet is so hysterical sometimes.

User457788 · 19/01/2025 21:11

KnittyNell · 19/01/2025 21:04

Are you saying that you would send a child in who already has a temperature?

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Yeah course I would. Kids get temps with a cold even, whats the issue? Have you had/got little kids? A temperature is not always a bad thing - it's your bodys way of fighting stuff off - its a good thing sometimes particularly if they're well in themselves.

KnittyNell · 19/01/2025 21:10

Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 21:07

They are and as a practitioner this is something that really annoys us. It’s not fair on the child, the other kids or us!

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Tell me about it!
I’m a childminder and it’s in my contract that the arrangement is immediately terminated if a parent sends in a child knowing full well that he/she should be kept at home.
I’ve implemented it a few times!

Original poster
Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 21:07

We are a community pre-school not a private nursery so it isn’t a money making business

OP posts:
Original poster
Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 21:07

KnittyNell · 19/01/2025 21:04

Are you saying that you would send a child in who already has a temperature?

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They are and as a practitioner this is something that really annoys us. It’s not fair on the child, the other kids or us!

OP posts:
jannier · 19/01/2025 21:06

User457788 · 19/01/2025 20:59

All you can do is smash some calpol and nurofen into them just before drop off and hope you might be able to do some work before they call you just after lunch to pick up your little one if the temp spikes.

Then if they can't get hold of you call an ambulance child gets blue lighter etc there is incomplete medical history and your child won't be given the correct treatment and could be overdosed. Your child spreads their bugs to others including staff and if found out you could be given immediate termination. Great plan.

Original poster
Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 21:06

User457788 · 19/01/2025 21:00

They'd never call you as low as that! Would have to be at least 39 before my nursery would call as long as they were well in themselves.

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We only ever check temps if the child is acting unwell. We cannot leave it until 39 as we can’t give calpol and that’s verging on dangerously high.

OP posts:
KnittyNell · 19/01/2025 21:04

User457788 · 19/01/2025 20:59

All you can do is smash some calpol and nurofen into them just before drop off and hope you might be able to do some work before they call you just after lunch to pick up your little one if the temp spikes.

Are you saying that you would send a child in who already has a temperature?

Original poster
Porgs2 · 19/01/2025 21:04

User457788 · 19/01/2025 20:59

All you can do is smash some calpol and nurofen into them just before drop off and hope you might be able to do some work before they call you just after lunch to pick up your little one if the temp spikes.

I work in one… don’t have a little one!

OP posts:
WeaselPax · 19/01/2025 21:00

mindutopia · 19/01/2025 20:52

I think they would give calpol and probably call to let us know, so we could collect if we wanted. They would specifically ask that they are collected if the calpol doesn’t bring it down. I think anything over 38c would be classed as a fever.

Mine does this. And if they do get sent home they have to stay off for 48hrs.