Nursery changing guidelines

[confusedmum16]

Our little one has HFM he's okay and well but I've still kept him off nursery he's been off since Wednesday, was hoping to send him to nursery on Monday but nursery have told me I need to keep him off till the spots have completely gone, I've told them that could take at least 2 weeks. In the contract we got from nursery stated that hand foot and mouth had no isolation period& that if child is well within themselves they can go as normal. When I mentioned this they said they go off NHS guidelines now and when I stated NHS also say if child is well within themselves there is no need to wait till spots have completely gone.

Should I just accept it and get on with it ?

I'm working 4 days next week and can't get anyone to watch my little boy so no idea what I'm going to do.

No, you need to challenge it.

If it says different in the NHS guidelines and the contract then make a complaint seeing as you've already brought it up

No don't just accept it - the nhs website says the opposite to what they are telling you, and it goes against what you have signed. So they need to produce an updated change in policy as a bare minimum.

Sounds like they are either chancing it, or confusing it with chicken pox.

Definitely don't accept it. They're being ridiculous. HF&M is very contagious, even before spots/symptoms appear. Hence NHS don't recommend isolation period. It's pointless. Only keep them off if they are unwell with it. My son was very poorly and needed time off, but my daughter barely batted an eye.

If they have changed guidelines they should have evidence of disseminating that data to parents. In a well run nursery, parents would have been involved in a consultation process before any changes were announced to everyone. They can’t just suddenly claim to have changed policy.

Since they are going against NHS guidelines I would make a formal complaint in writing. Make sure it is headed “formal complaint” so that it triggers their complaint process. Mention it is a matter of urgency as you are without childcare next week and potentially lose income as a result. I’d also indicate that if not resolved to your satisfaction you will escalate to care inspectorate (if you are in Scotland) or OFSTED (if you are in England).

I think you’ll find they will quickly change their minds!

Take him to nursery, who Is telling you he can't go in room staff or manager? If room staff go straight to the manager if manager tell them you will not be paying for dc to be off for a week when there is no need for him to be off.

They’re being ridiculous. Our nursery has a 48 hour exclusion period, to prove it’s not chicken pox, then it’s fine. My little one was absolutely miserable with mouth ulcers so we would have kept them off for those 48 hours anyway.

Other nurseries locally have no exclusion period at all.

I spent the 15 years working in nursery and school settings. I may be cynical in saying this but I would not be surprised if they have not conveniently changed their policy because they are currently dealing with high levels of staff sickness/absence and are struggling to meet ratio. Firstly, they can not just suddenly update their policies. Parents should be formally made aware of this and given notice of this change. Secondly, the NHS does not recommend an exclusion period as it has little to no impact on the spread of infection. Any nursery I previously worked in would only have required children to be off if they were unwell and had an accompanying high temperature. Stand your ground and do not give in on this one.

Have they had an outbreak? We had an email saying they'd been notified of a case in DDs nursery room and these were the policies but in the case of several children getting HFM they maybe have to take further advice and put in different measures (not sure why given it's contagious before the spots appear).

Worth speaking to the manager to see what's going on and check that's correct. They could easily have kids with HFM and chickenpox and forgotten which rule is for which.

Have reported similar to care inspectorate previously and they made sure the nursery updated policies and were in line with NHS guidelines

update

My mistake, I feel so bloody stupid I've just read the contract over again and I was readying the wrong one 🙈, i just found the correct contract and It said hand foot and mouth exclusion as above, above that was slapped cheek syndrome and it stated "until rash as Cleared and child is well " so I guess they are right and now my son as to stay off for 10-14 days. Absolute madness in my opinion!

Well @confusedmum16 , they’ve actually said they use NHS guidelines rather than their own contract now. So I’d be asking them to reconfirm in writing that they’re changing their sickness procedure to NHS recommendations. And if they do that then I’d send them the NHS guidelines on HFM and have him back in there happy as Larry!