CM ... Hand foot and mouth

[Stickhasgrownup]

Don't know anything about this but will google shortly. But would you accept a child with it? What would your policy be?
TIA

My nursery has a no return 48 hour d&v policy, but is actually fine with child having hand foot and mouth - as long as their comfortable with no fever.

Isn't it like CP - once the spots have crusted over?

Actually I'm wrong - here is the guidance. Though DD was too poorly to go to nursery for a few days and couldn't eat comfortably.

We don't exclude in our nursery unless the child is obviously unwell with a fever etc

Have done some googling and I have decided to exclude while symptoms present. I don't really want to expose my own children to this and would not feel comfortable taking mindee out and about risking other children catching it.

Under the HPU guidance of infections and disease your not allowed to exclude, we get round it if the child is visibly unwell and we warn parents with the youngest children. We have to close/ regularly sterilise the sand and pretty much anything that child touches. Pain in the bottom!!!

HPA guidance is just that - guidance, at least as far as CMs are concerned. It does include a list of serious conditions for which you MUST exclude and/or notify the illness; it does not say you may not exclude for any other reason. Childminders will often set their exclusion rules with a view to what they consider parents of all the children they care for are likely to consider reasonable. Childminders may also have different criteria, depending, for example, on whether they are pregnant or already caring for a child whose has suppressed immunity. Many specify in the interests of other children whose activities would otherwise be curtailed that the unwell child must be reasonably comfortable and able to take part in normal activities. Parents should read or discuss their own childminder's policies with regard to sickness.

I exclude if the child can't take part in normal activities and warn all the other parents. I've had a few children with hand foot and mouth over the years and with manic cleaning it hasn't spread badly.

Thanks for all replies. Off to do some manic cleaning of baby toys now!

I would not accept a child with Hand Foot and Mouth. It's highly contagious and, although a "mild" illness, some children are very poorly and miserable with it.