Exclusion of Sick Children from Child Care Services

Abstract

A survey was conducted to determine the types of problems directors of child care services experience in excluding sick children from their service. A questionnaire was sent to directors of all child care services in the Eastern Sydney Area. The major problems reported by directors were diagnosing the likely cause of illness; knowing whether the symptoms warrant exclusion; and convincing parents to keep their sick child at home. Most directors felt that parents, relatives or friends should take care of sick children. Directors also suggested that awards allowing for family leave to care for sick children, the provision of a room for sick children in the child care service, and special centres for sick children may benefit working parents with sick children. Problems associated with the exclusion of sick children would be ameliorated by the provision of more information as well as a range of alternative care arrangements for working parents with sick children.