Illness and Accidents

At Actor Tribe we endeavour to deal promptly and effectively with any illnesses or injuries that may occur while children are in our care. We take all practical steps to keep staff and children safe from communicable diseases.

All parents or carers must complete the Medical section on the registration form when their child joins Actor Tribe, giving permission for emergency medical treatment for their child in the event of a serious accident or illness. Please note that it is parents’ responsibility to ensure that any relevant medicine and care plans are given to the tutors. For example asthma inhalers and epi pens.

We will record any accidents or illnesses, together with any treatment given, on an Incident Record or Accident Record sheet as appropriate, which the parent or carer will be asked to sign when they collect the child.

Actor Tribe cannot accept children who are ill. If any children are ill when they first arrive we will immediately notify their parents or carers to come and collect them. Any children who have been ill should not return to Actor Tribe until they have fully recovered, or until after the minimum exclusion period has expired.

First aid

Actor Tribe’s designated First Aider is Jennifer Boardman. The designated First Aider has a current first aid certificate and has attended a 12 hour paediatric first aid course. To ensure that there is a qualified first aider present at every session of the Actor Tribe, other members of staff will also receive first aid training.

We ensure that there is a first aid box present in each class. The designated First Aider regularly checks the contents of the first aid box to ensure that they are up to date, appropriate for children & adults and comply with the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.

Procedure for a minor injury or illness

The first aider at the session will decide upon the appropriate action to take if a child becomes ill or suffers a minor injury.

  • If a child becomes ill during a session, the parent or carer will be asked to collect the child as soon as possible. The child will be kept comfortable and will be closely supervised while awaiting collection.
  • If a child complains of illness which does not impair their overall wellbeing, the child will be monitored for the rest of the session and the parent or carer will be notified when the child is collected.
  • If a child suffers a minor injury, first aid will be administered and the child will be monitored for the remainder of the session. If necessary, the child’s parent will be asked to collect the child as soon as possible.

Procedure for a major injury or serious illness

In the event of a child becoming seriously ill or suffering a major injury, the first aider at the session will decide whether the child needs to go straight to hospital or whether it is safe to wait for their parent or carer to arrive.

  • If the child needs to go straight to hospital, we will call an ambulance and a member of staff will go to the hospital with the child. The staff member will consent to any necessary treatment (as approved by the parents on the Registration Form).
  • We will contact the child’s parents or carers with all urgency, and if they are unavailable we will call the other emergency contacts that we have on file for the child.
  • After a major incident the manager and staff will review the events and consider whether any changes need to be made to the Actor Tribe’s policies or procedures.
  • We will notify Ofsted and child protection agencies in the event of any serious accident or injury to a child in our care.
  • We will notify HSE under RIDDOR in the case of a death or major injury on the premises (eg broken limb, amputation, dislocation, etc – see the HSE website for a full list of reportable injuries).

Communicable diseases and conditions

If an infectious or communicable disease is detected at Actor Tribe, we will inform parents and carers as soon as possible.

If there is an outbreak of a notifiable disease at Actor Tribe we will inform the local health protection unit, HSE under RIDDOR (if appropriate), and Ofsted.

Useful contacts

Health Protection Unit: 0844 225 1295

Ofsted: 0300 123 1231

RIDDOR Incident Contact Unit: 0845 300 99 23

This policy was adopted by: Actor Tribe

Date: Aug 2023

To be reviewed: Aug 2024

Signed: Jennifer Boardman

Written in accordance with the EYFS welfare requirements: Safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare and Suitable premises, environment and equipment.