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Unit 1.5: Understand how to support children who are unwell


Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educator

Level 3 Diploma for Early Years Educator


This unit is essentially about how to support children who are unwell. The unit outlines the signs and symptoms of the diseases as wells as actions to take, including medical interventions. Also underlines the role of the eary years practitioners role in minimising ill health in children

The unit also outlines the procedure for recording and reporting illness and outlines the procedures for storage and administration of medication and how to record information when giving medication.

Childhood Illnesses

Illness Signs Symptoms
Meningitis Purple rash that does not fade under pressure, high temperature (fever) Severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights and drowsiness.
Measles Rashes and red spots which are not itchy Cold and cough with sore throat, water eyes and a fever. After few days, slightly raised rashes behind the ears and spreads to the face, neck and rest of the body.
Diphtheria High body temperature (fever) Sore throat, breathing difficulty, cough, headache and difficulty swallowing
Fever High body temperature of 38.60C (101.4 0 F Feeling hot and unwell
Chicken pox Red itchy rash which form blisters and then after couple of day it forms scabs Fever, abdominal pain, sore throat and headache
Mumps Swelling on side of the face, front of the ear and under the chin. Feeling unwell, fever and pain around the ear. Chewing is uncomfortable
Whooping cough Breathing difficulty, whooping noise after coughing Cold and cough which gets worse and causes breathing difficulty.
Asthma Shortness of breath, wheezing, persistent cough, throat clearing and runny nose Coughing, fatigue, restless sleep, runny nose, itchy eyes

Can you identify another childhood illness

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Click on the link below to find out more about childhood illnesses
Childhood illnesses: visual guide

Illness in babies

Illness Signs and symptoms Role of carer
Colic Occurs in first 12 weeks. Causes harp, spasmodic pain in stomach and gets worse in the evenings. Symptoms high pitched crying, drawing legs up to the chest and and growning red in the face Stay calm and seek medical intervention . Gently massage abdomen in clockwise direction using tips of the middle fingers.
Gastro-enteritis Vomiting and diarrhoea; often raised temperatiure and loss of appetite. may show signs of abdominal pain i.e. drawing pp of legs to chest and crying. Reassure baby. Observe strict hygiene rules. Look out for signs of dehydration. offer frequent small amount of fluid, and possibly rehydration salts.
Diarrhoea Frequent loose or water stools. Can be serious in young babies especially when combined with vomiting as it can lead to severe dehydration. Give frequent small drinks of cooled , boiled water containing glucose and salt or a made up sachet of rehydration fluid . If baby unabale to take the fluid orally, they must be taken to hospital urgently and fed intrvenously by a 'drip'. If anal area become sore, treat with a barrier cream.
Neonatal cold injury - or hypothermia the baby is cold to the touch. Face may be pale or flushed. Lethargic, runny nose, swollen hand and feet. Pre-term infants and babies under 4 month are at particular risk Warm slowy by covering with several light layers of blankets and by cuddling. Do not use direct heat. Offer ffeds high in sugar anbd seek medical help urgently.
Otitis media Will appear unwell; may have raised temperature.
May vomit, may cry with pain.
May have discharge from ear. 		Take to doctor, give antibiotics and analgesic (or painkillers).

Increase fluids ; comfort and reassure.
Meningitis Raised temperature, ma have a blothcy rash; may refuse feeds; may have a stiff neck; may have a sieizure; bulging fontanelle, may have a shrill, high-pitched cry. Seek medical help urgently.

Reduce temperatue.

Reassure.

Can you identify any other baby illnesses

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Notifiable diseases


A notifiable disease is any disease that is required by law to be reported to government authorities under the Health Protection (Notificatin) Regulations 2010. The collation of information allows the authorities to monitor the disease, and provides early warning of possible outbreaks.

Policies and procedures for excluding sick children from childcare setting :

- Parents should be made aware that children who are unwell should be kept at home.

- Children requiring antibiotics should not attend setting for 48 hours after the treatment in case there is a likelyhood of a reaction to antibiotics.

- Parent should be asked to take their child home if he/she becomes ill while in the setting.

- Children experiencing vomiting or diarrhoea should not be in early years settings. Parents should contact their GP for advice regarding the child's illness.

. - Pregnant mother should be informed following infections of rubella chicken pox/ shingles, rubella, measles, slapped cheek syndrome and chicken pox. shingles.

- Parents with children with impaired immune system due to illness, should be informed of any known cases of infection in the setting.

- Children requiring antibiotics should not attend setting for 48 hours after the treatment incase there is a likelyhood of a reaction to antibiotics.

Process for reporting notifiable diseases:

- Contact the Local Health Protection Agency and follow any advice given.

- Record the incident deetailikng the child's or staff member's details and the type of infection.

- Ensure any advice received is also noted and ensure that the incident is recorded.

- Ensure that staff are made aware of procedures or of any symptoms that are likely to occure.

- Ensure confidentiality

EYFS framework in relation to ill health :

EYFS: Safeguarding and Welfare requirements on health
Section 3.44 Safeguarding and Welfare requirements on health states that The provider must promote the good health of children attending the setting. They must have a procedure, discussed with parents and/or carers, for responding to children who are ill or infectious, take necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection, and take appropriate action if children are ill.
Section 3.45 Providers must have and implement a policy, and procedures, for administering medicines. It must include systems for obtaining information about a child�s needs for medicines, and for keeping this information up-to-date. Training must be provided for staff where the administration of medicine requires medical or technical knowledge. Prescription medicines must not be administered unless they have been prescribed for a child by a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist (medicines containing aspirin should only be given if prescribed by a doctor).
Section 3.46 Medicine (both prescription and non-prescription) must only be administered to a child where written permission for that particular medicine has been obtained from the child�s parent and/or carer.

Providers must keep a written record each time a medicine is administered to a child, and inform the child�s parents and/or carers on the same day, or as soon as reasonably practicable.




Role of early years practitioner for promoting a healthy hygienic enviroment

- stay at home if they have an infection, otherwise they can put children at risk.

- They must not attend the work in aaccordance with Healthy Protection Agency.

- Staff handling food and becomes sick with diarrhoea, movmitn ofr infect skin problem must report theis to supericior.

- Staff with diarrhoea or vomiting should be excluded from work until at leat 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.

- Staff with infected wounds or skin infection on expose parts otheir bodies should be excluded also until lesions are healed or have been advise that it is safe to return to work by GOP

-Staff with condition that could spredad infections such as the common cold should take sensible precautions . Staff should inform thier supervisor.

Find out what hygiene practise would you take in the setting to
minimise ill healthy in chidlren


Policies and Procedures for receipt, storage and administration
of medicine to children in childcare setting

Medication policy:

1. Only medicine prescribed by a GP (doctor) can be given to children. 2. A consent form must be completed and signed by parents. 3. A witness should be present when giving medicine.

Receiving instructions and written consent from parents includes:

1. Child�s name 2. Name of medication 3. Dosage 4. Agreed time of administration 5. Signed by parents

Administration of medicine:

Wash hands 1. Check medicine is in date 2. Check medicine is labelled with the right name 3. Check how much has to be given and when 4. Check route of administering medication: by mouth, into ear/eye or rubbed on skin. 5. Once given , record in a book: date, time and dosage.

Storage of medicine: