This policy aims to inform parents of the nursery’s guidelines relating to the administration of medication, in line with guidance in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Within this policy, it is important to clarify the difference between the words prescribe and prescription as outlined in Ofsted’s document Administration of Medication to Children in Registered Childcare. The use of the word prescribe means medication that is recommended and purchased over the counter. The use of the word prescription means written instruction from a doctor, dentist or nurse.

Our staff will administer medication that has been prescribed by a medical professional within the UK and with written English administration information and side effects information.

Prescribed medicines

• It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to inform the staff if their child has been unwell prior to attending nursery.

• Parents/carers are required to complete and sign a medication consent form if they need staff to administer medication to their child, including why the medication is being administered, and stating if their child has had a reaction to any medicine in the past.

• The medicine must be in its original container with all labels attached and clear. If the medicine has been prescribed it must have the dispensing medicine label attached, clearly identifying the child’s name, date it was prescribed and dosage, with syringe/spoon to administer the correct dosage amount.

• When the parent/carer hands over the medication, staff must check the expiry date to ensure it has not expired and is safe to administer. Where an expiry date is not present on the bottle or label, staff must check the date it was prescribed and the duration for which it is to be given to ensure this time hasn’t lapsed.

• Medication will only be given without an expiry date if it is still within the given time limit from when it was dispensed. The prescribed medicine must be taken at home at the end of every day unless a long-term medication e.g. asthma pump or epi pen (one of which must be available at all times of the child’s attendance at the setting)

• If this is the first time the child is having the prescribed medication, they must have had the medication administered for 24 hours at home before being able to have it administered at nursery due to possible allergic reactions or intolerances including antibitotics. Where the same type of antibiotics has been prescribed again, the 24 hour rule does not apply

• The team will not administer calpol/ibuprofen for pain prevention e.g teething etc.

• The team can administer calpol/ibuprofen if prescribed and in writing from a medical professional.

• The team cannot administer over the counter treatments such as cough medicine.

• The team can administer non prescribed teething gel and powder providing it has been given at home before the child has it at the setting. The only brand of teething gel that will be allowed is Bonjela.

• The only teething powders that will be allowed are Ashton and Parsons.

• If the child has been prescribed cream/ointment treatment or drops that contain steroids, they need to have had 24 hours treatment at home before it can be administered at the nursery.

• The team cannot administer any home remedies or homeopathic remedies.

Administering prescription medication

When a child requires medication to be administered, staff must record the child’s name and the time the medication needs to be administered on the kinderzimmer app and ensure all staff working within that room are aware of this as well as the Head of Nursery. When the medication is administered the medication form is signed immediately after. Other staff will be made aware that the medication has been administered.

Medication can only be administered by the Room Leader or Senior in the building, and the member of staff will have a valid Paediatric First Aid certificate all medication must be witnessed by a Level 3 Qualified in the room and signed off on the kinderzimmer app.

If the medication is required to be given a second time later in the day, the process is repeated. If ever a staff member is unsure if a child has been given medication, they must verbally check with other staff within the room and check that the medication form has been signed to confirm the medication has been administered. Good communication is key.

If a child spits out or refuses the medication after sensitively encouraging the child to take it, the Educators cannot force the child to take it. If this is the case the team must call and contact the parents/carers and inform them that administration of the medicine has not been possible.

Administering non-prescription medication

At kinderzimmer, we recognise that, from time to time, children may be given non-prescribed medication purchased from a pharmacist to relieve minor ailments. In such circumstances, the nursery may administer certain over-the-counter products, subject to strict adherence to the procedures outlined below and for no more than 48 hours and where the child has used the product previously at home with no concerns.

Non-Prescribed Medication We May Administer

The nursery may administer the following non-prescribed items:

• Non-prescribed eye drops or eye ointment (non-steroid based only)

• Nappy cream / barrier cream (certain types)

• Eczema cream (non-steroid)

• Vapour rub (for children over 2 years only)

• Teething powder or gel (approved brands only)

General Administration Procedure

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children, the following procedures will be followed:

1. Condition of Medication

• All medication must be new and sealed in its original packaging.
• Kinderzimmer will not administer medication that has been previously opened.

2. Labelling and Dating

• Once opened by a staff member, a white sticker will be placed on both the bottle and outer packaging.
• The sticker will clearly state the date opened and the expiry or “use by” date (as per manufacturer guidance).

3. Medication Form

• A member of the Kinderzimmer team will complete a medication administration form in line with prescribed medication procedures.
• Written parental consent must be obtained prior to administration.

4. Eye Drops and Eye Ointment

Kinderzimmer will not administer any steroid-based eye drops or eye ointments.

Examples of steroid-containing eye medications (not exhaustive) include:

Common Paediatric Steroid Eye Drops:

• Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate 0.5% (Minims)

• Dexamethasone (e.g., Dexafree, Maxidex, Dropodex)

• Fluorometholone (FML)

Combination Steroid and Antibiotic Drops:

• Maxitrol (Dexamethasone / Neomycin / Polymyxin B)• Tobradex (Tobramycin / Dexamethasone)

These medications must only be administered under medical supervision and are therefore not permitted within the nursery setting.

5. Nappy Cream / Barrier Cream

Our preferred barrier cream is Sudocrem; however, we acknowledge that this may not be suitable for all children. Alternative barrier creams may be accepted, provided they do not contain nut-based ingredients.

Kinderzimmer cannot accept products containing nut oils or nut derivatives, including (but not limited to):

• Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment (contains sweet almond oil)

• Weleda Calendula Nappy Change Cream (contains sweet almond oil)

• KraveBeauty Great Barrier Relief (contains Tamanu nut oil)

• NATURKOSMETIK BERLIN The Barrier Cream (contains macadamia nut oil)

• Nat Habit Multi Nut Omega 3 Moisturiser (contains various nut oils)

• Eco-Nut Day Cream (contains macadamia and almond oil)

• Pittapatta Organic Baby Barrier Cream (contains shea nut butter)

Parents are responsible for checking ingredient lists prior to providing products.

6. Eczema Cream and Vapour Rub

Eczema Cream

• Eczema creams (non-prescribed) may be administered as long as they do not contain steroids.

• Creams must be provided in their original packaging and clearly labelled with the child’s name.

• If prescribed, the pharmacy label must be present.

• Previously opened creams will not be accepted.

Vapour Rub

• Vapour rub will only be administered to children aged over 2 years.

• It will not be used for children under 2 years due to the risk of respiratory distress, increased mucus production, and airway inflammation.

• Where parental consent is provided, vapour rub will be applied sparingly to the chest and or back only.

• It will never be applied near the nose, mouth, or on broken skin.

• Vapour rub will not be used as an inhalation treatment.

7. Teething Powder / Gel

kinderzimmer will only administer the following teething products:

• Calgel

• Bonjela

• Ashton & Parsons Teething Sachets

The following conditions apply:

• Products must be supplied in an unopened, sealed box.

• A staff member will complete a medication form prior to administration.

• The packaging will be labelled with the child’s name and the date opened.

Only the brands listed above will be accepted.

8. Medications We Will Not Administer

Kinderzimmer will not administer:

• Complex or high-risk medications (including pathogenic or anti-infective medicines) within the nursery setting.

• Cough medicine

• Steroid-based eye drops or ointments.

• Any medication not in its original packaging or without clear ingredient labelling.

• Any home remedies where ingredients are not clearly identified.

• Any similar products that do not originate from the UK.

This policy ensures compliance with safeguarding requirements, regulatory standards, and best practice guidance, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of every child in our care and that which is referred to with the EYFS (2025) Health protection in children and young people settings, including education – GOV.UK

Signing it Off

The member of staff who administers the medication must complete and sign the medication record on the kinderzimmer app and a second member of staff must witness the administration of the medication, this is also documented via the medication form.

This must be done IMMEDIATELY after administering the medication. The parent/carer must then sign the medication form when collecting their child and must be signed before the child leaves the setting. The Head of Nursery will ensure that weekly audits are done to ensure all medication forms are signed and recorded correctly with parental consent and acknowledgment of administration.

Administering Calpol

Parents are responsible for providing all medications except Calpol or Pirition. When the child joins the nursery the parents/ carers sign to give their permission for Calpol to be administered in the event of a temperature over 38 degrees. Should your child become unwell whilst at nursery, for example having a high temperature, you will be contacted and asked for permission for this to be administered to your child if your child’s temperature is very high to ensure that the child has not had calpol earlier that day. It is important however for parents to always inform the setting if your child has had calpol before coming into nursery for a temperature.

If we are unable to make contact with all parent/carers, if your child has a temperature over 38 degrees Celsius and the temperature is not subsiding with guidance from the NHS website, we will administer calpol in act of loco parentis if we have previous signed permission on the permissions forms at registration. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

Sending Children Home

It is at the Head of Nurseries discretion whether to allow a child into nursery. If they are showing signs of illness, even if there is no exclusion period or this is after any exclusion period has passed or if a doctor has stated that they are not infectious, The Head of Nursery will need to consider the demeanour of the child and whether they are well enough to participate in full nursery activities. They must also consider whether allowing a sick child into the nursery would affect the staff ratios, as children who are unwell may require continual one to one attention; we do not provide this care. If we allow a child showing signs of illness, or who has recently recovered from an illness into nursery then we will monitor them regularly and will contact parents to ask that they are collected if they become unwell again.

The nursery staff must consider the welfare of the unwell child in mind and the best interests of the other children in the nursery. If a child is considered by staff to be too unwell to be cared for at nursery, then the parent/carer will be contacted. They will be asked to collect their child as soon as they are able to (ideally within two hours, travel commitments taken into consideration). The child will be made as comfortable as possible until collection and as much time and attention will be given to them as necessary, without having an adverse effect on the care of the other children. This may include support from the Head of Nursery or staff from other rooms.

In the case of a sudden or serious illness, the Head of Nursery is informed immediately and will then contact the parent/carer and/or emergency contacts and appropriate action will be taken. At all times the staff will remain calm and endeavour to reassure the child until the parent/carer arrives. We request parents do not bring children who are unwell into the nursery as they will be sent home upon arrival.

When parents are co-parenting or parallel parenting, both parents will be called simultaneously, However, on occasions it may be impossible to contact a parent/carer in an emergency, we will make every effort to contact the next named person and so on until we have made contact, failing this, parents/carers are required to provide the Head of Nursery with signed permission at registration for the setting to act in their absence as loco parentis.

Parents/carers are required to inform the nursery in the event of an accident/sudden illness. If a child does not attend the setting and we have not heard from the parents by 9 am that day, we will call and email to ensure the child is ok and the reason for the absence.

High Temperatures

“A normal temperature in babies and children is about 36.4C, but this can vary slightly from child to child, A fever is a high temperature of 38C or more” https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/

Should your child develop a temperature or become unwell whilst at nursery you will be contacted and verbal authorisation will be sought to administer Calpol, if consent is on file from registration. Following approximately 1 hour, if no signs of improvement are noted, a further call will be made to request you collect your child as soon as possible.

If later on in the day your child starts to feel unwell again, and or gets a temperature a further dose of calpol will be given, however you will need to come and collect immediately, and your child will need to be off for 24 hours.

Please advise the nursery upon arrival if you have administered Calpol or Ibuprofen, prior to attending and the reason for this. If within the appropriate time frame, at least 4 hours after the last dose, symptoms of the illness emerge, a maximum of one further dose of Calpol can be administered following authorisation, whereby a request to collect immediately will be made.

In addition, children will be offered fluids to keep them hydrated, they will be kept comfortable, ensure that clothing is in appropriate and loosened if able to do so, and kept out of draughts. If we are unable to speak with all emergency contacts after 30 minutes and the child’s temperature does not subside, the team will act in loco parentis and will administer Calpol to support the child’s welfare and to prevent febrile convulsions. Written permission will have already been sought on the kinderzimmer app during registration.

(Please see Medication and Administration Policy)

Nursery staff will follow the guidelines on the medication box. It states the following ‘’Do not give more than 4 doses in any 24-hour period. Do not give the medication for more than 3 days without speaking to a doctor or pharmacist and leave at least 4 hours in between doses.’’

If your child has been fine throughout the day whilst at nursery, or at home and have not required any further medication, then it is at the Head of Nurseries discretion whether to allow a child into nursery the next day. The Head of Nursery will need consider the demeanour of the child and whether they are well enough to participate in full nursery activities. If your child has had a temperature in the night and or morning or if parents have had to give their child pain relief to elevate a temperature prior to attending nursery. We ask parents to inform the nursery as soon as they drop off or via a telephone call to the Head Of Nursery in the morning to inform them of this.

If your child has been fine throughout the day whilst at nursery, or at home and have not required any further medication, then it is at the Head of Nurseries discretion whether to allow a child into nursery the next day.

The Head of Nursery will need to consider the demeanour of the child and whether they are well enough to participate in full nursery activities. If your child has had a temperature in the night and or morning or if parents have had to give their child pain relief to elevate a temperature prior to attending nursery. We ask parents to inform the nursery as soon as they drop off or via a telephone call to the Head Of Nursery in the morning to inform them of this. If a child is sent home on two days within the same week with a feverish temperature, we will require them to seek medical attention before being able to attend back at the setting. Children who present with a temperature will have a team member remain with them until they are collected, their temperature will be taken and monitored every 10 minutes, children will not be put to sleep if they have any temperature. NHS guidance regarding fever and children will be followed. Temperature monitoring and medication administration will be recorded immediately on the kinderzimmer app. This policy will go alongside our

‘’Sick Child and Exclusion Policy’’