Exclusion periods in childcare: how they work

Why exclusion

Keeping unwell children and staff away while they're infectious is one of the most effective ways to stop illness spreading through a service.

Where the periods come from

Services base their exclusion periods on the NHMRC's Staying healthy guidance, together with advice from state and territory health departments. For example, children and staff with diarrhoea or vomiting are usually excluded until there has been no diarrhoea or vomiting for at least 24 hours.

What educators do

• Follow your service's policy and its exclusion table.
• Record illness in the service's register.
• Tell your nominated supervisor if several children have similar symptoms.
• Apply the same rules to yourself — stay home when you're unwell.

Some conditions must be notified to public health authorities. Your service's policy explains when.