At Hollyhill Knocknaheeny Family Centre, we aim to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, families, staff, students, and visitors.

To help reduce the spread of illness, parents and guardians are asked to keep children at home when they are unwell or when they may pass an infectious illness to others.

When to Keep Your Child at Home

Please keep your child at home if they are unwell or unable to take part comfortably in the normal daily routine.

Children should not attend the Family Centre if they have:

• vomiting or diarrhoea,
• a high temperature or fever,
• an infectious illness,
• an unexplained rash,
• heavy cold or flu-like symptoms,
• difficulty breathing or persistent coughing,
• eye infection with discomfort or discharge,
• symptoms that may affect other children or staff,
• any illness where they need one-to-one care beyond normal supervision,
• any condition where a doctor or public health guidance advises staying at home.

If you are unsure whether your child should attend, please contact the Family Centre before bringing your child in.

Phone: 021 439 2300

Vomiting or Diarrhoea

If your child has vomiting or diarrhoea, they should stay at home until 48 hours after the last episode.

This helps protect other children, staff, and families from the spread of infection.

Infectious Illness

If your child has, or may have, an infectious illness, please inform the Family Centre as soon as possible.

This may include illnesses such as:

• chickenpox,
• flu,
• measles,
• mumps,
• whooping cough,
• impetigo,
• scarlet fever,
• hand, foot and mouth disease,
• conjunctivitis,
• other contagious conditions.

The Family Centre may follow public health guidance when advising when a child can return.

Returning to the Family Centre

Children should return only when they are well enough to take part in the normal daily routine.

This includes:

• indoor play,
• outdoor play,
• meals and snacks,
• group activities,
• toileting routines,
• rest periods,
• normal classroom activities.

A child should not return if they still need medication, rest, or care that cannot be safely managed within the normal daily routine.

Medication and Illness

If your child needs medication during the Family Centre opening hours, please speak to staff in advance.

Medication must not be left in a child’s bag or handed over informally.

The Family Centre may require:

• written permission,
• medication details,
• dosage instructions,
• medical information,
• confirmation that the medication is prescribed or suitable for the child,
• clear instructions from a parent, guardian, doctor, pharmacist, or medical professional where needed.

Medication will only be managed in line with the Family Centre procedures.

Absence

If your child will be absent, please inform the Family Centre as soon as possible.

You can contact the Family Centre by:

Phone: 021 439 2300
Email: thefamilycentre2020@gmail.com

Please tell us:

• your child’s name,
• the room or service they attend,
• the reason for absence, where appropriate,
• expected return date, if known,
• whether the absence is due to illness or infection,

This helps the Family Centre manage attendance, staffing, safeguarding, funding records, and room planning.

Illness During the Day

If your child becomes unwell while attending the Family Centre, staff may contact you and ask you to collect your child.

This may happen if your child:

• develops a high temperature,
• vomits or has diarrhoea,
• becomes very upset, tired, or unable to participate,
• develops symptoms of an infectious illness,
• has an accident, injury, or medical concern,
• needs medical attention,
• cannot be cared for safely within the normal daily routine,

Parents and guardians should ensure that emergency contact details are always up to date.

Emergency Contacts

Parents and guardians must provide current emergency contact details and inform the Family Centre immediately if these details change.

This includes:

• parent/guardian phone numbers,
• emergency contact names,
• emergency contact phone numbers,
• authorised collection persons,
• medical or allergy information,
• GP or medical information, where required.

In an emergency, the Family Centre may contact emergency services.

Emergency Services: 999 / 112

Allergies, Medical Needs, and Health Updates

Parents and guardians must inform the Family Centre of any allergies, medical needs, dietary needs, medication requirements, or changes to their child’s health.

This includes:

• food allergies,
• medication allergies,
• asthma,
• eczema,
• seizures,
• intolerances,
• dietary restrictions,
• ongoing medical conditions,
• new diagnoses,
• changes in medication,
• changes in health or development.

This information helps staff care for children safely and appropriately.

Fees During Absence

Fees must still be paid for sick days and holiday weeks. The Family Centre does not receive reimbursement from government bodies for these days, so fees remain payable to secure the child’s place.

Please contact the Family Centre directly if you have questions about fees during absence.

Contact the Family Centre

If your child is unwell, absent, or you are unsure whether they should attend, please contact:

Hollyhill Knocknaheeny Family Centre
Harbour View Road, Hollyhill
Cork T23 T861
Ireland

Phone: 021 439 2300
Email: thefamilycentre2020@gmail.com