Midday Sick Child Protocol

​If a child develops any of these exclusionary symptoms or experiences a significant medical incident while at JCD:

1. ​Isolation: The child will be gently isolated from their peers in a comfortable, supervised space to maintain their dignity while limiting cross-exposure.
2. Immediate Contact: Custodial parents/guardians will be called immediately and must arrange for the child to be picked up within one (1) hour of notification.
3. The Midday 48-Hour Return Rule: If a child is sent home midday due to vomiting or diarrhea, they are barred from returning to JCD until 48 hours from the exact time they were dismissed, or 48 hours after their very last symptom has passed, whichever comes later.
4. Capacity Limits: If a child's medical or behavioral care needs during an illness exceed the capacity of room educators to support them while maintaining the safe, smooth functioning of the broader program, parents will be required to collect the child as soon as possible.
5. Emergency Response: In a genuine, life-threatening medical emergency, JCD staff will dial 9-1-1 instantly for an ambulance, and then immediately contact the child's custodial parents/guardians and emergency contacts.

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Exclusionary Symptoms Index

Children must be kept home (or will be sent home midday) if they manifest any of the following symptoms:

• A fever registering at 37.8°C (100.04°F) or higher.
• Active symptoms of a communicable cold: chronic coughing, a severe sore throat, persistently watery eyes, or dense green/yellow mucus discharge from the nose or eyes.
  
• Unusual behavioral changes linked to an illness, such as severe lethargy, a total lack of energy, or an absolute refusal to eat or drink.
  
• Active vomiting or diarrhea.
  
• A severe, persistent headache or earache.
  
• Active discharge, redness, or inflammation of the eye (such as conjunctivitis / pink eye).
  
• An unexplained rash, unless a qualified physician provides a medical note confirming the rash is entirely non-contagious.​
  

If a child becomes ill during the operating day and is unable to comfortably and fully participate in the program activities, their custodial parents/guardians will be contacted immediately to pick them up.

We ask families to exercise excellent community judgment and keep children at home whenever they show signs of illness. To prevent the rapid spread of infections, Toronto Public Health requires children to be entirely symptom-free before returning to group care:​

Dealing with Illness & Symptom Exclusion