I am required to protect and minimise the risks of transmission to other minded children in my care, not to mention minimising the risks to my own family.

I have specific hygiene policies in place to alleviate contamination of my premises and vehicle through hand contact with surfaces including regular disinfection, cleaning and strict hand cleaning programmes.

After taking extensive advice from my regulatory bodies and the Scottish Government the following new policies regarding Flu/Swine Flu will take immediate effect and are none negotiable.

1. You are required to inform me immediately if any parent, carer or child suspects or has been diagnosed with flu/swine flu symptoms mild or not.

2. Incubation period is approximately 7 days so therefore, please keep your children at home for a period of at least 7 days if either parents,carers or child is suspected or has been diagnosed with flu/swine flu symptoms. If your children show NO signs of flu like symptoms they may return back to my childcare service after the 7 day period. If the parents or children still have symptoms of flu/swine flu after the 7 day period then you will be asked to extend this period of absence until all symptoms are gone.

3. You must not insist your child(ren) attend my service if I regard the risk to be high for other minded children in my service or my family to contract flu/swine flu. It is my job to consider the seriousness of communicable diseases therefore, a risk assessment will be completed in this regard.

4. Should I deem the parents/carer/child to be potential carriers of the flu/swine flu virus and you have been asked to keep your children at home or should I or a member of my family have suspected or diagnosed flu/swine flu the following charges apply, and are none negotiable.

Half your hourly rate will apply to the number of contract hours over the absence period.

Any illness that is not flu/swine flu symptoms will be charged at the rate according to our contract agreement.

5. Should I happen to contract or suspect flu/swine flu you will be informed as a matter of urgency and I shall then be required to cease childcare services for a period of 7 days or until my symptoms cease. This also applies to any member of my family contracting or suspecting flu/swine flu symptoms.

6. If you fail to agree with these additional policies, including the half rate charges, your child places may be suspended until payment is made. Should you decide to terminate your contract with myself then the 4 week notice period as stated in our agreed contract still stands. For full details please read my policy regarding service termination.

7. If you wish to make a complaint you can either contact me directly or the Care Commission (please see my complaints policy for further information).