Final iverna gardens montessori - parent letter 180509.doc

Letter to all Parents, Guardians and Staff, Iverna Gardens
Montessori St Nursery
18th May 2009
Dear Parent, Guardian and Staff
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has informed the School that a pupil
attending the afternoon class at the Iverna Gardens Montessori has been
confirmed as having influenza type H1N1 (also known as ‘Swine Flu’). The
pupil has a mild illness, is receiving the appropriate medical care, and is
recovering well at home.
Following a detailed risk assessment the HPA and the local NHS Primary
Care Trusts have advised that, both the morning and afternoon classes of
the Iverna Gardens Montessori are to close temporarily, with immediate
effect, for a period of seven days. It will reopen on Monday 1st of June,
after half term.

The HPA has also advised that a preventative course of the antiviral drug
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) should be offered to the nursery staff and all the children
in the afternoon class of the Iverna Gardens Montessori who have been in
direct contact with the case. A number of children who attend morning and
afternoon classes on Tuesday and Friday may have been in direct contact
with the case, have also been identified to receive Tamiflu.
Tamiflu is not being offered to the children who attend the morning class in
the nursery and have not been in direct contact with the case.
The rationale for providing the antiviral drug is two-fold: First, it is to protect
your child from Swine Flu virus in case they have been exposed to it. Second,
it can help to prevent its spread in the wider community.
Arrangements have been made for the local NHS to distribute Tamiflu
for the children and for staff members who have been in direct contact
with the case. This will occur at the nursery today, Monday 18th May
2009 at 1:30pm- 3:30pm.

Parents and guardians of the children in the afternoon classes should arrive at
the Iverna Gardens Montessori and collect the Tamiflu on behalf of their
children. Please do not bring your children with you to the nursery. On
arrival at the nursery you will be asked to complete a questionnaire and then
offered Tamiflu for your child. Please weigh your child before attending the
nursery to enable the Staff to calculate the correct dose of Tamiflu for your
child.
If your child is unwell with flu–like symptoms please do not attend the nursery
to collect Tamiflu. In these circumstances please contact your GP as soon as
possible for a telephone assessment, as set out below.

If your child is well:
Your child will be offered treatment with Tamiflu to prevent infection with the Influenza virus. While your child is taking Tamiflu, as long as they are well, they do not need to avoid contact with others and can carry on with normal activities. If your child does become unwell please contact your GP for further advice.
If your child is unwell with flu like symptoms:
It is important that your child stays at home if he/she develops flu-like symptoms (including high temperature, cough, runny nose, sore throat, headache, joint/limb pains, diarrhoea or vomiting). The child needs to be assessed to see whether he/she requires testing and treatment for flu. Your child should not mix with others while he/she has these symptoms. If your child is unwell with these symptoms please contact your GP as soon as possible for a telephone assessment. If you do not have an NHS GP and wish to register with one please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) in Kensington and Chelsea on 0208 962 4547 or or in Westminster on 0800 587 8818, depending on your area of residence. Please let the PALS service know your connection with the nursery and they will prioritise you. If your child’s symptoms worsen, please contact your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647. The nursery is working closely with the HPA and the local NHS to monitor the situation. Good basic hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including Swine Flu. This includes: § Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a § Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully. § Washing your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face or to other people. § Cleaning hard surfaces (such as door handles) frequently using a § Making sure your children follow this advice. For more information on Swine Flu call the National Information Line on 0800 1 513 513. Alternatively, visit the Health Protection Agency website at . Yours Sincerely, Directress

Source: http://www.iverna.com/downloads/hpu_letter_to_parents.pdf