Many nurseries have been quick to respond to Government advice to put a clear policy in place for dealing with the possibility of swine flu.
This involves setting out procedures on how to deal with an outbreak, updating contact details for parents, briefing staff, setting aside a separate sick room for those showing swine flu symptoms and making hygiene a priority.
One setting that has already had to put an emergency procedure into action is Roselands Nursery in Paignton, Devon.
The nursery was forced to act quickly when a 12-year-old girl from a nearby secondary school, within walking distance of the nursery, was diagnosed with the illness.
The phone was ringing constantly with parents anxious to know whether the nursery was going to close. It felt like 'the whole world had fallen in', says senior manager Julie Morey.
'Many of the children at the nursery have siblings at the secondary school, so we had to be very careful,' she says.
The nursery liaised with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) about what it should do.
Ms Morey says, 'We asked all siblings of pupils at the secondary school not to attend the nursery for 24 hours. All secondary school pupils were also asked to stay away from the nursery for this period. Parents were kept informed of what we were doing and we worked in liaison with Torbay Council and the HPA.
'We worked in 24-hour blocks and took a "red light" procedure to begin with. Then we worked back to amber and green. All parents and staff were made aware of the signs and symptoms of swine flu.'
Good hygiene is vital in preventing the virus spreading, and most nurseries are being particularly vigilant.
Emma Graham, proprietor of Busy Bears Children's Day Nursery in Durham, says, 'We have been reinforcing our high standards of hygiene to children and talking to them about washing their hands. Obviously we use different coloured gloves when preparing food and changing nappies. At the end of the day it is all about maintaining high standards of cleanliness, which every nursery should have anyway.'
Fernbank Nursery in Blackburn has been following a similar policy. Deputy manager Pauline McLoughlin says, 'All the staff have been made aware of what the symptoms are for swine flu and are on the lookout for symptoms if any child has a high temperature.
'As far as hygiene goes, we promote handwashing all the time. We are constantly telling the children to wash between their fingers and showing them how to wash effectively. We are also very stringent about general hygiene within the nursery.'
