We at ReservoirWestPrimary School, acknowledge that while parents have primary responsibility for the detection and treatment of head lice, our staff also has a role in the management of head lice infections and in providing support for parents and students.
Unfortunately, most schools will have some children with head lice at any given time.
Management Plan
Reservoir West will appoint a trained nurse (parent) to act as a support and detection person and will be responsible for the training of other parents
Up to date information on the detection, treatment and control of head lice will be made available to parents and staff. A DVD and Video on effective detection and treatment of head lice is available from the school office. Information on head lice is also available on the school website.
Parents will be required to refrain from sending their children to school with untreated head lice. (It should be noted that students may be treated one evening and return to school the next day. The presence of eggs in the hair is not cause for exclusion. Parents need to be aware that one treatment is not sufficient to manage the problem. If a child re-attends school with live lice, the school may again exclude the child until the live insects have been removed)
At the commencement of the year, the school will seek permission from ALL parents to allow a qualified person to inspect the children’s hair as required
A letter will be forwarded and/or a telephone call will be made to the parents of those students found to have head lice
Periodically classroom activities and/or visiting speakers will be used to give students an understanding of the habits and life cycle of head lice in order to minimise the incidence of stigmatisation of particular students and families
Parents will regularly be reminded in the school newsletter to inspect children’s hair weekly AND to notify the school immediately if a problem is detected.
The following approach will be implemented whenever a student is detected to have head lice:
Parents will be contacted by phone to inform them of the situation. Parents have the choice of coming to collect their child from school or having him/her stay until the end of the day.
A letter will be sent home with the child on that day requesting that the child be excluded from school until appropriate treatment has commenced
If only eggs are found, a letter explaining this will be sent home
Once treatment has commenced, the child may return to school but must bring the completed tear-off form back with him/her
