Immunizations
Tennessee requires all children attending preschool to have up-to-date immunizations, with the exception of religious or medical exemptions.
Immunization records must be documented on an official Tennessee Immunization Certificate (Form 3441) which can be provided by your Tennessee-licensed Health Care Provider or Health Department. These records are due prior to your child's start date, unless otherwise scheduled for reasons outlined by the Tennessee Department of Human Serivices.
To qualify for religious exemption, a parent or guardian must provide a handwritten or typed, signed legal exemption to the school. It shall state your child's full name and date of birth. It must also state that your religious tenet or practices conflict with the requirement to be immunized. Please note, per the Department of Health,the state of Tennessee does not accept personal or philosophical exemptions so those words cannot be included in the letter.
In cases where children receive some vaccines but not all, the statement must include the specific name(s) of the immunization(s) being excluded. Parents must also provide the Tennessee Certificate of Immunization form (PH-4103) showing the permissable vaccines are current for the child's age.
Additionally, to explain the absence of some/all immunizations on the Tennessee Immunization Certificate, your Health Care Provider must check the appropriate box indicating a parent or guardian sought religious exemption.
The statement of religious exemption must be provided to Little Bruins Preschool prior to your child's start date.
To qualify for medical exemption, your Health Care Provider must indicate the full name and date of birth of your child. Also, the name of each immunization determined to be medically harmful and mark them as exempt on the Tennessee Immunization Certificate form PH-4103 Section 2. Per the Department of Health, the provider must also state the medical reason for the exemption and an expiration date as to when the vaccine will be permitted.
In the case of exemptions, any immunization not deemed exempt remains required.
Please note: If your child is not immunized against a vaccine-preventable disease that occurs at Little Bruins Preschool, in accordance with the Tennessee Department of Human Services Licensing Regulations, the Department of Health will be consulted to determine whether your child will be excluded for the duration of the possible exposure or until the appropriate immunizations have been completed.
In such cases, you understand there will not be any credits for days unattended.
Allergies and Dietary Restrictions
Little Bruins Preschool is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all children, including those with food allergies. It is important to ensure these children are respected, supported and protected.
Peanut/Tree Nut Safe Environment- Little Bruins Preschool is a peanut/tree nut safe environment. The management and staff at Little Bruins Preschool recognize that peanut and tree nut allergies represent a health and safety hazard with life threatening consequences.
To protect all children, staff, employees, visitors and guests of Little Bruins Preschool from an environment that may be harmful; the use, consumption, serving, or selling of peanuts, tree nuts, peanut butter or any product containing peanuts, tree nut or peanut oil by staff members, employees, visitors, or guests is hereby prohibited while attending Little Bruins Preschool or any of their related functions such as fieldtrips.
Parents/Guardians must provide written documentation regarding all of their their child’s allergies (food, seasonal, insects...)
For a child with life-threatening allergies, a written Plan of Action endorsed by the child’s pediatrician or licensed medical provider must be submitted. An Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan form is being provided for your convenience. Once it is completed, signed and dated by an authorized Health Care Professional, please email it to: Lynn Applin, Director at lynn.applin@belmont.edu.
Additonally, Parents/Guardians of children with allergies must provide the necessary medications to treat an allergic reaction. These will be kept on site.
All staff members will be trained annually on recognizing, managing and preventing allergic reactions, including how to use an epinephrine auto-injector and other emergency procedures.
Medication
In accordance with the Tennessee Department of Human Services Licensing Regulations, before dispensing medication:
- Parents/Guardians must provide written authorization to administer each medication
- Document that the parent or guardian has provided instructions on how to administer the medication as indicated by the dosing directions on the medication or prescribing Medical Professional.
- If the medication is part of a child's Emergency Medical Care Plan, it must be signed and dated by a Medical Professional.
- A staff member will document that the medication is in its original container, is not expired, and is labeled with the prescribed child's full name
- A staff member will document the dosage and times the medication is to be administered
- Medication may not be administered in a drink or food unless authorized to do so by a Medical Professional.
- All medications must be stored in a locked compartment or container that is inaccessible to children. Refrigerated medications must be kept in a leak-proof, locked container. The only exception to this is in the case of medication for life-threatening conditions. These medications will be stored out of the reach of children in unlocked containers for immediate access.
- Unused medications must be returned to the parent/guardian for disposal.