Infectious Diseases
The poari matua of Paparoa Street School is responsible for providing a physically and emotionally safe place where risks to health and safety are eliminated or minimised (Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, Education and Training Act 2020, Health Act 1956). We recognise the risks of infectious diseases to the kura and our wider community, use preventative measures to minimise the spread of infectious diseases, and respond promptly to actual or suspected cases when they arise. We have appropriate reporting and recording systems for managing incidences of infectious diseases.
We maintain 
privacy and confidentiality when managing health information. Personal health information is only used or shared to support the health and wellbeing of the ākonga or kaimahi, or when it presents a threat to public health or safety. See our Privacy Policy.
Privacy refers to the right to have personal information protected. The Privacy Act 2020 outlines how personal information must be collected, stored, used, shared, and disposed. For more information, see Privacy Policy.
Confidentiality refers to the responsibility to ensure personal information is kept secret. Confidential information may be shared if it is in the best interests of the ākonga. See Sharing Ākonga Personal Information with External Agencies.
Paparoa Street School keeps an up-to-date immunisation register for ākonga in years 1-8, as required by the Health (Immunisation) Regulations 1995. We ask parents/caregivers to provide immunisation information about their tamaiti at enrolment, and the information we collect and store complies with regulations. If the kura does not receive an immunisation certificate, this is recorded on the register. We may request for ākonga to have an immunisation certificate completed. During an outbreak of infectious disease the Ministry of Health may use our immunisation register to help identify ākonga at risk, and public health officials may contact parents/caregivers about immunisation options.
Kura responsibilities
Paparoa Street School promotes basic hygiene measures as the first line of defence against the spread of infection. This includes:
- encouraging immunisation against infectious diseases
- encouraging everyone to cover coughs and sneezes, and wash and/or sanitise their hands regularly
- regularly cleaning and disinfecting our kura
- keeping indoor spaces well ventilated.
When an increased risk of infection is signalled by the Ministry of Education and/or the Ministry of Health, we carry out detailed risk assessments and may introduce additional measures. We also follow any directives from the Ministry of Education and/or the Ministry of Health (e.g. restrictions and safety measures).
Additional measures we may take when there is an increased risk of infection include:
- informing parents/caregivers about the situation, what they can do, and what actions the kura is taking
- reinforcing basic hygiene measures and increasing the frequency of sanitising and disinfecting high-touch surfaces (e.g. sinks, door handles, railings, table tops).
- monitoring for symptoms
- limiting large gatherings (e.g. kura assemblies), and encouraging physical distancing where possible
- providing personal protective equipment (PPE)
- encouraging masks at kura and on kura transport.
To manage infectious diseases safely, we carry out the following actions.
- If someone is unwell at kura, we provide appropriate first aid and contact parents/caregivers (for ākonga) or emergency contacts. See Managing Injuries and Illness.
- When determining how long an ākonga or kaimahi should stay away from kura if they are ill, we follow guidance from the Ministry of Health, and may also get advice from a medical practitioner and/or public health officer. See HealthEd Infectious diseases information and exclusion list
. - The tumuaki contacts the public health service and follows their advice if they suspect an ākonga has symptoms of a notifiable infectious disease. This includes cases when an ākonga has symptoms and is either a close contact of someone with the illness or has recently travelled somewhere there is a known risk of infection. See When to contact the National Public Health Service (Ministry of Education).
- If the tumuaki has reasonable grounds to believe an ākonga may have a communicable disease, they may preclude the ākonga from kura (i.e. require them to have a temporary health exclusion from kura, as allowed by the Education and Training Act, s 77). If an ākonga is precluded from kura, the tumuaki notifies their parents/caregivers, the poari matua, and the Medical Officer of Health. The poari matua investigates the matter as soon as possible and may either cancel or confirm the preclusion. A precluded ākonga may return to kura when a medical practitioner confirms they are well enough.
For the purpose of preclusion at a kura, communicable disease has a definition within the meaning of the Health Act 1956. That is: "communicable disease includes any infectious disease, and any other disease declared by the Governor-General, by Order in Council, to be a communicable disease for the purposes of this [Health] Act", where "infectious disease means any disease for the time being specified in Part 1 or Part 2 of Schedule 1."
See Schedule 1 – Part 1 lists "Notifiable infectious diseases"; Part 2 lists "Other infectious diseases"
Education and Training Act 2020, s 77 (1)
Health Act 1956, s 2 (1)
- Kaimahi asked to stay away from kura due to contracting a notifiable infectious disease may be eligible for disregarded sick leave. See Staff Leave.
- The poari matua notifies WorkSafe of any kura-related notifiable event. See Recording and Reporting Injuries and Illness.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (s 25), a notifiable event is any of the following events that arise from work:
A notifiable event must arise from work (the conduct of the business or undertaking). It may include the condition of the work site, the way the work activity was organised, or the way equipment or substances were used. A notifiable event may occur at kura or at kura-related activities that take place off kura grounds. Notifiable events apply to all affected workers, ākonga, manuhiri, and contractors if they are injured while involved in kura activities (on or off kura grounds), work being done on behalf of the kura, or using kura grounds and equipment.
Worksafe relies on PCBUs to determine whether an injury, illness, or incident is notifiable. Only one notification is required for each notifiable event. See Notify WorkSafe
We recognise that members of our kura community may live with chronic manageable conditions and have a right to be free from discrimination. We manage any personal information we receive about such conditions with privacy and confidentiality.
Responsibilities of others
We expect everyone at kura or kura-related activities to take care of their health and notify kura kaimahi if they need support. Keeping everyone safe is a shared responsibility, so we have the following expectations of others.
- To stop infection from spreading, we encourage ākonga, kaimahi, and other members of the kura community to stay at home when they are ill or symptomatic.
- Anyone with an infectious disease should stay away from kura, unless they have a chronic manageable condition.
- If parents/caregivers suspect or know an ākonga has a notifiable infectious disease, they should notify their health provider and keep the ākonga away from kura.
- Kaimahi must notify the kura if they suspect or know they have been exposed to a notifiable infectious disease at work.
- COVID-19 is a notifiable disease and anyone who tests positive is encouraged to follow Ministry of Health recommendations. See If you have COVID-19 (Health New Zealand).
Related topics
Legislation
- Health Act 1956
- Health (Infectious and Notifiable Diseases) Regulations 2016
- Education and Training Act 2020
- Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
- Privacy Act 2020
Resources
: Term 4 2025, Term 3 2025, Term 3 2023, Term 3 2022
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