Nursery World - Be reassured

Being informed and staying calm are the keys for childcarers who have a child with epilepsy in their charge, says Annette Rawstrone Epilepsy affects an estimated 21,000 children under the age of five in the UK, and it is likely that most childcarers during their career will care for at least one child with the condition. Epilepsy, which is the tendency to have recurrent seizures, is the second most common neurological disorder after migraine. The role of a childcarer in dealing with the condition is crucial, says Amanda Dwyer, information services officer at the charity Epilepsy Action .

Epilepsy affects an estimated 21,000 children under the age of five in the UK, and it is likely that most childcarers during their career will care for at least one child with the condition. Epilepsy, which is the tendency to have recurrent seizures, is the second most common neurological disorder after migraine. The role of a childcarer in dealing with the condition is crucial, says Amanda Dwyer, information services officer at the charity Epilepsy Action .

'It's best for nursery staff to be calm and treat epilepsy as no big deal,'

she says. 'Staff should not create a panic, or children will worry as well.

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