Is my child too ill for school?
It can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school, nursery or playgroup when they're unwell. There are government guidelines for schools and nurseries about managing specific infectious diseases at GOV.UK. These say when children should be kept off school and when they shouldn't. If you do keep your child at home, it's important to phone the school before 9:15am on the first day of absence. Let the school know that your child won't be in and give the reason.
If your child is well enough to go to school but has an infection that could be passed on, such as a cold sore or head lice, let their teacher know.
Follow this advice for other illnesses:-
Illness | Time to be kept away from School | Comments |
Coughs and Colds | Your child can come to school with minor coughs and colds | If they have a fever keep them at home until the fever goes |
High Temperatures | Keep at home until temperature goes |
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Chickenpox | Keep at home until all the spots have crusted over | Usually after 5 days first appear |
Cold Sores | No need to keep your child at home | Encourage them to not touch the blister or share things like cups |
Conjunctivitis | No need to keep your child at home | Encourage them to not rub their eyes and wash their hands regularly |
Covid-19 | No need stay at home with minor symptoms, runny nose, sore throat, slight cough | However if they have a high temperature with their symptoms remain at home until it goes and they feel better |
If Tested Positive for Covid-19 | Remain at home for 3 days from day after taking test |
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Ear Infection | Severe earache keep at home until feel better | If also have a high temp keep at home until temp goes away |
Hand, Foot and Mouth | No need to keep off if feeling well in themselves | Encourage them to throw away any used tissues straight away and wash hands regularly |
Head Lice | No need to keep child away from school | Treat the headlice |
Impetigo | To be kept at home until sores have crusted over and healed, or 48 hours after they have started antibiotic treatment | Will need treatment from GP, encourage them to wash hands regularly and not share cups |
Ringworm | Can attend school if have started treatment | See pharmacist for GP for treatment |
Scarlet Fever | Child can attend school 24 hours after starting treatment | Will need treatment with antibiotics from GP |
Slapped Cheek Syndrome | No need to keep off school | Once rash appears no longer infectious but advise school |
Sore Throat | No need to be kept away unless also have high temperature | If have high temperature keep child at home until temperature goes away |
Threadworms | No need to keep off school | See pharmacist for treatment |
Vomiting and Diarrhoea | Keep away from school until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 48 hours (2 days) |
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