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Should my child go to school or nursery today?

Regular attendance at school helps your child to build skills and life-long friendships and prepares them for future success. It can be difficult to know whether your child is too ill or too anxious to attend school. The advice below can support you in making a decision about when to send your child to school or nursery.

By law if your child is aged 5 to 16 years old they must be in full time education (at school or at home). It's important to phone school or nursery the first morning and let them know if you are keeping your child at home and the reason they won’t be in.

Missing a lot of school because of ill health can have a big impact not only on your child’s education, but also on how they feel about school. It may affect their confidence, make them feel socially isolated and they may feel nervous about going back to school.

If your child is well enough to go to school but has an infection that could be passed on, such as worms or head lice, let their teacher know.

The advice below is based on government guidelines. Some schools and nurseries may have their own rules. If these rules are causing problems and are different to those below then it may be worth directing your child's school or nursery to the official guidelines by the UK Health Security Agency.

Your child can go to school or nursery with the following illnesses:

  • There's no need to keep your child off school if they have a cold sore
  • Encourage them not to touch the blister or kiss anyone while they have the cold sore, or to share things like cups and towels

For more information go to Cold sores

  • Children should be able to go to school
  • They should be encouraged to wash their hands after using the toilet and blowing their nose to prevent further spread of infection

For more information go to Conjunctivitis

  • Children should be able to go to school if they feel well enough

For more information go to Hand, foot and mouth

  • Children with headache, earache or stomach ache should be able to go to school - just let the staff know they have felt unwell
  • Give paracetamol and plenty of fluids to drink
  • If headache, earache or stomach ache persist - seek advice

For more information go to Earache or Stomach ache

  • Children should be able to go to school with head lice but they must be treated for the condition to prevent further spreading
  • Parents should treat their children and other family members by wet combing with a nit comb and conditioner

For more information go to Head lice

  • Children should be able to go to school if they feel well enough

For more information go to Molluscum Contagiosum

  • You don't need to keep your child off school if they have Slapped Cheek Syndrome because, once the rash appears, they're no longer infectious.
  • Please let the school know, as pregnant members of staff may be affected

For more information go to Slapped Cheek Syndrome

  • Children should go to school when they have started their treatment
  • Everyone at home should be treated
  • They should be encouraged to wash their hands after using the toilet and blowing their nose to prevent further spread of infection

For more information go to Threadworms

  • Children should be able to go to school if they feel well enough
  • Most children develop immunity from verrucae but if they can wear a plaster where possible
  • Verrucae should be covered in swimming pools and changing rooms

For more information go to Warts and Verrucae or Athlete's foot

Your child may be able to go to school or nursery with the following illnesses (if they are well enough):

  • It's fine to send your child to school with a minor cough or common cold, but if they have a fever, keep them off school until the fever goes
  • Children should be given paracetamol, plenty of fluids to drink and be sent to school
  • If your child is asthmatic, remember they may need their blue inhaler more often
  • Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues and to wash their hands regularly

For more information go to cough or common cold

For information go to COVID-19 symptoms and what to do

  • Children should be given paracetamol, plenty of fluids to drink and be sent to school if they are well enough and do not have a fever

For more information go to Sore throat

Your child will need to stay off school or nursery with the following illnesses:

  • Cases of chicken pox are generally infectious from 2 days before the rash appears to 5 days after the onset of the rash
  • Although the usual exclusion period is 5 days, all lesions should be crusted over before children return to nursery or school

For more information go to Chickenpox.

  • Children should be able to return to school 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting

For more information go to Diarrhoea and vomiting

  • Most children will not have the actual flu but if they are diagnosed then they should go back to school when recovered - this is usually about five days

Vaccinations are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases. It is important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection. For more information on the NHS vaccination schedule for children please visit NHS vaccinations and when to have them 

Find out more about the Flu vaccine for Children

For more information go to Fever or high temperature

  • Give paracetamol and plenty to drink
  • Keep your child off school until their fever goes away
  • If the child's high temperature continues for five days or more, seek advice

For more information go to Fever or high temperature

  • Children should go back to school when their lesions are crusted or healed, or two days after starting antibiotics

For more information go to Impetigo

Measles

  • Children should go back to school four days after the rash has started

For more information go to Measles

Mumps

  • Children should go back to school five days after symptoms develop

For more information fo to Mumps

Rubella

  • Children should go back to school four days after the rash has started. Please let the school know, as pregnant members of staff may be affected

For more information go to Rubella (German Measles)

Vaccinations are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases. It is important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection. For more information on the NHS vaccination schedule for children please visit NHS vaccinations and when to have them 

Note: If you think that your child has measles, Mumps or German Measles (Rubella) (MMR), please let your GP surgery know as they are all notifiable diseases and you may be contacted by a public health professional. 

 

  • If your child has Ringworm, see your pharmacist unless it's on their scalp, in which case you should see a GP
  • It's fine for your child to go to school once they have started treatment.

For more information go to Ringworm

  • Children should go back to school after the first treatment
  • Others at home should be treated

For more information go to Scabies

  • Children should go back to school 24 hours after starting appropriate antibiotic treatment

For more information go to Group A Strep & Scarlet Fever

  • Children should go back to school 48 hours after starting antibiotics
  • Non-infectious coughing may continue for many weeks

For more information go to Whooping Cough

Vaccinations are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases. It is important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection. For more information on the NHS vaccination schedule for children please visit NHS vaccinations and when to have them 

Note: If you think that your child has Whooping Cough, please let your GP surgery know as they are all notifiable diseases and you may be contacted by a public health professional. 

Other information

  • Whenever possible, try not to book medical appointments during the school day.
  • If you can’t avoid it, ask your child’s school in advance for a leave of absence and collect your child as close to the time of the appointment as possible and return them to school for the rest of the school day afterwards.

If possible try to time your child's medication so that it does not need to be taken during school hours or at nursery. You should ask school or nursery about their own policies or rules around medication. 

Children can go to school or nursery when they are taking medication if:

  • The child's parent or carer has given written permission
  • The medicine is in its original container (except insulin which may be in a pen or pump)
  • It is clearly labelled with your child's name, the dose and frequency
  • It is in date. Make sure you know when your child’s medication is going out of date and, if needed, replace it.
  • Any left over medication is collected when no longer needed

Where possible children should:

  • Know where their medication is and who to ask when needed
  • Be allowed to carry their own medication or have easy access to it. This is important for medications that may be needed in an emergency, for example asthma inhalers
  • Take their medication themselves if able with appropriate supervision

Over the counter (OTC) medicines
OTC medicines (for example paracetamol, hay fever medication) have clear labelling which allows them to be given safely in nursery or school. It must be in the original container (including any patient information leaflet if provided). Please do not make a GP appointment to try and get these medications on prescription, you will be advised to get this from the pharmacy directly. If your child's school or nursery says that they are unable to give over the counter medication without a prescription, this is incorrect. They may ask for written or verbal permission stating the medication and dose to be given.

Further information:
Guidance on conditions for which over the counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care

Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions

Pharmacists are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.

Sound advice

  • Visit a pharmacy if your child is ill, but does not need to see a GP
  • Remember that if your child's condition gets worse, you should seek further medical advice immediately
  • Help your child to understand - watch this video with them about going to the pharmacy

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

Health visitors are nurses or midwives who are passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing illness through the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme. They work with you through your pregnancy up until your child is ready to start school.

Health Visitors can also make referrals for you to other health professionals for example hearing or vision concerns or to the Community Paediatricians or to the child and adolescent mental health services.

Contact them by phoning your Health Visitor Team or local Children’s Centre.

Sound advice

Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:

  • Breastfeeding, weaning and healthy eating
  • Exercise, hygiene and safety
  • Your child’s growth and development
  • Emotional health and wellbeing, including postnatal depression
  • Safety in the home
  • Stopping smoking
  • Contraception and sexual health
  • Sleep and behaviour management (including temper tantrums!)
  • Toilet training
  • Minor illnesses

For more information watch the video: What does a health visitor do?

School nurses care for children and young people, aged 5-19, and their families, to ensure their health needs are supported within their school and community. They work closely with education staff and other agencies to support parents, carers and the children and young people, with physical and or emotional health needs.

Contacting the School Nurse

Primary and secondary schools have an allocated school nurse – telephone your child’s school to ask for the contact details of your named school nurse.

There is also a specialist nurse who works with families who choose to educate their children at home.

Sound Advice

Before your child starts school your health visitor will meet with the school nursing team to transfer their care to the school nursing service. The school nursing team consists of a school nursing lead, specialist public health practitioners and school health staff nurses.

They all have a role in preventing disease and promoting health and wellbeing, by:

  • encouraging healthier lifestyles
  • offering immunisations
  • giving information, advice and support to children, young people and their families
  • supporting children with complex health needs

Each member of the team has links with many other professionals who also work with children including community paediatricians, child and adolescent mental health teams, health visitors and speech and language therapists. The school health nursing service also forms part of the multi-agency services for children, young people and families where there are child protection or safeguarding issues.

GPs assess, treat and manage a whole range of health problems. They also provide health education, give vaccinations and carry out simple surgical procedures. Your GP will arrange a referral to a hospital specialist should you need it.

Sound advice

You have a choice of service:

  • Doctors or GPs can treat many illnesses that do not warrant a visit to A&E
  • Help your child to understand – watch this video with them about visiting the GP or going to a walk in centre

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

Information Sources

College co-signs letter from Chief Medical Officer on school attendance and health (rcgp.org.uk) this is a letter from the Royal College of GPs co-signed by Chris Whitty providing guidance to support GPs in having conversations about children attending school

NHS Page, is my child too ill for school

Do I need to keep my child off school? (English and translations) | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)

Public Health England guidelines: Health protection in children and young people settings, including education