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.
For more information go to Cold sores
For more information go to Conjunctivitis
For more information go to Hand, foot and mouth
For more information go to Earache or Stomach ache
For more information go to Head lice
For more information go to Molluscum Contagiosum
For more information go to Slapped Cheek Syndrome
For more information go to Threadworms
For more information go to Warts and Verrucae or Athlete's foot
For more information go to cough or common cold
For information go to COVID-19 symptoms and what to do
For more information go to Sore throat
For more information go to Chickenpox.
For more information go to Diarrhoea and vomiting
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
For more information go to Fever or high temperature
For more information go to Impetigo
For more information go to Measles
For more information fo to Mumps
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.
For more information go to Ringworm
For more information go to Scabies
For more information go to Group A Strep & Scarlet Fever
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.
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:
Where possible children should:
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
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.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
The 0-19 Service for children and young people is delivered by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and offers a single point of access for Health Visiting, School Nursing and the Family Nurse Partnership. You can contact the teams using the details below:
Single Point of Access (SPA): 01865 903 800
Email: cyp0-19@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Chat Health Parentline
Text us any time for confidential advice and support and you will have a response the next working day (Monday-Friday exluding Bank Holidays).
Parents and carers for children aged 0-4: Text 07312 263 081
Parents and carers of children aged 5-11: Text 07312 263 227
Young people aged 11-19 and their parents and carers: Text 07312 263 08
Health visitors are registered nurses or midwives who have additional training in community public health nursing. They provide a universal service, targeted to individual needs for children aged 0-5 years. Learn more about the Oxfordshire Health Visiting Service here!
School Health Nurses are specialist public health nurses and have offices across Oxfordshire. They work very closely with Health Visitors to support school aged children. They are available for young people to access in secondary schools and colleges, and offer a service to children who are home educated. They work closely with children, young people and their families to support and promote health and wellbeing. Learn more about the Oxfordshire School and college Health Nursing Service here!
The Family Nurse Partnership service supports parents who are aged 19 years or under at conception, or under 21 years if they have been in care. The Family Nurse works alongside younger parents in their home, offering health, wellbeing and development support and information from the early stages of pregnancy, usually up until your child is two. Learn more about the Family Nurse Partnership service here!
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.
You have a choice of service:
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
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
Public Health England guidelines: Health protection in children and young people settings, including education