Illness Guidelines
Not every illness needs a child to stay away from school. If a child is kept away from school, parents must inform the school on the first day of their absence.
Common sense needs to be used when deciding whether or not a child is too ill to attend school. Parents need to ask themselves the following questions:
- Is my child well enough to do the activities of the school day? If not, keep your child at home.
- Does my child have a condition that could be passed on to other children or school staff? If so, keep your child at home.
- Would I take a day off work if I had this condition? If so, keep your child at home.
Common conditions
If a child is ill, it’s likely to be due to one of a few minor health conditions, below:
Cough and cold
Raised temperature
If a child has a raised temperature (38C or above), they shouldn’t attend school. They can return 24 hours after their temperature has returned to normal (without Calpol).
Rash
Skin rashes can be the first sign of many infectious illnesses, such as chickenpox and measles. Children with these conditions shouldn’t attend school. If a child has a rash, check with a GP or practice nurse before sending them to school.
Headache
A child with a minor headache doesn’t usually need to be kept off school. If the headache is more severe or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as raised temperature or drowsiness, then the child should be kept off school and a GP consulted.
Vomiting and diarrhea
Children with diarrhea and/or vomiting must be kept off school until 48 hours after their symptoms have gone. Most cases of diarrhea and vomiting in children get better without treatment, but if symptoms persist, consult a GP.
Sore throat
A sore throat alone doesn’t have to keep a child from school. But if it’s accompanied by a raised temperature, your child should stay at home.
Chickenpox
If a child has chickenpox, they must be kept off school until all their spots have crusted over.