Should my child go to school/nursery today?

• Give paracetamol as per the instructions on the packaging 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 High Temperature/Fever.

Due to Covid-19, a high temperature should be considered a major symptom, and you should follow the Covid-19 guidance.

• 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
• Not sure? seek advice

Find out more about the Flu Vaccine for Children.

For more information go to High Temperature/Fever.

• 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.

Measles

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

For more information go to Measles.

Chicken Pox

• 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.

German Measles

• 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 German Measles (Rubella).

Note: Measles, Mumps and German Measles (Rubella) (MMR) is a notifiable disease and you may get a ring from a public health professional.

• Children should go back to school five days from the start of swollen glands

For more information go to Mumps.

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

For more information go to Scarlet Fever or Strep.

• Children should go back to school five days after starting antibiotics. Non-infectious coughing may continue for many weeks

For more information go to Whooping Cough.

• 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 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

For more information go to Cough and Cold.

• Children should be able to go to school
• Most children develop immunity from verrucae but if they can wear a plaster where possible
• Don’t avoid swimming

For more information go to Hand, foot and mouth, Warts and Verrucae, Athletes Foot, Molluscum Contagiosum.

• 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 as per the instructions on the packaging and plenty of fluids to drink
• If headache, earache or stomach ache persist… seek advice

For more information go to Earache and/or Tummy 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

• 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.

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

Children should go back to school once the rash has stopped weeping and is covered up.

• Children should be given paracetamol as per the instructions on the packaging, plenty of fluids to drink and be sent to school

For more information go to Sore Throat.

• 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

Medicines in school

• Children should come to school even if they are taking medicines, as staff are able to give them prescribed medicine in school
• Please make sure the bottle has a pharmacy label detailing your child’s name, dosage and how frequently they should have it
• Please discuss with the headteacher

School nurse drop-in session

• Your school nurse is available to meet with you in school. Please ask reception for the school nurse’s contact details

Further advice

• You can also contact NHS 111
• Local pharmacy – see your local pharmacist for help and advice. In some areas there is a new minor ailment service available (check with your GP for details) called Pharmacy First. If your child has certain minor ailments or conditions you may be eligible for the ‘Pharmacy First’ service which enables those who get free prescriptions to go straight to their pharmacist for a consultation, instead of going to their GP for a prescription
• Caution needs to be taken with children who are more susceptible to severe infection due to an underlying long term medical condition or being immunocompromised. These children are more likely to require medical review when unwell and are less likely to be able to attend school/nursery

If your child’s school or nursery says that they are unable to give any medication without a prescription, this is incorrect. Over the counter medications, such as hay fever treatment or simple pain relief may be given as long as dosing instructions are clearly written on the medication. Your pharmacist will label your medication appropriately if you ask them to. Please do not make a GP appointment to obtain over the counter medications with a prescription, you will be advised to get this from the pharmacy directly.