We all hope that children do not have to miss school due to illness. We also recognise it is difficult for parents to take time off to look after sick children, but responsible decisions must be made to avoid the spread of infection. Some good tips are:
- Encourage children to eat breakfast
- Try to ensure children have been immunised
- Let the school know in the morning if your child is ill and will be absent
- Ensure that the school has correct contact numbers so you can be accessed easily in case of illness or an accident
- Keep a copy of the booklet on Health Services for Schools Children which the school should have provided, also make sure you have return the relevant pages.
Infectious Diseases
The following table identifies some of the most common childhood ailments. It indicates whether, and for how long, a child should be kept away from school.
Some of the most common childhood ailmentsInfection | School absence |
Chicken Pox Measles German Measles Mumps | Five days from onset of the rash or other symptoms. |
Slapped Cheek Hand, Foot/Mouth Cold Sores Ringworm Head Lice Warts/Verrucae Worms Conjunctivitis | No need to stay off school if otherwise well. |
Diarrhoea Salmonella Shigella Giardia | Until diarrhoea is settled for at least 24 hours. |
Impetigo Scarlet Fever Scabies Whooping Cough | Until treated. |
Information supplied by Wiltshire Health Protection Agency, phone 01380 732599. |
Medication at School
If your child needs to take medication regularly at school in order to cope with a known condition, you will need to discuss this with the headteacher and a mutually agreed plan written. The DfES have developed a useful guide ‘Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings’
Giving other prescribed medicines to a child, e.g. antibiotics, is not the school’s responsibility but may be done on a voluntary basis.
You should not expect the school to give non prescribed medicines e.g. pain killers. Aspirin will never be given to a child under 12.
