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It can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school when they're unwell. The following information is based on guidance from the NHS, and we hope you find it helpful.Â
If you do keep your child at home, please either call or email the office to let us know, and be sure to specify the reason.
If we do not hear from you, we will contact you on the first day of your child's absence.
By law we are required to inform the Local Authority of any absences and may sometimes need to ask you for evidence... please do work with us if this is the case. If we do not have clear reason for your child's absence it will have to be marked as unauthorised and you may be issued with a fine from Barnet.
SPECIFIC illnesses
SPECIFIC illnesses
Coughs and colds
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.
Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues and to wash their hands regularly.
Chickenpox
If your child has chickenpox, keep them off school until all the spots have crusted over.
This is usually about 5 days after the spots first appeared.
Chickenpox
If your child has chickenpox, keep them off school until all the spots have crusted over.
This is usually about 5 days after the spots first appeared.
Cold sores
There's no need to keep your child off school if they have a cold sore.
Encourage them not to touch the blister while they have the cold sore, or to share things like cups and towels.
Cold sores
There's no need to keep your child off school if they have a cold sore.
Encourage them not to touch the blister while they have the cold sore, or to share things like cups and towels.
Conjunctivitis
You don't need to keep your child away from school if they have conjunctivitis.
Do get advice from your pharmacist. Encourage your child not to rub their eyes and to wash their hands regularly.
Conjunctivitis
You don't need to keep your child away from school if they have conjunctivitis.
Do get advice from your pharmacist. Encourage your child not to rub their eyes and to wash their hands regularly.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Your child should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if they have symptoms of COVID-19 and they either
- have a high temperature
- do not feel well enough to go to school or do their normal activities
There is no expectation that you test your child if they have symptoms, only that you follow the above guidance.
However, if your child has a positive COVID-19 test result, you are advised to keep them at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better. You can go back to normal activities once you do not have a high temperature.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Your child should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if they have symptoms of COVID-19 and they either
- have a high temperature
- do not feel well enough to go to school or do their normal activities
There is no expectation that you test your child if they have symptoms, only that you follow the above guidance.
However, if your child has a positive COVID-19 test result, you are advised to keep them at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better. You can go back to normal activities once you do not have a high temperature.
Ear infection
If your child has an ear infection and a high temperature or severe earache, keep them off school until they're feeling better or their high temperature goes away.
Ear infection
If your child has an ear infection and a high temperature or severe earache, keep them off school until they're feeling better or their high temperature goes away.
Hand, foot and mouth disease
If your child has hand, foot and mouth disease but seems well enough to go to school, there's no need to keep them off.
Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues straight away and to wash their hands regularly.
Hand, foot and mouth disease
If your child has hand, foot and mouth disease but seems well enough to go to school, there's no need to keep them off.
Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues straight away and to wash their hands regularly.
Head lice and nits
There's no need to keep your child off school if they have head lice.
You can treat head lice and nits without seeing a GP.
Head lice and nits
There's no need to keep your child off school if they have head lice.
You can treat head lice and nits without seeing a GP.
Impetigo
If your child has impetigo, they'll need treatment from a GP, often with antibiotics.
Keep them off school until all the sores have crusted over and healed, or for 48 hours after they start antibiotic treatment.
Encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and not to share things like towels and cups with other children at school.
Impetigo
If your child has impetigo, they'll need treatment from a GP, often with antibiotics.
Keep them off school until all the sores have crusted over and healed, or for 48 hours after they start antibiotic treatment.
Encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and not to share things like towels and cups with other children at school.
Ringworm
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.
Ringworm
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.
Scarlet fever
If your child has scarlet fever, they'll need treatment with antibiotics from a GP. Otherwise they'll be infectious for 2 to 3 weeks.
Your child can go back to school 24 hours after starting antibiotics.
Scarlet fever
If your child has scarlet fever, they'll need treatment with antibiotics from a GP. Otherwise they'll be infectious for 2 to 3 weeks.
Your child can go back to school 24 hours after starting antibiotics.
Slapped cheek syndrome
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.
If you suspect your child has slapped cheek syndrome, take them to see a GP and let their school know if they're diagnosed with it.
Slapped cheek syndrome
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.
If you suspect your child has slapped cheek syndrome, take them to see a GP and let their school know if they're diagnosed with it.
Sore throat
You can still send your child to school if they have a sore throat. But if they also have a high temperature, they should stay at home until it goes away.
A sore throat and a high temperature can be symptoms of tonsillitis.
Sore throat
You can still send your child to school if they have a sore throat. But if they also have a high temperature, they should stay at home until it goes away.
A sore throat and a high temperature can be symptoms of tonsillitis.
Threadworms
You don't need to keep your child off school if they have threadworms.
Speak to your pharmacist, who can recommend a treatment.
Threadworms
You don't need to keep your child off school if they have threadworms.
Speak to your pharmacist, who can recommend a treatment.
Vomiting and diarrhoea
Children with diarrhoea or vomiting should stay away from school for 2 days after their symptoms have gone.
Vomiting and diarrhoea
Children with diarrhoea or vomiting should stay away from school for 2 days after their symptoms have gone.
More information on these conditions can be found by clicking the links or by visiting the NHS website below...
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