Should my child go to school/nursery today?

Regular attendance at school helps your child to build skills and potential life-long friendships and prepares them for future success. It can be difficult to know whether your child is too unwell to attend school or nursery. The advice below can support you in making a decision about this.

We have only listed physical health concerns, but if you are worried about your child's emotional health and wellbeing, please talk to your child’s school and/or your school nurse about how they can help support.

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 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.

This is general information. If your child has a weakened immune system (due to illness or taking special medication) or has not had all their vaccines you may want to speak with your child's health care team.

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 school 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.

  • Give paracetamol 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.

 

  • 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.

 

Children should go back to school or nursery 4 days after the rash has started.

Measles can spread very quickly if you have not had your vaccine.

For more information go to Measles.

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

 

  • 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.

  • Children should go back to school or nursery 4 days after the rash has started. Please let the school know, as pregnant members of staff may be affected

For more information go to Rubella (German Measles).

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

  • Children should go back to school or nursery 5 days from the start of swollen glands

For more information go to Mumps.

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

  • 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 or nursery 2 days after starting antibiotics, or 3 weeks after symptoms started if you have not had antibiotics. Non-infectious coughing may continue for many weeks

For more information go to Whooping Cough.

  • Children should be able to go to school or nursery
  • 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.

  • It is 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.
  • 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 or nursery

For more information go to Molluscum Contagiosum.

  • Children should be able to go to school or nursery
  • Verrucae may need covering in swimming pools, gyms, and changing rooms.

For more information go to Warts and Verrucae.

  • Children should be able to go to school or nursery when they feel better
  • They do not need to wait until the blisters have healed

For more information go to Hand, foot and mouth

Children should be able to go to school or nursery

For more information go to Athletes Foot

  • Children with ear ache should be able to go to school - just let the staff know how your child has been
  • Give paracetamol and plenty of fluids to drink
  • If earache persists seek advice

For more information go to Earache

  • Children with tummy ache should be able to go to school - just let the staff know how your child has been
  • Give paracetamol and plenty of fluids to drink
  • If tummy ache persists seek advice

For more information go to tummy ache

  • Children with headache should be able to go to school - just let the staff know how your child has been
  • Give paracetamol/ibuprofen and plenty of fluids to drink
  • If headache persists seek advice

 

  • 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
  • Your pharmacy may also be able to help. Visit your local pharmacist for more information.

  • Children should go back to school or nursery when their lesions are crusted or healed, or 2 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

  • If the rash can be covered, children should go back to school or nursery. 
  • Please tell school or nursery that your child has got shingles so they can let other people know because they might need some treatment.

  • Children should be given paracetamol, plenty of fluids to drink and be sent to school or nursery, but if they have a high temperature they should be kept at home until it goes away.

For more information go to Sore Throat.

  • Children should be given paracetamol, plenty of fluids to drink and be sent to school or nursery, but if they have a high temperature they should be kept at home until it goes away.

For more information go to Glandular Fever.

  • Children should go to school or nursery 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

  • Children can attend school or nursery
  • Please tell school or nursery as they might have to tell others, for example if they are pregnant or have immune defficiency

For more information go to Slapped Cheek

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.

Information in this guide is taken from the Public Health England guidelines “Health protection in schools and other childcare facilities: A practical guide for staff on managing cases of infectious diseases in schools and other childcare settings.

For more information, visit the NHS Live Well Website.

Page last updated on: 28th March 2024

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