🩺 Is My Child Too Ill for School? A Helpful Guide for Parents

At The Holden School, we understand that deciding whether your child is well enough to attend school can sometimes be difficult. 🤔

The NHS has produced a helpful guide for parents covering common illnesses and when children should stay at home or when it is safe for them to attend school.

✅ Children can usually attend school with:

• Mild coughs and colds 🤧
• A sore throat (without a high temperature) 🗣️
• Head lice 🪮
• Conjunctivitis (if they are otherwise well) 👀
• Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (if they feel well enough) ✋👣
• Slapped Cheek Syndrome (once the rash appears) 😊

❌ Children should stay at home if they have:

• A high temperature 🌡️
• Vomiting or diarrhoea until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours 🤢
• Chickenpox until all spots have crusted over 🩹
• Measles (for at least 4 days after the rash appears) 🔴
• Impetigo until lesions have healed or 48 hours after starting antibiotics 💊

💡 Did You Know?

The NHS advises that avoiding school can sometimes increase anxiety for children who are worried about attending. If your child is struggling with anxiety, school staff, school nurses and healthcare professionals can work together with families to provide support.

📖 For the full NHS guidance, please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/