Common Illness Advice

At Saughall All Saints C of E Primary School, we want to work in partnership with families to keep all our children healthy, safe and ready to learn.

Children can sometimes become unwell during the school year, and illnesses can spread quickly in a school environment. The information below provides links to reliable NHS advice about common childhood illnesses and guidance on when children should stay at home.

NHS Advice for Common Illnesses

The following links take you to the latest available NHS guidance.

• Scarlet fever: NHS advice on scarlet fever

• Measles: NHS advice on measles

• Head lice and nits: NHS advice on head lice and treatment

• Asthma: NHS advice on asthma

• Hand, foot and mouth disease: NHS advice on hand, foot and mouth disease

• Conjunctivitis: NHS advice on conjunctivitis

• Slapped cheek syndrome: NHS advice on slapped cheek syndrome

• Flu: NHS advice on flu

• Other childhood rashes: NHS advice on rashes in babies and children

When Should My Child Stay at Home?

Please do not send your child to school if they are too unwell to participate fully in the school day or if they have an illness that requires them to stay at home to reduce the risk of infection spreading.

Vomiting and diarrhoea

If your child has sickness (vomiting) or diarrhoea, they must remain at home until they have been free from both symptoms for at least 48 hours after the last episode. This helps to reduce the spread of infection to other children and staff.

High temperature or fever

If your child has a high temperature, they should stay at home until the fever has passed and they feel well enough to return to school.

Coughs and colds

Children with a mild cough, runny nose or sore throat can usually attend school if they feel well enough and do not have a high temperature.

Infectious illnesses

Some illnesses require children to stay away from school for a specific period. Please follow the advice of your healthcare professional and the current UK Health Security Agency guidance. For example:

• Scarlet fever: Children should stay at home until at least 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.

• Measles: Children should stay at home for at least four days after the rash first appears.

• Flu: Children should stay at home until they are well enough to return and no longer have a temperature.

• Hand, foot and mouth disease: Children do not routinely need to stay off school once they feel well enough to attend.

• Head lice: Children do not need to stay off school, but treatment should begin as soon as live lice are identified.

For the full, up-to-date list of illnesses and recommended exclusion periods, please consult the UK Government guidance on public health exclusion periods.

Reporting Your Child's Absence

If your child is unwell and unable to attend school, please telephone the school on 01244 455466 to report their absence.

Please contact the school each day your child is absent, unless you have agreed alternative arrangements with us. Let us know the reason for the absence so that we can maintain accurate attendance records.

If your child has been diagnosed with an infectious illness, please inform the school so that we can take appropriate steps to help protect our school community.

Further Medical Advice

If you are concerned about your child's symptoms, please contact your GP, pharmacist or NHS 111 for advice. If your child is seriously unwell or you believe they are experiencing a medical emergency, call 999.

Thank you for helping us to keep our Saughall All Saints school family healthy and safe.