When can I keep my child off school? Advice to parents

Both the Chief Medical Officer for England and the NHS have given guidance about when a child should be kept off school in the case of illness.

In a letter to headteachers and school trust leaders, England’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has advised when it is suitable to keep children off school.

He says: “We are aware that the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused some parents to feel less confident with assessing whether their child is well enough to be in school so we have laid out some information which we hope you will find helpful.

“It is usually appropriate for parents and carers to send their children to school with mild respiratory illnesses.

Advice has been issued to parents on when they should keep their child home from school (Image: Getty/KatarzynaBialasiewicz)

“This would include general cold symptoms: a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat. However, children should not be sent to school if they have a temperature of 38°C or above.

“In addition to respiratory illnesses, we are aware that more children may be absent from school due to symptoms of anxiety than before the pandemic.

“Worry and mild or moderate anxiety, whilst sometimes difficult emotions, can be a normal part of growing up for many children and young people.

“Being in school can often help alleviate the underlying issues. A prolonged period of absence is likely to heighten a child’s anxiety about attending in the future, rather than reduce it.”

NHS advice – Is my child too ill for school?

NHS advice is also available on when you can send your child to school.

This is what they say about a range of 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.

High temperature

If your child has a high temperature, keep them off school until it goes away.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Vomiting and diarrhoea

Children with diarrhoea or vomiting should stay away from school until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days (48 hours).