Wondering whether your child’s too poorly to go to school? From coughs & colds to vomiting & diarrhoea, we take the stress out of deciding when to send them to school & when it’s best to keep an eye on them at home
We know, we know, it’s the age-old question: is my child too ill for school? When you’ve got school-age children they’re constantly coming home with a bug (or maybe even bugs!), and it can be difficult to know when to keep them home to recover, and when you can safely send them to school.
That’s why we’re here to help take the stress out of knowing which illnesses, ailments and infections require time off school, and which simply need a quick word with the teacher to keep a close eye…
Understanding your child's symptoms
Many common childhood illnesses can have similar symptoms, such as a high temperature, aches, pains, coughs and sniffles.
Usually you can manage common symptoms at home with a bit of rest, TLC, plenty of fluids and some age-appropriate pain relief if suitable for them.
However, if something doesn’t feel right, or they don’t seem to be getting better after a few days, don’t hesitate to speak to your GP or call 111 for advice.
It might be useful to familiarise yourself with common childhood illnesses such as colds and flu, as well as things like chickenpox, so you know the best ways to help treat symptoms at home.
As a parent, you’ll know when your child isn’t feeling their normal self. If you’re worried, even if they aren’t showing any specific symptoms, speak to your GP or call 111.
Deciding when to keep your child at home
Your child’s education is important, so they should go to school if they’re well enough. You can always let their class teacher know that your little one is feeling under the weather, so they can keep an eye on them and contact you if they need to.
If you’re not sure whether your child is too ill to go to school, take a look at this quick guide to common childhood illnesses and when your child should stay at home:
Cough or cold
Your child should be ok to go to school with a minor cough or cold. However, if they have a high temperature, you should keep them off school until it goes down. If you think it might be the flu, read our article on the differences between cold and flu, and how to manage symptoms of each.
Chickenpox
If your child has chickenpox you should keep them off school until all the spots have crusted over, usually about five days after the first spots appeared.
Conjunctivitis
Your child doesn’t need to stay off school if they have conjunctivitis, unless they’re feeling unwell, however it’s a good idea to speak to your pharmacist for treatment advice. Explain to the teacher that they have conjunctivitis, and encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and not to touch their eyes.
COVID-19
If your child has mild symptoms of COVID-19, such as a sore throat, runny nose or slight cough, they can still go to school if they feel well enough. However, you should keep them at home and avoid contact with other people if they have COVID-19 symptoms and have a high temperature or feel too poorly to attend school.
Ear infection
Keep your child off school if they have an ear infection and a high temperature, or severe earache. They should be ok to go back to school once they’re feeling better and their temperature has returned to normal. You can also see your local Boots pharmacist for advice and treatment if your child is aged one to 17, using the Pharmacy First service.*
Feeling anxious
Lots of children feel slightly worried or anxious from time to time, and this can cause symptoms like tummy ache, headaches, or problems sleeping or eating. If your child is feeling anxious, especially if their worries are related to school, keeping them off might make those feelings worse in the long run. Instead, it’s a good idea to try speaking to your child about what might be worrying them. You can then decide whether it’s appropriate to speak to your child’s teacher about what’s making them feel this way.
While it’s normal for children to feel anxious every now and then, you should speak to your GP if you feel like it’s affecting their everyday life.
High temperature
If your child has a high temperature, keep them off school until it goes back to normal. You can give them over-the-counter medicines to help bring their temperature down, if suitable for them.
Hand, foot & mouth disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood illness that causes symptoms such as sore throat, high temperature and loss of appetite. This is often followed by a raised rash on the hands and feet.
You don’t need to keep your child off school if they have hand, foot and mouth disease but seem well enough in themselves. Remind them to wash their hands regularly and throw away any used tissues, and let the teacher know.
Head lice & nits
Your child doesn’t need to stay off school if they have head lice or nits, just be sure to let their teacher know. You can treat head lice and nits at home with an over-the-counter nits and head lice treatment – speak to your pharmacist for advice if needed.
Impetigo
If your child has impetigo, they’ll need to be seen by a GP or pharmacist, as it’s likely they’ll need antibiotics. Your local Boots pharmacist can offer advice and treatment if your child is over the age of one, using the Pharmacy First service.* You should keep your child off school for 48 hours after they start antibiotics, or until the sores have crusted over and healed. Remind your child to wash their hands regularly and encourage them not to share things like towels and cups.
Measles
Your child will need an urgent GP appointment if you think they have measles – it’s a good idea to call the GP surgery first and let them know, as measles is easily spread. You should keep your child off school for at least four days from when the rash first appears. They should also avoid close contact with babies, pregnant people or those with a weakened immune system during this time.
Ringworm
Ringworm is a common fungal infection which causes a large, circular rash. The rash may be scaly, dry, swollen or itchy, and can appear anywhere on the body.
Speak to your pharmacist if you think your child has ringworm, unless it’s on their scalp, in which case you should take them to be looked at by a GP. If your child has ringworm, they can go to school as soon as they’ve started treatment.
Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is a contagious condition that causes flu-like symptoms. If your child has scarlet fever, they’ll need to see a GP who will prescribe antibiotics. They can go back to school 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.
Slapped cheek syndrome (fifth disease)
Slapped cheek can cause symptoms such as high temperature, runny nose and sore throat, and headache. A red rash may also appear on one or both cheeks.
Your child can go to school if they have slapped cheek syndrome. That’s because once the rash appears, they’re no longer infectious – just be sure to let their teacher know.
Sore throat
If your child has a sore throat they should usually still be ok to go to school, unless they also have a high temperature. A sore throat alongside a high temperature could be a sign of tonsillitis. If your child has a high temperature and you think they may have tonsillitis, keep them at home until they start to feel better.
Threadworms
Your child doesn’t need to stay off school if they have threadworms. Your pharmacist will be able to recommend a suitable treatment.
Vomiting & diarrhoea
If your child has sickness and diarrhoea (or one or the other), you should keep them off school until they have not had any episodes of vomiting or diarrhoea for at least 48 hours.
If your child is well enough to go to school but has an infection or something else that could be passed on, such as head lice or conjunctivitis, be sure to let the school know. If your child has an illness or infection and you’re not sure whether they’re well enough to go to school or not, call 111 or speak to your pharmacist or GP for advice. If your child is seriously ill, you should call 999 or take them straight to the nearest A&E.
If your child has a recurring health issue or medical appointments that mean they take a lot of time off school, their teacher may be able to offer some schoolwork to complete at home. This means they can keep up with their education, even when they’re not able to be in school.
Promoting good health & hygiene habits
To help give your child the best protection, it’s important to keep on top of their vaccinations. Vaccinations that are given on time offer the best protection against certain diseases and infections.
If your child has missed a vaccination, speak to your GP. While it’s best to have vaccinations on time, you can still catch up on most vaccinations if you miss them.
You may have heard some scare stories about vaccinations, but rest assured that your child’s routine vaccinations are effective and don’t contain any ingredients that can cause harm. Getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated, and studies have also found no evidence of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism.
Find out more about what to expect from your child’s vaccinations in our article.
To help keep your child healthy, it’s a good idea to teach them about good hygiene practices, such as washing their hands after using the toilet, before mealtimes and regularly throughout the day, and throwing away any used tissues.
It can be difficult to know when to keep your child at home or send them to school if they’re under the weather, so hopefully this guide has given some useful answers and information.
Ultimately though, you know your child best, and if your instinct is telling you the answer to “is my child too ill to go to school?” is that they genuinely aren’t well enough, then trust your gut and keep an eye on them at home. And remember, your GP or pharmacist are always happy to offer advice, even if it’s just to put your mind at rest.
