If your child is away from school for any reason, please telephone the school as soon as possible. Any absence not explained is recorded as ‘unauthorised’.

Registers are completed as soon as the children come into school and any child not present when the register is returned to the school office will be marked absent.

If children arrive late they need to go to the school office to let the office staff know they have arrived. Their absent mark will then be changed to a late mark.

When your child is unwell, it can be hard deciding whether to keep them off school. Not every illness needs to keep your child from school. If your child is not well enough to come to school, please let us know. Below are a few simple guidelines to help you to decide if you should send your child to school or keep them at home.

Coughs and Colds
If your child has a minor cough or a cold they may attend school. If the cold is accompanied by a raised temperature, shivers or drowsiness, your child should stay off school, visit the GP and return to school 24 hours after they start to feel better. If your child has a more severe and long-lasting cough, consult your GP. They can give guidance on whether your child should stay off school.

Chickenpox
Children should remain at home until all sores have crusted over.

Cold sores
Child should not be kept off school and should attend as normal.

Conjunctivitis
Children should not be absent from school.

Earache
Children with earache should visit the GP and return to school on their advice.

Flu
Children should be kept off school until recovered.

German Measles
Children should be absent from school for four days from the onset of the rash.

Headache
A child with a minor headache doesn’t usually need to be kept off school. If the headache is more severe or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as raised temperature or drowsiness, then keep them off school and consult your GP.

Headlice
Treatment is required but children should not be kept off school.

Impetigo
Children should be absent from school until lesions are crusted or healed, or 48 hours after starting antibiotics.

Measles
Children need to be absent from school four days from the onset of the rash.

Raised Temperature
Fever is a common symptom of viral infections, like flu. If your child’s temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher, they must stay at home. While at home, encourage your child to drink plenty of liquids. Children should be fever-free for 24 hours (without medicine) before returning to school.

Rash
Rashes can be the first sign of many infectious illnesses, such as chickenpox and measles. Children with these conditions shouldn’t attend school. If your child has a rash, check with your GP or practice nurse before sending them to school.

Scabies
Children can return to school after their first treatment.

Scarlet fever
Children can return to school 24 hours after starting appropriate antibiotic treatment.

Sore Throat
A sore throat alone is not a reason to keep your child off school. If it’s accompanied by a raised temperature, then they should stay at home and you should consult your GP.

Tonsillitis
There are many causes of tonsillitis but most cases are due to viruses and do not need an antibiotic. Children do not usually need time off school unless the symptoms include a raised temperature.

Diarrhoea or Vomiting
Children with these conditions should be kept off school. They can return 48 hours after their symptoms disappear. Most cases of vomiting or diarrhoea get better without treatment, but if symptoms persist, consult your GP. Please note that when a child is off school with a tummy bug you only need to phone the school once unless there is a further reason why your child is not returning to school after 48 hours.

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