Medical Information

Absences from School through Illness

Regular school attendance is important. Irregular attendance affects a child’s progress. It is important to establish routines such as regular attendance early on in a child’s school career. Parents can help to establish and develop these routines. If children are reluctant to come to school or are frequently distressed, please discuss it with the Class Teacher or Headteacher. It is not a good idea to encourage absence, even for a day, as it often makes matters worse. However, we do not expect children to come to school if they are genuinely unwell.

Pupils who are unwell should not attend until they are able to cope with a full day in school (unless by prior arrangement with the Headteacher). The school should be informed via www.studybugs.com or by using the Studybugs App by 8.30 a.m. on each day of absence. Extensive or frequent illness absence will mean parents are asked to provide medical evidence for any absence to be authorised.

It can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school when they’re unwell. Please click on the links below to see which conditions you should keep your child off school for.

https://hatfieldpeverel.essex.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/What-to-do-childhood-illness.pdf

UKHSA-should-I-keep-my_child_off_school_guidance-A3-poster

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

Medicines at School

Prescriptions and over the counter medicines and remedies should never come into school in a child’s possession. Special arrangements may be agreed where pupils need long term treatments but in general, medicines are not administered in school.

Dosages for antibiotics should be organised so that they fall outside school hours if needed three times a day, i.e., before school, straight after school and then at bedtime. If your child requires antibiotics four times a day, the school will administer the lunchtime dose. Parents are required to provide the medication in a box to the school office, with the prescription label on showing the child’s name and dosage instructions. An authority form will also need to be completed.

Specific protocols for administration of emergency treatments will be drawn up by liaison between medical staff, families and the school; these are called Health Care Plans. If you feel you need a Health Care Plan for your child, please make an appointment to see the Headteacher.

Feeling Sick

If your child has been sick or has had diarrhoea during the night, DO NOT SEND THEM TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY, however much he/she wants to come. Please leave at least 48 hours from the last attack of diarrhoea or sickness before coming into school. This is essential to stop bugs from spreading. On the other hand, if you think your child has ‘school–itis’ and is pretending to feel sick, please bring them to school but leave a contact number in case you were wrong! In general, if a child is not feeling well, we will do our best to make them feel comfortable but it is a great help and benefit to the child if we can contact you or a relative easily so that they can collected and taken to a doctor if necessary.

Headlice

Headlice are annoying but not dangerous. Despite great vigilance on the part of all parents, headlice occur from time to time in children of school age. These unwelcome visitors can be caught anywhere and seem to prefer clean hair! Children in school work and play close together so headlice can crawl from one head to another quite easily. If you child has long hair, please ensure it is always tied back when attending school.

The Health Authority recommends combing children’s hair twice a day and checking their heads once a week, even when there are no symptoms. If a child catches headlice you can either wet comb the hair with conditioner every day for two weeks or use a recommended lotion or shampoo from the chemist. Lotion can be obtained on prescription from the doctor. You will need to check all members of the family and contact close friends of your child. Please let us discreetly know and we will issue a reminder to all of your child’s class to be vigilant to try and limit the spread.

Infectious Diseases

Please inform the school office if your child has an INFECTIOUS disease so that we can take any appropriate action in school.

You will be fortunate if during your child’s time in school he/she does not catch one or more of the common infectious diseases listed below. Parents often ask how long children should stay at home. The NHS working in partnership with Essex County Council has produced a guide entitled ‘What to do, Advice on Childhood Illness’. This is only a guide and if you are in any doubt whatsoever, you must consult your doctor. Please note there is additional guidance available from gov.uk, specifically ‘Guidance in Infection Control in Schools and other Childcare Settings’.

Disease

• Chicken Pox – five days after on-set of the rash, or when all lesions are crusted over
• Food Poisoning – Until clinically fit
• German Measles – 4 days from onset of rash
• Mumps – 9 days after onset of swelling. Until swelling has subsided
• Severe sore throat – only if feeling too unwell and no temperature
• Whooping Cough – five days after start of antibiotics
• Diarrhoea & Sickness – 48 hours after last episode
• Impetigo – when lesions crust over or 48 hours after start of antibiotics

Accidents

In the event of a serious accident occurring in school, every effort will be made to contact a parent of the child before referral to a doctor. For this reason, it is essential that you keep the school informed of any changes in home or work telephone numbers. If a child is unwell in school and needs to go home, it is again essential that we have the name and telephone number of another contact should a parent not be available.

Inoculations

Children should have a booster for tetanus, diphtheria and polio before or when starting school.

Medical Inspections

The local Health Authority will send you a Health Questionnaire and request your permission to undertake tests and measurements in school time.

Medical Information

If a child has a serious or recurring medical problem, please see that it is noted on the child’s school record so that an appropriate Healthcare Plan can be drawn up to protect your child.

P.E. & Playtime

Please let us know in writing if there is a very good reason for your child not to take part in P.E. or to go out at playtime. We work on the assumption that if a child is well enough for school, he/she is well enough to take part in all activities. If there are special circumstances, e.g. if a child cannot run about for PE, then we will make alternative arrangements for playtime too.

Pierced Ears

Earrings are not permitted in school under Essex County Council’s Health and Safety Standards. If you are considering having your child’s ears pierced, the only time for this is at the start of the school summer holidays so earrings can be removed for school again in September. If a child comes to school with earrings that cannot be removed for any reason, they will be excluded from P.E. and possibly from playtime too.