If your child is not well enough to attend school please telephone the school office on 01628 662913 and select option 2 to leave a message including your child's name, class and reason for their absence. Please follow this up with a letter explaining their absence when they return to school.
Injuries
If your child has an injury and has a bandage, cast or stitches, please bring them to the school office on their first day back so that we can discuss the best way to support them.
Illness
Children often pick up minor bugs and illnesses and we aim to find a balance between encouraging children to be at school and ensuring that they and other children and staff at school are cared for. The NHS recommends asking the following questions when deciding if your child is well enough to come to school:
- Is your child well enough to do the activities of the school day? If not, keep your child at home.
- Does your child have a condition that could be passed on to other children or school staff? If so, keep your child at home.
- Would you take a day off work if you had this condition? If so, keep your child at home.
Please use common sense when deciding if a child is well enough to come to school. You can find further information about childhood illnesses at the NHS Choices website.
If you have any concerns about your child's health please speak to a medical professional.
We follow guidelines provided by the Health Protection agency for some common childhood illnesses:
Chicken Pox - If your child has chicken pox please do not bring them to school. They should stay away from school for at least 5 days after their rash appeared or until the last spot has crusted over.
Impetigo - Children with impetigo should remain away from school until at least 48 hours after antibiotic treatment is started.
Sickness and Diarrhoea - If your child has vomited or had diarrhoea at home please do not bring them to school until at least 48 hours after their symptoms stop.
We follow these guidelines to prevent other children and staff becoming ill and because your child needs time to feel better. Please remember that your child may come into contact with other children who have long-term health issues and pregnant staff or parents and that some common childhood illnesses can be more serious for these groups.
Meningitis - Meningitis is very serious illness which can affect people of any age but is more common in children.
The signs and symptoms to look out for in your child are:
- a very high fever with cold hands and feet
- they may feel agitated but not want to be touched
- they may cry continuously
- some children can become very sleepy and it may be difficult to wake them up
- they may appear confused and unresponsive
- they may develop a blotchy red rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it
In older children and adults, the symptoms of meningitis can include:
- severe headache
- vomiting
- high temperature (fever) of 38ºC (100.4ºF) or over
- stiff neck
- sensitivity to light
- rapid breathing
- a general feeling of being unwell
- a distinctive skin rash (although not everyone will have this)
It is important to note that not everyone will get all of the above symptoms.
If you notice any of the symptoms of meningitis, particularly in young children, seek medical help immediately.
For more information visit The Meningitus Trust website.
