As schools reopen across the UK this week, the NHS has issued important guidance to help parents decide if their child should attend school or stay home when feeling unwell. Through a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), the NHS emphasized the challenges parents face in distinguishing between mild illness and conditions requiring a child to remain at home.
The NHS highlights common symptoms such as a high temperature, cough, or the presence of nits, which may warrant keeping children home. However, children with mild symptoms like a runny nose or sore throat can generally continue attending school if they feel well enough.
Particular attention is given to COVID-19 and measles. For COVID-19, children exhibiting mild symptoms can attend school, but are advised to stay home and avoid contact with others if they have a high temperature or feel too unwell to participate in normal activities.
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Measles presents a more serious concern. The NHS advises parents to contact their GP before visiting if they suspect measles, due to its high contagiousness. Children diagnosed with measles should remain off school for at least four days after the rash appears and avoid close contact with vulnerable groups such as babies, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.
In addition to illness-specific advice, government health officials recommend educating children and young people on hygiene practices, vaccination importance, and infection prevention. Free educational resources developed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are available to schools to foster healthy behaviors and reduce the spread of infections in educational settings.
Overall, the NHS urges parents to stay informed and cautious as the school year begins, balancing children’s learning with their health and the safety of the wider community.