Is My Child Well Enough to Come to School?

Guidance for Families at Glyn School

At Glyn, strong attendance is vital to students’ academic progress, wellbeing and sense of belonging. We also recognise that deciding whether your child is well enough to attend can be challenging. This page provides clear, practical guidance—including the latest NHS advice—to support your decision.

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Attendance at Glyn: Our Expectation

If your child is well enough to be in school, they should attend every day.

Every lesson matters. Even short or frequent absences can result in missed learning, gaps in understanding and a loss of routine.

When deciding whether or not your child is too ill to attend school, ask yourself:

• Is your child well enough to carry out the activities of the school day? If not, keep your child at home and consult your GP as appropriate
• Does your child have a contagious condition that could be passed on to other children or 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

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What To Do If Your Child Is Unwell

If you decide your child is too unwell to attend:

• Contact the school on the first day of absence
  Let us know the reason for their absence, including their symptoms.

If your child is well enough to attend, but has a mild infection that could be passed on (e.g. a cold sore or head lice), please inform the school office so we can support them appropriately.

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General Rule of Thumb

Your child should attend Glyn if they:

• Feel broadly well
• Have no high temperature
• Can participate in normal lessons and school activities

You should keep them at home if they:

• Are too unwell to manage a school day
• Have symptoms that suggest they may be contagious in a way that requires absence
• Have a fever (38°C or above)

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NHS Advice on Common Illnesses and School Attendance

Below is a summary of the latest NHS guidance regarding when children should or should not attend school.

Coughs and Colds

OK for school if symptoms are mild
Stay home if accompanied by fever
Encourage handwashing and proper use/disposal of tissues.

High Temperature (38°C or above)

Keep your child at home until their temperature returns to normal.

Chickenpox

Stay home until all spots have crusted over (usually about 5 days from first appearance).

Cold Sores

No need to stay off school.
Advise your child not to touch the sore, kiss others or share items.

Conjunctivitis

Attendance is fine.
Seek pharmacist advice and encourage hand hygiene and avoiding rubbing the eyes.

COVID-19

• If symptoms are mild (runny nose, slight cough, sore throat) and your child feels well, they can attend.
• If they have a high temperature or do not feel well enough for normal activities, keep them home.
• No need for a lateral flow test.
• If they test positive, they should try to stay home and avoid contact with others for 3 days after the test.

Ear Infection

Stay home only if they have a high temperature or severe earache.

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Children can attend if they feel well enough. Encourage good hygiene.

Head Lice

Attendance is fine. Treatments can be obtained from a pharmacy.

Impetigo

Children should stay home until sores have crusted over and healed, or for 48 hours after starting antibiotics.

Ringworm

Can return once treatment has started.
(If on the scalp, they will need to see a GP.)

Scarlet Fever

Attendance is fine after 24 hours of antibiotics.
Without treatment, children remain infectious for 2–3 weeks.

Measles

Stay home for 4 days after the rash appears.

Slapped Cheek Syndrome (Fifth Disease)

Children can attend once the rash appears (no longer infectious).
Please inform the school if you suspect this condition.

Sore Throat

Children can attend unless a high temperature is present.

Threadworms

No need to stay off school.
Your pharmacist can advise on treatment.

Vomiting and Diarrhoea

Children should stay away until they feel well enough.
(NHS also commonly advises 48 hours after the last episode to reduce spread.)

Other conditions to consider:

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.

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 the child off school and consult your GP.

Further Reading - Is my child too ill for school? A Parents' and Carers' guide

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Returning to School After Illness

As soon as your child feels well enough, they should return to Glyn.
We support students in catching up on any missed work—encourage them to check Google Classroom and speak to their teachers.

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Need More Advice?

If you’re unsure whether your child should attend:

• Ask yourself: Can they manage a typical school day?
• Consider whether they may pass on something significant to others
• Contact the Attendance Team or our Student Reception Team for support
• Seek NHS 111 or GP advice if needed