Sickness | Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School

If your child is unwell please telephone the school office to let us know. In line with safeguarding procedures if there is no explanation received for absence, we shall telephone the pupil’s named contacts held at school in the order they are listed at 9.30am on the day of absence.

We follow Public Health England’s Guidance on infection control as shown below:

Rashes and skin infections

Children with rashes should be considered infectious and assessed by their doctor.

Infection or Complaint	Recommended period to be kept away from school, nursery or childminders	Comments
Athlete’s foot	None	Athletes foot is not a serious condition. Treatment is recommended
Chickenpox	Until all vesicles have crusted over	See: Vulnerable Children and Female Staff- Pregnancy
Cold Sores, (Herpes Simplex)	None	Avoid kissing and contact with the sores. Cold sores are generally mild and self limiting
German measles (Rubella)	Four days from onset of rash (as per “Green Book”)	Preventable by immunization (MMRx2 doses) see: Female staff- Pregnancy
Hand, foot & mouth	None	Contact your local HPT if a large number of children are affected. Exclusion may be considered in some circumstances
Impetigo	Until the lesions are crusted and healed, or 48 hrs after starting antibiotic treatment	Antibiotic treatment speeds healing and reduces the infectious period
Measles*	Four days from the onset of the rash	Preventable by vaccination (MMRx2). See vulnerable Children and Female Staff- Pregnancy
Molluscum Contagiosum	None	A self limiting condition
Ringworm	Exclusion not normally required	Treatment is required
Roseola (Infantum)	None	None
Scabies	Children can return after the first treatment	Household and close contacts require treatment
Scarlet fever	Children can return 24 hrs after starting appropriate antibiotic treatment	Antibiotic treatment is recommended for the affected child.
Slapped cheek/fifth disease. Parvovirus B19	None (once rash has developed)	See: Vulnerable Children and Female Staff - Pregnancy
Shingles	Exclude only if rash is weeping and cannot be covered.	Can cause chickenpox in those who are not immune, i.e. have not had chickenpox. It is spread by very close contact and touch. If further information is required contact your local PHE centre. See: Vulnerable Children and Female Staff - Pregnancy
Warts & Verrucae	None	Verrucae should be covered in swimming pools, gymnasiums and changing rooms

Diarrhoea and vomiting illness

Infection or Complaint	Recommended period to be kept away from school, nursery or childminders	Comments
Diarrhoea and or vomiting	48hrs from last episode of diarrhea or vomiting
E. Coli 0157 VTEC Typhoid * (and paratyphoid*) (enteric fever) Shigella (dysentery)	Should be excluded for 48hrs from the last episode of diarrhea. Further exclusion may be required for some children until they are no longer excreting.	Further exclusion is required for children aged five years or younger and those who have difficulty in adhering to hygiene practices. Children in these categories should be excluded until there is evidence of microbiological clearance. This guidance may also apply to some contacts who may also require microbiological clearance. Please consult your local PHE centre for further advice.
Cryptosporidiosis	Exclude for 48hrs from the last episode of diarrhoea	Exclusion from swimming is advisable for two weeks after the diarrhea has settled.

Respiratory infections

Infection or Complaint	Recommended period to be kept away from school, nursery or childminders	Comments
Flu (Influenza)	Until recovered	See: Vulnerable Children
Tuberculosis*	Always consult your local PHE centre	Requires prolonged close contact for spread
Whooping cough* (Pertussis)	Five days from starting anti biotic treatment, or 21 days from onset of illness if no antibiotic treatment	Preventable by vaccination. After treatment, non- infectious coughing may continue for many weeks. Your local PHE centre will organize any contact tracing necessary.

Other infections

Infection or Complaint	Recommended period to be kept away from school, nursery or childminders	Comments
Conjunctivitis	None	If an outbreak occurs, consult your local PHE centre.
Diptheria*	Exclusion is essential. Always consult with your local HPT	Family contacts must be excluded until cleared to return by your local PHE centre. Preventable by vaccination. Your local PHE centre will organize any contact tracing necessary.
Glandular fever	None
Head lice	None	Treatment is recommended only in cases where live lice have been seen
Hepatitis A *	Exclude until 7 days after onset of jaundice (or 7 days after symptom onset if no jaundice	In an outbreak of hepatitis A, your local PHE centre will advise on control measures
Hepatitis B, C HIV /AIDS	None	Hepatitis B & C are bloodborne viruses that are not infectious through casual contact. For cleaning of body fluid spills see Good Hygiene Practice.
Meningococcal meningitis*/septicaemia	Until recovered	Meningitis C is preventable by vaccination. There is no reason to exclude siblings or other close contacts of a case. In case of an outbreak, it may be necessary to provide antibiotics with or without meningococcal vaccination to close school contacts. Your local PHE centre will give advice on any action needed
Meningitis viral*	None	Milder illness. There is no reason to exclude siblings or other close contacts of a case. Contact tracing is not required
MRSA	None	Good hygiene, in particular handwashing and environmental cleaning, are important to minimize any danger of spread. If further information is required, contact your local PHE centre.
Mumps	Exclude children for 5 days from the onset of swelling	Preventable by vaccination (MMRx2 doses)
Threadworms	None	Treatment is recommended for the child and household contacts
Tonsilitis	None	There are many causes, but most cases are due to viruses and do not need antibiotics.

*denotes a notifiable disease. It is a statutory requirement that doctors report a notifiable disease.