Managing Illnesses in School
The governors at St Stephen and All Martyrs have taken the decision to adhere to both DfE and Public Health Agency Guidance where illnesses and infections are concerned. Click the link below to view a chart explaining if and when you should keep your child away from school and the recommended durations. Or see the table below with common school illnesses. If you have any questions please call the school office or your GP.
If your child has sickness or diarrhoea they must remain at home for 48 hours from their last bout of sickness or diarrhoea.
Common school illnesses and recommended actions by the NHS
| Illness | Can my child be in school? | Guidance |
| Cough and Cold | Yes | It is fine to send your child to school with a minor cough or common cold. But if they have a fever, keep them off school until the fever goes. |
| High Temp | No | If your child has a high temperature, keep them off school until it goes away. |
| Sore Throat | Yes | There’s no need to keep your child off school if they have a cold sore. |
| Conjunctivitis | Yes | You don’t need to keep your child away from school if they have conjunctivitis. |
| Ear Infection | No | If your child has an ear infection and a high temperature or severe earache, keep them off school until they’re feeling better or their high temperature goes away. |
| Head lice/Nits | Yes | There’s no need to keep your child off school if they have head lice. But it should be treated as soon as possible. |
| Chickenpox | No | If your child has chickenpox, keep them off school until all the spots have crusted over. This is usually about 5 days after the spots first appeared. |