Ashley C of E Primary School

Sickness and Absence

When a child is unwell, it can sometimes be difficult, as a parent, to decide whether to keep them off school. These simple guidelines taken from the NHS website should help.

Not every illness will require a child to stay away from school. During term time, your child should attend school regularly unless he or she is ill or the school has authorised their absence. If your child is too ill to come to school, you must let the school know before 9.30am on each day of absence. Please contact the school either by:

Please ensure that you state the nature of your child's illness (e.g. headache, vomiting, etc.) If you state that that they are under the weather or unwell, we will call you to clarify.

If your child will be absent for a prolonged period of time, the check-in and absence reporting frequency will be agreed by a member of Ashley's Senior Leadership Team and communicated via the School Administration Team.

All absence is recorded and monitored by the attendance team and a strict procedure is followed.

Should my child stay at home?

Common sense needs to be used when deciding whether or not a child is too ill to attend school. Parents need to ask themselves the following questions.

  • Is my child well enough to do the activities of the school day? If not, keep your child at home.
  • Does my child have a condition that could be passed on to other children or school staff? If so, keep your child at home.
  • Would I take a day off work if I had this condition? If so, keep your child at home.

Common conditions

If a child is ill, it's likely to be due to one of a few minor health conditions.

Cough and cold

A child with a minor cough or cold may attend school. If the cold is accompanied by a raised temperature, shivers or drowsiness, the child should stay off school, visit the GP and return to school 24 hours after they start to feel better. If a child has a more severe and long-lasting cough, they should go to a GP. They can give guidance on whether your child should stay off school.

Raised temperature

If a child has a raised temperature, they shouldn't attend school. They can return 24 hours after they start to feel better.

Rash

Skin rashes can be the first sign of many infectious illnesses, such as chickenpox and measles. Children with these conditions shouldn't attend school. If a child has a rash, check with a 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 the child should be kept off school and your GP consulted.

Vomiting and diarrhoea

Children with diarrhoea and/or vomiting must be kept off school until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have gone. Most cases of diarrhoea and vomiting in children get better without treatment, but if symptoms persist, consult your GP or phone 111.

Sore throat

A sore throat alone doesn't have to keep a child from school. If, however, it's accompanied by a raised temperature, your child should stay at home.

Chickenpox

If a child has chickenpox, they must be kept off school until all their spots have crusted over.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A Leaflet

Head Bumps

We will be introducing a revised procedure for the management and communication around bumps to the head at school. This page will be updated shortly to reflect this updated procedure and information.

Sprains, strains & breaks

Children with sprains or breaks may still attend school but a risk assessment will be conducted so that they may stay safe whilst partaking in some or all of school day activities. Please discuss with the school office.

Public Health England

Click here to go to Public Health England's latest advice.

Other Absences 

Please complete an 'Application for Leave of Absence' form for all* other occasions that your child will not be attending school.  * This does not apply to medical appointments.
Application for Leave of Absence Form

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