As a school community we are very conscious of the effect which illness can have and the way it can spread, given the close proximity of staff and children. However this needs to be balanced against attendance and a common sense approach used. In the case of stomach upsets we ask that children do not return until 48 hours clear.
If a child has a medical condition, we will ask for a Health Care Plan form to be completed to ensure that staff are fully aware of individual needs.
A list is set out below of the more common communicable diseases together with their minimal exclusion periods as recommended by the Department of Health and Social Security. The minimal exclusion period is the time, which you should keep your child away from school in order to minimise the risk of spreading infection.
Normal Incubation Minimal exclusion period in days period
Dysentery – 1 – 7 until clinically fit
Chickenpox – 14-21 6 days from rash
Diphtheria – 2 – 5 until bacteriological examination is clear
German Measles – 14-21 4 days from rash
Hepatitis A – 15-50 7 days from rash
Scarletina & Scarlet Fever – 2 – 5 Until clinical recovery
Whooping Cough – 7 – 10 21 days from onset of cough
Impetigo – until skin is healed
Ringworm of Scalp – until cured
Headlice
It is the responsibility of parents and carers to check their children’s hair regularly. Head inspections are no longer carried out at school and parents will be contacted and a child sent home if headlice are seen on their head/hair.
Administration of Medicines in School
Our policy on the administration of medicine in the school is based on advice given by the Area Health Authority.
If a child needs to take medicine at school, parents will be asked to complete an “Administration of medicine in school” form. The medicine should be brought to the school with the completed form. Only medicines prescribed by a doctor may be administered in school.
All medicines will be stored in a secure medicine cabinet/fridge, as necessary.
If your child should need cough sweets they must be given to the class teacher who will give them to the child when required.
Please remember that if your child is not well and needs to take medicine, it is much better to keep him/her at home, to ensure he/she recovers quickly and to avoid the possible spreading of infections to others, unless the Dr has advised differently.
The School Health Service
The School Nurse visits the school regularly each year to carry out vision, hearing, weight and height measurements together with health interviews. She is involved in the promotion of good health and also participates in the classroom, talking about different aspects of Health Education. This in turn hopefully makes the child responsible for their own health at an early age.
Due to the changing role of the Community Dental Service, annual dental screening for all children no longer takes place.
