Infectious & Contagious Diseases
This policy has been agreed by the governing body of the school.
“Children who are unwell with an infectious or contagious disease should not be at school” (Dept. of Health March 1999)
To limit the possibility of an outbreak of infectious disease among other children and staff it is vital parents inform the school if their child contracts a transmittable infection or contagion.
If you are having difficulty deciding whether or not to keep your child off school, some useful advice/guidance is available via the NHS Choices website
A letter must be sent with the child on their return to school explaining their absence.
Category |
Disease |
Required time to be kept away from school (once child is well) |
| Rashes & Skin | Chickenpox | 5 days from onset of rash |
| German Measles | 7 days from onset of rash | |
| Impetigo | Until lesions are crusted or healed, or 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment | |
| Measles | 4 days from onset of rash | |
| Scabies | Until treatment completed | |
| Scarlet Fever | Until clinically recovered after appropriate treatments have been given | |
| Verrucae | None | |
| Diarrhoea & Vomiting | Diarrhoea & Vomiting | Until diarrhoea and/or vomiting have settled (48 hours from last episode) |
| E.Coli / Dysentery | Until clinically fit and no diarrhoea for at least 2 days | |
| Cryptosporidiosis | 48 hours from last episode – exclusion from swimming is also advisable for two weeks after the diarrhoea has settled | |
| Respiratory | Whooping Cough | 21 days from onset of typical paroxysmal cough OR 5 days from commencing antibiotic treatment |
| Others | Conjunctivitis | Until the child is completely well |
| Glandular Fever | Until advised by GP that no longer infectious | |
| Hand, foot and mouth disease | Until clinical recovery | |
| Hepatitis “A” | 7 days from onset of jaundice (or 7 days after symptom onset if no jaundice) | |
| Mumps | Until swelling has subsided (7 days min.) |
Certain diseases are statutorily notifiable under the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984 and Control of Infection Regulations 1988. It is the responsibility of the Doctor concerned to carry this out.
Headlice: No exclusion or isolation of a child is required. Headlice are a problem not just for schools but the whole community. In accordance with Lincolnshire Health Authority guidance “parents are at the ‘front line’ of head louse detection”. Parents should inspect their children regularly. Leaflets are available from school giving current advice on treatment. Fine tooth combs are also available from school at a cost of £2.50.
This information produced with reference to the Public Health England document ‘Guidance on Infection Control in Schools and other Childcare Settings’ – March 2017
Updated – Jan 2021
