With lots of coughs and colds around, we thought it might be helpful to signpost the latest advice from the Health Security Agency. In summary, this is:
- Children with a common cold or cough are fine to attend school, unless they are running a high temperature. We would encourage attendance with either a cough or a cold if possible. To at least give it a go. If your child really seems to be struggling to manage, we will always let you know and ask if you wish to collect them.
- There is no need to test for Covid, unless directed to by a healthcare professional. A positive Covid test should be followed by 3 days’ at home, away from other people.
- If they have diarrhoea and/or vomiting, they should stay home for at least 48 hours after the last episode.
- If your child has the symptoms of measles and has not had both doses of the MMR vaccine, they should not attend school.
The full guidance is here: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/01/03/a-parents-guide-to-keeping-kids-healthy-this-school-year/
On the subject of colds, we have received a few comments recently from parents believing that school sending their children out to play in the cold is causing them to have a cold. This is a fallacy. The common cold is not caused by cold. It is the result of a virus. The virus can be spread through the air or by contact. The virus spreads more easily indoors and with the humidity caused by heating. It spreads less readily outdoors, in the cold, fresh air.
More on this and how to manage colds here: https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=upper-respiratory-infection-uri-or-common-cold-90-P02966
or here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/common-cold/