This page is a reference point for parents and staff with regard to questions about procedures around attendance and illnesses which could be contagious.

Our procedures in school are based on Public Health Advice.

In our school community, we have a collective responsibility towards illness and attendance:

Parents

• Children with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough – but who are otherwise well – do not need to stay at home and can continue to attend school and nursery. They should only stay at home if they are unwell and have a high temperature. They can come back to school and nursery, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a fever and they feel well enough to attend.
• Children  with a tummy bug should stay home for 48 hours after the last instance of vomiting or diarrhea.
• If a child is sick or has diarrhea at school, we will call you to collect the. To avoid contagion they can not return until 48 hours have passed since the last occasion that they have a bout of diarrhea or vomiting. This is the case even if they are not unwell again once you get them home.
• Practically, this means your child should not return until the next opening after 48 hours has passed . e.g if their last bout is at 10am on a Monday, 48 hours later in 10am on Wednesday so they can return after lunch on Wednesday (1.25pm). If their last bout is at 2pm on Monday, 48 hours later is 2pm on Wednesday so they should return at 9am on Thursday morning. If you return your child after lunch (1.25pm) you should sign them in at the school office. Please do not return them during an opening as it can cause difficulties if there is no one in the school office and they arrive in class at the mid-point of a lesson.
• The 48 hour rules only applies if your child has a contagious vomiting and diarrhea bug. If they are sick or have diarrhea for another known reason (e.g. the are car sick) then they do not need to stay off. If your child has been ill at school and sent home but you feel they may be able to return sooner than the first opening after 48 hours have passed, please contact me to discuss. You should note that unless there is clear evidence that they do not have a contagious stomach bug I will likely need to ask you to keep to the 48 hours rule.
• Children with chicken pox should stay off until all spots are crusted over (usually about 5 days)
• In the case of other contagious illnesses, parents can seek advice from Mrs Jess at lucy.jess@fife.gov.uk or discuss with their GP.
•  Please collect your child if we contact you to say they are too ill to be at school e.g. they have the symptoms of a temperature, are tired or lethargic, complain of being generally unwell or have an unexplained rash.

 

Mrs Jess:

• Work with Catering and Cleaning to ensure cleaning is in place.
• Monitor attendance to ensure all health and attendance concerns are known.

 

All Staff:

• Support children to wash hands at key times in the day.
• Be vigilant in looking for symptoms in themselves and others.
• Ensure surfaces are left clear as appropriate to allow for cleaning.
• Ensure adequate ventilation, making use of our CO2 monitors.
• Follow Stay at Home Advice if unwell – all staff have access to HR advice on Fife Council’s Intranet.
• Contact parents if a child is too ill to be at school e.g. they have the symptoms of a temperature, are tired or lethargic, complain of being generally unwell or have an unexplained rash.
• Ensure shared resources are kept clean – in Nursery this will be done in line with Early Years advice and throughout the school, staff should be mindful of ensuring resources do not get contaminated with particular care around sand and water and on occasions where children in the class may be ill.