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E: knowsleycentral@knowsley.gov.uk

Medical FAQ’s

Antibiotics

  • Your child can go back to school 24 hours after starting antibiotics
  • If to be administered three times a day, they should be given before school, after school and before bed. School will not administer.
  • If to be administered four times a day, school will administer if the box is provided and the antibiotics have the appropriate label with the child’s full name, how to administer and the dispense date. 

Other medication

  • Medication must be labelled with the child’s full name, the dispense date and how to administer on the container.  If this is a controlled drug a whole packet should be provided to school loose medication will not be administered and will be returned home.
  • Calpol or other pain relief will not be administered unless the bottle/container has the appropriate label with the child’s details on.

For further information regarding medication please read our Administering Medication Policy.

Should my child go to school today?

Diarrhoea and vomiting

  • Children can return to school 48hrs after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea

Headache, earache and stomach ache

  • Children with head, ear or stomach ache are still able to go to school. Please just inform staff they feel unwell.
  • Give paracetamol and plenty of fluids
  • If headache, earache or stomach aches persist please seek medical advice

High Temperature

  • Give paracetamol and plenty to drink. If your child feels better after paracetamol you can bring them to school. If the high temperature continues for three or more days you must seek medical advice.

Cough and cold

  • Child should be given paracetamol, plenty of fluids and they can be sent to school.
  • If your child is asthmatic they may need their blue inhaler more often

Flu (Influenza)

  • Child should return to school once they have recovered, this is usually around 5 days

Sore throat, tonsilitis and glandular fever

  • Child should be given paracetamol and plenty of fluids and can be sent into school if they are well enough

Head lice

  • Your child can attend school if they have head lice but they MUST be treated to prevent further spreading.
  • Parents must treat their children and other family members by wet combing with a nit comb and conditioner.
  • Further advice can be sought from your school nurse or pharmacist

Scabies

  • Children can return to school after receiving thier first treatment
  • Other family members at home should also be treated

Threadworm

  • Once treatment has started your child can return to school
  • Everyone at home must also be treated

Hand, foot and mouth Warts and verrucae Athletes foot ad molluscum contagiosum

  • Children are able to attend school
  • Verrucae must be covered in swimming pools and changing rooms

Conjunctivitis

  • Your child can still attend school.
  • They must be encouraged to wash hands to prevent spreading

Impetigo

  • Children can return to school once lesions are crusted / healed or two days after starting antibiotics

Measles, chicken pox and German measles

  • Measles – Child can to school four days after the rash has started
  • Chicken pox – child should return to school five days after the rash has started
  • German measles – child should return to school six days after rash has started. Please inform school as pregnant members of staff may be affected

Mumps

  • Child should return to school five days from the start of the swollen glands

Whooping Cough

  • Child should return to school five days after the start of antibiotics, although the non-infectious cough may continue for many weeks after.

Scarlet fever

  • Child can return to school 24hrs after starting antibiotics if they are well enough

Covid

Please see the link below for information on Covid-19.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/

Links & Downloads

Further information regarding illness and school attendance