Going to school regularly is important for a child's wellbeing, social skills, learning and their future.
That’s why it’s best for your child to go to school as much as possible, unless they are too unwell to attend.
It can be difficult to know when you need to keep your child off school, pre-school or childcare if they're unwell.
Use this page to find out:
- when it's OK to send your child to school or childcare
- when to keep your child at home from school or childcare
- ways to support your child if they are feeling anxious or worried
- how to keep vaccines updated and prepare for sick days
When it's OK to send your child to school or childcare
Your child can usually attend school or childcare if they are feeling generally well, even if they have any or all of the following symptoms:
- minor cough
- runny nose
- mild sore throat
Let their teacher know if your child has an infection (such as a cold sore) that could be passed on but they are well enough to go to school.
Remind your child how to wash their hands and cover coughs and sneezes. These simple actions make a huge difference in helping to stop the spread of infection.
Pack some tissues in your child’s school bag. Make sure they know to throw used ones in the bin.
Children who become unwell are often infectious to others before symptoms appear, and in the early stages of infection. Because of this, it is very important that children use good hygiene at all times.
This will reduce the spread to others, even before it is clear they are unwell.
When to keep your child out of school or childcare
If your child feels too unwell to go to school, they should stay home until they feel better.
It's important to phone the school, pre-school or childcare facility on the first day. Tell them your child will not be in, and why.
Do not send your child to school if they have any of the following symptoms.
High temperature
If your child has a high temperature, keep them off school or childcare until their temperature:
- goes back to normal
- stays that way without taking paracetamol and ibuprofen
In children, any temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above is considered high.
Vomiting and diarrhoea
Children with diarrhoea or vomiting should stay away from school or childcare until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 48 hours.
Feeling unwell
Your child should stay home if they have a combination of symptoms that is making them clearly unwell. They can return to school or childcare when they feel better.
Follow advice from your GP if your child has been diagnosed with an infection such as:
If your child is feeling anxious or worried
Anxiety is very common in children, particularly around childcare or school.
Check in with your child about how they are feeling about school. It's normal for children to feel worried or anxious from time to time. For example, when they're starting pre-school, primary or secondary school.
Listen to what your child tells you about their anxieties or worries. Try to validate them by saying ‘I can see why you are worried’.
You can help your child to understand that anxiety is normal. Explain to them that there are ways to manage worry and fear. For example, they can talk to you or someone else they trust, such as a teacher. Give them examples of ways they got over their fears in the past.
Reading books about school and trying to have some extra 1-on-1 time with them can help too.
It may be a good idea to talk to your child’s school or GP for advice if:
- things do not improve
- your child is constantly anxious
- it’s starting to affect their daily life
- they’re struggling at school or with friends
A child may be anxious because of bullying. Find information on how to support a child who is being bullied from Citizens Information.
What to do about common symptoms and illnesses
There are things you can do to deal with common symptoms and illnesses.
Chickenpox
If your child has chickenpox, keep them off school or childcare until all the spots have crusted over.
This is usually about 5 to 7 days after the spots first appeared.
Coughs and colds
It's fine to send your child to school or childcare with a minor cough, runny nose or mild sore throat - as long as they feel generally well.
But if they have a high temperature (38 degrees Celsius or higher), keep them off school until it goes.
Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues and to wash their hands regularly.
Coughs, colds and viral infections in children
Cold sores
There's no need to keep your child off school or childcare if they have a cold sore.
Tell them not to touch the blister or kiss anyone while they have the cold sore. Do not let them share things like cups and towels.
Conjunctivitis
You do not need to keep your child away from school or childcare if they have conjunctivitis, unless they are feeling very unwell.
Get advice from your pharmacist. Encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and not to rub their eyes.
COVID-19
If your child tests positive for COVID-19 on a home test, keep them home and away from other people.
They should stay at home for 3 days from the day their symptoms started.
If your child did not have symptoms, they should stay at home for 3 days from the day they tested positive.
They do not need to have a clear test to go back to school.
Ear infection
If your child has an ear infection and a high temperature or severe earache, keep them off school until they feel better or their high temperature goes away.
Flu
Cold and flu symptoms are similar, but flu tends to be more severe. Flu and COVID-19 can be very similar.
Your child can return to school or childcare when they're feeling generally better.
You can protect your child by getting the children’s flu vaccine. This free nasal flu vaccine is offered to children age 2 to 17.
Coughs, colds and viral infections in children
Hand, foot and mouth disease
If your child has hand, foot and mouth disease but seems well enough to go to school, there's no need to keep them off.
You do not need to wait until all the blisters have healed.
Tell their school, pre-school or childcare provider.
Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues straight away and to wash their hands regularly.
Head lice and nits
There's no need to keep your child off school if they have head lice.
Tell their school, pre-school or childcare provider. You can treat head lice and nits without seeing a GP.
Periods
It’s normal and safe for children to go to school when they have their period. You may want to talk to your GP if they have very heavy bleeding or bad pain that makes it hard to take part in school.
Get medical help straight away if the bleeding is much heavier than usual, your child feels faint, or normal pain medicine is not helping.
Ringworm
Talk to your pharmacist if your child has ringworm. If it's on their scalp, contact a GP.
It's fine for your child to go to school or childcare when they have started treatment.
Sore throat
You can still send your child to school or childcare if they have a mild sore throat. But if they also have a high temperature, they should stay at home until it is back to normal.
A sore throat and a high temperature can be symptoms of tonsillitis.
Threadworms
You do not need to keep your child off school or childcare if they have threadworms. Talk to your pharmacist. They can recommend a treatment.
Keep vaccines up to date
Make sure your child is up to date on all recommended vaccinations.
This helps to:
- stop your child getting the infection they are vaccinated against
- reduce symptoms if they do get an infection
Routine childhood vaccines help to protect your child against many viral and bacterial infections.
Contact your GP if your child missed out on any of the childhood vaccines. These take place in 5 visits from age 2 months to 13 months.
Children are twice as likely as adults to catch the flu. A free nasal spray flu vaccine is available for children age 2 to 17 years during the flu season. It is a safe and effective way to protect them and other family members.
Junior infants and first-year secondary school students are offered vaccines to protect them against serious illnesses. Check your child’s school bag for their school immunisation consent pack and return the signed form to the school as soon as possible.
Preparing for sick days
Think ahead to how you would manage if your child needs to stay at home.
Do
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check to see if you have essentials such as children’s paracetamol, ibuprofen and a working thermometer
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save important numbers to your phone, such as your GP’s phone number and their out-of-hours phone number
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know where to find information about the opening hours of local pharmacies
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check which is your nearest injury unit or urgent care facility that will treat children with minor injuries, or illnesses that are not life-threatening
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check your emergency care options