Medical & Illness Policy
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At St Mary & All Saints, the health, safety, and well-being of our children are our highest priorities. We are committed to providing a safe, hygienic environment where everyone can flourish.
When children are unwell, staying home helps them recover faster and protects our whole school family. This page outlines our guidelines on common illnesses, managing medication, and when to keep your child at home.
Is My Child Too Ill for School?
As a general rule, if your child is well enough to participate in normal school activities, including outdoor play, they should be in school. However, they must stay home if they have a contagious illness or are too unwell to cope with the school day.
Please refer to this quick guide for common childhood illnesses:
Reporting an Absence: If your child is too unwell to attend, please report their absence via the ParentMail app by 9:00 AM on each morning they are off.
Managing Medication at School
We understand that children may sometimes need to take medication during the school day, either for a short-term illness (like finishing a course of antibiotics) or for long-term health conditions (like asthma or allergies).
To ensure medication is administered safely, we follow strict guidelines:
Prescribed Medicine Only: We can only administer medication that has been prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or nurse practitioner. It must be in its original container, clearly showing the pharmacist’s label with your child’s name and exact dosage instructions.
Medical Consent Form: Before we can give any medicine, a parent or carer must complete a formal Medication Consent Form at the school office. We cannot administer any medication without this written permission.
Handing Over Medicine: All medication must be brought into school and collected by an adult. For safety reasons, please never put medicine, throat lozenges, or creams in your child's book-bag or pocket.
| Illness | Stay at Home? | When Can They Return? |
|---|---|---|
| Vomiting or Diarrhoea | Yes | 48 hours after the very last episode of sickness or diarrhoea. |
| High Temperature | Yes | Once the fever has naturally subsided and they feel well. |
| Chickenpox | Yes | Once all the spots have completely crusted over (usually 5–6 days). |
| Scarlet Fever / Strep A | Yes | 24 hours after starting their prescribed antibiotics. |
| Coughs and Colds | No | If they have a mild cold but no fever and feel well, they should attend. |
| Head Lice | No | They can come to school once their hair has been treated. |
Long-Term Medical Needs & Allergies
If your child has a long-term medical condition—such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, or a severe allergy requiring an EpiPen—we will work closely with you and healthcare professionals to create an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP).
Emergency Medication: Inhalers and EpiPens are kept in a secure, easily accessible location near your child's classroom so they can be reached instantly in an emergency.
Nut-Free School: Please remember that St Mary & All Saints is a strictly nut-free school to protect children with life-threatening allergies. Please ensure no nuts or nut-based products (like peanut butter or certain cereal bars) are included in packed lunches.
Illness or Accidents During the School Day
If your child becomes unwell or has an accident while at school, our qualified first-aid team will look after them with the utmost care.
If we feel they are too poorly to stay at school, or if they have sustained a significant injury (such as a bumped head), we will contact you immediately using the emergency contact numbers on our system. Please ensure the school office always has your most up-to-date phone numbers.