What to do if your child is poorly

It is once again the season for coughs and colds and lots of parents and staff are understandably very anxious about whether children should be in school if they have cold symptoms as they are so similar to those of COVID 19. 

If your child/children are suffering from general cold symptoms that are not currently mentioned in the current COVID 19 guidance, then please use your judgement and knowledge of your child to decide whether they are well enough to attend school and will be able to concentrate and engage with learning during the day. However, we do ask you not to give them pain relief as this will mask a temperature which is a symptom of COVID. 

We will not send children home from school unless they are displaying symptoms of COVID or otherwise appear too unwell to be in school, as per our usual protocol for illness.

Please find below symptoms and procedures that schools have to  follow if your child has suspected symptoms of coronavirus.

What to do if a pupil is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)

If anyone in your school becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, or has a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia), they must be sent home and be advised to follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. This sets out that they must:

• self-isolate for at least 10 days
• arrange to have a test to see if they have coronavirus (COVID-19)

Action list

1. In an emergency, call 999 if they are seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk. Do not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital except in an emergency.

2. Call parents/legal guardian to collect pupil and take them home. Advise them that all household members will need to isolate and refer them to the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

3. While the pupil is awaiting collection, move them to an isolated room and open a window for ventilation. If it is not possible to isolate them, move them to an area which is at least 2 metres away from other people.

4. Staff caring for a pupil while they are awaiting collection should maintain 2 metre distancing. If not possible, for example with a young child, they should wear suitable PPE1:

1 More information on PPE use can be found in the Safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) guidance.

If the pupil needs to go to the bathroom while waiting to be collected, they should use a separate bathroom if possible. The bathroom should be cleaned and disinfected using standard cleaning products before being used by anyone else.

Staff/other pupils who have had contact with the symptomatic pupil must wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds.

When parents/legal guardian pick up the pupil, advise them to get the pupil tested and notify you of the results.

Once the pupil has left the premises, thoroughly disinfect/clean all surfaces and contact points they came into contact with (including the bathroom if used).

What to do if a pupil tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19)

Notify your local health protection team (HPT) immediately when you are informed of a possible or confirmed case by NHS Test & Trace, staff or a parent or carer of a pupil within the last 14 days. Find contact details for your local health protection team.

If you do not know the result of a test or if there is any indication of an increase in sickness absence contact your local HPT for advice.

The HPT will work with you to carry out a rapid risk assessment and identify appropriate next steps.

For pupils who are isolating, ensure access to remote provision so that they can continue to learn remotely.

A template letter will be provided to schools, on the advice of the health protection team, to send to parents and staff if needed.

Schools must not share the names of people with coronavirus (COVID-19) unless essential to protect others.

© Crown copyright 2020