Sickness, Absence & Medications

Reporting your child's absence

If your child is unable to attend school, you must contact us on the first day of absence.

Please phone the Academy Office on 01403 733254 or email office@southwaterinfants.co.uk between 8.30am and 9.30am.

Attendance expectations

Children are expected to attend the academy every day unless they are unwell. Your child should attend for 190 days a year, which leaves 175 days (including weekends and school holidays) for family time, holidays and appointments.

Term-time holidays

We strongly advise against taking children out of school during term time, as all absences affect a child's education. Requests for holidays during term time will not be authorised.

Other absence requests

On the rare occasion you need permission for your child to be absent from the academy, an Absence Request Form must be completed and returned to the academy office. Applications will only be considered for exceptional circumstances.

When to Keep Your Child at Home

It can be difficult to decide whether your child is too ill to attend school. Use these questions to help you decide:

Is my child well enough to do the activities of the school day? If not, keep your child at home.
Does my child have a condition that could be passed on to other children or school staff? If so, keep your child at home.
Would I take a day off work if I had this condition? If so, keep your child at home.

Common childhood illnesses

The NHS provides helpful guidance on common childhood illnesses. Below are the most common conditions and when to keep your child at home:

Cough and cold A child with a minor cough or cold may attend school. If the cold is accompanied by a raised temperature, shivers or drowsiness, keep your child at home and contact your GP. They can return to school 24 hours after they start to feel better. If your child has a severe or long-lasting cough, consult your GP for guidance.

Raised temperature If your child has a raised temperature, they shouldn't attend school. They can return 24 hours after they start to feel better.

Headache A child with a minor headache doesn't usually need to be kept off school. If the headache is more severe or is accompanied by other symptoms (such as raised temperature or drowsiness), keep your child at home and consult your GP.

Sore throat A sore throat alone doesn't have to keep a child from school. But if it's accompanied by a raised temperature, your child should stay at home.

Vomiting and diarrhoea Children with diarrhoea and/or vomiting must be kept off school until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have gone. This helps prevent the spread of infection to other children and staff. Most cases get better without treatment, but if symptoms persist, consult your GP.

Rash Skin rashes can be the first sign of infectious illnesses such as chickenpox and measles. If your child has a rash, check with your GP or practice nurse before sending them to school.

Chickenpox If your child has chickenpox, they must be kept off school until all their spots have crusted over.

Further guidance

For more detailed information about common childhood illnesses, visit Public Health England's latest advice

Medicines at School

What we can administer

We can administer the following medications during the school day:

Prescribed antibiotics that need to be taken 4 times daily
Medication for ongoing conditions (such as asthma inhalers)
Emergency medication (such as adrenaline auto-injectors for severe allergies)

What we cannot administer

Non-prescribed medicines (such as Calpol or paracetamol)
Prescribed medicines that can be given outside school hours

What you need to do

If your child requires medicine to be given at school, please:

Complete a medication consent form (available from the office or download below)
Bring the medication in its original packaging with the pharmacy label attached
Speak to a member of the office staff about your child's specific needs

Children with Severe Allergies

If your child has a severe allergy (such as to food or insect stings), they should have an allergy action plan from their doctor. This explains what to do if they have an allergic reaction, including how to use their adrenaline auto-injector device.

What you need to do:

Provide us with a copy of your child's allergy action plan
Ensure we have the necessary emergency medication in school at all times
Keep us informed of any changes to your child's allergy management plan

Keeping Us Informed About Your Child's Health

As part of our duty of care to your child, please inform a member of staff about any health issues that may affect your child during the school day.

Please tell us about:

Any medical conditions or health issues
Medical appointments during school time
Cases of infectious illness (such as chickenpox, measles, impetigo)
Any severe allergies your child has been diagnosed with, including the symptoms and what to do in an emergency

Questions or Concerns?

If you have any questions about your child's medical needs or the support we can provide, please contact the academy office on 01403 733254 or email office@southwaterinfants.co.uk.