Bosley St Mary's CE Primary SchoolMy Child Is Unwell – Should I Keep Them Off School?
Children can often seem a little under the weather in the morning, but once they are with friends and involved in learning, they usually brighten up quickly. Our general advice is:
If in doubt, bring them in and let us know.
We’ll always call you if they start to feel worse or are unable to manage the school day.
We encourage parents to keep children off only when absolutely necessary. Every day in school matters – both for learning and for confidence.
In summary
If they’re a bit under the weather – bring them in.
If they’re infectious or very unwell – keep them home.
Always tell us why they’re off.
We’ll always call you if they can’t manage the day.
Together, we can help every child at Bosley St Mary’s stay happy, healthy and ready to learn.
When your child should stay at home
There are some occasions when your child must stay off school to help prevent the spread of infection:
Diarrhoea or vomiting: Keep your child at home for 48 hours after the last episode.
High temperature or fever: Keep them at home until their temperature has settled and they feel well enough to attend.
Chickenpox: Stay off for at least 5 days from the start of the rash, and until all blisters have crusted over.
Scarlet fever: Stay off for 24 hours after starting antibiotics.
Impetigo: Stay off until sores have crusted and healed, or for 48 hours after starting antibiotics.
For more detailed guidance on specific illnesses, please see the UKHSA ‘Should I Keep My Child Off School?’ poster which summarises national public health advice.
Reporting your child’s absence
If your child is unwell:
Contact school via the School Spider app or by phone on 01260 223280 by 9.15am on the first day of absence.
Please tell us the specific reason for the absence (for example, “sickness and upset stomach” rather than just “unwell”).
Let us know the expected return date if possible.
If the reason given is unclear, staff may ask for a little more information to make sure we can record it correctly and support your child on their return.
Longer or repeated absences
If your child has frequent or prolonged absences due to illness, we may ask for medical evidence, such as a doctor’s note or appointment slip, so that we can support their attendance appropriately.
We’ll always work sensitively with families — our priority is your child’s wellbeing and success.