Currently we have a number of bugs doing the rounds. It is important to keep your child home if they are unwell. The Government guidelines below can assist you with some information.

Knowing if your child is well enough to go to school — guidance for parents and caregivers. Going to school every day is important for all school aged tamariki (children). It helps build their confidence and social skills, and to achieve their education and life ambitions. This information helps you decide when it is okay to send your child to school, when you should keep your child at home and when you should contact a health professional for advice.

When your child has symptoms but can still attend school

These mild symptoms can be caused by a condition or reaction rather than an infectious illness. A child with these symptoms is likely to still be able to attend school.

• Mild respiratory symptoms

  If your child tests negative for COVID-19 and they do not have any symptoms of concern, it is okay to send them to school if all of these apply:

  • they have not had a fever for 24 hours

  • they have not used medicine to reduce their fever for 24 hours, like paracetamol or ibuprofen

  • they only have mild symptoms such as a mild cough, headache, or runny or blocked nose

  • they appear well — they are happy, eating and drinking normally, and can easily focus on learning.

  
  

  Even though your child may seem well enough to attend school, it is still possible they could have an infectious illness they could pass on. Remind them to cover coughs and wash their hands regularly to help reduce spreading germs to others

  
  

• Hay fever and allergy symptoms

  If your child has a history of hay fever or allergies and they develop their usual symptoms — sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, coughing or an itchy face — they can go to school.

  They should continue to take their usual allergy medication (antihistamines). If your child’s allergies are affecting them, let your child's teacher know.

  If your child only has a runny nose after a change in air temperature, for example, moving from outdoors to indoors, or they only sneeze because of the sun or dust, they do not need to be kept home from school.

• Skin problems that are not infectious

  Most skin problems will get better on their own and do not require treatment.

  You can send your child to school if they have insect bites, cuts, scratches, grazes or eczema as these conditions are not infectious.

  The KidsHealth website has information about skin problems in children. This will help you identify and manage skin infections, and make decisions on when your child can return to school.

When to keep your child home and for how long

You should keep your child at home from school if they are too sick to learn and need time to rest and recover.

You should also keep them at home if they have:

• any symptoms of concern

• tested positive for COVID 19 

• another infectious illness and they have been told to stay home by their healthcare provider or public health service.

Most childhood illnesses get better on their own, but if your child becomes increasingly unwell or you are worried, get health advice.

COVID-19

If your child has any symptoms of COVID-19, it is recommended they test for COVID-19 using a RAT.

Some of the symptoms of COVID-19 include a new or worsening cough, sneezing and runny nose, and a fever.

• If your child has COVID-19 symptoms and tests positive

  If your child tests positive for COVID-19, it is recommended that they isolate for at least 5 days, even if they only have mild symptoms, starting at Day 0. Day 0 is the day their symptoms started or when they first tested positive, whichever came first.

  Your child should not go to school.

• When your child can return to school

  After having COVID-19, your child should be okay to return to school after completing their recommended isolation as long as they do not have symptoms anymore, or they only have mild symptoms which are improving and they are feeling well.

  Some children may need additional time at home to recover.

Symptoms of concern

Keep your child at home if they have any of these symptoms.

• Fever

  If your child has a fever, you should keep them home until all of these apply:

  • their temperature has returned to normal (less than 38°C) without needing to use medicine to reduce it, like paracetamol or ibuprofen

  • they are feeling well and happy within themselves again.

  Most children with a fever can be cared for at home. However, if your child becomes more unwell or you are worried about them, get health advice urgently.

  
  

• Vomiting or diarrhoea

  Gastro (also known as a tummy bug, rotavirus or norovirus) is an illness caused by an infection in the gut. Symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever.

  Gastro can spread easily to others, so your child should stay home if they are vomiting or have diarrhoea. 

  Your child can return to school after 48 hours (2 days) have passed since the last time they vomited or had diarrhoea.

• Sore throat

  You should keep your child at home if they need pain relief for their throat to feel comfortable. Pain relief includes paracetamol or ibuprofen. Make sure to give the correct dose for your child according to their weight or age.

• School sores and other skin infections

  School sores (impetigo) is a common skin infection caused by bacteria. Symptoms are red sores or blisters, which burst to leave crusty, golden-brown patches. The sores can be itchy and affect the face and hands, but they can appear elsewhere.

  Other skin infections can also show similar symptoms. If your child has sores that are red, swollen, oozing, weeping or blistered, or that feel hot to the touch, you should keep them at home.

  As impetigo is very infectious, it is important any sores are kept covered until they are healed. For any skin infection, it is important you contact your healthcare provider for advice on whether your child needs antibiotics.

  Your child can return to school:

  • if their sores are covered and healing

  • it has been 24 hours since they started antibiotics

  • as directed in the guidance for infectious diseases.

  
  

• A new rash or itches

  If your child develops a new rash, you may need to keep them at home from school.

  Most of the time a child with a rash will not need to see a doctor. However, there are some rashes which are more serious and may need treatment to heal.

  If your child gets a new rash and any of the following apply, you should get health advice urgently.

  • They appear unwell — they have a fever, headache, are drowsy or appear to be very sick, upset or unsettled.

  • They have been in contact with someone with measles or chickenpox, or have recently returned from overseas, especially if they are not fully immunised against these illnesses.
    
    

• Head lice (nits) and scabies

  Head lice (nits) are common in children because of how close they are together at school. Nits are small insects that lay their eggs on strands of hair. Scratching can be a sign that a child has them.

  Children with nits should stay at home from school until treatment has started.

  
  

  Scabies is a very itchy skin rash that is caused by a reaction to a tiny mite that burrows under your skin. Scabies is easily spread between people through close skin contact, shared bedding or clothing. This type of rash needs treatment to get better. If a child has scabies, they can go back to school 24 hours after their first treatment.

  
  

  For other skin problems in children, use the guidance on the KidsHealth website to help you identify and manage skin infections, and make decisions on when your child can return to school.

  
  

• Wheezing or difficulty breathing

  A child should not be at school if they are:

  • wheezing or struggling to breathe (unless they can get quick relief with prescribed medicine, like an inhaler)

  • coughing or sneezing frequently, and it is making it hard for them to concentrate and learn.

  If your child is struggling to breathe, get urgent health advice.

  Most coughs will get better on their own, but it can take many weeks for your child to fully recover. A child who has a lingering cough, but is otherwise well, can return to school.