Stopping head lice in their tracks.

This is always a tricky problem for schools as we can not treat our ākonga and we do not have control over how parents choose to treat their own children. 

We have been suggesting to parents what our health nurse has told us - it is really important that any treatment is not a one off treatment. The treatment has to be administered 3 /4 times to work. Any parents that have only been treating their children's hair once will find that it returns quickly. 

Our policy is that we call parents and send the child home if we see live lice. I have reminded staff about this policy this morning and we will do our best to keep on top of this. I have also encouraged kaiako to ask our tamariki to tie their hair up. Please try to do this at home before you arrive at school. 

I know that this may not be hugely satisfying to you all but -it is free to take children to the doctor and have head lice treatment supplied in a prescription.  The prescriptions are also free. Perhaps this will help with the cost that some whānau.

Kidshealth have quite an extensive 'treatment' page on their website on how to get on top of Headlice.  Click on the link to get more information:

https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/head-lice