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Pupil illness and attendance: guidance and parent/carer factsheet

Understand when a pupil should be absent from school and share our factsheet with parents/carers so they know how long their child should be off. Learn how to reduce the spread of illness during winter to improve attendance in your school/trust.

Last reviewed on 13 November 2025
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 49249
Contents
  1. Pupils with mild illnesses can still attend school
  2. Educate parents/carers about when to keep their child off school
  3. Encourage parents/carers to get their child vaccinated
  4. How to reduce the spread of winter illness
  5. Follow government ‘exclusion’ guidance for infectious illnesses
  6. Controlling outbreaks of infectious illness
  7. Work with your local healthcare professionals to support good attendance

Pupils with mild illnesses can still attend school

This includes general cold symptoms such as a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat.

However, a child shouldn’t be sent to school if they have a temperature of 38°C or above.

Make sure you communicate this with parents/carers. Have this information clearly set out in your attendance policy and send out reminders during the winter months.

The DfE recommends this.

Educate parents/carers about when to keep their child off school

Use our factsheet to share the NHS’s guidance on ‘Is my child too ill for school?’

KeyDoc: Parent/carer factsheet - Is my child too ill? DOCX, 130.6 KB
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You can also share these top tips on how to keep your child healthy at school.

Encourage parents/carers to get their child vaccinated

Use our template letter to spread awareness of vaccination programmes and make sure parents/carers understand