For many, the start of the school term will mean mixing with different groups of people, which is why the autumn term is also known for its colds and bugs.
While it’s usually safe for parents and carers to send their children to school with mild illnesses, like a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat, there are steps you can take to ensure your child is better protected against illnesses, so they don’t miss out on vital time in school.
We’ll walk you through the steps you can take to prevent your child from getting sick in this section. Make sure your child has all of their vaccinations up to date. In England, childhood diseases like the measles are returning. In addition, the country experienced a significant whooping cough outbreak in 2024. These infections can have a big effect on your child’s life, causing them to miss school, end up in the hospital, or even develop disabilities and complications that last a lifetime. Getting your child vaccinated is the best defense you can offer. Your child is not protected if they are unvaccinated. It is important for parents to take up the offer of the NHS’ free childhood immunisation programme as soon as they are offered ensure your child has the best protection.
However, if you or your child have missed a vaccine, it’s never too late to find out if you can catch up.
If a parent or guardian is unsure whether or not their child has missed any vaccines, they should check their child’s Red Book or contact their primary care physician.
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Protecting those who are most vulnerable
Getting vaccinated also means you are helping protect others around you. For instance, the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine cannot be given to infants younger than one year old or to those with weakened immune systems. These individuals also have a greater chance of contracting severe illness and measles-related complications, including death. Some people may have been fully immunized in the past but have since developed a medical condition or are undergoing treatment, such as cancer therapy, that can wipe out their immunity, putting them at a much higher risk. We all have our part to play in helping protect those who are more vulnerable by ensuring all children and family members are fully vaccinated and helping stop the spread of the disease to those at greatest risk. They need the rest of us to get the vaccine to keep them safe.
Remind your child of basic hygiene measures
Infections can be greatly reduced by following a few simple hygiene practices. Encourage your child to: Use soap and water to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. Use tissues for coughs and sneezes then throw them in the bin.
Avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth, particularly. You can use the free e-Bug resources to explore hygiene topics with your child.
Learn when your child is unable to attend school. If your child has a mild illness like a sore throat, cough, or runny nose, you can usually send them to school. However, children should stay at home if they have a high temperature of 38C or above.
The NHS has published guidance to help you decide whether your child is well enough to attend school, including information on a range of common childhood illnesses and conditions, such as coughs, colds, chickenpox, measles and headlice.
What can schools do to ensure they’re prepared for seasonal illness?
Taking simple steps to clean your hands, nose, and throat can greatly reduce the spread of illness. You can find more detail on these in the guidance on preventing and controlling infections.
This autumn term, all school children in England (from reception to year 11) will be offered a flu vaccination in school.
The most recent flu guidance for elementary and secondary schools can be found here. This can assist in protecting children from the flu, reducing absenteeism, and reducing community transmission, including the likelihood of teachers contracting the flu from students. The most recent flu guidance for elementary and secondary schools can be found here. For children who have not yet been vaccinated, secondary students are also offered the HPV vaccine in year 8, the MenACWY vaccine in year 9, the three-in-one teenage booster in year 9, and the MMR vaccine. At a time when vaccine-preventable diseases are returning to the unvaccinated, these vaccines contribute to the community’s and young people’s protection against serious illness. You can help ensure that your child stays healthy and has a successful school year by following these easy steps: ensuring that vaccinations are current, practicing good hygiene, and knowing when to keep children at home.
