Health, Medical Needs & Illness
At Norbury Manor Primary School, we want every child to be safe, healthy and able to participate fully in school life.
This page provides information for parents and carers about illness, medical conditions, medicines in school and where to find trusted health advice.
Is My Child Well Enough for School?
We understand that it can sometimes be difficult to decide whether your child should come to school when they are feeling unwell.
Children with minor illnesses such as a slight cough, cold, sore throat or headache can usually attend school, provided they are otherwise well and do not have a high temperature.
If your child has a high temperature, they should stay at home until their temperature has gone.
If your child is absent because they are unwell, please notify the school on the first day of absence and provide the reason for their absence.
Wherever possible, routine GP, dental and other medical appointments should be arranged outside the school day. Where this is not possible, parents/carers should provide the school with details of the appointment.
For the latest advice about whether your child should attend school when unwell, please visit:
NHS – Is my child too ill for school?
When Should My Child Stay at Home?
The table below provides a quick guide for some common childhood illnesses and infections.
| Illness or condition | School attendance |
|---|---|
| High temperature | Keep your child at home until their high temperature has gone. |
| Diarrhoea and/or vomiting | Children should stay away from school until they have not had diarrhoea or vomiting for at least 48 hours. |
| Coughs and colds | Children can usually attend if they are otherwise well and do not have a high temperature. |
| Sore throat | Children can usually attend if they are otherwise well. If they also have a high temperature, they should stay at home until it has gone. |
| Chickenpox | Children should stay away from school until 5 days after the rash first appeared and until the spots have crusted over. |
| Scarlet fever | Children should stay away from school until 24 hours after starting appropriate antibiotic treatment. |
| Measles | Children should stay away from school for at least 4 days from when the rash first appears. Please seek medical advice and tell the school. |
| Impetigo | Children should stay away until the sores are crusted and healed, or for the period advised following treatment. |
| Conjunctivitis | No exclusion is normally required unless your child is too unwell to attend. |
| Hand, foot and mouth | No exclusion is normally required if your child is well enough to attend. |
| Head lice | No exclusion is required. Please treat the condition promptly. |
| Threadworms | No exclusion is required. Treatment is recommended. |
| Slapped cheek syndrome | No exclusion is normally required once the rash appears. Please let the school know. |
| Athlete's foot | No exclusion is required. |
These periods reflect current NHS and UKHSA guidance. UKHSA's exclusion guidance was updated on 7 September 2026
Please remember: This table is a quick guide only. Health guidance can change and individual circumstances may be different. If you are unsure whether your child should attend school, please check the latest NHS guidance or seek advice from a healthcare professional.
UKHSA – Public health exclusion periods for children and young people
If Your Child Becomes Unwell at School
If your child becomes unwell during the school day, staff will assess their immediate needs and provide appropriate first aid or care.
If your child is not well enough to remain at school, we will contact a parent/carer or another authorised emergency contact and ask for your child to be collected.
Please make sure that the school always has up-to-date telephone numbers and emergency contact details for your child.
In a medical emergency, the school will take appropriate action, including contacting the emergency services when necessary.
Medical Conditions
If your child has a medical condition that may affect them during the school day, please tell the school.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- asthma;
- allergies and anaphylaxis;
- epilepsy;
- diabetes; and
- other long-term or complex medical conditions.
Where appropriate, we will work with parents/carers, the child and relevant healthcare professionals to ensure that suitable arrangements are in place.
Allergy Safety & Anaphylaxis Policy
Asthma
Please tell the school if your child has been diagnosed with asthma or uses an inhaler.
Parents/carers should ensure that the school has the necessary information and medication to support their child. Please also tell us if there are any changes to your child's condition, medication or treatment.
Correct inhaler technique is important. Asthma + Lung UK provides current videos demonstrating different inhalers and how children can use an inhaler with a spacer. Its inhaler video series is endorsed by the UK Inhaler Group. Asthma + Lung UK
How to Use an Inhaler with a Spacer
Please note: These videos provide general information and do not replace advice from your child's healthcare professional or their individual healthcare plan.
Allergies and Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It can develop very quickly and requires an immediate emergency response.
Parents/carers must tell the school if their child has a diagnosed or suspected allergy.
If your child has been prescribed emergency medication, such as an adrenaline auto-injector, please make sure that the school has the required medication and up-to-date information about your child's allergy and treatment.
For further information and advice for families, please visit:
Think ABC – Recognising Anaphylaxis
Using an Adrenaline Auto-Injector
Please note: These videos provide general awareness. Parents/carers should follow the advice of their child's healthcare professional and the instructions provided with their child's prescribed adrenaline auto-injector.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and can cause seizures.
If your child has epilepsy or experiences seizures, please inform the school so that appropriate arrangements can be agreed with you and relevant healthcare professionals.
For further information about epilepsy and supporting children and young people, please visit:
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes a person's blood glucose level to become too high. The two main types are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
If your child has diabetes, please inform the school. We will work with you and the relevant healthcare professionals to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to support your child's individual medical needs during the school day.
For further information, please visit:
Croydon School Health Team
The School Health Team is part of Croydon's 0–19 Public Health Nursing Team.
The team consists of Specialist Community Public Health Nurses, staff nurses and school assistants and works with children and young people from Reception to Year 13. Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
For primary-aged children, the team can provide advice and support with areas including:
- immediate health concerns;
- vision screening;
- the National Child Measurement Programme;
- sleep and behaviour;
- wetting and soiling;
- healthy eating and lifestyles; and
- complex health needs. Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
Telephone: 020 8274 6006
Email: CH-TR.croydon0-19service@nhs.net Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
Croydon School Nursing Service
Vaccinations and Immunisations
Vaccinations are an important part of protecting children and the wider community from infectious diseases.
School-aged children are offered a range of vaccinations as part of the national immunisation programme. Parents/carers will receive information and be asked for consent when vaccinations are being offered to their child's year group.
Rather than keeping historic vaccination letters on this page, we recommend that parents use current NHS information.
NHS – Vaccinations and when to have them
Where to Get Health Advice
If you are worried about your child's health or are unsure whether they should attend school, you can:
- visit the NHS website;
- contact your GP;
- speak to your local pharmacist; or
- contact NHS 111 for urgent medical help that is not an emergency.
In a life-threatening medical emergency, call 999.