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 students. 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.
If your teenager has hay fever, allergy issues, a headache, runny nose or skin complaints that are not infectious, these are considered mild symptoms that 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.
When to keep your child home to get well 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:
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fever
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vomiting and diarrhoea
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sore throat
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school sores and other skin infections
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a new rash or itches
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head lice (nits) and scabies
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wheezing or difficulty breathing
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tested positive for COVID-19
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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.
Infectious diseases that can spread easily at school
There are many infectious diseases that can spread easily at school where there are a lot of people together in classrooms. You should always keep your child at home if your healthcare provider or local public health service tells you to do so to prevent the spread of an infectious disease at school.
Sending your teen back to school
As soon as your teenager is well enough to return to school, it is important that they attend to be with their peers and get back to learning. If your child cannot manage full days to begin with, discuss a transition plan with their dean.
In general, a doctor’s certificate or clearance should not have to be provided for your child to go back to their school after being unwell.
You can find this information and more on the Health New Zealand website.
