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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this child should have been kept off school (nits)?!!!

213 replies

WiseFinch · 21/03/2025 17:17

I am a teaching assistant and have been working with early years this week. Child informs me that they had “fleas in their hair” and had to have special shampoo last night.,
My first reaction was to keep a wide berth but this is absolutely impossible with a 4 year old.

Through the course of the day, it is very clear that this child still has a raging case of nits and is itching their head - and also hanging off me every five minutes for a cuddle… This was two days ago and now my head is itching. I did not have close contact for very long and it wasn’t head to head, plus my hair was up, but I’m now absolutely paranoid I’ve got nits - and I’m sure they’ll be going around the whole class as we speak.

I am new-ish to this job and don’t have kids myself, but surely you should keep your child off until all of the nits are gone? It’s not a case of neglect here, family are well to do and are quite nice people! So I am fully prepared to be told IABU. What does everyone think???

OP posts:
Cloudyvibes · 21/03/2025 17:38

WiseFinch · 21/03/2025 17:30

I’m really new to the job and never worked in schools before, only nurseries, but maybe I’ve just been lucky! I don’t know the policies etc as I don’t deal with parents I’m only part time.

Show quote history

Well if it makes you feel better I’m nearly 40 and like I said have worked in many schools and have never had nits! I have somehow managed to never catch them. I always keep hair tied back and also avoid head on head contact. Others on here have given good advice about leave in conditioners etc that are meant to be good as well.

stayathomer · 21/03/2025 17:38

Took us three weeks of treatments to get rid of every single bit despite thinking they were gone. They lay little tiny eggs you can’t see. To everyone who is suffering with them, yes, the comb is more effective but the treatment will allow the comb to catch them easier. And god help you, I hate them!!!

AnotherNaCha · 21/03/2025 17:38

Vinvertebrate · 21/03/2025 17:36

Good lord, nits give me the horrors. DS8 has never had them, so it's obviously not as common in every area. I would absolutely keep him off if he ever got them and shave his head and burn the house down

It’s really not area dependent. Rich Tunbridge Wells schools just as likely as anywhere. The nits aren’t aware of postcodes

Original poster
WiseFinch · 21/03/2025 17:37

RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway · 21/03/2025 17:35

Your safeguarding knowledge is dangerous, OP. Just because a family is well-to-do and nice people does not mean that they are risk free.

There is always one… I’ve got multiple safeguarding certificates. This child is not neglected otherwise I’d have reported to my DSL instead of making a MN post 😂

OP posts:
AnotherNaCha · 21/03/2025 17:36

WiseFinch · 21/03/2025 17:26

What is the likelihood of me having caught them from this child? Is there any preventative measures I can take? Sorry I know I sound crazy but I’m getting heebie jeebies! I’ve had everything - norovirus, tonsillitis, strep, from working with the kids but never nits 😭😭

What about worms?

Vinvertebrate · 21/03/2025 17:36

Good lord, nits give me the horrors. DS8 has never had them, so it's obviously not as common in every area. I would absolutely keep him off if he ever got them and shave his head and burn the house down

Whoarethoseguys · 21/03/2025 17:36

If every child with nits was kept off school sometimes there would be no children left in the classroom!

RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway · 21/03/2025 17:35

Your safeguarding knowledge is dangerous, OP. Just because a family is well-to-do and nice people does not mean that they are risk free.

Ohplesandbanonos · 21/03/2025 17:35

@WiseFinch put loads of cheap conditioner on your hair then after every pass with the comb dunk it in hot water - you'll see any nits floating in the water.

Mydogisamassivetwat · 21/03/2025 17:34

WiseFinch · 21/03/2025 17:33

Definitely going to comb tonight. Sounds so odd but if it was on my child I’d know to look through their hair I’m just struggling to think of how I’d do this with myself!! Just check on the comb if there’s any?

Show quote history

Yeah. I do mind in the shower with conditioner. If there are any lice, you’ll see them. The conditioner slows them down.

Original poster
WiseFinch · 21/03/2025 17:33

MaryMalone25 · 21/03/2025 17:30

Get some cheap white nit combs - I saw 2 for 39p in Savers chemist this week. Never go anywhere without a nit comb.

Show quote history

Definitely going to comb tonight. Sounds so odd but if it was on my child I’d know to look through their hair I’m just struggling to think of how I’d do this with myself!! Just check on the comb if there’s any?

OP posts:
Bleurghel · 21/03/2025 17:33

I recommend this. We use it everyday and DD hasn't caught nits yet (touch wood!). The lemon and apple scent is quite nice.

To think this child should have been kept off school (nits)?!!!
TheGoogleMum · 21/03/2025 17:32

Dd is in year 1 and currently has nits. Keep trying to remove them but just keep missing some as they never seem to go. She's only recently got them, but we've had messages from the school saying there's lots of nits going around on a regular basis since she was in reception. So I think it's pretty rampant! They didn't have this problem at nursery

MaryMalone25 · 21/03/2025 17:30

WiseFinch · 21/03/2025 17:26

What is the likelihood of me having caught them from this child? Is there any preventative measures I can take? Sorry I know I sound crazy but I’m getting heebie jeebies! I’ve had everything - norovirus, tonsillitis, strep, from working with the kids but never nits 😭😭

Get some cheap white nit combs - I saw 2 for 39p in Savers chemist this week. Never go anywhere without a nit comb.

Original poster
WiseFinch · 21/03/2025 17:30

Cloudyvibes · 21/03/2025 17:27

Confused how you are a teacher assistant but not had to deal with this before? Or know that kids are still meant to come in even if they have nits.

Worked in many schools myself and no school would authorise a child being absent because of nits. Emails get sent out if there are nits circulating to inform parents they need to check hair but that’s it. No child will be sent home for having them either.

I’m really new to the job and never worked in schools before, only nurseries, but maybe I’ve just been lucky! I don’t know the policies etc as I don’t deal with parents I’m only part time.

OP posts:
Mydogisamassivetwat · 21/03/2025 17:28

My reception child would never be at school if that were the case. Or my year 6.

It’s an ongoing battle for us. Every other night with the nitty gritty and conditioner for the whole family (I’d bankrupt myself if I used treatments all the time).

The nits round my way laugh in the face of tea tree oil and sprays. My hair is thick and frizzy and is fucked from the nit comb.

MaryMalone25 · 21/03/2025 17:28

stealthninjamum · 21/03/2025 17:22

Dds had nits and I’d spend hours treating them and combing through their long hair. It was bloody awful. As soon as I was sure the nits had gone it would go round the class again and we’d get nits again. I’m sure we had them on and off for about four months and then over the summer holidays everyone must’ve treated their kids hair and they finally went.

Edited

Me too - from Reception to Y6 - absolute nightmare.

Ohplesandbanonos · 21/03/2025 17:28

You can buy lice deterrent leave in conditioner - if I were you I would use that to slick my hair back then use hairspray on top.

Nobody keeps children off for head lice but it does still need treating - have your school sent the 'there are cases of head lice - please be aware and treat if necessary' letter out?

Cloudyvibes · 21/03/2025 17:27

Confused how you are a teacher assistant but not had to deal with this before? Or know that kids are still meant to come in even if they have nits.

Worked in many schools myself and no school would authorise a child being absent because of nits. Emails get sent out if there are nits circulating to inform parents they need to check hair but that’s it. No child will be sent home for having them either.

Iknowaboutpopular · 21/03/2025 17:27

Rocknrollstar · 21/03/2025 17:26

use leave in conditioner on your hair. the nits don’t like it. Years ago you had to keep your child off school if they had nits.

How many years ago was that then? Because I have an 18 year old and that's never been a thing.

Rooroobear · 21/03/2025 17:27

In the nicest way, it’s nits. It’s easy enough to treat.

Rocknrollstar · 21/03/2025 17:26

use leave in conditioner on your hair. the nits don’t like it. Years ago you had to keep your child off school if they had nits.

Iknowaboutpopular · 21/03/2025 17:26

Nits don't jump or fly, so without actual head to head contact, it's almost impossible. Unless you're sharing a brush with the child or something.

Children can't spend time off school for nits. Dont be so ridiculous. Also, build your resilience.

Original poster
WiseFinch · 21/03/2025 17:26

What is the likelihood of me having caught them from this child? Is there any preventative measures I can take? Sorry I know I sound crazy but I’m getting heebie jeebies! I’ve had everything - norovirus, tonsillitis, strep, from working with the kids but never nits 😭😭

OP posts:
Original poster
WiseFinch · 21/03/2025 17:24

ViaRia01 · 21/03/2025 17:22

So if you do catch head lice are you planning to call in sick?

I mean I’m really not sure! It’s never gone round my school before so I didn’t know the protocol.. I don’t think I would because I’d get them treated and gone and keep my hair up and head away from the kids. But children don’t have that personal space concept do they. I just thought with nits you’d see your kid had them, comb them out so they’re all gone then that’s it! I’m clearly deluded 😂

OP posts:
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